Are you hesitant to use free weights because you aren’t familiar with proper form? Join Gail Witte, wellness director, Recreational Services, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 5–5:45 p.m. to learn the basics of weight training. The first five people to register (and attend) will receive a free weightlifting journal. Sign up for the class on the Drake Rec app.
Please join the Broadlawns Drake Student Counseling Center in Johansen Student Center, Room 101 (lounge), on the first two Tuesdays and Thursdays of the school year from 1:30–3 p.m. Come learn about the mental health resources available to students and get connected to our counseling team.
Dates: August 26, August 28, September 2, and September 4
Time: 1:30–3 p.m.
Location: Johansen Student Center, Room 101 (lounge)
Each year, Drake Law holds an event in honor of Constitution Day. This year’s event will feature Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law, Harvard Law School.
Stephanopoulos is a nationally recognized expert in election law, constitutional law, and democratic theory. His scholarship has appeared in leading law reviews and major media outlets.
The lecture will take place Thursday, Sept. 18, from 3–4 p.m. in Cartwright Hall, James A. Albert Classroom (213).
Find more information and register for the event.
— Dawn Brown, Office of the Dean, Drake Law School
Drake University Law School will host the Honorable Holly Thomas, U.S. Circuit Court Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, for a special fireside chat on Sept. 8. The event is free and open to the public.
Judge Thomas brings a breadth of substantive experience to the bench, with a distinguished career that has focused on some of the nation’s most important constitutional rights and legal protections. Her work has advanced issues including the right to vote, the right to marry, equal employment, housing and educational opportunities, protections for pregnant people, and advocacy on behalf of service members.
The program will feature a conversational Q&A format, moderated by Drake Law professor and director of the Constitutional Law Center, Mark Kende, and Drake Law Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr.
Event detail include:
“We are thrilled to welcome Judge Holly Thomas to Drake Law School for a Fireside Chat with Professor Kende and me,” said Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. “Her remarkable career reflects a deep commitment to service and justice, offering inspiration to our students, faculty, and community.”
Click here for more information and to register for the event.
— Taylor Johnson, Drake Law
Register for fall intramurals on the Drake Rec app. See the schedule and deadlines below.
UpLift is starting a conversation about housing in Central Iowa, and we want YOU to join!
Using local data and stories from Central Iowa housing experts, UpLift has transformed a shipping container into an interactive housing exhibit, designed to dig into the challenges many Central Iowans are facing when it comes to finding a place to call home.
Learn more about:
Eviction trends
Affordable housing challenges
Homeownership hurdles
Inspiring local solutions
No registration is needed; drop by during open hours and be part of a powerful, eye-opening experience that’s designed to inform, engage, and spark hope.
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center – 2800 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50311
🕒August 20-27, MWF: 9:00-11:30 am or TTH 1:00 – 3:30 PM or SAT & SUN 10:00 – 3:00 PM
Looking for more of a guided experience? Schedule a guided tour with UpLift staff here: https://bit.ly/CommunityCrateTour.
— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement
Take a look at our Group Fitness class lineup.
We have three new student instructors bringing fun and challenging classes to the mix. We still have our ever-popular Cycle and Strength and a few yoga classes throughout the week. Meditation Mondays is new and will travel around campus, so keep an eye on our social media and webpage for updates.
Download the Drake Rec App for information and to sign up!
— Gail Witte, Rec Services
Please note the following hours of operation for the Bell Center, pool, tennis center, and Underground Fitness.
August 25 – September 1 Hours
Bell Center
Monday – Thursday: 6:30am-10pm
Friday: 6:30am-9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12pm-4pm
Monday, Sept. 1: CLOSED
Bell Center Pool
Make a reservation at rec.drake.edu
Roger Knapp Tennis Center & Underground Fitness
CLOSED
Regular semester hours will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2
— Allison Bjork, Rec Services
You are invited to attend Ultra Hours, hosted by Drake Online & Continuing Education and the Center for Teaching & Learning, to update and copy the courses you need for fall.
Fall 2025 Ultra Hours
Tuesday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 20
1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Howard Hall Faculty Lounge, Room 212
If a virtual appointment or another time works better for you, fill out a service request and one of our instructional design staff will be in contact shortly.
— Brett Sikkink, Faculty Development Specialist
As a reminder, employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2026 (a savings of over $30 per month), need to complete a physical exam with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2024 and Nov. 30, 2025, and submit a completed Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Dec. 1, 2025. This form must be filled out annually to continue to receive the premium discount, so if you completed a physical last year, it is time to do it again.
If you have not yet scheduled your annual physical with your medical provider, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to guarantee you make the Dec. 1, 2025 deadline. If you cannot get an appointment with your doctor by Nov. 30, 2025, or you do not have a primary care provider, you may contact the Broadlawns Community Clinic by Drake (2970 University Ave.) to make an appointment. Let them know you are from Drake and need to make an appointment for a wellness exam. Most individuals can get an appointment within two or three days, but please do not wait until the last day to contact them. They have copies of the physician forms in their office if you forget your form. To make an appointment, call 515-216-5100.
Besides receiving a premium discount, an annual physical is a great way to receive important health information through age and gender specific examinations, schedule recommended preventative screenings, and create a doctor-patient relationship.
Please contact linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.
— Linda Feiden, HR
