All posts by Jill Batten

Celebrate Global Advising Week: May 2–8

On May 2, 1979, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising was founded. Every year, we take this week to honor the Faculty Mentors and Advising Specialists who provide the roadmap for student success.

To all our Drake colleagues who advise, mentor, and support: Thank you for all you do!

Here is how you can join the celebration next week:

For Students: Show Your Appreciation

  • Send a thank-you note: Take a moment to send a thank you to the advisors and mentors who have supported your journey.
  • Share your story: Email your college or school Associate Dean (listed here under College/School Advising Administrators) and let them know how your advising specialist, faculty mentor, and/or other advisors and mentors have made a difference for you.

Faculty & Staff: Connect and Recognize

  • Connect and be inspired: Join colleagues for the webinar Advising Philosophies through an Appreciative Lens, hosted by the Office of Advising on Wednesday, May 6 at 11 a.m. in JSC 250 (Hayes Student Commons).
  • Spread the positivity: Send a Starfish Kudos to advisees and mentees who are showing up, staying engaged, and taking charge of their success.

To all our Drake colleagues who advise, mentor, and support students, THANK YOU!

— Jill Batten, Strategic Director of Advising & Career Services

Retirement Celebration For Provost Sue Mattison May 6

After ten years of dedicated and impactful service to Drake University, we invite you to join us in celebrating Provost Sue Mattison.

Throughout a decade of commitment, Sue has helped guide our campus through moments of both challenge and growth—from thoughtfully navigating the uncertainties of COVID, to playing a key role in continued academic excellence. Her steady leadership, insight, and care for students and colleagues alike have left a lasting mark on our institution.

Please join us as we gather to honor her legacy, share memories, and wish Sue the very best in her next chapter.

DATE: Wednesday, May 6
TIME: 1–3 p.m.
LOCATION: Levitt Hall, Old Main 
Light refreshments provided; short program around 1:30 p.m.

— Cheryle Anania, Office of the President

Drake Social To Celebrate Service Anniversaries And Retirees

You are invited to the Provost’s next Drake Social on Wednesday, May 13, from 4–5:30 p.m. in the Schickler Club, adjacent to the Knapp Center.

During this event, faculty and staff who celebrated (or will be celebrating) a milestone service anniversary or retirement between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, will be highlighted.  Their names will be scrolled on video screens around the room.

Refreshments will include an assortment of snacks and beverages. The Provost’s Social is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children or partner.

Please take a moment to stop by and congratulate your co-workers.

— Anne Marie Greenwood, Office of the Provost

Update: Classroom AirPlay Issues And HDMI Alternative

ITS is aware of an issue affecting AirPlay in some campus classrooms, which may impact teaching and presentations. In affected rooms, the classroom may not appear in the list of available AirPlay destinations. If you’re unsure whether a room is affected, you can check by opening AirPlay; if the classroom doesn’t appear as an option, the room is impacted.This issue is an unintended result of a recent network update. We’re actively working with our network vendor on a resolution; however, it’s unlikely the issue will be fully resolved before the end of the semester.

What to do in the meantime:

  • Use the available HDMI cable connection in the room.
  • If your computer doesn’t have an HDMI port, please bring the USB‑C multi‑port adapter that was provided when your computer was issued.

If you experience difficulty with classroom technology, contact the ITS Support Center via the service portal at service.drake.edu/its, by phone at 515‑271‑3001, or by bringing your device to the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we work to address this issue.

— Becky Klein, ITS

Scheduled Power Outage May 19

Drake University Facilities Planning & Management has announced a rescheduled power outage that will affect several central campus buildings on Tuesday, May 19.

The outage, originally planned for spring break, will now take place from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 19. During this time, there will be no power in the following buildings:

  • Old Main
  • Cole Hall
  • Carnegie Hall
  • Cartwright Law
  • Opperman Law Library
  • Olmsted Center

⚠️ Important Access Notice:
For safety reasons, all buildings impacted by the power outage will be strictly off limits for the duration of the outageNo access will be permitted between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on May 19.

The outage is necessary to complete critical infrastructure work, including repairs to the transformer located outside Carnegie Hall and preventative maintenance and cleaning of the electrical switchgear inside Olmsted Center.

Facilities Planning & Management recognizes that power outages can be disruptive and appreciates the campus community’s cooperation and understanding. This work is scheduled during the first week of summer to minimize impacts and to ensure campus systems are fully operational ahead of Orientation and a very busy summer season of camps, conferences, and events.

Those who work, study, or normally use the affected buildings are encouraged to plan accordingly.

For questions or additional information, please contact Colin Atkinson, associate director, Facilities Planning & Management.

Paid Fellowship Opportunity for Fall 2026 Instructors

Stipend-Supported Fellowship for Fall Instructors through OLLI at Drake and CEL

Building upon the success of recent intergenerational collaborations within the Drake curriculum, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and the Office of Community Engaged Learning (CEL) invite instructors of Fall 2026 courses to convene 3-4 combined class meetings with OLLI members.

Selected instructors, known as OLLI at Drake Fellows for Intergenerational Learning, will receive a $1,000 stipend. Additional funding is available for project implementation or catering of a meal or social hour with students and OLLI members.

Drake instructors interested in the OLLI at Drake Fellowship for Intergenerational Learning can find more information andapply by Wednesday, April 15 at https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_czRxTYHUHeKHprw.

Please contact OLLI Director Tracy Beck or CEL Director Mallary Allen with any questions or to discuss ideas.

Drake Law School to Host Constitutional Law Symposium on Executive Power

Drake University Law School will host its annual Constitutional Law Symposium April 11, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the James Albert Classroom, Cartwright Hall. Details and registration at drake.edu/conlaw/events.

This year’s symposium, “The Roberts Court, Executive Power, and the American Experiment in Self-Government,” brings together four notable scholars and legal experts to discuss the unitary executive theory, separation of powers, and what developments in executive power might portend for the American experiment in self-government. Proceedings will be published in the Drake Law Review.

Panelists include:

Andrea Scoseria Katz, associate professor of law, Washington University School of Law

Aaron L. Nielson, Charles I. Francis Professorship in Law, University of Texas at Austin School of Law, and former Solicitor General of Texas

Victoria Nourse, Ralph V. Whitworth Professor in Law, Georgetown Law School; vice chair, UnitedStates Commission on Civil Rights; former executive director of the Center on Congressional Studies

Peter M. Shane, Distinguished Scholar in Residence and adjunct professor, New York University School of Law; professor of law and Jacob E. Davis & Jacob E. Davis Chair in Law Emeritus, The Ohio State Moritz College of Law

The Drake Constitutional Law Center is one of only four such centers established by Congress. Throughout the year, the Center hosts multiple lectures and symposiums to bring the nation’s leading constitutional scholars to campus. The symposium is pending four hours of Iowa Continuing Legal Education credit. For more information, visit https://www.drake.edu/conlaw/events/.

— Taylor Johnson, Drake Law School

Celebrate National Student Employment Week

April 13–17 is National Student Employment Week! Student employees perform invaluable services to the campus community.

Supervisors, would you like to recognize your student employees? Here are a few low- to no-cost ideas:

  • Bring in treats for your student workers or put together a goodie bag
  • Write a hand-written note expressing your appreciation
  • Help students with their career preparation – offer to review their resume or write a letter of recommendation
  • Decorate office doors, desks, or bulletin boards with signs expressing your appreciation
  • Highlight students on your social media pages, or submit a student/group spotlight to Career Services to be highlighted on Instagram – just send a photo and quote to Amanda Martin, amanda.martin@drake.edu

We are also thankful to the many on-campus supervisors who support the development of Drake students every day!

— Amanda Martin, Academic Excellence and Student Success

Cowles Library April Featured Collection

In honor of Earth Day, Cowles Library is featuring a collection of books highlighting our planet through both fiction and non-fiction books. Whether your interest is in conservation, sustainability, hiking local trails or reading climate fiction this collection has an earthy read for you.
Stop by Cowles Library or visit our Featured Collections page to explore these and other highlighted materials.

— Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library

“Walk this May” Step Challenge

As the weather starts to warm up, it’s time to get outdoors and get moving. If you need a little nudge, join this year’s Walk this May team step challenge!  During the month of May, teams will record their weekly step counts. Team step totals and team rankings will be shared weekly to keep the competitive juices flowing.

To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Monday, April 27, with your list of 4 to 8 team members, team name, and who will be your team captain.  Grab your shoes and let’s get going.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources