All posts by Becky Klein

Campus Announcements

Planned Panopto Maintenance April 12

Drake’s Vendor partners at Panopto will perform database maintenance on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting approximately 3 hours. During this time, Panopto will be unavailable. This work is necessary to improve the stability and capacity of the overall Panopto system.

If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

To see the full 2025 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.

— Becky Klein, ITS

For Faculty, For Staff

Bring Counseling to Your Classroom

The Broadlawns Drake Student Counseling Center offers various workshops and presentations, aimed to bring mental health education outside of the therapy office. If you are interested in the counseling center team discussing various mental health topics during your class time, please fill out our program request form.

If you have any specific questions, please contact Tyler.Lewis@drake.edu.

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director, Counseling Center

For Faculty

Call for Nominations: Global Scholar/Practitioner-in-Residence

The Principal Center for Global Citizenship invites nominations for the Global Scholar/Practitioner-in-Residence program for Spring 2026, seeking to attract talented individuals from academia or the professions who have outstanding international expertise to teach a course, mentor students, give public lectures, work on joint research with faculty, and aid the global capacity-building of the institution through fruitful external collaborations. One scholar will be selected.

Nomination Instructions

Candidates should be nominated by the academic unit to which they will be attached. Please submit the following supporting materials:

  • A nomination letter discussing the qualifications of the candidate and expected contributions to the department and University as a whole
  • Candidate’s biographical information and CV
  • A letter of interest from the candidate
  • A letter of support from the department chair and college/school dean, including how the scholar advances departmental and college/school strategic goals related to internationalization

Nominations should be directed to Annique Kiel, Executive Director of Global Engagement and International Programs, by April 11, 2025. Preference will be given to practitioners or scholars from one of Drake’s global partners. Units considering a nomination are encouraged to consult with Annique prior to submission.

Among the criteria to be considered for the nominee:

  • A record of recognized international leadership and distinguished professional accomplishment in their field
  • A demonstrated commitment to global capacity-building and responsible global citizenship
  • An ability to bring a uniquely global perspective to the Drake community
  • A willingness and ability to offer courses that complement the existing curriculum and meet rigorous academic standards.

In recognition of their contributions, Global Scholars/Practitioners receive a stipend, a travel allowance, an appropriate workspace in the host college/school, and access to university facilities. Global Scholars/Practitioners will be affiliated with an appropriate academic unit for the semester and will offer at least one course.

— Erin McSween, Cowles Library

For Students

J-Term Travel Seminar Priority Deadline TODAY

If you’ve been thinking about applying to a travel seminar for J-Term 2026, be sure to submit an application by the end of today (April 1) to get priority access. Some programs are competitive, so it’s important that you apply now. There is NO application fee, and no financial commitment until you are offered a spot and accept it.

Start your program application at https://drake.via-trm.com/authV2/welcome.

Today is also the scholarship deadline! Scholarship applications appear in your Via portal after you start the program application.

Any questions about travel seminars can be directed to chelsea.funk@drake.edu.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements

Griff Gives Back Pet Food Drive; Help Griff II Reach His Goal

Griff II’s annual Griff Gives Back pet food drive is underway. In its 10th year, Griff’s goal is to collect 20,000 pounds of pet food to benefit area pets in need through The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry. There are many easy and convenient ways to donate.

How to donate

Together, and with your help, Griff hopes to continue supporting The Pet Project Midwest’s very important initiative of feeding pets in need so they can stay in the homes where they are loved.

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

Campus Announcements

Upcoming Yoga Classes; Fitness Instructor Meeting

Drake Wellness is offering a range of relaxing yoga classes this May. See a list of dates and times below or visit the Drake Rec app.

In addition, aspiring fitness instructors are invited to an informational meeting on April 16 at 4 p.m. in the Bell Center Studio to learn about becoming a Group Fitness Instructor.

Yoga Nidra – May 8 and 12 at 6 p.m. – A relaxation and meditation practice that guides participants to a state of conscious relaxation, blurring the line between wakefulness and sleep. Practiced lying down, it involves systematic relaxation, breath awareness, and guided visualization to induce deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Sign up through the Drake Rec app.

NamasTea Yoga – May 9 at 12:15 p.m. – A session of yoga and a cup of tea to soothe your nerves before finals week. Sign up through the Drake Rec app.

— Gail Witte, Recreational Services

For Students

Des Moines Menace Host Open Cup April 2, Discounted Tickets

The Menace have advanced to the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup and will be hosting the next match Wednesday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. Their roster has former Drake soccer player, Leroy Enzugusi, including former MLS All-Stars and Olympians and has garnered nationwide attention from the likes of ESPN, the New York Times, USA Today, and Apple TV.

Drake University students are invited to join us for this historic night. To make this match as accessible as possible to our local soccer community, our friends at Kick It Forward are covering $10 OFF each ticket purchased to the match. Thanks to this support, General Admission tickets for this match will only be $3 and Midfield Comfort seats will be $8.

The Menace would love to see as many Bulldogs as possible!

Ticket Link: https://www.gofevo.com/event/OpenCupRound2

Discount Code: DRAKEOPENCUP (applies $10 off per ticket)

— Jerry Parker, Vice President & Dean of Students

For Students

Federal Student Loans for Summer Semester

Undergraduate and pharmacy (P1-P3) students who want to borrow federal student loans for the summer semester must complete the Summer Financial Aid Application.

Graduate and law students who are registered at least half-time (5+ credits) for summer and who have completed the 2025–2026 FAFSA will automatically be offered their federal student loan eligibility for the summer semester. These students should only complete this form if they receive a financial aid offer that does not include financial aid for the summer semester.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Campus Announcements

Beautiful Bulldog Contest April 21

Mark your calendars for the 46th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest®. The contest will take place Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. Doors will open to fans at 5 p.m. to enjoy the Rescue Dog Festival and Kids Zone before the pageant begins. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a giveaway for the first 125 students to show up with their Drake ID.

The Beautiful Bulldog Contest® at Drake University is a unique trademarked event with an over 40-year history. The event kicks off a week-long Drake Relays celebration. Thirty English Bulldogs walk the pup-way to impress judges in hopes of being crowned the Most Beautiful Bulldog. The winner of the contest will reign as the Most Beautiful Bulldog for the 2025 Drake Relays.

For questions, email beautifulbulldog@drake.edu.

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Office