Drake Cheer tryouts for the 2023–2024 year will be held May 6 at 8 a.m. in the Knapp Center. The Drake Cheerleading Team consists of men and women whose primary purpose is to support Drake athletics and Drake University. The purpose of the squad is to boost school spirit, promote good sportsmanship, develop positive crowd involvement, and help student participants and spectators enjoy the athletic event. Cheer squad activities should center on leading and directing the cheering of fans. Find more information about Drake Cheer and tryouts.
Three psychology students, Alex Chavez, Brittany Scott, and Bridgette Browning received a Psi Chi Award for their presentation, “The PSASE Project: Impact of a Vocational Intervention on Application Self-Efficacy,” at the 95th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association Association in Chicago. These students worked under the mentorship of Meaghan Rowe-Johnson, assistant professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Chris Klietherme, Associate Professor of Psychology
The Principal Center for Global Citizenship invites nominations for the Global Scholar/Practitioner-in-Residence program for Spring 2024, 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. Two scholars 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
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 May 24, 2023. 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 documented commitment to international understanding and global citizenship
An ability to bring unique perspectives and experiences 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.
Beginning May 14, 2023, all devices using Windows 7 or 8 operating systems or macOS 10.15 (Catalina)or lower will be blocked from accessing Drake networks.
Due to our security requirements, we need to ensure that non-vendor supported, older operating system versions are not accessing Drake networks. Once a vendor no longer supports security updates for an older operating system, we do not allow them on Drake networks in order to maintain campus technology wellbeing and prevent security risks.
Faculty and staff who have not already done so can set up technology consultations with IT using the Custom Technology Consultation/Trainingticket. We urge faculty to reach out to ITS as soon as possible to upgrade existing or prepare new equipment for the summer and upcoming fall semesters. If needed, faculty and staff can submit a request to purchase new equipment using the Computer/Peripheral Request, allowing 6–8 weeks for new technology to be processed.
Students returning in the fall who need to upgrade their operating system can visit the Support Center in the lower level of Carnegie Hall for assistance. Mac users can find compatible devices for macOS Ventura, Monterey, and Big Sur at these links. Most Windows devices are compatible with modern operating systems.
If you have questions or concerns about the network change, please reach out to Jerome Hilscher, Assistant CITO and Director, Campus Relations at jerome.hilscher@drake.edu.If you have questions about your device or issues updating your operating system, visit service.drake.edu/its, call 515-271-3001, or visit the Support Center in the lower level of Carnegie Hall.
Join Drake’s Corporate Games team! This annual company-based program runs June 1 through July 31. With over two dozen events to choose from, you can decide which ones fit your schedule and interest.
Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. From pickleball to trivia, and bags to a fitness walk, there is something for everyone. All in-person activities (there are a few virtual options) are held in the evenings and on weekends and are free–except golf cart rental.
There is even a Meals from the Heartland option if you are looking for a team-building activity.
All FT and PT faculty, staff, student employees, interns, and retirees are welcome to join Drake’s team. To participate, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu for registration instructions.
Mental Health Awareness Month, observed annually in May since 1949, is a globally recognized mental health awareness event first started by Mental Health America (not to be confused with World Mental Health Day, which is observed in October).
While stigma around mental health and treatment has decreased in recent years, there are still people who hesitate to take steps to address mental health challenges, seek care, and talk about mental health with friends, family, and even their medical providers. Given the additional stress and uncertainty that have accompanied the past few years, it is as important now as it has ever been to talk about mental health. Remember, it is OK to not be OK.
There are several organizations that offer tools and resources to support others and be supported.
The Healthiest State Initiative’s Make It OK is a community campaign that encourages everyone to talk more openly about mental illness in hopes of de-stigmatizing it so individuals will feel more open to seek care. They are offering a free Make It OK virtual presentation on Monday, May 15 from 11 a.m. to noon.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helps raise awareness and combat stigma. NAMI has published a guide, identifying the 2023 Mental Health Awareness Month theme “More than Enough,” focusing on messages of hope and inclusion.
Drake’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers a wide range of resources. EAPs are an often-under-utilized employee benefit. Drake pays for this benefit, so Drake employees (and anyone living in their households) can have easy access to these resources. If you have never explored this wonderful benefit, take some time to do so. There is something for everyone—including free confidential counseling, webinars, podcasts, a blog, self-assessment tools, and a mobile app.
Beginning in May, our EAP vendor, Employee and Family Resources (EFR), is offering a new benefit called Togetherall—an online support peer community. Connect with others for support, keep a journal, set goals, take assessments, and learn how to adjust to life’s ups and downs with structured courses. Moderated by professionals, Togetherall is available 24/7 and free to use. Join a virtual webinar on Wednesday, May 10 for details on how you can access this platform and online community.
Check out this month’s HR Monthly for more information on Mental Health Awareness Month events and resources.
At the start of the summer term, Drake is updating the add/drop deadlines for courses and the refund policy for dropped courses. The goal of the decisions made in the policy update was intended to allow students the appropriate time to make a decision about continuing or dropping a course. Partial tuition refunds will reflect the length of a course based on session.
Add/Drop Dates for a Course
The add/drop deadlines can be found here for the upcoming terms. Students will be able to process adds and drops via Self Service in myDrake. To determine the add/drop date for a particular course via Self Service, please reference the following resources:
We encourage students to work with their advisers when registering for or dropping courses. Any changes that occur after the drop without a W period will require an add/drop form.
Your Tuition Refund
Tuition refund percentages for dropped courses will be based on the session of the dropped course and the date the course is dropped. Students can locate their session for each course in their class schedule in Self Service in myDrake.
This change will allow tuition refunds to be issued for partially completed courses based on the specific length of the course. The date that a course is dropped will determine the percentage of tuition that is refunded. Detailed information regarding tuition refunds can be found here on the student account webpage.
Financial Aid Impact
When a student withdraws from a course and is no longer attending any courses in that term, a student may need to be considered as completely withdrawn from the semester. When this occurs, federal student aid will continue to be prorated according to the rules prescribed by federal regulation.
Drake-funded scholarships and grants will continue to be prorated in proportion to the student’s tuition adjustments. For example, if tuition is adjusted to 60% of the original billed amount, Drake-funded scholarships and grants will also be adjusted to 60% of the original amount offered. More detailed information about the impact of complete withdrawals on financial aid eligibility can be found here.
Please note these changes will be implemented for the 2023 summer semester beginning May 15.
If you have questions or concerns about the add/drop process, please reach out to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@drake.edu. For questions or concerns about tuition refunds, please reach out to Student Accounts at stuacct@drake.edu.
The Office of Community Engaged Learning is proud to announce four recipients of the 2023 President’s and Engaged Campus Awards from the Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact (IAMNCC) in recognition of their outstanding commitment to community engagement and civic responsibility. This year, 86 awardees were selected from 55 colleges and universities across the two-state network.
The following Drake recipients were recognized at an in-person ceremony on April 13, 2023, at St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, MN.
Matthew Williams, a senior majoring in accounting, was recognized with the Presidents’ Student Leadership Award. Williams has been an advocate for people with disabilities and involved with Easter Seals his entire life. On campus he has built a community of students, faculty and staff dedicated to developing the resources needed to create a more inclusive campus environment.
Alejandro Hernandez, Dean of the Zimpleman College of Business was recognized with the Presidents’ Civic Engagement Leadership Award. Dean Hernandez has led a rebrand of the college focused on ‘Business as a Force for Good’, launched the Dean’s Honor Roll for Social Impact, and created a new Social Impact Research and Outreach Award to recognize faculty and staff contributions to improving society through their research and service.
Homeward, Polk County’s homelessness planning organization was recognized with the Presidents’ Community Partner Award. Following up on a one-time community-engaged learning course partnership, Homeward worked with Drake University to commission a first of its kind community engaged research project to provide a platform for 157 people experiencing homelessness to tell their stories and the findings are being used to inform local public policy.
Elizabeth Talbert, assistant professor of Sociology was recognized with the Engaged Campus Award for Community Collaboration. Dr. Talbert has spent the last two years building relationships with affordable housing agencies, the staff that run them, and the people who are served (or not) by them. What began with a sociology methods service-learning project morphed into a collaboration involving Talbert, Dr. Matthew Record, assistant professor of Public Policy and American Politics, 8 students, and the members of the Polk County Homeless Coordinating Council to examine why individuals face barriers to shelter and permanent housing in the Des Moines community.
Sprout Learning Garden and Food Forest received Honorable Mention for the Engaged Campus Award for Emerging Innovation. Sprout, located at 1300 30th Street, is home to more than 60 food-producing trees and shrubs, hundreds of edible perennial plants, pollinator-attracting flowers and natives, three permaculture swales, a half-acre learning garden, gathering spaces, and a walking trail.
Additionally, Marguerite Stoffel, a third-year business student, was selected for the 2023 National Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship! One of her key projects on campus has been supporting the administration of the Dean’s Honor Roll for Social Impact and serving as an ambassador to business college students on how to meaningfully engage with the community.
Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact (IAMNCC) is a network of 55 colleges and universities committed to strengthening the capacity for civic engagement and campus-community partnership in the service of
Contact: Renee Sedlacek Lee, Director of Community Engaged Learning, 515-271-2454, or renee.sedlacek@drake.edu.
May is Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant cultures, rich traditions, and remarkable achievements of the AAPI community. Come to Cowles Library throughout the month and browse through our featured collection of AAPI stories, authors and contributors.
University Archives and Special Collections at Cowles Library will have a two-day pop-up exhibit of 19th and early 20th century photographs May 4–5. Drop by the Drake University Archives on the 2nd floor of Cowles Library, between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to learn about early photographic formats and see some examples from our archival collections.
