All posts by Ashton Hockman

Campus Announcements Archive

Griff Gives Back pet food drive underway

The ninth annual Griff Gives Back pet food drive is underway! Griff II is collecting donations of adult dog and cat food to benefit The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry, in the weeks leading up to the Beautiful Bulldog Contest and Drake Relays.

How to Donate

Griff II’s goal this year is 15,000 pounds to benefit area pets in need. There are several different ways to donate. Donations can be ordered online, purchased and delivered to one of nine different drop-off locations, or ordered directly from our Amazon wish list.

Let’s assist Griff II in reaching his goal!

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

For Students Archive

December commencement ceremonies

Beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, Drake University will no longer hold a December commencement ceremony. Instead, the University will return to its prior tradition of celebrating all graduates at its spring commencement ceremonies in May. 

Drake’s December 2024 commencement will be its last December commencement.  

This decision was not made lightly and was based on several factors including participation, logistical considerations, fiscal responsibility, and our commitment to providing an exceptional experience for our graduates.  

We understand this change may impact some of our students and families who were planning to participate in a December commencement ceremony in 2025 and beyond. Our hope is that this decision will bring all students of the same graduating class together—whether graduating in December, May, or August—for one culminating celebration of their accomplishments and time at Drake. 

If you have questions about this decision or commencement in general, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@drake.edu. 

— Jenny Tran-Johnson, Registrar

For Students Archive

Study Abroad Fall 2024 on Drake’s cohort program, DU England at Harlaxton

Apply for the DU England: Harlaxton program through Terra Dotta.  Priority deadline and scholarship deadline: Friday, March 15.

Drake is currently accepting applications for DU England: Harlaxton, where you can study abroad fall 2024 at a Victorian Manor set in the English countryside, just an hour outside of London.

This upcoming fall, a cohort of Drake students will study at Harlaxton with Drake Professor of Politics and International Studies, Mary McCarthy. Students enroll in one or two Drake courses and round out their semester credits taking a variety of courses taught by British and visiting faculty.  Harlaxton courses can be pre-approved to count toward your major(s), minor(s), concentration, and/or AOIs.

Drake courses offered:
POLS 149: Sites of Memory (AOIs: Historical Foundations or Global & Cultural Understanding; Approved for Honors credit and as an elective for the following majors, minors, and concentrations: Politics, International Relations, Human Rights, Women & Gender Studies, Black Diaspora Studies)
POLS 178: International Law (AOI: Engaged Citizen; Required course for International Relations; Elective for Politics)

Studying abroad on DU England: Harlaxton, students are charged Drake tuition and keep their scholarship package, making your experience abroad comparable in cost to staying right here in Des Moines.  In addition, we award over $100,000 in study abroad scholarships every year!

To learn more, attend an information session offered later today and tomorrow.

INFORMATION SESSIONS:
Tuesday, February 20th at 5 pm
Wednesday, February 21st at 12 pm
Pomerantz Conference Room, Olmsted Student Center, main-level

If you have questions or want to schedule an advising appointment, reach out to studyabroad@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Director, Education Abroad

Campus Announcements Archive

Science on Screen film series: Varsity Cinema & Drake University partnership

Science on Screen, a collaboration between Varsity Cinema, STEM Librarian Dan Chibnall, and STEM@DRAKE, launches Feb. 27 with a screening of the sci-fi/horror classic The Thing, introduced by Shauna Kaplan, associate professor of biology. Buy tickets.

Kaplan’s introduction will explore how different diseases spread in our society. Some transmit directly from one person to another, others are spread from an insect bite, such as a tick or mosquito, and some spread from animal to human. Before watching The Thing, she will talk about how some diseases transmit from an animal to a human easily, while others are much more difficult, and whether once the disease is in a human if it can transmit to another human, using influenza as the main example.

The Thing is a sci-fi/horror classic from director John Carpenter. Set on a science research station in the Antarctic, an American research team has a strange encounter with their Norwegian counterparts, including a husky dog who is not what it seems. This film explores science and sci-fi concepts such as biological transmission of disease, paranoia, seclusion, social anxiety, and alienation. 

This is the first of three films in the series coming to Varsity Cinema this spring. The next film in the series will be Blackberry, March 26, with an introduction by SJMC professor Chris Snider on the evolution of and relationship with our mobile devices particularly smartphones. The final film will be Galaxy Quest on April 30 with an introduction by professor Charlie Nelson on our fascination with the concept of extraterrestrials. 

Science on Screen series schedule:

Film: John Carpenter’s The Thing
Tuesday, Feb. 27: talk begins at 6:30 p.m., film shortly after, no later than 7 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Shauna Kaplan, Biology & Microbiology, Drake University
Presentation Title: Diseases that Transmit Between Animals and Humans
Description: Different diseases spread (known as transmission) in different modes. Some transmit directly from one person to another, others are spread from an insect bite, such as a tick or mosquito, and some spread from animal to humans. Before watching The Thing, we will talk about how some diseases transmit from an animal to a human easily, while other are much more difficult, and whether if once the disease is in a human if it can transmit to another human, using influenza as the main example.
Tickets: On sale now https://varsitydesmoines.com/purchase/381564/

Film: Blackberry
Tuesday, March 26: talk begins at 6:30 p.m., film shortly after, no later than 7 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Chris Snider, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Drake University
Presentation Title: “Don’t Silence Your Phones”
Description: How our smartphones went from email-obsessed devices to powerful movie-making tools that fit in our pocket. This presentation from Drake University School of Journalism multimedia professor Chris Snider will discuss the evolution of smartphones, which are now used to film major motion pictures. Snider will also share some tips for all of us to unleash our movie-making abilities.
Tickets: Will go on sale in mid-March 

Film: Galaxy Quest
Tuesday, April 30: talk begins at 6:30 p.m., film shortly after, no later than 7 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Charlie Nelson, Physics & Astronomy, Drake University
Presentation Title & Description: TBA
Tickets: Will go on sale in mid-April

Science on Screen is a national initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

FPM shares results of Administrative Services Fall 2023 survey

The annual Survey of Administrative Services, SAS, is an opportunity for faculty and staff to provide feedback on how services are performed across the campus.  Facilities Planning and Management uses this input to celebrate our successes over the last year and where opportunities for improvement may lie within our team.

Survey respondents provided largely positive feedback about FPM services.  Satisfaction with FPM staff courtesy, professionalism, knowledge, timeliness, resolution of issues and communication regarding work orders and projects received similar ratings to last year.

The eleven FPM specific services that were evacuated received ratings in which some services were slightly lower this year than the past year, with a few services receiving higher marks. Grounds team is this year’s winner of the FPM Golden Bulldog Award, 2nd year in a row, for receiving the highest satisfactory rating within FPM at 4.57 out of 5. Congratulation to the Grounds Team!

Overall satisfaction with FPM dipped a little from the previous year.  We contribute this to several factors, the lower number of respondents to the survey, and from the comments, truly understanding the role of FPM.  Our team is dedicated to maintaining campus buildings and grounds to the best of our abilities.  We recognize there are some outdated systems and infrastructure, but those are still operational due to the hard work of the staff.  We would like nothing more that be able to remodel and updated every building, until that time, our staff is ensuring that the learning environment is to the utmost main concern of our mission.

FPM continues to review areas of opportunities for improvement.  This coming year communication to the campus remains a top priority.  Keeping everyone updated on work orders or projects that affect their daily routine tends to be an area that gets many comments on the survey.  Being proactive and reporting and addressing issues prior to those becoming larger concerns is going to be followed through by our front-line staff.  Lastly, FPM will continue to exhibit the core values in everything we do.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management, Executive Director

Campus Announcements Archive

Professional portrait day Feb. 29, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Thursday, Feb. 29, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff. High-resolution portraits are made available for download 2–4 weeks after the photos are taken. Images can be downloaded at https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1.

 — Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing

Campus Announcements Archive

GOP presidential debate at Drake University Jan. 10—road and building closures

Drake is proud to once again partner with CNN in hosting a nationally televised GOP presidential primary debate. The GOP primary debate will be held in historic Sheslow Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 10—just five days before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

This is the fifth presidential election cycle in a row that Drake has hosted a nationally televised debate, having hosted three democratic debates and now three republican debates since 2007. The debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max.

Drake’s mission statement promises students an exceptional learning environment, and hosting the debate exemplifies this commitment.  The debate brings national attention to our University, and we expect a number of national and international press as well as many other visitors to the campus.

In addition, the Drake Men’s Basketball Team will host Indiana State at the Knapp Center on Wednesday evening. Both teams are currently tied for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

In order to facilitate these two events, the following traffic accommodations, as well as road and building closures, will be in place.

  • Carpenter Ave. will be closed to traffic Friday, Jan. 5, from 5 p.m. until Thursday, Jan. 11, at 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 10: 

  • The Olmsted Center will be closed to the public.
  • The Olmsted Lot (lot 16) will be closed to the public.
  • Cole Hall will close to the public at 12 p.m.
  • Old Main will close to the public at 1 pm.
  • Guest for the Debate will be directed to park in the Harkin Lot (lot 24 and 24A).
  • Guest for the Men’s Basketball game is asked to park in the Fac Lot (lot 1), Tennis Center Lot (lot 4) and Handicap lot (lot 3).

Thank you in advance for assisting us in making these events successful and safe.

— Scott Law, Executive Director for Public Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

In memoriam: Professor Emeritus Julian Archer

It is with great sadness that we share that Professor Emeritus of History Julian Archer passed away on Nov. 23. Julian was an accomplished history professor who served Drake for 42 years.  In addition to his role as a faculty member, he lead multiple alumni travel excursions and was a long serving member of the Bucksbaum Committee. Julian will be deeply missed by his colleagues and by generations of students. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane. A memorial is being planned for next spring. Our deepest condolences go out to his children, Jane, Elisabeth, and Laird.

News & Achievements Archive

Professor Rosburg’s recent publication receives top honors

Professor of Biology Thomas Rosburg was among 16 of Iowa’s premiere scientists featured in the recently published book “Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future.” Tending Iowa’s Land, which was edited by Cornelia Mutel and published by the University of Iowa Press, was awarded first place for non-fiction nature by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association for 2023. The book is organized around four sections that speak to the environmental challenges we face in the degradation of soil health, the deterioration of water quality,  global climate change, and the loss of biodiversity. Professor Rosburg’s contribution was a chapter entitled “Iowa’s Rich Biodiversity Legacy: A Vision for the Future”.  Learn more about the book.

For Staff Archive

Bulldog Connect Lunch Dec. 6 at Hubbell

Join colleagues from across campus for a $5 lunch at Hubbell on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Members of All Staff Council’s Events & Community Service committee will host the lunch, so you will have a friendly face to talk to. Come and go as your schedule allows.

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of ASC Events & Community Service Committee