All posts by Luke Clausen

Campus Announcements Archive

Ambassador Terry Branstad available for office hours, classes, events

Terry Branstad, former U.S. Ambassador to China and Governor of Iowa, is the Ambassador-in-Residence at Drake University. Branstad is available to meet weekly with Drake students, faculty, staff, and clubs and participate in class lectures each semester. (Schedule a meeting by clicking here, or if the requested length, day, or time is not in the designated meeting times, email ambassador@drake.edu.)

Branstad is a partner at Branstad Churchill Group, LLC, an international consulting firm that provides advice, guidance and solutions to organizations, corporate leaders and investors seeking to navigate the complexities associated with conducting business in China and the United States. He was also recently named president of the World Food Prize Foundation.

Internships are available to Drake students at both Branstad Churchill Group and the World Food Prize. Check Handshake for openings.

Branstad holds the record for being the longest-serving governor in American history (1983-99, 2011-17) and was appointed ambassador to China (2017-20) in part due to his long-standing relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Formerly, Branstad served as president of Des Moines University (2003-09) and Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (1979-83). In 1972, while attending Drake Law School, he decided to run for the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served in from 1973-79. He is quick to point out that he selected blue and white for his campaign colors as a tribute to Drake University.

— Luke Clausen, JO, AS

Campus Announcements Archive

Be Authentic Career Conference

Attend a career conference Friday, March 3, from 12–4 p.m. that celebrates being unstoppable and authentically you. Sessions will be available both in-person in Sheslow Auditorium and Levitt Hall, as well as live on Zoom.

Throughout the day, you will build your True Blue Skills (career competencies), network with alumni and employers, and experience nationally recognized speakers who will challenge you to be authentic in the pursuit of your goals.

Links to live Zoom sessions will be accessible on the conference website: https://www.drake.edu/careerconference/.

— Amanda Wroblewski, Academic Excellence and Student Success

Campus Announcements Archive

$10 flash sale for Grand Blue Mile

Registration for the 14th annual Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is now open with a two-day flash sale ending on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Register today and you can join thousands of other Grand Blue Mile enthusiasts by registering for ONLY $10—which includes an official participant shirt. Gather your friends and family to part in Midwest’s premier one-mile run/walk community event on Tuesday, April 25, in Downtown Des Moines or participate virtually in your hometown. Sign up now at GrandBlueMile.com.

— Tanner Nissen, Athletics

Campus Announcements Archive

Sign up for the Sustainability Committee

Want to champion Sustainability initiatives on Drake’s Campus? Sign up to be on the mailing list for the Sustainability Committee. The first orders of business the committee will go over include the draft of the Sustainability Strategic Plan, the Drake Transportation Survey, and ideas to revamp our Blue is Green program. Obtaining feedback on the Strategic Plan is integral to making sure the plan reflects the university’s shared values as it outlines the sustainability goals and strategies we will pursue over the next ten years.

The committee aims to foster socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable practices and culture throughout Drake’s campus.  It will provide sustainability oversight, serve to make policy recommendations, and assist in the implementation of policies and practices aimed at advancing long term-environmental sustainability.

Please fill out this Google Form so you can be added to the mailing list to find out more information. If you have any questions about the committee or the Sustainability Strategic Plan, send an email to Hannah Remke, the Sustainability Coordinator, at hannah.remke@drake.edu.

— Hannah Remke, Facilities Planning and Management

For Students Archive

Pre-game Student Alumni Association networking event at Dough Co.

Join the Student Alumni Association and the Central Iowa Regional Alumni Board for a pre-game pizza party at Dough Co. Pizza on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 1:30 p.m.  This is a great opportunity for current Drake students to network with regional alumni and to cheer on the Drake Men’s Basketball team ahead of their game against Belmont Bruins.

All attendees will receive a free slice of pizza and vintage Drake University merchandise. The first 20 student attendees will receive a free drink ticket (21+).

Reach out to Marguerite Stoffel (marguerite.stoffel@drake.edu) with questions.

— Stephanie Kiel, AS’23

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Announcing Drake semester study abroad program, DU England at Harlaxton College

Drake is excited to announce DU England: Harlaxton as our second cohort-model semester study abroad program. The program will be offered each fall, starting Fall 2023, with Professor of Psychology Maria Clapham as the inaugural Drake Faculty-in-Residence teaching on the program.

Harlaxton College is one of the most unique study abroad locations in the UK based at a Victorian Manor and has been operating for over 50 years.  Set in 300 acres of beautiful countryside in the heart of England, Harlaxton allows our student cohort to enjoy the British Midlands with the ability to be in London in about an hour.  The Drake cohort-model program will include the Harlaxton semester experience, with students taking classes taught by British and visiting faculty members, as well as additional specialized activities and excursions exclusive to Drake courses.

Campus visit from Harlaxton representative on Feb. 20 & 21

A representative for Harlaxton College, Jordan Hall, will be visiting Drake University on Monday, Feb. 20, and Tuesday, Feb. 21. She is available morning through the evening.  If you are interested in learning more about Harlaxton, we would love to set up a meeting with you and Jordan to get more in-depth information on this exciting new program.  We can schedule:

  • Classroom presentations where Jordan can visit your classes to speak to students for 5-10 minutes about the program.
  • A meeting to learn more about the program so you are able to advise students on this Drake experience abroad.  This can be one-on-one or with others in your department.
  • A meeting to learn more about teaching on the Harlaxton program.  We will have a Drake Faculty-in-Residence position available every fall semester.

In addition, you are invited to attend a Faculty-In-Residence information session on Monday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. in Olmsted TMR132 to learn about teaching at Harlaxton.

If you have questions about DU England: Harlaxton, please reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement

For Students Archive

Announcing Drake semester study abroad program, DU England at Harlaxton College

Drake is excited to announce DU England: Harlaxton as our second cohort-model semester study abroad program.  The program will be offered each fall, starting Fall 2023, with Professor of Psychology Maria Clapham as the inaugural Drake Faculty-in-Residence teaching on the program.

Harlaxton College is one of the most unique study abroad locations in the UK based at a Victorian Manor and has been operating for over 50 years. Set in 300 acres of beautiful countryside in the heart of England, Harlaxton allows our student cohort to enjoy the British Midlands with the ability to be in London in about an hour.  Harlaxton’s central location in Lincolnshire also brings other major cities and towns within easy reach, allowing academic and culturally important sites to be visited in an afternoon, a day out, or weekend away. The Drake cohort-model program will include the Harlaxton semester experience, with students taking classes taught by British and visiting faculty members, as well as additional specialized activities and excursions exclusive to Drake courses.

Campus visit from Harlaxton representative on Feb. 20 & 21

A representative for Harlaxton College, Jordan Hall, will be visiting Drake University on Monday, Feb. 20, and Tuesday, Feb. 21.  If you are interested in learning more about Harlaxton, we can set up an advising appointment with you and Jordan to get more in-depth information of this exciting new program.

In addition, you are invited to attend a program information session on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m. in Olmsted TMR132 to learn about studying at Harlaxton this upcoming fall semester.

If you have questions about DU England: Harlaxton or want to schedule an advising appointment, reach out to studyabroad@drake.edu. To apply to DU England: Harlaxton for fall 2023, you can apply through Terra Dotta here.

— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement

News & Achievements Archive

PharmD program earns reaccreditation

The Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is pleased to announce that the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) has extended the accreditation of Drake’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program for eight years, the maximum time allowed for a continued accreditation cycle. The accreditation term granted for the Doctor of Pharmacy program extends until June 30, 2031.

ACPE found the program to be fully compliant with all 26 of its standards. The decision by the ACPE, the national agency for the accreditation of Doctor of Pharmacy programs, to extend its accreditation for the maximum allowable time period reflects the high quality of Drake’s PharmD program.

In a written report, the ACPE’s site visit evaluation team heaped praise on students, faculty, and administrators within the College, noting many strengths of the PharmD program.

The caliber of students is high, the team noted, adding that the program’s advising communications were appreciated by students and beneficial to their success. The team also noted several other strengths of the program, including strong administrative leadership, a robust introductory and advanced experiential program, opportunities for students to pursue numerous career pathways through combined degree programs, and dedicated faculty and staff.

“It is with deep gratitude that we thank the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and preceptors who worked on our self-study for the past few years, as well as all of those who met with the site visit evaluation team,” Chesnut said. “We are proud that the ACPE recognized that our efforts were worthy of a full 8-year term of accreditation.”

Accreditation of professional pharmacy degree programs provides a national basis for quality assurance. The ACPE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy.

Per ACPE policy, a required on-site verification visit takes place at a mutually agreed time between ACPE and the PharmD program Dean. Evaluation for Drake’s PharmD reaccreditation included a three-day visit by an ACPE-trained site team of five members in November of 2022.

Drake’s pharmacy program has been accredited by the ACPE since 1938 and the renewal continues the program’s accreditation through June 30, 2031.

— Kaylyn Maher, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Campus Announcements Archive

Use your Bulldog Bucks off campus

Bulldog Bucks are funds you can load onto your Drake ID card that can be used both on campus and off campus at some of our local neighborhood businesses or in the GrubHub app.  You can load funds at your convenience, and these funds carry forward from semester to semester while you are an active cardholder at Drake.  Visit the website www.acceptinglocations.com/drake to see which neighborhood businesses, along with restaurants on the GrubHub app, can accept your Bulldog Bucks. Funds can also be added at that website, or in the myDrake portal.

Current participating local merchants are Gursha Ethiopian Grill, Dough Co Pizza, Fernando’s Mexican Grill, Hummus Mediterranean Grill, and Lucky Horse Beer and Burgers…along with the many other restaurants on the GrubHub platform.

Please note that this program (and the Bulldog Bucks account in general) are available for both student and employee use.  Also, Bulldog Bucks are not your meal plan funds – those funds are called “Dining Dollars” and can only be used on campus at Drake Dining locations.  Bulldog Bucks can be used for on and off campus food, Drake Bookstore purchases, and printing transactions.

If you have any questions about this program, or are having trouble using your Bulldog Bucks at a local merchant, feel free to email studentservices@drake.edu.  We’ll be happy to help you troubleshoot or answer questions. The most common issues are trying to spend Dining Dollars instead of Bulldog Bucks, or trying to spend more than is in your account.  Both of those options will result in a denied transaction, and you’ll either want to split your payment method or use another.

We hope you’ll take advantage of ordering food both on and off campus with our different dining options. 

—  Sara Heijerman, Manager, Campus Card Office