All posts by Ashton Hockman

Campus Announcements Archive

Virtual commencement celebration Saturday

Drake University will hold a virtual commencement ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of 1,071 students who are eligible to receive their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.

The virtual commencement website can be viewed any time beginning Saturday, May 16. Content on the website will include the conferring of degrees; remarks from University administrators and deans, including Chair of the Drake University Board of Trustees Peggy Fisher, FA’70, and Drake University President Marty Martin; a message from alumnus Steve Berry, LA ’83, LW ’86; student submitted images; and video content specific to each academic discipline.  

The virtual commencement will be accessible online through December. This semester’s graduating students are also invited to walk in the December 2020 commencement exercises.

To commemorate the celebration, all graduates will receive a blue tassel in the mail along with their diploma. Traditionally, graduates’ caps are adorned with a tassel in a color that denotes their academic discipline. The blue tassel is designed to be a symbol of unity and hope, capturing the Class of 2020’s “we are all in this together” spirit.

More information on the virtual commencement experience is available at https://www.drake.edu/commencement/. Faculty, staff, and classmates are encouraged to post congratulatory messages to graduates on social media using the hashtag #DearDrake2020.

For Students Archive

Register now: Summer online courses begin May 18

Summer is a great time to continue your education, pick up additional credits, or work to improve your grade point average. Whether you’re located in Des Moines or thousands of miles away, online courses are available to you—no matter your location. Use Drake’s online scheduling feature to see the current listing of summer online courses.

Summer at Drake begins May 18 and ends August 25 for most classes, with online courses offered during two sessions. For Drake Law School, the summer session runs June 1 through July 31. All summer courses will be taught by Drake faculty who will provide an exceptional Drake learning experience.

Strategic Updates Archive

Reminder: Temperature self-monitoring and face mask requirements

As a reminder, Drake University is requiring temperature self-monitoring for faculty, staff, and students who come to campus. Additionally, those who come to campus, including visitors, are required to wear a mask inside University buildings, and also expected to do so on University grounds when they are within six (6) feet of others. 

The University provides essential employees in Facilities, Mail, Public Safety, and Student Life with masks; other Drake employees have the option to choose from a University-provided mask (as supplies last) or one they already own. In addition, residential students still residing in Drake residence halls are required to wear masks while in common areas on campus. The University has provided one reusable cloth face mask to each residential student.

The University will not provide non-residential students or visitors with face masks. These individuals are encouraged to acquire a face mask from another source. These masks can be purchased from various vendors, or be homemade following the CDC or Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines. A YouTube video of the Surgeon General making a version of the mask that does not require sewing can be found here.

This process is not because of any case or concern specific to the University, but rather is in accordance with directive from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Polk County Health Department (PCHD). Thank you for adhering to these requirements in an effort to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of the Drake community.

Read complete details of these guidelines.

For Students Archive

You did it, Class of 2020! Let’s celebrate.

There’s no doubt that your time spent at Drake University has been full of hard work, achievements, meaningful experiences, and lasting memories. Although we won’t be able to recognize you in person this May, we want to still commemorate you properly, and we’ve created a virtual experience to do just that.

The new Virtual Commencement website will serve as the hub for the virtual celebration on May 16, so bookmark the page and save the date!

Feel free to send the link to your friends and family so they can celebrate with you on this special day. Can’t celebrate on May 16? No problem, the commencement site can still be viewed by Bulldogs and their families through December.

For questions, visit the frequently asked questions section on the hub or visit the Drake University Virtual CommencementFacebook Event page.

We are bound together by our Drake experiences, and we can’t wait to celebrate all that the Class of 2020 has accomplished.

— John Smith, Virtual Commencement Committee Chair/Vice President, University Advancement

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Community Press launches new book

In a time when we could all use a dose of inspiration, Above and Beyond Cancer, a new book from the Drake Community Press, is just what the doctor ordered. The 171-page book is a collection of more than 100 voices accentuated by stunning photographs that illuminate the difficult journey of a cancer diagnosis and the opportunity it provides for profound personal transformation. The production of Above and Beyond Cancer was a two-year journey for more than 100 collaborators including several Drake classes, numerous student interns, faculty, staff, administrators, community partners, and campus partners from nearly every department on Drake’s campus. Together, with members of the central Iowa community, these collaborators came together as the Drake Community Press, an academic-community partnership.

The first launch event is Saturday, May 9, via Zoom. A special launch for the Drake community will occur on May 15 at 2 p.m. More information will be provided in the next OnCampus.

— Carlyn Crowe, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Campus Announcements Archive

Richard Bergen, who built the bronze bulldog, passed away Wednesday

Dr. Richard D. Bergen, the Kansas artist who designed the bronze bulldog that stands guard at the entrance of Drake Stadium, died Wednesday, April 22, at the age of 95. 

According to his obituary, Bergen and son Rich partnered for over 35 years in the Bergen’s Sculpture Studio where together they crafted more than 40 monumental bronze sculptures and other works of public art found in cities across the Midwest.

The 750-pound bronze bulldog, which stands 3 feet high and stretches 5 feet long, is courtesy of a gifts by Andy and Elaine Hanna Wright, a pair 1969 Drake graduates, as well as support from gifts from the Class of 1997. The Wrights’ son, James Wright and his wife, Bethany (Hornblad) Wright, both graduated from Drake in 1997. Andy Wright, of Barrington Hills, Ill., is a member of the Drake Board of Trustees.

The bronze bulldog has become a symbol of pride on Drake’s campus and a worthy selfie-spot during Drake Relays and athletic events.

For Students Archive

Reminder: Submit your commencement photo/video by May 4

Graduates: As part of the virtual commencement experience on May 16, we want to feature an image of you to recognize your achievements. Please email one photo or short video clip of yourself to commencement2020@drake.edu no later than Monday, May 4.

Five things to keep in mind with your submission:

  • Please include your full name.
  • If submitting a video, film it horizontally with no sound and keep it to five seconds or less.
  • Formal attire is preferred but not required. We fully understand that most graduates do not have caps and gowns, so any nice photo will do.
  • For large files, we suggest using WeTransfer.com to upload and send your file for free. 
  • Please adhere to the May 4 deadline. We hope to feature as many graduates as possible.

Additionally, we are planning to launch the virtual commencement hub in early May. This will be where the virtual commencement celebration will take place, as well as a single location where you can view all commencement information and specific content from your college/school. Keep an eye out for an email with more details, which will include a link to the virtual hub.  

— Drake University Virtual Commencement Committee

For Students Archive

Move-out for residential students May 8–24; Review procedures

Students who had been or are still living in Drake residence halls received an email April 17 regarding move-out procedures. Students will be able to move out of their residence hall beginning May 8 with all move-outs to occur by May 24.

Students will sign up for a two-hour move-out time slot through the Housing & Meal Plan Selection Portal. Each two-hour time slot will be limited to five students per residence hall, with the exception of Goodwin-Kirk which we will limit to ten students per time slot. Time slots must be reserved no later than noon on May 7.

Time slots will be made available each day as follows: 7–9 a.m., 9–11 a.m., 11 a.m.–1 p.m., 1­–3 p.m., 3–5 p.m., and 5–7 p.m. You must move out only at the time you sign up for. Do not travel to campus until it is time for your assigned move out time slot. Hall access will only be granted during your designated move out time slot.

To sign-up for your move-out time slot

  1. Login to my.drake.edu  
  2. Click the fork & knife icon to open the Housing & Meal Plan Selection Portal
  3. Click on Move Out Time Slot Form tab
  4. Choose the Academic Year 2019–2020 Term, Save & Continue
  5. Sign up for your Move Out Time Slot, Day and Time

Please review all move-out instructions online at drake.edu/coronavirus/students. 

If you would like to discuss individual concerns not addressed above, please contact the Residence Life Office by email at housing@drake.edu.

Campus Announcements Archive

J-Term 2021 travel seminars deadline extended to May 15

Drake has currently restricted all international travel due to COVID-19. However, J-Term 2021 travel seminars have not been canceled at this point given that January is many months away. Due to the ever-changing situation, please know this could change in the future. Please carefully review the following information if you are interested in going abroad or on a domestic program for J-Term 2021:

  • Deadline Extended: You can still apply to study abroad J-Term 2021. The J-Term travel seminar priority deadline has been extended from April 15 to May 15. Applications will be reviewed at that time and students will be accepted or waitlisted by June 1. To apply go to: https://drake-sa.terradotta.com/.
  • Deposit: After acceptance, to secure your spot on a travel seminar, you will need to commit to the program in Terra Dotta, pay your $500 deposit, and complete Terra Dotta post acceptance steps. Given the impact of COVID-19 on students and families, we have temporarily revised our deposit refund policy. If you choose to independently withdraw prior to Sept. 1, your deposit will be refunded. As always, if Drake cancels a travel seminar, your deposit will automatically be refunded.
  • Availability: Some travel seminars already have more applicants than we can accept. If you haven’t already started an application, we encourage you to check out these options:
  • Finland: Perspectives on Education
  • Italy: Forks and Farms in Italy: Global Food Security and Sustainability
  • Kosovo: Repairing and Rebuilding
  • Panama: Place-based Integrated Science
  • South Africa and Zimbabwe: Religions of Africa
  • Spain and Morocco: Exploring the Intersection of Ethics and Culture
  • Thailand: Research, Exploration and Reflection
  • On campus registration back up plan: In addition to applying for a travel seminar, we ask that you also register for an on-campus course at Drake as a backup plan (if you need J-Term credit regardless of the travel component). Please register during the regular registration process and timeframe. If you have questions about registering for on-campus courses for J-Term, please reach out to your academic advisor.
  • Independent withdrawal: We want you to be clear on the financial implications of committing to a J-Term travel seminar. Given the impact of COVID-19 on students and families, we have temporarily revised our deposit refund policy. If you choose to independently withdraw prior to Sept. 1, your deposit will be refunded. If after Sept. 1 you decide you want to withdraw from the program, you will be subject to Drake’s withdrawal and refund policies. Because of this, we strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with our withdrawal and refund policies which can be found in Terra Dotta. In addition, we strongly recommend you purchase ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ travel insurance through an insurance carrier.

Please be assured that your health and safety is of utmost importance. Given that this is an ever-evolving global situation, applicants will be notified if we make a change to the policy regarding J-Term travel seminars. Should you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to studyabroad@drake.edu. 

New J-Term Timeline:
May 15: Priority Deadline
June 1: Accept/waitlist Students who applied by May 15
June 15: Students Commit in Terra Dotta and pay a $500 Deposit to secure their place in the program
May 15–Sept. 1: Students can still apply if travel seminars have openings; deposits are due within two weeks of acceptance
Sept. 1: Final day to apply and final day for deposit refunds

— Maria Rohach, Drake International

Strategic Updates Archive

Employee retention credit program

Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to address the significant economic impact of the pandemic. Drake University has continued to provide full compensation to individuals who are available to work but don’t have enough work available to fulfill their regularly scheduled hours. The CARES Act now offers Drake the opportunity to receive a tax credit for the provided compensation for those non-worked hours.

What should employees do first?
First, contact your manager to find out if there is work available for you to do. The work may include helping your own department or another area with a project that needs assistance. Leaders of each area have been asked to identify projects where additional resources would be welcomed, so consider these as you have time available. If you’re assisting another area simply record those hours on your timesheet as time worked.

I’m not working my full schedule—what should I do now?
In order to qualify for the tax credit Drake needs employees to track the hours they are being paid for time they’re available to work without having work to complete. Even recording small amounts of time is helpful in securing the credit. Exempt employees may record time in increments of one hour and non-exempt employees may record time in 15-minute increments.

  • Non-exempt employees will record the hours in the new Employee Retention Credit area of the bi-weekly timesheet.  Submitted time will count as “worked hours” for purposes of compensation.
  • Exempt employees will record the hours in the new Employee Retention Credit area of the monthly time report. The monthly time report is located on the left margin of the home page of myDrake and is used to track use of vacation, personal leave and sick time. The report is to be submitted by the 15th of the next month following each month’s end, and managers are to approve it by the 20th of the month. A quick reference guide is available for employees and managers.

What time qualifies for the credit?
Compensation that qualifies are any wages paid to employees for time they are not providing services as a direct result of COVID-19.  Time for vacation or sick leave does not qualify, even if as a result of the virus. 

How does this information help?
Employees are expected to submit this information to assist Drake in qualifying for the federal tax credit. The credit allows Drake to receive a credit against employment taxes for retaining employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The credit will improve Drake’s financial situation, which benefits all faculty, staff, and students as we continue to achieve our important mission.

Questions may be directed to the HR Partner who supports your group or to the Drake HR email at drakehr@drake.edu.

— Mary Alice Hill, Human Resources