All posts by Kevin Moenkhaus

For Students Archive

Review your class schedule and academic profile

Students, the deadline to add a class has passed, so this is a good time for you to check your class schedule and review your academic profile in MyDrake.

Use the “My Course Schedule” link under the Classes & Registration section to view your class schedule.

Use the “My Academic Profile” link under the Student Records section to review your degree and major(s), your classification (sophomore, junior, senior, etc.), and other curricular information.

If you have any questions about your class schedule or academic profile, please contact your college/school dean’s office as soon as possible.  If you are not sure to which college/school you belong, please email the Registrar’s Office at registrar@drake.edu.

Spending just a few minutes reviewing this information early in the semester may save you time and hassle at the semester’s end.

—Kevin Moenkhaus, Associate Registrar, Office of the Registrar

Campus Announcements Archive

September tech tips: troubleshooting

Tech issues happen. Your computer freezes, you can’t figure out how to install or use a program, or you’re not even sure where to start.

ITS is here to help guide you through tech issues, and determine how best to resolve them—often without having to call us for help.

If you run into a tech issue, here’s what to try first:

  1. Turn it off and turn it back on again. Whether it’s your computer, your cellphone or a software program—try turning it off and turning it back on again. If you’re trying to access something from the Internet, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser to see if you can duplicate the issue. It’s simple, but it’s often enough to resolve an issue.
  2. Update. Keep your devices and your software up to date. Don’t ignore updates as they can contain vital security patches or resolve bugs and prevent issues before they start.
  3. Check ITS communications. If you’re having an issue, maybe someone else is too? Look to see if ITS has posted an outage notification on its website or service portal. Twitter user? Follow @DrakeITServices. Want to have outage notifications sent directly to you? Opt in by texting DrakeITS2020 to phone number 226787.
  4. Research it. Having issues with a Drake system? Start by looking at our knowledge base (how-to guides) in the IT service portal. You can either look for guides by category or use the search bar in the upper right corner. Issue with a non-Drake system? Use the search within the program you’re using, or use quotation marks and search the error message in Google. Be sure to look for help for the specific type of device and/or version of the software you’re using.
  5. Still need help? If you’ve tried the other suggestions and are still having an issue, let us know. Call 515-271-3001 (or 3002 for a classroom emergency) or report your issue in our service portal 24/7.

ITS is here to help you learn to use technology more effectively, and to provide direct support when needed.

—Carla Herling, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus review of LMS software

Drake University is conducting a review of its learning management system (LMS), Blackboard, throughout the Fall 2019 semester. As with any technology, our LMS needs to be reviewed periodically to ensure that it still meets campus needs.

The LMS review is being conducted by a task force made up of faculty, staff, and students. If you have questions, please visit www.drake.edu/its/lmsreview and/or reach out to your area’s representative.

—Karly Good, Learning Management Specialist, ITS

For Students Archive

Drake athletic events tickets; football and volleyball schedules

Drake undergraduate, graduate, and law students are admitted to all home Drake Athletics events for free. Tickets will be automatically added to students’ Drake card.

Students will receive a confirmation email from the Athletics ticketing partner, AXS.com, with notification that tickets have been loaded to their Drake Card. Once they receive the confirmation, they can head to the game and cheer on the Bulldogs. If a student does not receive an email from AXS.com, visit or contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

Below is the additional information for attending fall sports events.

Drake Football

2019 Football Schedule

  • Enter the Drake Stadium southwest main entrance.
  • Present your valid Drake Card to the ticket taker. Your ticket will be printed at the gate.
  • Student seating is available in Sections U-V.

Drake Volleyball

2019 Volleyball Schedule

  • Enter The Knapp Center main lobby entrance.
  • Present your valid Drake Card to the ticket taker. Your ticket will be printed at the gate.
  • Student seating is available in Sections E-G.

Additional student ticket information is available here.

–Ryan Harris, Drake Athletics

Campus Announcements Archive

Calling all designers: Campus contests soliciting graphic wraps for a new campus bus and DART bus shelters

Two different graphic design competitions were recently announced on campus, both involving buses.

Wrap a campus bus contest – Deadline Sept. 17
The first, offered by the Department of Public Safety, gives faculty, staff, and students an opportunity to see their design moving around campus on Drake’s third and newest bus. The contest asks participants to design a bus wrap, in which the winning submission will be optimized to a full-size wrap and put on a new Drake bus over winter break.

To enter, download the design template and criteria, create your design, and then submit your work by Sept. 17 to the Public Safety Office or email it to scott.law@drake.edu.

Designs will be reviewed and approved by Public Safety and University Communication & Marketing offices. The design is required to have the Drake logo on or near the logo placement as shown in the template. …and of course any designs that are of poor taste of offensive in nature will not be considered.

Wrap a Drake University bus shelter contest – Deadline Sept. 8
The second contest is an open request for proposal (RFP) process coordinated by Liz Lidgett on behalf of Drake University. The contest seeks designs for two bus shelters that will be installed on the north side of University Avenue with the completion of construction. Artwork should be created for each panel comprising the three sides of each shelter. One artist could be selected for both shelters or an individual artist for each shelter. The objective for the artwork should illuminate the cultural tapestry of the Drake neighborhood, and its namesake, Drake University. Submissions should be sent to Liz@LizLidgett.com by Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. Read the full RFP.

—Scott Law, Public Safety, & Ryan Arnold, Community Relations

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Drake Social Sept. 10 on Ray Promenade

The Provost invites faculty and staff to the Drake Social on Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 4–6 p.m. on the Ray Promenade. There will be a popcorn bar and soft drinks.

This year the Provost wants the socials to be family friendly. If you have childcare responsibilities right after work, feel free to bring the kids along to the social.

In case of inclement weather, the social will be held in Levitt Hall.

—Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

For Students Archive

Cheerleading tryouts

Interested in becoming a member of the Drake Cheerleading team? Members promote school spirit and crowd involvement at Drake Athletic sporting events including football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball.

Cheer leading Tryouts
Aug. 30 | 6–9 p.m. | Knapp Center

For more information or to register for tryouts, click here.

Questions? Please email holly.schroeder@drake.edu

–Aimee Lane, Drake Athletics, Marketing and Promotions

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Koru Mindfulness Series

Koru is an introduction to mindfulness and meditation. It teaches you skills you can use to manage your stress, focus your mind, and gain perspective on challenges you may be facing. Using traditional tools from breathing techniques to guided imagery, you will learn how to let go of the thoughts and worries that can overcome your ability to be present.

Join Christine Urish, professor of Occuptional Therapy, for a four-part series that will meet Wednesdays from 2–3:15 p.m. on Sept. 4, 11, 18, and 25 in the Occupational Therapy building. You must attend all four sessions. Class size is limited to 12 people. Contact Linda Feiden for registration information. There are only two seats left so register today!

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Students Archive

Free ESL classes for Drake students

The Center for International Programs and Services wants to let students know of a great learning opportunity to improve English while being here at Drake. The Center has a comprehensive Intensive English Program that offers intermediate and advanced level classes with an academic focus. If you feel that you may be needing additional help in a certain English skill area, be it advanced academic writing, grammar, or speaking, or if you simply would like to improve your pronunciation, you may want to consider taking one of the classes. The best news is that all full-time Drake students, including exchange students, can take IEP classes free of charge!

Click here to view the schedule for Fall 2019. The classes currently offered are:

  • Reading I and Reading II
  • Writing I and Writing II
  • Speaking/Listening I and Speaking and Listening II
  • Grammar I and Grammar II
  • Pronunciation and Spelling
  • TOEFL Preparation
  • American Culture (This class offers regular field trips to various Des Moines locations to help new students learn more about the local culture, American values and history. This semester visits to  the Des Moines Art Center, State Historical Museum, Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge are  planned, even a downtown bike tour!)

Please, note that these are classes are not credit-bearing.

Classes begin on Monday, Aug. 26 and end on Friday, Dec. 6. The last day to register for classes is Friday, Aug. 30. If you are interested in joining one of the classes or if you have any questions about the program, please, contact Dina Khayrushina. The International office is located in the International Center on 25th St.

–Dina Khayrushina, Center for International Programs and Services

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

August’s digital faculty member: Sandy Henry

Each month a faculty member, nominated by their dean, is recognized for their efforts to integrate innovative technology into their classroom. August’s digital faculty member of the month is Sandy Henry, professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Read an interview with Sandy below:

What course do you use this technology in? All of them! But mostly in copywriting and content design, strategic message design and advertising campaign strategies

What type of technology (hardware/software) do you use?  How do I pick just one? I never met a piece of technology I didn’t like. All of my classes are hands-on, active courses where the students learn by doing, so tech is integrated throughout. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of in-class collaboration via cloud documents/applications.

In what context do you use this technology (assessment/lecture/group work/etc.)? I’ll put the students into groups, ask them to create a cloud files for all group member and myself. They can accumulate and curate source content, they can write and edit, they can design…the possibilities are endless, and I see what they are doing in real time (plus, the history feature of cloud documents, especially Google, is great for assessment after the fact because it records every action taken in a document, as well as the person who takes it). It’s also easy to add and remove members, so groups can be changed during the process.

How does this type of technology align with your teaching pedagogy? Because my classes are active, hands-on skills classes, this is a natural fit.

Where did you get the inspiration to make a change (colleague/seminar/administration/etc.)? I was inspired to start doing this in the classroom because I was asking students to do it outside of class on group projects and it was working well – it’s natural to them!

How long did it take for you to implement this technology? About five minutes, we all knew how to use it, it was just a matter of explaining the process for the in-class exercise.

Did Drake ITS assist you in implementing this technology? If so, how? No

Are you interested in trying out new technology in your classroom? Want help from ITS? Schedule a technology adoption consultation.

–Jon Hurdelbrink, CPHS; Carla Herling, ITS