Take a break from finals prep with a relaxing, all-levels yoga class on Friday, Dec. 5. Stretch, breathe, and reset your mind before finals begin.
All students are welcome. Register on the Drake Rec app. Those who register and attend will be entered to win a $10 Bulldog buck giveaway. There will be three total drawings.
— Gail Witte, Rec Services
If you are leaving for J-Term, but plan to leave your vehicle on campus, please park it in the south end of lot 29 (large Drake West Village lot) before you leave campus.
This will allow our Grounds team to keep parking lots clear of snow during J-Term, and create more effective operations for Drake Public Safety.
— Sydney Dvorak, Sustainability Coordinator
The Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL) is hosting their semi-annual clothing swap Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 6–8 p.m. in the Olmsted Breezeway.
You can swap for clothes in a 1:1 swap by donating something of your own, or purchase an item of clothing for a dollar. Cash and card are accepted.
Leftover clothing items in good condition will be donated to Des Moines Refugee Support for their clothing drive.
— Sydney Dvorak, Sustainability Coordinator
Now is the perfect time to sign up for the Drake Road Races. Prices will continue to rise as race day nears!
Current Prices:
Half Marathon: $70
10K: $50
5K: $35
What You Get When You Register:
Here’s the real bonus:
You can earn your entry fee back—up to a completely FREE race! Just register → share your referral link → earn $5 back for every person who signs up through your link.
Bring enough people with you and your entry could be completely free.
How it works:
Spring is right around the corner — make your race weekend official, get your friends involved, and you could run for free!
— Ben Huftalin, Drake Relays
On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., The Comparison Project will host a meditation fair in Meredith Hall on Drake’s campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature meditation instructors representing many different religious and spiritual traditions and techniques. Light breakfast fare will be available.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and practice three different meditation styles at concurrent sessions during the first half of the event. Instructors of these sessions collectively represent the meditative traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, and Transcendental Meditation. During the second half of the event, all the instructors will be available for dialogue and Q&A.
The Comparison Project engages in the practice of comparative philosophy of religion, increases understanding of local-lived religion, and cultivates interfaith literacy and leadership. It is supported by Drake’s Center for the Humanities, Drake’s Slay Fund for Social Justice, and Cultivating Compassion: The Dr. Richard Deming Foundation.
For more information, visit: http://comparisonproject.wp.drake.edu, or email: comparisonproject@drake.edu.
— Timothy Knepper, Professor of Philosophy/Comparison Project Director
The Principal Center for Global Citizenship invites nominations for the Global Scholar/Practitioner-in-Residence program for Fall 2026, 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. One scholar 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 and CV
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, Chief Global Affairs Officer and Dean of Global Programs, by January 23, 2026. 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 demonstrated commitment to global capacity-building and responsible global citizenship
An ability to bring a uniquely global perspective 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.
All Staff Council and Human Resources invite faculty and staff to attend this year’s Holiday Cheer gathering on Tuesday, Dec. 16, by the Pomerantz stage in the Olmsted Center. You are welcome to come and go as you please from 9 to 11 a.m.
Relax and enjoy some tasty holiday treats and beverages with friends and colleagues. Griff II will make an appearance near the beginning of the event, so if you time it right, you may be able to get your picture taken with him in your favorite holiday attire.
If you bring at least one non-perishable food or other goods for Drake’s Free Little Food Pantries, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize. We would love to stock the pantry before the holiday break.
This event is a chance to give back to others in the Drake community, while mingling with coworkers. Please take a moment to stop by, grab some cheer, and drop off a donation.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
As we approach the end of the semester, here are some building updates you should know:
End of the Fall semester:
Building schedules will change for the Winter Break and the start/end of the semesters. Following finals (12/8-12/12), 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 12/15-12/19, and will be closed on the weekends starting on 12/13). Most extended hour student access plans will also be disabled for the break, but Faculty/Staff plans will continue to work.
Winter Break:
Most campus doors will be locked for the winter break from December 20th to January 4th. 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. Please have your Drake credentials with you if you plan to access the buildings on the 22nd.
Start of J-Term:
“Administrative hours” (7:30am – 4:30pm) will resume starting on 1/5, and will continue through the J–Term time period (until 1/23). Due to decreased weekend traffic during J-Term, we will lock buildings on the weekends through January, and will switch back to the Spring schedule on Saturday, 1/24.
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.
— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center
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.
You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position. Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.
— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs
Bulldog Shop is celebrating YOU and your hard work with a special Student Appreciation Sale! Enjoy 25% off apparel and gifts and treat yourself to some brand new Drake gear. This exclusive offer will last for one day and is in-store only. Don’t miss out!
Date: Friday, December 5
Location: Bulldog Shop in Olmsted
Exclusions: Standard exclusions apply, see store for details
