All posts by Gail Witte

Campus Announcements

Rec Services: J-Term Facility Hours and Fitness Schedule

Rec Services will have adjusted hours for J-Term (Jan. 5–25)

Bell Center
Monday – Thursday: 11:00am-8:00pm
Friday: 11:00am-6:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Bell Center Pool
Check rec.drake.edu for updated hours.

Roger Knapp Tennis Center
Tuesday & Thursday: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Underground Fitness
CLOSED

*All Facilities CLOSED on Monday, January 19*

J–Term Fitness Schedule


Rec Services is offering Functional Fitness, BASIC Step Aerobics, and Kettlebells classes at the Bell Center from Jan. 13–22 from 12:15–12:45 p.m. Functional Fitness and Kettlebells are weight training classes, and Step is Gail’s attempt at feeling young again.  All three are great ways to get warm, get moving, and stay upright for as long as possible.

News & Achievements

Drake Law School Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. Appointed to Two National Leadership Roles

Drake University Law School is pleased to announce that Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. has been appointed to two prominent national leadership positions, underscoring his leadership and Drake Law’s expanding presence in national conversations shaping the legal profession.

Dean Jones has been selected to serve as Co-Chair of the national board of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan nonprofit civil rights organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to mobilize the nation’s leading lawyers as agents for change during the Civil Rights Movement. The Lawyers’ Committee implements its mission by marshaling the pro bono resources of the private bar to pursue civil rights.

Dean Jones has also been appointed to the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Deans Steering Committee, a national leadership group composed of law school deans from across the country. The Committee plans events and facilitates opportunities for deans to discuss emerging challenges to the legal profession, share insights, and recommend policy changes to the AALS Executive Committee. This appointment provides Drake Law with a platform to help shape national conversations about critical issues impacting the legal academy and the future of the legal profession.

These national appointments highlight Drake Law School’s growing reputation and influence within major organizations committed to justice, legal education, and professional development. Dean Jones’ service in these capacities will help further Drake Law’s mission to prepare students for leadership, advocacy, and public service at the highest levels.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

For Faculty

Fall 2026 FYS Call for Proposals

We are excited to invite proposals for the Fall 2026 First-Year Seminars (FYS). As a cornerstone of our first-year experience, the FYS provides a structured, welcoming environment where students begin building academic confidence, habits, and sense of belonging that will carry them through their Drake journey. These seminars provide incoming students with transformative opportunities to connect with faculty, peers, and ideas in meaningful and developmentally supportive ways.

To propose an FYS for next fall, please complete the Qualtrics proposal form before Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.

If you have any questions as you complete the proposal, contact Bret Sikkink (bret.sikkink@drake.edu) in the Center for Teaching & Learning.

—Kendra Colbert, Drake Online and Continuing Education

For Students

Level Up with AI: An Alumni Networking Breakfast Feb. 6

Event Details:
Friday, February 6
8:30 – 10:00 AM
Olmsted Student Center, Parents Hall 

Event Description and Sign-Up Link:

AI is here. Students have questions, and Drake alumni have some advice! Join Career Services, Alumni Relations, and Drake alumni from diverse academic and industry areas for a conversation about IF, WHEN, & HOW to use AI to support your career development and enjoy a free breakfast! 

Keynote speaker, Ben Weinberg (Class of 2017), Director of Talent Development at F&G and former religion major at Drake University, shares that most people don’t really understand AI, but everyone is going to need the knowledge to talk about it and the skills to use it. He’s excited to share is expertise about talent development, AI, and the power of relationships. Students will walk away feeling energized, informed, and ready to leverage new networking relationships! 

Students can register in Eventbrite, and space is limited. The full agenda is below. 

Event Agenda: 

8:30 AM – Check-In
8:45 AM – Breakfast & Networking
9:00 AM – Keynote Address: Ben Weinberg ‘17
9:25 AM – Open Networking 

Photo: Get LinkedIn: An Alumni Networking Breakfast, February 2025

— Jill Batten, Office of Advising

For Students

Career Fair MythBusters, Save the date for University Career Fair Feb. 12

Save the date: Spring Career Fair
Thursday, Feb. 12
3–6 p.m.
Olmsted Center
Click here to register for the fair  

Career fairs are one of the easiest ways to make real connections with employers and discover new opportunities students didn’t even know existed. Still, many students skip them based on common and unfortunate assumptions. Drake Career Services sets the record straight with a few quick MythBusters.

MYTH FACT 
“Career fairs are only for seniors.” Start building your network early with Drake’s partners, so when you are a senior, they know who you are! If you wait until you’re a senior to attend, you’ll be too late! 
“Students can just show up and wing it.” Bring a polished copy of your resume, practice your elevator pitch, dress for success, and research employer attendees in Handshake before you go! ‘Just showing up’ is a sure way to make a poor first impression.  
“There’s nothing in it for me.” The Career Fair offers something for everyone – students, faculty, and staff! Networking, career exploration, professional headshot photobooth, advice, internships, part- and full-time jobs, and free swag! 
“Employers are only looking for students with perfect resumes.” Employers expect that you are still developing! They are looking for students who have potential, show curiosity, display professionalism, and inquire genuinely about their organization.  

We hope we’ve boosted your confidence, sparked your excitement, and inspired you to make the most of the University Career Fair on February 12, 2026!  

To help you feel even more prepared, Career Services staff and employer volunteers will be hosting a walk-in, Resume Reviews on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Conference Rooms in Upper Olmsted. No appointments necessary.

— Jill Batten, Office of Advising

For Students

Group Fitness Instructor Training Program

Group Fitness Instructor Training Program
Mondays and Fridays, Feb 2–Mar 27, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Bell Center Studio, $80 for 8 weeks

Kickstart your journey into the world of fitness instruction with this immersive 8-week training program! Designed for students interested in teaching group fitness at Drake Rec, this course provides foundational skills, hands-on practice, and professional preparation.

Participants who complete all quizzes and the final audition will receive the ACE Group Fitness Instructor textbook, a valuable resource for preparing for the ACE certification exam.

Benefits include:
• Eligibility to become a fitness instructor at Drake Rec
• Preparation for the ACE fitness certification exam
• Skill development, confidence building, and professional connections

Payment due: February 9, 2026
Questions? Contact gail.witte@drake.edu

Campus Announcements

Bulldog Shop Holiday Reminders

As the holiday season approaches, we want to help make sure your gifts arrive on time for the ones you love. Please keep our upcoming shipping deadlines in mind when placing your holiday orders. We recommend placing your online orders at drake.ecampus.com by Wednesday, Dec. 17, to ensure your gifts arrive in time before Dec. 25!

Bulldog Shop’s special holiday hours are noted below. The store will be closed beginning Saturday, Dec. 20, and any online orders placed during that time will begin processing once we reopen on Monday, Jan. 5.

Holiday Hours

Monday, Dec. 15 – Friday, Dec. 19: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 20 – Sunday, Jan. 4: Closed

Thank you for being part of the Bulldog family. We appreciate your support and wish you and your loved ones a warm and joyful holiday season!

For Faculty, For Staff

Upcoming System Updates for Campus Computers

In early January, ITS will start rolling out important required system updates to all Mac and Windows computers across campus.

  • Windows users: Your devices will receive the Windows 25H2 update.
  • Mac users: Your devices will be upgraded to macOS Tahoe.

These updates will be delivered through the usual update process. When you see a notification to install the update, please do so promptly to help keep your computer and our campus network safe and running smoothly.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please visit our online portal at service.drake.edu/its. You can also contact the Support Center by phone at 515-271-3001. We’re here to help with any concerns you may have regarding the update process.

Thank you for helping us maintain secure and up-to-date technology on our campus!

— Becky Klein, ITS

For Faculty, For Staff

Survey of Administrative Services: ITS Progress and Opportunities 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Survey of Administrative Services. Of the 290 survey participants, 66% (192 people) reported working with ITS regularly. The respondent group was 74% staff/administrators and 26% faculty members. The average satisfaction score across all survey responses was 4.5 out of 5. As shown in the chart below, satisfaction scores have steadily increased since 2021 and reached their highest level since the survey began. 

Key Highlights 

  • Overall Satisfaction: 87% of participants reported being satisfied or very satisfied with ITS overall. Staff continued to be recognized for courtesy, professionalism, and knowledge. 
  • Positive Trends: Most respondents agreed they have the tools and support needed to work effectively on campus and remotely. A large majority recognized ITS staff as exemplifying Drake’s core values.

Areas of Growth

Training Awareness: Last year, 84% of all survey respondents said they knew how to access training to learn new technology. This year, awareness among faculty declined: only 74% of faculty members reported knowing how to get technology training, compared to 88% of faculty last year. In contrast, staff awareness of training resources increased slightly. To better understand these findings, we will collect additional feedback on where campus members seek technology training resources and what types of training they need. This approach will enable us to tailor our efforts and collaborate with campus partners to provide more responsive and effective support. 

Communication and Response: Most respondents remain confident in ITS’s ability to resolve issues and provide regular status updates. However, some noted inconsistencies in communication and response times, which often depend on frontline staff availability. To address this, we are prioritizing staff cross-training and enhancing self-service and remote support options to ensure faster and more consistent assistance. 

Thank you for your continued engagement and feedback. Your insights are essential in strengthening ITS services and empowering every member of the Drake community to thrive in a digital world. 

— Keren Fiorenza, Deputy CITO & Chief Information Security Officer

Campus Announcements

Important ITS Reminders for Winter Break

Stay Secure and Connected While You’re Away

With winter break around the corner, ITS encourages you to take a few simple steps to safeguard your devices and maintain uninterrupted access to campus resources—especially if you’ll be traveling or making changes to your tech. Please read through these key reminders so you can stay secure and connected before, during, and after the break.

Power Down and Unplug Devices Before You Leave

Before departing campus for winter break, take a moment to power off all electronic devices in your office, classroom, or residence. This includes turning off TVs, classroom projectors, and other audiovisual equipment to prevent unnecessary energy use and potential electrical hazards.

Additionally, unplug printers, monitors, desktop computers, and any other non-essential electronics (excluding laptops you may be taking with you). Unplugging these devices not only conserves energy but also helps protect against damaging power surges or outages that can occur during extended breaks.

Traveling Abroad? Request International Access

If you’re heading overseas, don’t forget to submit a request for international access before you leave. You can do this quickly by submitting an Account/Security Request ticket via the support portal. This will help you avoid any disruptions when logging in from outside the country and ensure you can access all necessary campus resources during your travels.

Setting Up Backup MFA Options

If there’s a chance you’ll get a new device over the break, make sure to add backup multi-factor authentication (MFA) options to your account now. This way, you’ll still be able to log in to University systems even if your primary device changes or is unavailable.

  • For detailed instructions, refer to our Knowledge Base article: Setting Up Additional MFA Options which walks you through each step of adding backup authentication methods, such as a secondary phone number, authenticator app, or security key.
  • Follow the steps to add at least one backup method before the break, so you’re prepared if you upgrade or lose access to your primary device.

Reset MFA Settings in Password Manager

Remember, you can reset your MFA settings at any time by visiting the campus Password Manager system at password.drake.edu. If you anticipate any changes to your devices or authentication methods, take a moment to update your MFA preferences using the steps noted above before the break begins.

Support Center Hours After Finals & During J-term

The ITS Support Center will be closed for winter break along with the rest of the University. However, the online support portal (service.drake.edu/its) remains available 24/7 for self-service and submitting requests. Full support operations will resume on January 5.

Support Center hours after finals are as follows:

  • Closed on Sat., December 13 & Sun., December 14
  • Mon., December 15 through Fri., December 19: Open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Closed from Sat., December 20 through Sun., January 4

During J-term, the Support Center will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Regular semester hours will resume on the first day of spring semester, Monday, January 26.

Stay Up-to-Date With ITS Alerts

Want to receive ITS news posts via email? Opt in by completing this form.

To receive SMS outage notifications, make sure you’re signed up to receive text Bulldog Alerts; check your settings via myDrake. Then opt in by texting DrakeITSALERTS to phone 226787.

To see our full schedule of planned system maintenance, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.

We wish you a safe and enjoyable break! For any urgent issues, submit them to us through the support portal and we’ll address them as soon as possible when campus reopens.