Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) Grounds and Support staff have completed an assessment of campus trees.  With the additional expertise of Mindy Charron, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with Perficut Companies, a detailed visual inspection of the trees and surrounding conditions identified several trees with health concerns or hazardous safety issues that are a priority for pruning or removal this winter.  Pruning will improve the aesthetics, safety, and overall health of the tree’s canopy.  Tree removals are necessary due to structural problems, disease or insect infestation, storm damage, or health condition of the tree and the proximity to walkways or buildings for the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors.  The trees and their locations are identified below:

Tree Common Name	Location	Work
White Oak tree	Crawford Hall	Removal – dead tree
Linden tree	Herriot Fire Land	Removal – dead tree
White Oak tree	Lot 13 – Ray Promenade	Removal – dead tree
White Oak tree	Jewett/Painted Street	Removal – dead tree
Honey Locust tree	SW of Hubbell	Removal – dead tree

The pruning and tree removals will be scheduled over the next couple months.  Signage and detours around work areas will be in place during these operations.  FPM will be planting trees on campus this spring to continue improving the aesthetics of the campus and increase tree canopy.  An Arbor Day event is being planned for April, stay tuned to OnCampus for more information.

—Patrick Williams, Facilities Planning and Management

It’s been your time to shine as a cybersecurity superhero as we’ve observed Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM) this October! Have you taken the 2025 quiz yet?

Every superhero needs to keep their gear in top shape to fight off villains. The same goes for your devices (computers, phones, tablets)—keeping your operating system (OS) and applications updated gives you the latest tools to fend off cyberattacks. 

Did you know about these security risks of outdated software?

• Vulnerabilities Are a Weakness in Your Armor: Running outdated software is like having cracks in your armor that villains (hackers) can exploit.
• A Hero’s Tale of Warning: You may recall hearing about these news stories from recent years, which are all notable cybersecurity breaches resulting from delayed software updates: Marriott International data breach (2018), Equifax data breach (2017), “WannaCry” ransomware attack (2017), Target data breach (2013). There are many more similar examples, and scary stories aren’t limited to the spooky season.

Why are updates so important?

• New Gadgets and Upgraded Powers: Updates patch those cracks in your defenses. Sometimes they also give you new tools or improved performance, just like a hero upgrading their gear.

How can you make updates easier to apply?

• First, enable automatic updates to keep your systems battle-ready without having to think about it.
• Second, make sure to check all your devices for updates—don’t leave any hero gear behind!

Stay powered up and don’t give the bad guys a chance! Make sure your gear is always up to date.

When facing tech troubles, don’t hesitate to visit our Tech Hero Hub (aka the ITS Support Center)—your team of tech heroes is here to help you defeat any digital villains that come your way!

Finally, don’t miss your chance to take the CSAM quiz and see how well you can defend your digital world!

—Becky Klein, ITS

As part of Drake University’s ongoing effort to preserve older homes in the neighborhood and encourage growth in the single-family home market, Drake University is working with a contractor to relocate the Wesley House. Upon completion of the house move this fall to a nearby lot, the existing parcel will be cleaned and left as a green space for now.

—Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning & Management

Nov. 8 is National First Generation Student Day. Drake defines a first-generation student is a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. At Drake, First-generation students make up 29% of Drake’s new student population. This includes 26.2% of new EFR students — an all-time high for Drake.

The Office of New Student and Family Programs, Drake First Gen Bulldogs Student Organization and college/school academic offices are partnering to celebrate Drake first generation students, staff, and faculty.

Here are some ways you can get involved in the celebration:

Monday November 4th:

• Zimpleman College of Business – Stop by to sign our sign in the Aliber entryway and share the people who have supported you in your college journey.
• Olmsted Center Breezeway 3-6pm: Snacks, button making and scavenger hunt activity. 

Tuesday, November 5th: 

• Zimpleman College of Business – Donut holes and fruit in the Aliber entryway from 9 – 10am. 
• First-Gen students walk to the polls – Meet in the Olmsted Breezeway at 5:00pm to walk together to the Drake voting location. Off campus students are still welcome to join even if this isn’t their voting location!  

Wednesday, November 6th:

• Zimpleman College of Business – Snacks and selfie station in the Wright Room in Aliber Hall from 1-3 pm. Griff II will visit from 1 – 2pm.
• First-Gen Bulldogs & Unity Round table Collaboration with Broadlawns Counseling Center 5:00pm Olmsted Center 312. We will have a mental health discussion as a group then making a poster and jar with positive affirmations. 

Thursday, November 7th:

• School of Education – Games available near the front desk reception on the first floor of Collier-Scripps Hall. There will be prizes for those who participate in the games and goody bags for First Gen students who stop by the desk.

National First Gen Day- Friday, November 8th: 

• School of Education – Games available near the front desk reception on the first floor of Collier-Scripps Hall. There will be prizes for those who participate in the games and goody bags for First Gen students who stop by the desk.
• College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Donuts with the Dean in the Cline Hall Lobby from 10-11am
• Arts & Sciences Student Support Team in Olmsted – Friday November 8th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Write advice and inspirational notes for future First Gen students on our poster board. We also are here to listen to stories of success, to take note of areas in which we can provide additional support, and to answer questions. It is not too late for candy, swag – or questions about registration!!
• First-Gen Org Tabling in Breezeway 12-4pm – A showcase of famous first-gens and Drake Faculty/Staff will be displayed. Completed scavenger hunts can be turned in to receive a prize. 
• First Gen Faculty/Staff – We would like to offer to provide a First Gen Bulldog sign to hang outside your office door to let students know you are first gen if you are willing to put it up. If you are interested in a sign, please email marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

This collection celebrates the journeys of first-generation college students through memoirs, biographies, and works by first-generation authors. Discover stories of resilience, ambition, and the courage to forge new paths in higher education. Reach out to Cowles Library for additional resources to support your own journey.

—Marina Verlengia, Academic Excellence and Student Success

The Drake University Fall Marketing Management Capstone class has partnered with the Dogtown entertainment district, located within the Drake Neighborhood. Our objective is to cultivate and promote Dogtown as a vibrant, thriving, and safe entertainment destination, and we are seeking your help to achieve this goal! 

This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and will close on Friday, November 8th at 11:59 pm. 

Participation is voluntary and responses are anonymous. Survey data will be used by 12 Drake University Marketing Management students, their executive sponsor, Associate Professor Heidi Mannetter, and Drake’s Chief of Staff, Nate Reagen. Upon the completion of the fall ‘24 academic semester, responses may be stored in an archive for future research, but personal data will not be collected or shared.  

Once again, we truly appreciate your time in helping us create a stronger Dogtown community for everyone.  

As a reminder, this survey will close on Friday, November 8th at 11:59 pm, so we urge you to fill it out as soon as possible.  

Thank you in advance for your participation! 

Fall ‘24 Marketing Management Capstone Class 

—Heidi Mannetter, Zimpleman College of Business