Join colleagues in the Howard Hall Faculty Lounge on the third Friday of each month this semester to discuss James Lang’s 2021 book “Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning“. Email bret.sikkink@drake.edu for a hardcover copy, or you can access the eBook through Cowles Library.
The first meeting will be on Friday, Sept. 19, starting at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the introduction and first chapter.
— Bret Sikkink, Faculty Development Specialist
Tuition Exchange applications for the 2026–2027 year are available now (complete online via the links provided below). Students receiving Tuition Exchange for 2025-2026 should not complete another application. (Tuition exchange renews automatically, as long as the employee and student remain eligible.)
Full-time Drake employees are eligible to participate in tuition exchange programs, which offer waived or discounted tuition at other participating institutions for employees, their spouse/partner, or eligible dependent(s). More information about tuition exchange at Drake can be found here.
Details about each of Drake’s tuition exchange programs are provided below:
Tuition Exchange, Inc. (TE)
TE has over 700 participating schools. Visit tuitionexchange.org to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.
Council of Independent Colleges & Universities Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP)
CIC-TEP has over 430 participating schools. Visit cic.edu/tep to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.
— Ryan Zantingh, Financial Aid Office
Roadmaps to Retirement 2025: Global Lessons and Paths Ahead continues our discussion on strategies to improve retirement security at the retirement system level. The roundtable discussion will focus on the private retirement savings landscape in the US and how it compares to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. The roundtable will address both retirement savings accumulation and retirement income options, current policies and regulations, and future goals.
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. CT, networking lunch from noon – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311) or Zoom Livestream
RSVP: Eventbrite
Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value of Commitment to Mission will be recognized at the next Provost’s Social on Thursday, Sept. 25, in the Cowles Reading Room beginning at 4 p.m.
How do we define Commitment to Mission at Drake? We look for colleagues who are united in service to students and community, act with integrity and purpose, and are optimistic about our future.
To nominate a colleague, please use the Qualtrics form. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display during the event. When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets these descriptions. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.
Refreshments will include an assortment of beverages and light snacks. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children or partner.
— Ann Guddall, Office of the Provost
Faculty, students, and staff are reminded that the 2025 parking passes are no longer valid. Please make sure that your present pass has “26” printed on it. Please ensure you are following all University Parking Policies to avoid citations or towing.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Drake Public Safety at publicsafety@drake.edu.
Thank you for your cooperation!
— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services
Darcy James Argue, “one of the top big band composers of our time” (Stereophile), brings his groundbreaking ensemble Secret Society to campus on for a one-night-only performance. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the 18-piece group—praised by the New York Times as “renowned in the jazz world”—will perform selections from their GRAMMY-nominated album Dynamic Maximum Tension, hailed as “stunningly eclectic and elastic with swing” (Slate). With a sound that fuses jazz tradition, contemporary sonics, and bold sociopolitical themes, Argue’s work has captivated audiences worldwide. Don’t miss this electrifying evening from one of today’s most innovative big band leaders.
When: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 7:30 PM CDT– Free and open to the public
Where: Sheslow Auditorium
More information: Ferguson Concert: Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Drake University Calendar
— Catelin Haight-Haack, College of Arts & Sciences
Sign up to attend a wellness workshop on Monday, Sept. 15, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Discover how to align your daily routines with the rhythms of the season. In this workshop-style class, you’ll learn simple wellness practices rooted in mindfulness, movement, and nutrition that support balance and focus during the fall semester. Perfect for students looking to manage stress, boost energy, and feel more grounded as the weather shifts. Sign up on the Drake Rec app.
Welcome, first-generation Bulldogs!
Drake defines a first-generation student as a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. At Drake, about 20% of our incoming students are first-generation students.
The Office of New Student Programs and First-Generation Student Organization would like to invite you to attend the First-Generation Student Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 4–6 p.m. in Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted Center. Let’s get together to welcome our new first-gen Bulldogs and kick off the start of the academic year together. This is an opportunity to celebrate Drake’s first–generation students, faculty, and staff and to continue building relationships and support within the community. Feel free to drop in anytime between 4–6 p.m. for some ice cream and to mingle with other first-generation Bulldogs.
— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs
ITS is committed to keeping our campus computers safe and running smoothly. As part of this ongoing effort, we’ll be rolling out important security updates to Drake-owned Windows computers over the coming weeks.
Most faculty and staff won’t notice anything different, since these updates will install automatically through the normal Windows Update process, usually in the background. Occasionally, your computer may restart and display a white screen with a message asking you not to turn it off. Don’t worry—this is perfectly normal and means the update is working as intended.
If you do happen to encounter this screen, simply let your computer finish the update. No action is required beyond waiting for the process to finish. This helps ensure your device stays secure and reliable.
ITS aims to be proactive and transparent so that, if you experience something unexpected, you know what’s happening and can rest assured your computer is being kept safe. Thank you for helping us keep our campus technology secure.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the Support Center by submitting a ticket online through our service portal, visiting Carnegie with your device, or calling 515-271-3001.
— Becky Klein, ITS
As we kick off the new academic year, we want to share a few ITS updates, reminders, and helpful resources to support teaching, learning, and day-to-day work.
Microsoft Learning Pathways Now Available
Faculty and staff now have access to a customized collection of Microsoft Learning Pathways, designed to strengthen skills with essential tools like Teams, Excel, and OneDrive. These guided modules offer a flexible way to explore new features or refresh existing knowledge.
Microsoft regularly updates the content to reflect the latest features and best practices, ensuring users stay current. ITS will continue to add resources for additional software and tools to better support the evolving needs of the campus community. You can access the Learning Pathways Internal Site through the Learning Resources section of myDrake. We encourage departments to explore these helpful tools—and let us know if there are additional topics you’d like to see included.
Classroom Wireless Display Connections
Over the summer, ITS introduced Sharelink Pro Miracast for Windows devices, offering a simpler and reliable way to connect to classroom wireless displays. Classrooms in Meredith and most of Aliber have been upgraded, with more locations scheduled throughout the year. For more information and troubleshooting support, refer to the Using WirelessDisplay knowledge base article or contact the Support Center.
Network Upgrade Begins This Fall
This fall, ITS begins a multi-year upgrade to modernize the campus network, starting with new wireless access points. This work is essential to support growing connectivity needs and maintain a secure campus network.
We understand that stable, uninterrupted internet access is critical to teaching, learning, and daily operations. Although service disruptions are not anticipated, the scale of the network upgrade means work will continue throughout the academic year. ITS will schedule installations to avoid busy instructional times and will coordinate with building managers to minimize any potential impact. Project and schedule updates will be shared in OnCampus to keep campus informed.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Drake continues our commitment to cybersecurity by participating in this national initiative promoting safer online practices. ITS will promote awareness activities throughout October, and in alignment with this effort, annual security awareness training will launch next month—moving from its usual spring schedule to the fall.
Workday Transition Underway
We are excited to begin a three-year transition from Banner to Workday—our new enterprise platform for finance, human resources, and student information systems. The Drake project team, made up of dedicated staff from business offices and ITS, is working hard to prepare for the launch of finance and human resources next fall.
To help the campus community stay informed and ready, we’ve created a dedicated site that serves as a central hub for updates, timelines, and training opportunities. Visit the Workday Implementation site to explore the schedule and learn more about the project.
Staying in Touch with ITS
Effective communication is central to our service. Here are several ways to stay connected and informed:
Wishing you a productive and successful academic year!
— Becky Klein, ITS
