All posts by Lori Byrd

For Students

Student Internship Opportunity

Are you ready to experience a career in research administration? The Iowa Research Administration Internship Student Experience (I-RAISE) is your gateway to a dynamic and rewarding future!

Funded by the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) GRANTED program, I-RAISE offers an unparalleled opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from six partner institutions (Drake, ISU, UNI, Simpson, Dordt, Central College).

Dive into a comprehensive program that includes a classroom-based bootcamp, a 10-week summer internship at Iowa State University, and 12-week fall and spring internships here at Drake. Gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and invaluable connections to job opportunities across Iowa. Plus, enjoy financial support and resources throughout the program.

Don’t miss out on this chance to experience the world of research administration! For more information and to apply, click here!

If you have questions, please reach out to Lori Byrd (lori.byrd@drake.edu) or Preston Miller (preston.miller@drake.edu) in the SPARC office.

 —Lori Byrd, Sponsored Programs Administration and Research Compliance

For Faculty, For Staff

First-Gen Faculty/Staff Directory

Drake defines a first-generation student is a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. At Drake, First-generation students make up 29% of Drake’s new student population. This includes 26.2% of new EFR students — an all-time high for Drake.

In an effort to make more connections between first gen students and first gen faculty/staff, we are creating a directory to share on our website that lists our first gen faculty and staff.

If you identify as first generation and would like to be listed on this directory, please email Marina at marina.verlengia@drake.edu by Monday, December 16.

—Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

For Students

Drake University Social Science Journal Accepting Submissions

The web-based Drake University Social Science Journal (DUSSJ) is accepting submissions for its 24th edition, to appear in Spring 2025. Any current Drake undergraduate (or recent graduate) is eligible to submit a research paper (10 pages or longer) on a topic in the social sciences (e.g., political science, international relations, anthropology, sociology, economics, history, LPS, and social psychology). Papers that feature thoughtful, original analysis, polished writing, and careful citation are especially welcome!

The deadline for submission is Wednesday, Feb. 19

Only one submission per person will be considered. Submissions will be blind peer-reviewed by a student editorial board.

Direct questions and submissions to the DUSSJ Faculty Advisor, David Skidmore, at: advisor.dussj@gmail.com Find previous editions of the journal at http://www.drake.edu/dussj/

—David Skidmore, College of Arts & Sciences

For Students

Save the Date for the Spring 2025 Drake University Career Fair

Thursday, February 13
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Olmsted Center
Click here to register for the fair!

Top Ten Reasons to Attend the Career Fair:

  1. Build your network
  2. Explore careers & gain industry insights
  3. Practice communication skills
  4. Access internship and job opportunities
  5. Get to know employers (culture, mission, values, etc.)
  6. Share your resume
  7. Boost confidence
  8. Find opportunities for post-graduation
  9. Visit with graduation and professional education programs
  10. Connect with other students, Drake faculty, and staff

To help students prepare, we’ll have a drop-in Resume Critique event on Thursday, February 6 from 10am to 4pm in the Conference Rooms in Upper Olmsted. It’s another time to meet employer partners and receive feedback on your resume and experiences!

All Drake students from all majors are welcome!

—Jill Batten, Office of Advising

For Staff

Call for All Staff Council Nominations

CALL FOR ALL STAFF COUNCIL NOMINATIONS 

Do you know a staff member who would like to make an impact to strengthen the staff experience on campus? Nominate them (or yourself!) NOW for All Staff Council. The following three-year positions are available: 

  • Chair-Elect: Sits on the Executive Board. Serves their first year as Chair-Elect, their second year as Chair, and their third and final year as Past-Chair. 
  • Governance Committee: Finalizes the structure of All Staff Council by developing rules. Conducts yearly elections and attends to any rules changes, recommendations, or policies proposed.  
  • Recognition Committee: Strives to make sure staff members are recognized and rewarded for a job well done, feel appreciated for the work they do, and are welcomed as valued members of the Bulldog community.  
  • Special Events/Community Service Committee: Develops and implements plans for special events on campus and creates awareness of community service opportunities available for staff participation. 
  • Special Interest Committee: Explores initiatives, questions, and/or concerns presented to All Staff Council through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus. 

Nominations are due Friday, February 14 by midnight. Elections will be held in the spring. Newly elected members will begin their three-year term on June 1, 2025. Learn more about All Staff Council here. 

—Shelby Nelson, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Campus Announcements

End of Semester/Winter Break Campus Building Hours

End of the Fall semester: Building schedules will change for the Winter Break and the start/end of the semesters.  Following finals, we will adopt “administrative hours” for most campus buildings while classes are not in session (buildings will be open on weekdays from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm December 16–20).  Most extended hour student access plans will also be disabled for the break. 

Winter Break: Doors will be locked for the winter break from December 21st to January 1st.  Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans (for example, 24/7 access to their office buildings), but extended hour student plans will continue to be shut off during this time. 

Start of J-term semester: “Administrative hours” (7:30am – 4:30pm) will resume for the staff’s return on January 2nd and 3rd, and then regular Monday – Friday academic year building hours and extended student access will resume at the start of J-term (January 6th).  Due to decreased weekend traffic during J-term, we will again lock buildings on the weekends through January and will be 100% back to our normal schedule when Spring semester starts, the week of January 27.   

If you have a scheduling conflict that will be affected by this door schedule, please speak to your building manager so they can put in a ticket to unlock the doors outside of our planned schedule.  Please note that not every building will follow this schedule exactly (Rec, Cowles, Law, and Olmsted often have some schedule variations), so feel free to check in at those buildings if you are unsure of their schedules. 

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time. Feel free to email studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general (non-emergent) card access question or concern.

Happy Holiday Season!

—Sara Heijerman, Finance & Administration

Campus Announcements Archive

Thanksgiving and Winter Break Campus Building Hours

Thanksgiving: Campus building hours will be adjusted for the Thanksgiving Holiday – most of campus will be closed Wednesday 11/27 through Saturday 11/30. Card access will still allow you to enter your authorized buildings, and most regular door schedules will resume on Sunday, December 1st.

End of the Fall semester: Building schedules will also change for the Winter Break and the start/end of the semesters.  Following finals, we will adopt “administrative hours” for most campus buildings while classes are not in session (buildings will be open on weekdays from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm 12/16-12/20).  Most extended hour student access plans will also be disabled for the break.

Winter Break: Doors will be locked for the winter break from December 21st to January 1st.  Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans (for example, 24/7 access to their office buildings), but extended hour student plans will continue to be shut off during this time.

Start of J-term semester: “Administrative hours” (7:30am – 4:30pm) will resume for the staff’s return on 1/2 and 1/3, and then regular Monday – Friday academic year building hours and extended student access will resume at the start of J-term (January 6th).  Due to decreased weekend traffic during J-term, we will again lock buildings on the weekends through January and will be 100% back to our normal schedule when Spring semester starts, the week of January 27.

If you have a scheduling conflict that will be affected by this door schedule, please speak to your building manager so they can put in a ticket to unlock the doors outside of our planned schedule.  Please note that not every building will follow this schedule exactly (Rec, Cowles, Law, and Olmsted often have some schedule variations), so feel free to check in at those buildings if you are unsure of their schedules.

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time. Feel free to email studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general (non-emergent) card access question or concern.

Happy Holiday Season!

—Sara Heijerman, Finance & Administration

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Writing in Your Academic Field Faculty Development: Spring 2025

Written communication is important in almost any academic field, but the genres and accepted conventions of writing vary from discipline to discipline. In this project, we will discuss ways to integrate writing instruction into courses for which written communication is not necessarily the primary learning outcome, as well as courses that require students to communicate in field-specific ways (for instance, lab reports or business memos).

Instructors who participate in this project will have a one-semester commitment that will include:

  • Working with the Director of Writing, Megan Brown, on the development of a writing assignment, writing activities, or a writing project for one of their spring classes.
  • Attending hour-long meetings of all participants in the program in February, March, and April (or early May) 2025.  These meetings may be structured as two sessions each month, with half of the group at each session, to facilitate more in-depth discussion.
  • Requiring all students enrolled in their class to attend tutoring sessions at the Writing Center at least twice during the semester.

After completing the project and attending the final meeting, participants will receive a $500 stipend.

Participation is limited to 10 individuals.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Madison Bemus (madison.bemus@drake.edu) by Monday, January 6.

If you have questions, please contact Megan Brown (megan.brown@drake.edu).

—Megan Brown, College of Arts & Sciences 

For Students Archive

Claim Student Tickets to Drake Basketball

Students! Claim your tickets to basketball games, pack the Knapp, and continue to make the Knapp Center the toughest place to play in the MVC!

Here are some instructions for claiming your FREE student ticket

  1. Visit https://godrakebulldogs.evenue.net/
  2. Click on the Student Tickets Link at the top of the page
  3. Sign in with your Drake email
  4. Click on Men’s or Women’s Basketball single game tickets
  5. Click on the desired game
  6. Add 1 ticket and checkout

—Colin Salig, Athletics