Whether on the Blue Oval or on campus, Relays Week is where faculty, staff, students, and alumni celebrate together and reconnect during special events. For a complete listing of Relays events, including the Grand Blue Mile, pole vaulting at Capital Square, and the Relays Carnival, visit the University calendar.
Other ways to find information, include:
Due to multiple events on campus and increased community presence for the Drake Relays, it is necessary to establish the following parking restrictions from April 21–29. Please review the restrictions listed below. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Please note: All residential parking lots will still be under 24-hour residential permit only restrictions. All Drake lots will be held on Friday morning until 9 a.m. for Drake permits only.
Sunday, April 21–Monday, April 29: Reserved—No Parking: Lot #17 (Facilities, 27/Clark) — Reserved for placement and use as Relays athlete warm-up area.
Tuesday, April 23, 10 p.m.–Monday, April 29, 4 p.m.: Reserved—No Parking: Lot 18 South (Studio Arts) and Lot 18 North (West Stadium)
Wednesday, April 24, 8 a.m.–Sunday, April 28, 8 a.m.: Limited Parking—North Half of Olmsted Lot #16 and half of Law School Lot #13
Thursday, April 25, 11 a.m.–Saturday, April 27, 6 p.m.: Parking Lots 1 and 2 will be pay lots (Drake Permits valid at no charge until 4 p.m. on Friday in Lot 1).
City Street Closures:
Thursday, April 25–Saturday, April 27:
— Forest Ave. will be closed from 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, between 27th Street and 29th Street.
— 27th Street will be shut down for bus traffic from Forest Avenue to Clark Street.
Saturday, April 27: Meek Street will be shut down for the Hammer Throw.
Scott Law, Executive Director Campus Public Safety and Operational Services
You can still apply for the following travel seminars:
England: Theatre History in London
Finland: Perspectives on Education
India: International Health Topics
Israel and Jordan: Religions of the Middle East
Italy: Place-Based Integrated Science
Japan: Understanding Diverse Populations
Mexico: The Other Side of the Wall: The Americanization of Mexico
New Zealand: Communication and Tourism Analysis
Panama: Issues in Global Business and Leadership
Rwanda: Ecotourism, Conservation, and Development in Post-Genocide Rwanda
Thailand: Research, Exploration, and Reflection
Washington DC/Boston: Congress Up Close: Preparing to be a Congressional Staffer
Some programs only have a few spots left! Apply today.
Maria Rohach, Center for International Programs and Services
Work by Drake students has advanced to the national competition in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence contest. Honors include best sports reporting, best online student publication, and three photography awards.
The winners were announced at the SPJ Region 7 conference on April 6. Region 7 includes universities and colleges in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. The first-place winners of all 12 regions will compete at the national level, and results will be announced in late spring.
Five Drake regional winners that advance to national competition:
Seven other projects were finalists at the regional competition:
Kathleen Richardson, Journalism and Mass Communication
A planned electrical shutdown for campus is scheduled for Friday, July 5. The electrical shutdown will begin at 6 a.m. and the work will be completed by 12 p.m.
Facilities Planning and Management is working on cleaning the large electrical transformers located at the Forest Avenue Heating Plant. This electrical shutdown will also enable Waldinger to complete a grounding project of all the equipment located in the Forest Avenue Heating Plant. Facilities Planning and Management apologizes in advance for the planned electrical shutdown. July 5 is the only opportunity to complete the work.
Facilities Planning and Management will soon begin working with the departments impacted by the electrical shutdown. The buildings impacted include: the Dial Center, SCB animal facility, IT equipment in the Hubbell Tunnel area, Morehouse residence hall, construction projects in process on campus, and others. Please contact Facilities Planning and Management if there are other departments/buildings that will require help preparing for the planned electrical shutdown.
Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management
Air conditioning for campus will be turned on the morning of April 22. This is a week later than normal due to the cool overnight temperatures, which have delayed the switch from heat to air conditioning.
Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management
In order to improve the campus parking experience for faculty, staff, students, and visitors, Drake will implement a new parking structure and rates beginning in the fall 2019 semester.
Effective Aug. 1, 2019, parking lots on campus will be divided into seven, color-coded zones. Commuter lots will include Lot 16: Olmsted (yellow), Lot 13: Wifet Plaza (red), Lots 18 and 18N (green), lots east of 27th Street (orange), and lots west of 27th Street (grape). View map.
Commuter lots will also be divided into two payment tiers. Parking permits for the 2019-20 academic year will cost $250 for high-demand zones (yellow, red, and green). While low-demand, peripheral-campus zones (orange and grape) will cost $125. Campus members will have the option of purchasing a parking permit within the zone of their choice, and based on their desired price point.
Pricing for 2019-20 parking permits was carefully determined following a third-party, comprehensive study, which measured parking trends, usage, and future demand. The study revealed that even after the removal of three parking lots due to construction, there remains adequate campus parking (more spots than permit holders). The new zone system is designed to provide a more predictable parking experience for the Drake community and evenly distribute parking across campus.
Those who register for a parking permit next fall will receive a hang-tag that corresponds with their designated parking zone. On Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., commuters will be required to park in their assigned zone. Those who park in lots other than their designated zone may be ticketed.
Residential parkers, as in the past, will be assigned to a residential lot (blue). View Map. Residential students are strongly encouraged not to bring a car to campus and instead walk, bike, take a DART bus, or rent a car through the Enterprise car-sharing program, WeCar. WeCar vehicles are parked at dedicated spots near campus, and members can rent a vehicle anytime and then return it to where they picked it up.
The University hopes the new parking regulations will advance Drake’s sustainability efforts by increasing the use of alternative modes of transportation. In addition to WeCar, alternative transportation options include free DART bus rides (with Drake ID) all over Des Moines and a discounted rate to ride BCycle bicycles. There are four BCycle stations close to campus; bikes are $3 per trip or $20 per year with unlimited 60-minute rides.
For questions regarding the new parking rates and structure, view an FAQ or visit the Public Safety web page. Questions may also be directed to Scott Law, executive director campus public safety and operational services, at scott.law@drake.edu.
— Scott Law, Executive Director Campus Public Safety & Operational Services
Beginning this week, the parking lots south of University across from Old Main and Cole Hall between 26th and 27th Street (Lots 5 and 8) will not be available to Drake commuters due to continued work on the Nelson Construction & Development project. Commuters can refer to the Drake University Map for alternative parking options. Fencing will also be going up this Thursday.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Public Safety.
Kelly Foster, Facilities, Planning, and Management Project Manager
Who do you know that shows good character by being trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and being a good citizen? Nominate them for an Iowa Character Award.
You can nominate an individual (youth or adult), school, educator, business, non-profit organization or community.
Nominations are due May 1, 2019. Get started at IowaCharacterAwards.org.
Amy Smit, Robert D. & Billie Ray Center
Registration is now open for the annual All Staff Council Kickball Tournament scheduled to take place Wednesday, May 22, from 1:30–4 p.m. in Helmick Commons. Sign up as a team, free agent, or referee.
All Staff Council will accept registrations for up to 8 teams of no more than 12 faculty and/or staff members. Individuals interested in playing may also sign up as a free agent, and will be assigned to a team. Registrations are due by Friday, May 17, at noon. Fans are also welcomed and encouraged to cheer on their colleagues and enjoy some snacks. No fan registration is required. For questions, contact ascspecialevents@drake.edu.
Jill Batten, on behalf of All Staff Council Special Events Committee
