All posts by Becky Klein

Planned Campus Network Maintenance: Thu 8/13

ITS will attempt the final phase of a campus network upgrade on Thursday, August 13. Internet access will be intermittent beginning at 8:30 p.m. Continue reading for timing, affected services, and support information. 

ITS will reconfigure network equipment on Thursday, August 13, as part of Drake’s ongoing network refresh project. This work will transition the campus internet connection to a new network architecture. 

ITS previously postponed this work twice after testing raised concerns about completing the transition without disrupting campus events. The new date was selected to reduce the risk of impacting scheduled activities while allowing ITS to complete the upgrade. 

The maintenance window will begin at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, and is expected to last approximately four hours. Services should be restored by 12:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14. 

Campus internet service will be intermittent throughout the maintenance window. Because this work affects network-connected equipment, the outage may also impact phones, elevators, and other non-computer devices connected to the campus network. 

Web-based services such as Microsoft 365 will not be impacted. 

After work is completed, if you continue to experience issues, please contact the ITS Support Center through the University Service Portal, by phone at 515-271-3001, or by visiting us in person with your device in the lower level of Carnegie Hall. 

ITS appreciates your patience as we complete this important network refresh work. 

— Becky Klein

Opportunities to Serve: All Staff Council Open Positions

Following the spring elections for All Staff Council (ASC), additional opportunities have become available. The following positions and committee members are needed starting immediately. Terms are 2–3 years, depending on the position.

ASC is a good way to network with other campus staff and work to help promote a positive and collaborative campus work environment. If you are classified as a staff member, interested, and committed to serving, please contact Lauren McCarthy, 2026-2027 ASC chair, at  lauren.mccarthy@drake.edu.

Events & Community Service Committee (1 position, service through May 2028)

The Events & Community Service Committee develops and implements plans for special events on campus and creates awareness of community service opportunities available for staff participation. Overall obligations should average 2-5 hours/month.

Governance Committee (1 position, service through May 2029)

The Governance Committee finalizes the structure of the ASC by developing rules. This committee conducts yearly elections and attends to any rule changes, recommendations, or policies proposed. The Governance Committee tends to be busier in the spring semester compared to the fall semester. Overall obligations should average 2-5 hours/month.

Visit the All Staff Council website to learn more.

— Lauren McCarthy

See Griff’s State Fair-Inspired T-Shirt

Griff is gearing up for the State Fair!
August’s Griff of the Month T-shirt gives one of the Iowa State Fair’s most iconic traditions a Bulldog-inspired twist. Inspired by the fair’s famous butter cow, the limited-edition “Can’t Believe It’s Not Griff” design features Griff III in all his buttery glory. It’s the perfect tee for celebrating State Fair season while showing off your Drake pride.

Grab Yours Now!

Find Us at the Iowa State Fair
Heading to the fair? Bulldog Shop, in partnership with Drake University, will have a booth set up in the Varied Industries Building. Come shop Drake gear, and other limited edition Griff State Fair designs, available only at the fair.
Build Your Griff Collection
A new limited-edition Griff design is released every month, giving you 12 opportunities to celebrate everyone’s favorite Bulldog. Collect all 12 designs to unlock a special bonus at the end of the year. Don’t let August’s design melt away—get yours before it’s gone!

Collect Them All!

— Bulldog Shop

RSO President’s Summit Aug. 25 & Activities Fair Aug. 27

Student Organization President’s Summit: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 5–7 p.m., Parent’s Hall, Olmsted Center

The RSO President’s Summit will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 5–7 p.m. in Parent’s Hall, Olmsted Center. The summit is mandatory for RSO Presidents. If the president of your organization is unable to attend, please have at least one member of your Executive Council (VP, Treasurer, Secretary, etc.) or a designated representative attend in their absence. An email will be sent out to each registered student organization with more information.

Activities Fair: Thursday, Aug. 27, 3–5 p.m., Upper Olmsted

The Activities Fair will be held Thursday, Aug. 27, from 3–5 p.m. in Upper Olmsted. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to stop by to see what opportunities are available to get active on campus. An email will be sent out to each registered student organization with more information. Email Tiffany Hach with questions.

— Tiffany Hach

Volunteers Needed for First-Year Move-In on August 19

In the spirit of All In This Together, the Office of Alumni and Student Affairs is excited to begin planning for First-Year Move-In! This year’s move-in will take place on Wednesday, August 19, and we are actively recruiting volunteers to help welcome our newest Bulldogs to campus.

Each year, we receive wonderful feedback from students, parents, and families about how efficiently Move-In Day runs and how welcoming and supportive the Drake community is. Your participation plays an important role in creating a positive first impression for our new students and their families.

To continue this tradition, we are looking to fill more than 240 volunteer shifts with students, faculty, staff, and alumni. As a thank-you, all volunteers will receive a Move-In Crew T-shirt and DU Good service hours.

If you’re available to help, we’d love to have you on the Move-In Crew! Please sign up using the link below.

You can view the available volunteer roles, shift schedule, and register here.

Thank you for helping us give our newest Bulldogs a warm Drake welcome!

— Gina Ryan

Protect Yourself Against Job and Internship Scams

Employment scams are on the rise, and we want to help you stay safe during your job search. We are aware that several fraudulent postings—some impersonating Drake Career Services, Financial Aid, or Drake alumni—have been emailed directly to students. These emails often look official and may even feature the Drake logo.

Please exercise caution when applying for or accepting positions. Students are encouraged to research the employer to protect against fraudulent postings.

Here are key red flags to watch for:

  • Unfamiliar Email Addresses or URLs: Always check the email address and website URL. Does something look off? The official Career Services email is career.services@drake.edu, or you may get something from your college’s career services liaison. Check Starfish to verify your liaison.
  • Grammar & Typos: Spelling errors, poor grammar, or awkward phrasing are common warning signs.
  • Immediate Offers: If you get an immediate job offer without going through an application or interview process or directly talking to someone from the company, it is likely a scam.
  • Financial Requests: Any request that asks you to share your bank information, handle cash or credit transactions remotely, or to pay a fee prior to starting work, is a major red flag.
  • “Too Good to be True”: If the pay and benefits are extremely high or seem “too good to be true,” be wary.

If you receive a suspicious email with these red flags, do not click on any links in the email. Report it immediately to ITS using the ITS Phishing Alert button. See here for how to report a phishing message.

When in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Career Services liaison to review job opportunities before taking action!

— Amanda Martin, Career Services

Now Available: Updated SPSS 32 License

The 2026 license for IBM SPSS Statistics 32 is now available to faculty and staff. To request the software and license code, submit a Software Request ticket through the University Service Portal. ITS staff will provide the license code and assistance with updating your software.

Installers in Self Service and Company Portal have also been updated to SPSS 32.

Questions? Submit a ticket through the university Service Portal at service.drake.edu/its, visit the ITS Support Center in the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

— Becky Klein, ITS

Campus Network Refresh July 16

ITS will reconfigure campus network equipment on Thursday, July 16, as part of Drake’s ongoing network refresh project. This work supports broader improvements to campus network infrastructure.

The maintenance window will begin at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, and is expected to last approximately four hours. Services should be restored by 12:30 a.m. on Friday, July 17.

Campus internet service will be intermittent throughout the maintenance window. Because this work affects network-connected equipment, the outage may also impact phones, elevators, and other non-computer devices connected to the campus network.

Web-based services such as Microsoft 365 will not be impacted.

After work is completed, if you continue to experience issues, please contact the ITS Support Center through the Service Portal, by phone (515-271-3001), or by visiting us in person with your device in the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

ITS appreciates your patience as we complete this important network refresh work.

— Becky Klein, ITS

July’s Griff of the Month T-Shirt is Here!

This month’s limited-edition Griff of the Month T-shirt features everyone’s favorite mascot taking charge as the official Fireworks Director all summer long.

Build Your Collection

Each month, we release a brand-new, exclusive Griff design so you can grow your collection all year round. If you collect all 12 designs, you will unlock a special bonus at the end of the year!

Don’t Miss Out

July’s design is only available for a limited time. Grab yours today before it’s gone.

Collect them all!

— Bulldog Shop

Secure Your Parking Pass: Online Registration Now Open

Campus parking permits for the upcoming academic year went on sale July 1. To secure your parking pass, visit the Public Safety parking page and select “Online Parking Registration.” Be sure to have your vehicle’s license plate number handy when you sign up.

Please note that permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all sales must be completed online.

Payment Methods: You can pay via credit or debit card. Additionally, the payroll deduction process can be completed entirely online and is available to full-time, benefit-eligible part-time, and adjunct employees.

Pass Pickup: Once your pass is ready, you will receive an email confirmation. You can pick it up at the Student Services Desk located in the Johansen Student Center. Please bring a valid ID for verification.

Parking Permit Options

  • Resident passes: $410 (blue, valid for 24/7 parking)
  • Premium passes: $300 (yellow, Olmsted lot; red, Ray Promenade lots)
  • Perimeter passes: $135 (all orange and purple lots)
  • Evening/Weekend passes: $100 (valid from 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, and all day on weekends)

Visit drake.edu/map to see where the lots are located. Passes are valid from August to August, and you are welcome to start using your new pass as soon as it is picked up.

For questions, contact studentservices@drake.edu.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center