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.
Show your mind, body, and soul some love by taking a well-deserved break from studying. Join the Drake Wellness Team in mindful meditation and practicing breath work on May 5 (day free for study)! A few sessions will be offered throughout the day to work around being “Drake Busy.” We will start off with a morning yoga session to calm our minds and prepare ourselves for the beginning of the end. Stay Bulldog Strong!
Recruitment is currently underway for the Director of Environmental Health & Safety. To ensure coverage during this interim period, a coverage plan has been developed as outlined below.
First, all non-emergency questions can be e-mailed to ehs@drake.edu; we will continuously monitor this email. Please be sure to include your name, title, department and phone number so we can refer you to the appropriate individual.
For lab related questions or questions about chemical or hazardous waste pick up, you may also reach out to Nick Crumpton at nick.crumpton@drake.edu. Nick is a Chemistry Lab Assistant and is well equipped to answer lab safety questions, facilitate chemical pick up or connect you to other resources, as needed.
For general health and safety questions, reach out Public Safety at 271–2222. For COVID-19 related questions, please contact Scott Law at Scott.Law@drake.edu
Workers Compensation and occupational health related questions can be referred to ehs.@drake.edu. If you need to report a workplace injury, please complete a first report of injury form here.
Thank you for your patience during this time of transition.
Drake University students from the College of Arts and Sciences were selected as finalists in the 2023 OpenAir Carbon Removal Challenge. This worldwide competition tasked team to create new processes, approaches, and prototypes to remove carbon from the land, water, or air. The Drake team will present their design to judges at New York University on April 21. The students’ design called SPARCC: Semi-Passive Algae Rooted Carbon Capture device collects carbon through photosynthesis while also cleaning local rivers of nitrate pollution due to agricultural runoff.
Congratulations to Tyler Bartolome, Bryan Coronado, Anna Miller, and Betsy Richardson and faculty advisor Prof. Edward Kelley.
All Staff Council voting is open! Use the All Staff Council ballot to vote for your new committee members. Voting will be open through midnight on Wednesday, April 26.
Now that spring has sprung, it is time to go outdoors and get moving. If you need a little nudge, we are bringing back the Walk this May team step challenge. During the month of May, teams of four to six will record their weekly step counts. Totals and how teams rank will be shared weekly to keep the competitive juices flowing. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the month.
To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by April 26 with your team members and team name. Grab your shoes and let’s get going!
The future is in our hands, so get engaged with the environment this Earth Week! Join us each day this week for an event, including a movie at Sussman Theater today (April 18), and don’t miss Earth Jam, live music in the Olmsted Pit, on Friday, April 21.
Check out the photo below for a list of challenges.
Tuesday, April 18: Movie nightfrom 6 to 8 p.m. at Sussman Theater.Join us for The Lorax and snacks.
Wednesday, April 19: Zoo!Learn about zoo conservation and meet animals from the Blank Park Zoo on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Science Connector Building, Room 201.
Thursday, April 20: Hear climate activist Jeff Biggers speak about climate change and environmental issues on Drake’s campus from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pom Stage. Snacks included.
Friday, April 21: Help plant limber pine trees with Drake Grounds from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the GK Courtyard and get an exclusive sticker.
Friday, April 21: Earth Jam! Enjoy live music from Andre Davis, Charlotte Blu, and Annalibera plus crafts, plants, snacks, Veggie Thumper, prizes, and more from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Olmsted Pit.
“Founder of the Climate Narrative Project, an arts and advocacy project, Biggers has given lectures, readings and performances at over 100 universities and schools across the country, from the University of California in Berkeley, the University of Mississippi, Yale University to the University of Rome (La Sapienza). Biggers has served as the Climate Narrative Playwright-in-Residence at Indiana University Northwest, the Sustainability Writer-in-Residence at the University of Iowa, the Campbell-Stripling Distinguished Writer-in-Residence at Wesleyan College in Georgia, and delivered the keynote address at numerous literary, urban planning and environmental conferences.”
You are invited to participate in this summer’s Des Moines Corporate Games (DMCG). This annual company-based competition runs June 1 through July 31. With over two dozen events to choose from, DMCG is a wonderful way to meet new people and have fun.
Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Try your hand at everything from pickleball to trivia, participating in as many events as you want. 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.
They even offer volunteer opportunities at Meals from the Heartland if you are looking for a team-building activity.
All full-time and part-time 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.
The DrakeRelays brings thousands of athletes, alumni, and guests to campus. As a reminder, parking and travel on and around campus will be impacted Saturday, April 22, through Saturday, April 29.
It is highly recommended that if you are coming to campus from off grounds, that you use public transportation, if possible. If you do plan on driving, give yourself plenty of time to find parking. Please remember that cars that are parked on the grass, illegally in handicap spaces, or blocking operations will be towed without notice.
All valid residential and commuter permits will be honored on Thursday and until 5 p.m. on Friday. Only residential permits are valid in residential lots and commuter permits in commuter lots, unless posted otherwise. Please note that the Olmsted and Ray Promenade lot still require the correct permit color to park in those lots before 4:30 pm.
Saturday, April 22– Sunday, April 30 – Lot 17 (Facilities Lot) will be closed/no parking allowed
Wednesday, April 26 at 12 p.m. – Saturday, April 29 at 8 p.m. – Forest Avenue will be fully closed from 27th Street to 29th Street and will allow for only limited access from 24th to 27th Streets and from 29th to 31st Streets. No street parking is allowed along Forest Avenue.
Wednesday, April 26 – Saturday, April 29 – 27th Street will be intermittently closed between Forest Avenue and Clarke Street.
Wednesday, April 26 – Saturday, April 29 – Lot 18 S (Studio Arts) will be closed/no parking allowed
Wednesday, April 26 – Monday, May 1 – Half of Lot 13 (Ray Promenade Lot) will be closed
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to a presentation titled Healthcare Profession Education in Malaysia Compared to the United States. The presentation will take place on Monday, May 1, at 1:30 p.m. in Cline Hall, Room 206.
For nine years, Dr. PT Thomas, Ph.D., has served as professor and executive dean at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at Taylor’s University in Kuala Lumpur ,Malaysia. Dr. Thomas received his pharmacy degree in India and Masters and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas, Austin. He has a long career of service to the pharmacy profession, academia, and nongovernmental organizations. He has served on several Malaysian professional boards and governmental positions. Prior to joining Taylor’s University, he held a faculty position at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and was a visiting scholar at Mahidol University in Thailand. Dr. Thomas is on the board of World Vision Malaysia. He is active in international initiatives, serving on several regional and international boards, including in the United States. Dr. Thomas brings a wealth of perspective and experience to a discussion of healthcare education globally.
