All posts by Joanna Stankiewicz

Puzzles at Cowles Library

This fall, Cowles Library is unveiling our newest collection, puzzles! Inspired by our ever-popular weekly puzzle table, this collection lets you take the fun anywhere. You might even recognize a few familiar puzzles that have challenged (and hopefully delighted) our campus community in the past.

With designs ranging from 500 to 1000-piece brainteasers, there’s something for every puzzle pro and casual solver alike. It’s all part of our growing lineup of non-traditional resources, right alongside vinyl records, players, sensory tools, and more.

— Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library

Roadmaps to Retirement 2025: Global Lessons and Paths Ahead

Roadmaps to Retirement 2025: Global Lessons and Paths Ahead continues our discussion on strategies to improve retirement security at the retirement system level. The roundtable discussion will focus on the private retirement savings landscape in the US and how it compares to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. The roundtable will address both retirement savings accumulation and retirement income options, current policies and regulations, and future goals.

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Time: 1–3:30 p.m.; Networking lunch from 12–1 p.m.

Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311); Zoom Livestream—a Zoom link will be sent to virtual attendees closer to the day of the event.

Cost: Free, but registration is required via Eventbrite.

—Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute

The Writing Center Opens Sept. 8

WHAT WE DO: The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:

  • Understanding instructions/prompts
  • Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas
  • Outlining and organizing
  • Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft

We are a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

HOW TO SIGN UP TO VISIT: We use Starfish for scheduling. Please go here to book an appointment with a tutor.

Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, please remember to cancel and reschedule.

WHERE WE ARE: The lower level of Cowles Library—please follow the signs. We offer hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let us know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, we do not inform professors unless they specifically ask us to do so. Note: please contact megan.brown@drake.edu for instructions on how to ascertain if a student has attended a Writing Center appointment.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please contact Prof. Megan Brown, Director of Writing (megan.brown@drake.edu).

We look forward to working with you this semester!

— Megan Brown, Professor of English

 

 

Check Out the Fall 2025 BUILD Schedule

The Fall 2025 BUILD schedule is available for viewing and registration is open.  Please take a moment to check out the classes and tours on the Drake HR website under Learning & Development.  Click on BUILD – Upcoming Sessions for the full list, including detailed descriptions.  Are you ready to register?  There is an online registration link to a Qualtrics survey that makes signing up easy.  Our Greenhouse Tour is already full so don’t delay.

Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) is a platform for learning new ideas as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others from across campus.  Most classes are only an hour in length, and many are facilitated by our own faculty and staff.

Take the time to invest in yourself, support your colleagues, and take in the culture that Drake has to offer.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake Alum Nikki Renee Anderson Returns For Solo Exhibition at Anderson Gallery

Drake Art and Design alum Nikki Renee Anderson will be returning to Drake’s campus to open a solo exhibition in the Anderson Gallery this fall. Since graduating, Anderson has been successful as an artist, exhibiting extensively both nationally and internationally. She teaches full time at Harper College where she runs the Ceramics program. Anderson creates sculptures and installations that use her personal history to explore the feminine and the different roles of the self. Her exhibition Unfurling Garden will be on display in the Anderson Gallery, located in the Harmon Fine Arts building, from Sept. 4 to Oct 17. Anderson will return to campus to install her show and give an artist talk on Sept 4 from 4:30–5 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center, Room 204, followed by an opening reception for her exhibition from 5–7 p.m. in the Anderson Gallery.

—Lilah Anderson, Anderson Gallery

 

Recording Policy Posted for Comment

As the academic year begins, we encourage you to review the University Policy Library for a variety of policy topics. An important part of the policy approval process is a 15-day comment period for new policies. A new recording policy is now open for comment on the Policy Development webpage. The policy discusses when recordings are allowed on campus and in academic programming, the permissions needed to record, and limits on distribution of approved recordings. The purpose of the policy is to protect privacy, promote trust, uphold academic integrity, support accessibility, and ensure legal compliance. Comments may be submitted to dupolicies@drake.edu.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Rec Services News: Facility Hours and Intramurals

Intramurals

Registration deadlines for tennis (singles), NFL Pick ‘Em, 6 v. 6 outdoor soccer, 6 v. 6 indoor volleyball, and 2 v. 2 sand volleyball are quickly approaching. Find more information about the leagues and sign up on the Drake Rec app of IMLeagues.

The 2 v. 2 sand volleyball tournament will take place Sept. 1 on Labor Day outside Goodwin-Kirk Hall. Register by 10 a.m. the day of the tournament.

For a complete list of intramural events and to sign up, visit: www.Imleagues.com/Drake.

How to Sign Up on Imleagues

How to Create or Join a Team

Facility hours for Aug. 25–Sept. 1:

Bell Center
Monday–Thursday: 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m.–4. P.m.

Roger Knapp Tennis Center: Closed
Underground Fitness: Closed
Bell Center Pool: Reservations required on rec.drake.edu.

All facilities will be closed Monday, Sept. 1. Semester hours will begin Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Cowles Library Scavenger Hunt: Gotta Find ’Em All

Looking for an adventure on campus? From Aug. 25—Sept. 7, the Cowles Library Scavenger Hunt is your chance to explore hidden corners of the library, meet our team, and uncover resources you never knew existed.

How to play:

  • Find all six checkpoints throughout the library
  • Scan the QR codes to learn fun facts about each spot
  • Snap a selfie at each location (share with @CowlesLib on Instagram and #CatchCowles if you’d like!)
  • Show your selfies at the Information Desk to earn a unique sticker for each checkpoint
  • Collect all six and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a gift card to a local Dogtown bookshop!

Whether you’re brand new to campus or a library pro, this is your chance to explore, collect, and maybe even catch ’em all!

— Hope Bibens, Cowles Library

Annual Suicide Awareness Walk Sept. 14 at Drake Stadium

The Drake Student Counseling Center in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will host its fourth annual Suicide Awareness Walk on Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Drake Stadium. Participants are encouraged to sign up in groups or as individuals with the opportunity to receive free goodie bags, T-shirts, and food/drink. We hope to see you there!

Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director, Drake Student Counseling