Last Friday, work began to remove 27th Street from Forest to Carpenter Avenue. As a result, the Law School Parking Lot (north of Opperman Library) will be closed beginning Sept. 26. The entrance to the parking lot and the drive leading to the Opperman loading dock will closed to faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The parking lot is scheduled to reopen mid-December.
— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management
Human Resources will move from its current location at The Point to 3206 University Ave. this Friday. HR will be located in the north end of the building. The Point will be torn down the week of Oct. 9, weather dependent.
The International Center will move to its new home at 1213 25th St. on Monday, Sept. 25, and Continuing Education and Professional Development (formerly known as Extension Education) will move from 3206 University Ave. to Howard Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management
Drake Academic Excellence and Student Success is leading a new initiative to support first-generation students.
Approximately 10–14 percent of first year students are the first in their family to earn a four-year degree. After recognizing a need to support this student group, Drake Academic Excellence and Student Success decided to develop programs and services designed to create a welcoming and supportive environment for first-generation students.
“Being the first in your family to attend college, can have unique challenges,” said Marina Verlengia, director of new student and parent programs. “Our hope is to provide first-gen students with the tools, resources, opportunities, and networks necessary to be successful at Drake and beyond.”
Verlengia said the initiative is in the early stages of development. Look for more information in the coming weeks on future programs and services. If you’d like to show support for this initiative, participate in a focus group, or share your experience as a first-generation student, please contact Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.
President Martin invites faculty and staff to attend a dedication ceremony for Collier-Scripps Hall and the Science Connector Building on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. on the outdoor plaza between Olin and Collier-Scripps Halls. Learn more.
The following J-Term travel seminars have a few spots still open:
Learn more and apply here.
Questions? Contact Maria Rohach at maria.rohach@drake.edu.
— Maria Rohach, Center for International Programs and Services
The Adams Academy is a program of the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute. The yearlong program is designed to enhance students’ understanding of leadership at the individual, group, and societal levels through monthly educational workshops and activities. Adams Academy is for upper-level undergraduate students. Students who are interested in participating should attend one of the following informational sessions this week:
Benefits of Joining the Adams Academy
Joining the Adams Academy requires a commitment to attend monthly leadership workshops, attendance at the fall and spring Sussman Leadership Conferences, monthly reflection essays, and submission of a final reflection summary. At the end of the program, students will be honored at the Adams Leadership Convocation in April.
For students who already know that they want to participate, apply by Friday, Sept. 22 (attending an informational session for specific program details is still encouraged).
For questions, contact Sam Becker at samantha.becker@drake.edu
—Sam Becker, Cowles Library
Are you going to a Spanish speaking country during J-Term or next spring? Would you like to begin learning a few useful words and phrases in Spanish? Do you want or need to keep up your foreign language fluency? The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers free help in an informal setting.
Spanish Conversation Hours are scheduled four times a week and held in Meredith Hall, Room 204:
Mondays, 1–2 p.m.
Wednesdays, 2–3 p.m.
Thursdays, 10–11 a.m.
Fridays, from 12–1 p.m.
All levels of Spanish speakers from all areas of the Drake community are welcome. The group warmly supports all participants with opportunities for practicing Spanish; no long-term commitment is required to attend. A native speaker facilitates the conversation in Spanish in a casual atmosphere. Don’t worry if you haven’t spoken in Spanish for a decade, or ever; all participants are on the language-learning journey.
For further information, contact Assistant Professor Inbal Mazar at Inbal.Mazar@Drake.edu.
—Dorothy Pisarski, Associate Professor of Advertising
Drake’s Writing Workshop is a tutoring center to help students with their writing, directed by a faculty member and staffed by trained undergraduates who are experienced writers and friendly critics. The Workshop is a free service for Drake students. We welcome students at any stage of the writing process and recommend that students bring along their assignment prompt/instructions, as well as any outlines, drafts, or questions they may have. The writing workshop opened yesterday. Students can book tutoring appointments at library.drake.edu/writing-workshop.
For more information, please contact Megan Brown at megan.brown@drake.edu. Students can also follow the Writing Workshop on Facebook and Twitter.
—Megan Brown, Professor of English
Students are invited to attend the Iowa Civic Action Academy Nov. 3–4 at Grand View University in Des Moines. This is a professional development opportunity for students interested in learning new ways of making a difference and building skills through civic and community engagement. Students from across the state and beyond are invited to learn from professionals across sectors. Sessions will offer skill-building in civic action including philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, dialogue, advocacy, and more. Students will also have a chance to learn what others are doing on other campuses and network with peers.
Cost to attend is approximately $80. Scholarships are available through the Office of Community Engaged Learning. Please contact Amanda Martin at amanda.martin@drake.edu no later than Oct. 12 if you would like to apply for a scholarship. The deadline to register for the conference is Oct. 22, and can be done online.
Students interested in presenting at the conference may submit workshop proposals no later than Sept. 29.
—Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning
In the Lorentzen Student Hatchery, Drake students spend a summer building their own business. The Hatchery provides a unique opportunity for any Drake student––undergraduate or graduate––to earn up to $10,000 over the 2018 summer while working for themselves. Both teams and individuals are welcome to apply. Information sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 19 and 26 and Oct. 11 and 24 in the Innovation Studio, 124C Meredith.
Applications are due Oct. 30 and presentations are scheduled for Nov. 7. Students invited to participate in the Hatchery will have the opportunity to meet John C. Lorentzen, the 1977 Drake graduate who proposed and funded the student hatchery program, on Nov. 10 when the 2017 Hatchery cohort makes their presentations.
Download an application and learn more online or contact the Entrepreneurship Centers at jpec@drake.edu.
— Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers
