All posts by Ashton Hockman

For Students Archive

Don’t miss these Drake Relays activities

Visit the SAB Facebook event page for a full list of Relays events and activities.

It’s Relays week! The week-long festivities  include so much more than world-class athletic competition on the Blue Oval. Here are a few ways to make the most of your Relays experience.

Carnival Day
The Relays Carnival is today from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in Helmick Commons. Come enjoy the sunny weather, free food, fun activities, and things like bucket hats, fanny packs, pins. Lots of Relays gear will given away.

Lace up your shoes
You don’t have to be an elite athlete to run at the Drake Relays. Hit the pavement during the Grand Blue Mile today, April 24. The one-mile street run is for runners of all ages and aspirations and starts in front of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park before making its way down Locust and Grand.

Grab lunch from a food truck on Forest Avenue
Students looking to grab a bite to eat on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 28, can dine at food trucks parked on Forest Avenue. The street will be closed to traffic between 27th Street and 29th Street from Thursday, April 26, at 2 p.m. to Saturday, April 28, at 5 p.m. The closure will allow Relays vendors, such as food trucks, to set up outside of the stadium and safely interact with students and the community. No vehicles will be allowed through the area during this time.

The Vault at Capital Square
A must see event, The Vault at Capital Square allows you to get up close and personal with world-class vaulters as they take to the skies inside the atrium at Capital Square tomorrow, April 25, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Alumni Awards Ceremony
The entire campus community (no need to be a Drake grad) is encouraged to attend the Alumni Awards Ceremony. The ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate our most distinguished alumni. This year’s award winners demonstrate outstanding professional accomplishments and loyal leadership to Drake and their communities. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to register to attend the ceremony on Thursday, April 26, at 5:15 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium.

Relays Distance Carnival
On Thursday, April 26, distance runners take the track with the 800-meter race beginning at 4:30 p.m. Don’t miss the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 7 p.m.—think seven-and-a-half laps with hurdles and water jumps.

Spot an Olympian
Keep your eyes peeled for greatness. The Drake Relays attract some of the world’s best athletes. On Saturday, April 28, catch a glimpse of Andre De Grasse, a three-time Olympic medalist, set to compete in the men’s invitational 100 meters. In 2016, De Grasse won three medals at the Rio Olympics, including bronze in the 100 meters, behind Usain Bolt.

Relays Concert
This year’s Drake Relays concert will feature two artists. Marc E. Bassy and AJR will perform Friday, April 27, at 9:15 p.m. on Forest Avenue. To get hyped up for the concert, listen to this playlist with all the artists’ best songs.

So, whether you are enjoying a paint fight or cheering on your favorite athlete, Relays has something for everyone. Visit the SAB Facebook event for a full list of activities.

Strategic Updates Archive

Boys and Girls Club: Construction to begin in May

Starting next month, after graduation ceremonies, pre-construction activity will begin at the southwest corner of 25th Street and Forest Avenue, the future site of the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Club.

Drake and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa are partnering to bring the new Club to campus. Scheduled to open fall 2019, the new Club will be the third in the country to be built on a private college campus. It will provide after-school and summertime programs focused on education, healthy lifestyles, and character and leadership development to more than 170 K-12 students in its first year.

On May 21, a perimeter construction fence will be erected surrounding the site and access to parking lots 9 and 10 will no longer be available. Pre-construction activity includes the removal of paving, relocating of utilities, grading, and tree removals.

In 2015, Drake’s campus tree care policy was revised for the purpose of identifying standards pertaining to procedures and practices used in establishing, protecting, maintaining, and removing trees on campus. The goal of the plan was to ensure a safe, attractive, and sustainable campus urban forest.

Complying with the plan, and as part of the Boys & Girls Club project, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with Perficut Companies completed a tree evaluation in collaboration with Drake’s Grounds Department to assess the health of existing trees, assist in determining the impact of the proposed improvements, and to develop recommendations for tree protection.

Following the evaluation, it was determined that 29 trees must be removed to complete the construction project. However, once construction is complete, 38 new trees will be planted around the new building and streetscape. These trees include: White Pine (4), Prairie Gold Aspen (22), Red Oak (5), and Japanese Tree Lilac (7).

Visit bgcci.org/club-pathways1 to learn more about the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Club. View more information on the project or the Drake Campus Tree Care Plan policy below.

Campus Tree Care Plan
BGCCI Demolition Plan
BGCCI Landscape Plan

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management

HR Information Archive

Welcome new Bulldogs

In March, Drake welcomed seven new individuals to the Bulldog family.

Ann Guddall, Academic Affairs Budget Manager, Provost’s Office
Mollie McKenzie, Compliance Coordinator, Pharmacy & Health Science
Jared Butler, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy & Health Science
Sri Sai “Navya” Mannengi, Admission Counselor, Office of Admission
Patrick Bourgeacq, Assistant Director, International Admission, Office of Admission
Ethan Fickau, Admission Counselor, Office of Admission
Darian DeVries, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Athletics

— Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

For Students Archive

All In campaign kicks off Thursday: What will your impact be?

All In is this Thursday and Friday from noon to noon! The 24-hour online giving day is an opportunity to make a huge difference in a short amount of time, but in order to be successful, we need all of us—faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and fans—to be all in.

How to be All In

  1. Give online on April 5 and 6 at drake.edu/all-in. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. You can also make your gift in person between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 5 at the Student Alumni Association event noted below.
  2. Spread the word. In one day, Bulldogs across the nation can do truly amazing things—as long as they know about it. Spread the word about #DrakeALLIN on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and encourage others to do the same. Be sure to follow the campaign Facebook page and share posts throughout the day. You can even update your profile picture with a frame from the All In Facebook page to show your support.
  3. Celebrate over Jethro’s wings. Wear your Drake gear on both April 5 and 6 to celebrate All In. Visit Helmick South (or Olmsted Breezeway if it rains) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday for Jethro’s wings, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, yard games, Griff, and more.

Challenge opportunities

As a student, your gifts qualify for two separate challenges during the All In event. That means your donation could potentially triple!

  1. Thanks to a group of generous donors, gifts made during All In can go even further. If 1,000 people make a gift, alumni Doug Zinser, AS ’96, Al McCoy, FA ’54, and Paul, JO ’68, and Laura, AS ’70, Miller will collectively give $50,000 to Drake. Be counted as one of 1,000 to unlock this substantial amount for Drake.
  2. All gifts from students will be matched dollar for dollar up to $1,400 through the Caldbeck Challenge. Diane Caldbeck, AS ’72, is a fantastic example of what it means to be All In for Drake. She and her family are true blue Bulldogs, and to celebrate Diane’s commitment and contributions to Drake, her children: Kelly, PH ’01, Peter, JO ’03, and Megan, JO ’05, have established an endowed fund to create this challenge and encourage student giving.

For questions about All In, contact Becca Widmer, director of annual giving, at becca.widmer@drake.edu.

— Becca Widmer, University Advancement

Campus Announcements Archive, For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Why should you be All In?

All In, Drake’s annual 24-hour giving campaign, is next Thursday and Friday, April 5 and 6, from noon to noon. It marks a day when faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents, and friends unite to show their support and pride for the University. The campaign raises funds to support Drake’s greatest needs. The donations made will affect every area of campus and impact the life of every student, current and future.

https://www.facebook.com/allinDrake/videos/768465180030326/

VIDEO: For more videos and campaign updates follow the All In Facebook page.

As Drake employees, we commit ourselves to making Drake a better place every single day—and nobody knows Drake’s needs better than we do. Last year, 183 faculty and staff went All In, and overall, the campaign raised more than $150,000 from 852 donors. This year we aim to be even more successful.

In fact, this year three generous alums have joined together to offer a challenge. If 1,000 members of the Drake community make a gift during All In, they will collectively donate $50,000. This is a tremendous opportunity to make your gift go even further and help unlock a substantial amount of support for Drake.

Here are five more important reasons to give:

  1. Your gift supports Drake students as they forge their path toward meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship.
  2. Your gift is an investment in Drake, and as an employee, an investment in your work and future.
  3. Giving demonstrates our united support for the University and makes an impressive statement to our constituents, alumni, and all Drake supporters that we believe in the work we do.
  4. By making a gift, you can support your passion. Give back to something at Drake that inspires you.
  5. Giving can be pretty sweet. If you make your gift before 2:30 p.m. on April 5, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a homemade apple pie from Provost Mattison. The winner will be picked at the faculty and staff social.

Think your gift won’t make a difference?

Think again. Collective giving makes a huge impact. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference, and puts us closer to achieving our goal of 1,000 donors and $50,000 for Drake.

You can make your gift during the event at drake.edu/all-in.

Attend the social and show your Drake pride

Attend a social on Thursday, April 5, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the lower level of Collier-Scripps Hall to celebrate All In. A drink ticket and snacks will be provided. This is an opportunity to learn more about All In. Don’t forget to wear your Drake gear to celebrate All In on April 5 and 6.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions about the event and how you can be All In, contact Becca Widmer, director of annual giving, at becca.widmer@drake.edu.

— Becca Widmer, University Advancement

Campus Announcements Archive

Beautiful Bulldog lottery tonight

More than 135 English bulldogs from 18 states registered to compete in Drake’s world-famous Beautiful Bulldog Contest set to take place April 22. From this record-breaking pool of bulldogs, only 40 (and 10 alternates) will be selected to compete in the contest, which crowns the official mascot of the 2018 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee.

A public lottery drawing will be held tonight, March 20, at 6 p.m. in The Knapp Center lobby to determine the contestants. During the lottery, an exciting panel of contest judges will also be announced.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend both events—tonight’s lottery and the April 22 contest. The events are free and open to the public, and will be live-streamed on the Beautiful Bulldog Contest at Drake University Facebook page.

In conjunction with the contest and lottery, pet lovers are invited to contribute to the “Griff Gives Back” pet food drive. Last year the pet food drive, hosted by Griff, raised more than 5,000 pounds of food for the nonprofit Pet Project Midwest. Donations of adult dog and cat food are accepted on-site at the contest and lottery, or they can be taken to Drake Postal Operations located in the Olmsted Center.

— Niki Smith, University Communications

 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning lunch

The next Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lunch is Friday, March 30, at 12 p.m. in Medbury Hall, Room 201. The lunch discussion is an opportunity for those engaged in SoTL projects at any level—from just thinking about starting one, to almost complete, or those simply curious about SoTL—to share ideas, seek advice, or ask questions of colleagues engaged in the process. To receive lunch, register by Monday, March 26, at 4 p.m.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

For Students Archive

Changing Your Major? Submit your change by March 26

If you are an undergraduate or pharmacy student who plans to make changes to your field-of-study and would like those changes take effect before registration begins, you must file your request to your dean’s office by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 26. Requests submitted after March 26 may not be accommodated until Wednesday, April 18.

For specific questions, including how to change your field of study, contact your dean’s office.

—Kevin Moenkhaus, Office of the Registrar