All posts by Leslie Maynes

Strategic Updates Archive

New Drake Website in Development: What You Should Know

The Drake University Communications & Marketing (UCM) team, in close partnership with ITS and partner agency, Carnegie, have been working diligently on the initial phases of a website redesign for Drake.edu. The new website will be an enrollment-first destination for prospective students and families, with a focus on usability and accessibility.  

The teams are grateful to the many faculty and staff on campus who have already contributed to the process, as we’ve been working through the new website’s structure and auditing more than 5,000 pages that are live on the current website. 

As an outcome of the current website audit, we have identified a number of pages that would be better suited to myDrake internal sites and/or Teams versus being public facing on Drake.edu. Migration of this content will require assistance and input from individuals across programs and departments. 

Starting this spring, expect that the project team will begin reaching out to many of you for assistance and input on website content and migration of content to myDrake internal sites or Teams. We will work with campus partners to understand the options available for where that content can migrate and provide training necessary to allow for the content migration. 

More details and updates are forthcoming as we progress through the process. We appreciate the collective effort and are confident the new website will better serve prospective students and families through their college decision-making process. 

— Leslie Maynes, executive director, University Communications and Marketing; and Keren Fiorenza, deputy CITO & chief information security officer 

For Students Archive

J-Term Fair March 12

The J-term Fair is happening on Wednesday, March 12, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in Upper Olmsted. Join us to learn more about the travel seminars that will be offered in January 2026, speak with the faculty leaders, hear from program alumni, and find your next destination. Tables for our DU Cohort programs (DU England & DU Spain) will also be available if you’re thinking of a full semester abroad. We look forward to seeing you there!

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

New Network Security Measures for Employee Devices

Starting Feb. 19, new security measures will be implemented on our campus wireless network. These changes will only affect Drake faculty and staff using personal devices to connect to eduroam.

What’s Changing?

Employees connecting with personal devices will have limited access to certain Drake services, including Banner Admin Pages. However, essential services like myDrake and Microsoft 365 apps will remain accessible and unaffected.

Why the Change?

This update will enhance our network security by ensuring only Drake-owned devices have full access.

Need Help?

We’re here to assist you through this transition. For questions or support, submit a ticket though the ITS service portal (service.drake.edu/its) or call the Support Center at 515-271-3001.

— Becky Klein, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Apply to Study Abroad Fall 2025 before April 1

Drake Global Engagement is excited to announce students will apply to study abroad for fall 2025 and beyond through a new, more streamlined study abroad application system!  It will be going live soon with an update sent out in the next OnCampus.

If you are interested in studying abroad fall 2025 and haven’t already met with Global Engagement, set up a meeting with Drake’s Education Abroad Coordinator, Emily Erschen, through Starfish.  This will ensure we know who is interested and we will reach out to you directly when we go live.  As a reminder, the application deadline to study abroad Fall 2025 is April 1st.

— Emily Erschen, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Heavy Weightlifting Class at the Bell Center

Join Drake Weightlifting Club for a special Heavy Weightlifting series adjustable to all levels. We will use the Athletic Training Gym in the Bell Center.  These classes are for everyone, please join the class that best suits your needs.  If you require any further accommodations, please contact gail.witte@drake.edu.

The series will run weekly until March 6..

Women’s+ classes: Mondays and Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Mens’s+ classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 p.m.

Check the Drake Rec App for details and signup.

— Gail Witte, Rec Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Adaptive Fitness Series at the Bell Center

Join us for an adaptive fitness series at the Bell Center. These are classes targeting everyone, especially people who may not feel comfortable in typical fitness classes. We want everyone to be able participate in a way that will work for them and their body. Feel free to take a break at any time and we will be giving frequent breaks. We are also increasing the number of verbal instructions/cues.

We are also doing our best to make these classes sensory friendly so feel free to bring any sensory equipment you normally need/use. We will also be dimming lighting (expect for the pool), turning off tv, and playing any music at a lower volume. Contact suzanne.shoemaker@drake.edu with any questions.

— Gail Witte, Rec Services

For Students Archive

Tax Benefits for Higher Education

Did you know that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides tax benefits for education? The tax benefits can be used to get back some of the money you spend on tuition or loan interest or to maximize your college savings.

Even if you normally wouldn’t file a tax return because of your income level, be sure to do so. If you don’t, you could miss out on tax credits that would put money in your pocket.

Learn more about tax benefits for higher education here.

—Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

For Students Archive

Commuter Student Johansen Student Center Tours

Welcome back to campus bulldogs! We are excited to have you back and to introduce students to the Johansen Student Center. This new student center has plenty of great space for students, especially our commuter students. The space offers areas for students to study, relax in between classes, lock up personal items, and more. We are happy to offer tours of the space for our commuter students on the following dates and times:

  • Thursday, January 30, at 9 a.m.
  • Wednesday, February 5, at 1 p.m.
  • Tuesday, February 11, at 3:30 p.m.

Please plan to meet in the main lobby on the ground floor (yellow carpeted area).

—Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

For Students Archive

Peer Leader Opportunities Info Sessions

Orientation Leaders

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend one of the information sessions being offered. Click here to sign up for a session.

  • Wednesday, February 5 at 8:00pm on Zoom
  • Thursday, February 13 at 5:00pm in Meredith Hall 102

Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

Peer Mentor/Academic Consultants (PMACs)

PMACs aim to assist new first-year students in feeling welcome, comfortable and connected at Drake. They do this by initiating communication with incoming first-year students in July, facilitating peer connections during Welcome Weekend and continuing to assist students as they navigate their first semester at Drake.

We highly encourage you to attend one of the information sessions being offered. Click here to sign up for a session.

  • Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30pm in upper Olmsted Conference Rooms 310-311
  • Monday, February 10 at 8pm on Zoom

For more information about the role and application, visit our website.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

Campus Announcements Archive

Student Services Front Desk: Services and Hours Expanded

 Welcome back, Bulldogs! We are excited to begin a new semester with expanded services and hours at the Student Services desk in Olmsted.  Hours at the SSC front desk (off the Olmsted Breezeway) are listed below, and in addition to our normal tasks, we’ll be taking over a few items that have traditionally been done in the Student Life Center, to assist as they transition to their new space in the Johansson Student Center.

Student Services Center Spring Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Contact Information:
studentservices@drake.edu
515-271-2000
www.drake.edu/studentservices

Basic Services:

  • Drake ID’s (Mobile ID) Assistance
  • Bulldog Bucks Account Assistance
  • Parking Permit Distribution
  • Parking Citation Payments
  • Student Employment Paperwork Collection
  • Student Employment Paycheck Distribution (12th of the month)
  • Key Distribution/Collection
  • Olmsted Bike Checkouts
  • GK Volleyball Court Reservations
  • Student Org P-card and Print Card Checkout
  • Olmsted Poster/Sandwich Board Approval

 — Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center