All posts by Ashton Hockman

HR Information Archive

Adventureland 2019 corporate partner program

With summer quickly approaching, some Drake faculty and staff may be making plans for vacation time with family and friends. If you are looking for a fun family activity close to home, Adventureland Park may be the answer. Employees can purchase discounted tickets by following these three steps:

  • Go to the following website: www.adventurelandresort.com/corp/
  • Create an Adventureland account with your drake.edu email address
  • You will be routed into their online discounted ticketing website to complete your purchase

The attached flyer has additional information, including prices.  If you have any questions, please email ross@adventurelandpark.com.

A full list of Drake Employee Perks & Discounts can be found in myDrake by clicking on the Human Resources App (top of page). Next click Benefits, and then Additional Benefits, and finally Perks & Discounts for Drake Employees.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Final days of food drive to help local non-profits in need

Help three local non-profits (Drake Head Start, Grubb YMCA, and Central Iowa Shelter + Services) provide meals this summer during a donation drought by purchasing these products now through May 15:

— Bagels/bread
— Beef jerky products
— Canned items
— Non-refrigerated meals
— Pasta meals
— Protein/granola bars

Students, there are collection bins around the C-Store for donations. For faculty, staff, and students who do not regularly visit the C-Store, contact Hannah Cohen at hannah.cohen@drake.edu to schedule a donation pick up.

Any donation makes a difference, even if it is not one of the specific products above. Your donation will help provide aid to community members in need.

Contact hannah.cohen@drake.edu with questions or concerns.

Hannah Cohen, AS, JO

For Students Archive

CNN hiring interns for Town Hall

Are you on campus or in Des Moines over the summer and interested in working with political events on campus? CNN will be on campus for a Town Hall on Tuesday, May 21, and is seeking student interns. Other events are also possible throughout the summer. Drake does not determine who will be hired for any specific event, but will provide interested students’ names and contact information based on the needs of CNN or other organizations. To express interest in working for the CNN event or other events, please contact Rachel Paine Caufield at rachel.caufield@drake.edu with your (1) name, (2) summer email address, (3) cell or other contact number; and (4) availability, indicating specific availability for May 17 through May 21, and expected availability over the summer months.

Rachel Paine Caufield, Professor, Department of Political Science

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake hosts Iowa State High School Track Meet May 16–18

As we have in previous years, Drake is pleased to once again host the Iowa State High School Track Meet, one of the largest state high school track events in the United States. Like last year, the meet will occur prior to the end of the academic year, beginning on Thursday, May 16, and concluding on Saturday, May 18.

We are taking extra steps to plan for the overlap of this event with other year-end activities on campus—including commencement and move out—and we ask that you do the same.

Because of the increase in activity and to help with general safety, we will be using several steps that we used for the Drake Relays, including a partial closing of Forest Avenue. Please note the following:

Street Closures

  • Forest Avenue will once again be closed between 27th Street and 29th Street from Wednesday, May 15, at noon until Saturday, May 18, at 6 p.m. This closure will not prevent cars from accessing the residence halls along Forest Avenue for checkout. 
  • The street closure enhances the safety of those attending the state track meet.
  • 27th Street will be shut down for bus traffic from Forest Avenue to Clark Street from Thursday, May 16, to Saturday, May 18.
  • No parking will be allowed on University Avenue between 25th street and 31st Street from May 15–18 to allow for easier traffic flow.

Plan ahead for parking challenges

  • Plan for extra time to find parking as well as to travel to campus.
  • Commuters, faculty, and staff can avoid parking challenges by using alternative forms of transportation or carpooling. Remember, Drake provides no cost DART rides to faculty, staff, and students. All you have to do is show your Drake ID upon boarding the bus. 

Adhere to parking restrictions

  • Only Lot 2 (south side of 25th Street and Forest Avenue), Lot 18S (Studio Arts), and Lot 4 (Tennis Center) will be dedicated to the state track meet from Thursday, May 16, to Saturday, May 18. All other commuter parking lots will be available for faculty, students, and staff to use.
  • Lot 13 (Wifvat Plaza) will be open on both Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17.
  • All residential parking lots will be under 24-hour residential permit-only restrictions throughout the state track meet. Any car parked in a residential lot from Thursday, May 16, through Saturday, May 18, without a Drake permit will be towed. Additional signage will be posted at all residential lots as a reminder.
  • On Saturday, May 18, both Lot 13 (Wifvat Plaza) and Lot 16 (Olmsted) will be reserved for families attending the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Law School graduation ceremonies. The lots will open at 1 p.m. for these guests.

Residential students plan your move out
Residential students who complete their exams by Wednesday, May 15, are strongly encouraged to move-out at that time to avoid the increased traffic and congestion that will occur from Thursday to Saturday. If you cannot move out by Wednesday, plan for plenty of extra time.

Contact us ahead of time with questions or concerns
If you have specific concerns or questions regarding parking from Thursday, May 16, to Saturday, May 18, please contact Scott Law as soon as possible at scott.law@drake.edu. While there is limited room for exceptions to these parking rules and restrictions, I am happy to listen and discuss any concerns. It is easier to be proactive, prior to events beginning, rather than reactive, once the meet has begun.

Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

Scott Law, Executive Director Campus Public Safety & Operational Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Donate Drake memorabilia to scholarship fund

Are you spring cleaning, tidying up at the end of this semester, or perhaps retiring? Consider donating your Drake memorabilia and treasures to the Office of University Communications and Marketing to auction off for their scholarship fund. Their unique fundraising efforts caught the attention of The Chronicle of Philanthropy in this article.

The office has collected pieces of Drake memorabilia over the years and auctioned them off on their scholarship Facebook page. Many Bulldogs on campus have expressed a generosity of spirit in donating items they have once found joy in, but are now ready to let go after binging the Marie Kondo series. Some past items have included a piece of the blue oval, Bulldog bookends, flags, bobble heads, Drake basketball sketches, signed Bucksbaum posters, and a mixed CD personally curated by Vice President for Advancement John Smith.

If you have any items to donate, or want to make a financial contribution, please email us at socialmedia@drake.edu.

Niki Smith, University Communications and Marketing

Campus Announcements Archive

Celebrate Griff’s seventh birthday

Our beloved live mascot, Griff, turns SEVEN on Wednesday, May 8!  We will be celebrating by extending birthday wishes on social media on his birthday, tagging him @drakeugriff.  We encourage you to share your favorite photo(s) and send him virtual birthday wishes, using the hashtag #GriffTurns7. On Friday, we will be throwing him a party from 12–1 p.m. in Helmick Commons in conjunction with SAB’s Final Friday event.  All students, faculty, and staff are welcome!  If the weather does not cooperate, the party will be moved inside Olmsted.  We encourage everyone to stop by and have a frozen treat (while supplies last) and snap a photo with Griff. 

— Erin Bell, Associate Director of Marketing, University Communications & Marketing

For Students Archive

Internship: Admission Fellow

The Drake University Admission Fellow Program selects one student of senior standing to represent the University in a variety of settings throughout the academic year. The primary function of the Admission Fellow is to oversee the Admission Coleition program, assist with group visit programs, serve as an admission representative and execute various administrative tasks. Additionally, the Fellow will meet with students and families during campus visits, represent the University at college fairs and other external events, and be involved in an array of admission-related activities throughout the academic year. The position, which pays $8.25 per hour, requires between 12–20 hours during the fall and spring semesters (including occasional Saturday duty). View the full job description.

Interested students should complete and submit an application via the online job tool, Handshake. Applications are being accepted through Wednesday, May 8, at midnight.

For questions, contact Deneen Dygert, Associate Director, Admission, at deneen.dygert@drake.edu.

— Deneen Dygert, Office of Admission

For Staff Archive

Sapphire Awards Thursday

Attend the Sapphire Awards May 9 from 1–2 p.m. in Levitt Hall to celebrate True Blue employees—an individual or team that goes above and beyond expectations to serve students, colleagues, and the Drake community.

The awards program will include treats and refreshments, entertainment by D+ Improv, presentation of Sapphire Award recipients, presentation of Madeline Levitt Award recipient, and a visit from Griff.

Amelia Klatt, All Staff Council Recognition Committee