All posts by Gail Witte

Campus Announcements Archive

February Rec Services wellness programming

February is going to be a fun month when it comes to Wellness programming.

Time to Train! Running up to the Relays is a program that will support your training for the Drake Road Races.  Whether you are training for the 5K, 1/2, or whole marathon, we’ve got a training plan for you.  Reach out to Gail.witte@gmail.com for more information.

Fleet Feet Bra Event: 2/7@5pm  Bell Center Studio
Join us as we welcome Fleet Feet Des Moines to the Bell Center.  They will be educating us on the different types of athletic bras, how to get the right fit, and more!  Sing up on the Drake Rec App

Hot Chocolate Barre and Partner Yoga
2/14 .  At 12:15 Gail Witte will teach a fun Barre class followed by a cup of hot chocolate!  Then at 5pm she will teach a “Partner Yoga” that is sure to be full fun and laughs.  Bring a friend and sign up in the Drake Rec App!!

We have two classes that run for four weeks, so build them into your schedule.
Judo, being taught by our own Scott Law, will run 2/21,2/28, 3/6 &3/21 in the Bell Center Studio @5:30pm.

Dance to Perform is a class taught by one of our FOUR brand new student instructors, Audrey Almeida!!  Over the four class she will teach some technique and choreography that will be performed at the end of the last class!!  Sign up in the Drake Rec App

Lastly, I’d like to highlight the aforementioned new student group fitness instructors: Ashley Beitelspacher, Audrey Almeida, Audrey Martin and Riley Palmer.  Paige Fernety and Britni Gill will be returning student instructors.  And Leslie Mars and Jenny Jones who are our faculty instructors.  They are building out a great group fitness schedule and I encourage everyone to try out a new class this semester.

— Gail Witte, Rec Services

For Students Archive

Reminder: Complete the 2024–2025 FAFSA (Financial Aid Application)

If you have not already done so, complete the 2024–2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for need-based grants, federal work-study, or to take advantage of federal student loan programs in the Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 semesters. The FAFSA is available to US Citizens and eligible non-citizens. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, please reach out to Drake’s Financial Aid Office for help.

On January 30, the US Department of Education announced that schools will not begin receiving submitted FAFSA records until the first half of March. Until then, the Financial Aid Office will not be able to confirm receipt of your FAFSA.

— Ryan Zantingh, Financial Aid Office

Campus Announcements Archive

Spring 2024 Sussman Lecture: Pain and Politics in the Heart of America with Dr. Jennifer Silva

The Harkin Institute is excited to announce this Spring’s Sussman Lecture, “Pain and Politics in the Heart of America” with Dr. Jennifer Silva. Dr. Silva will discuss the economic, social, and cultural challenges currently facing America’s working class and how those challenges have impacted the ability of the working class to achieve the American Dream. Dr. Silva has written two books surrounding these topics, Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood in an Age of Uncertainty and We’re Still Here: Pain and Politics in the Heart of America. In Coming Up Short, Dr. Silva conducted one hundred interviews with working class residents in two towns-Lowell, Massachusetts, and Richmond, Virginia, and shed light on their experience of heightened economic insecurity, deepening inequality, and uncertainty about marriage and family. In We’re Still Here, Dr. Silva conducted more than a hundred interviews of Black, white, and Latino working-class residents of a declining coal town in Pennsylvania to examine the civic and political disengagement of working-class people.

Date: March 6, 2024

Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. CT

Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311)

YouTube Live Stream on The Harkin Institute’s YouTube Channel

Registration: This event is free and open to the public but registration via Eventbrite is required.

Accomodations: American Sign Language (ASL) and Live Captioning (CART) will be provided for both in person and virtual attendees. Additional accomodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.

Click here to register

— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute

For Students Archive

Become an Orientation Leader

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend one of the information sessions being offered. Click here to sign up for a session.

  • Friday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. on Zoom
  • Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 5 p.m. in Olmsted, Conference Room 310

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position.

Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Lead Orientation Leaders at orientationleaders@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

For Students Archive

Peer mentor/academic consultant information sessions

Welcome Weekend 2024 planning is underway, and we want you to be a part of it. There are multiple opportunities to participate in the PMAC program this year, so we hope to see many applications. These roles include FYS PMACs (working with a group of students), Event Planner PMACs (planning Choose Your Own Adventure events and facilitating Welcome Weekend activities), and Social Media PMAC (a unique role within the Event Planner PMACs that will run the new Instagram page to showcase our awesome PMACs and all the fun activities of Welcome Weekend)

To hear more about these roles and get all your questions answered, please attend one of our information sessions. Click here to sign up for a session!

  • Friday, February 9 4:00pm in Upper Olmsted Conference Rooms
  • Monday, February 12 at 6:30pm on Zoom

In addition, you can follow the @drake.pmacs Instagram account for more information about the position.

Applications are due Feb. 18 at 11:59 p.m. For questions, email pab@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

For Students Archive

Students for Dignity information session

Calling all Drake students. Do you want to be a part of a brand new campus organization focused on changing the purpose of public debate from attacking enemies to solving problems?

Students for Dignity educates, trains, and empowers students to become leaders who change the purpose of public debate from attacking enemies to solving problems.

Through grassroots organizing and networked communities, Students for Dignity sponsors experiences, conversations, and events that stir our conscience, change our habits, and lead to a tipping point where dignity replaces contempt as the accepted, respected and preferred problem-solving strategy in the United States.

Attend our Students for Dignity information session on Thursday, February 8, at 5 PM to learn more. Register here: bit.ly/3UfMbAl.

— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute

For Students Archive

The Harkin Institute D.C. Experience Scholarship applications now open

Applications are now open for The Harkin Institute D.C. Experience Scholarship and the Robert J. Waters and Patricia J. Beneke Endowed Washington, D.C. Experience Scholarship.

Our scholarships help cover the costs of housing and travel expenses for those completing an internship in Washington, D.C.

Haven’t secured an internship yet? No problem. You can still apply for our scholarship while searching.

Click here to learn more and apply!

— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus safety training: Active shooter

As we begin the Spring Semester, the safety of our campus is of paramount importance and informs our planning and work.  The recent active shooter incident in Perry, Iowa reminds us that no community is safe from these types of senseless gun violence incidents. For some, these incidents have occurred in your hometown or affected someone close to you. Please know we stand in solidarity with you and your community as you heal from these tragic acts that should never have occurred. Support is available through the counseling center; Students can call 515–271–3864 to make an appointment and for Faculty and staff through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 800–327–4692.

Unfortunately, these instances weigh heavily on our sense of safety and remind us that active shooter incidents can happen anytime and anywhere. While we hope we will never face an active shooter situation, we must focus on preparedness like we would for any other emergency, such as fire or weather events.

Public Safety has continued to partner with colleagues across campus, the Des Moines Police Department and Polk County Emergency Management Office on a variety of resources for the campus community. These resources complement current emergency planning materials, and are designed to focus on what to do in the event of an active shooter.

Last year, Drake produced an Active Shooter Preparedness Video.  This video addresses what to do in the event of an active shooter in an administrative or academic setting. This six-minute video uses the principles of run, hide, fight first adopted by the City of Houston and affirmed by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation.  A second video was developed specifically for those living and working in the residence halls. Please be aware that these videos feature simulated acts of violence, which may be disturbing and trigger an emotional response for some viewers. However, I believe these videos are important and vital to all our safety, and I encourage everyone who can to watch them.

In addition to the videos, I am happy to present an in-person one hour class on Active Shooter response for Departments or student groups.  Drake Public Safety ask that you familiarize yourself with emergency planning materials, download and use the RAVE guardian app, which offers a network of security communication tools, and if you “see something, say something,” as it takes each of us to keep our campus community safe.

— Scott Law, Executive Director for Public Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

The New Mobile Drake ID is Live

The Mobile Drake ID is live and ready for use at all card readers on campus! 

We have more than 1,300 users who have successfully set up the Mobile Drake ID on their mobile phones or watches, and we encourage you to join.  

Getting Started with the Mobile Drake ID

To set up the Mobile Drake ID, you must have a photo on file with the Student Services Center. If you would like to update your ID photo, please use the Photo Submission Portal on the Student Services Center website. 

Please reference the following resources to upload your ID photo and set up the Mobile Drake ID on your mobile phone or watch. 

Adding the Mobile Drake ID to Your Device (How-To) 

Upload Your Drake ID Photo (How-To) 

Commonly Asked Questions 

Where can I use the Mobile Drake ID? 

You can use the Mobile Drake ID at any card reader location, including dining services, off-campus Bulldog Bucks merchants, the campus Starbucks, the Bulldog Shop, campus door access, the rec center, the library, and printing services. Any location that does not have a card reader, you can present your virtual ID from your digital wallet in place of your physical card, including the DART bus, the Athletic Ticket Office, and more. 

My Mobile Drake ID doesn’t beep at a card reader or says “try again.” What should I do? 

The NFC chip that communicates with the card reader is located in a different location on each different device depending on the manufacturer and model. Please try the back, top, and front of your device on the middle of the reader to determine its location. A test reader is located in the Support Center (in the lower level of Carnegie Hall) if you would like assistance determining where the chip is in your device. 

Can I still use my physical ID card? 

Yes, you may use both the Mobile Drake ID and the physical ID card at any of the previously listed locations. If you choose to use the Mobile Drake ID, you do not need to get rid of your physical ID card. If you need to be issued a new physical ID card, a $50 replacement fee will be assessed. The Mobile Drake ID is free of charge. We strongly encourage all students, faculty, and staff to use the Mobile Drake ID as we transition to this updated, environmentally conscious ID option. 

For more information, please see our Mobile Drake ID website and the Student Services Center website, which contain more frequently asked questions, tips and tricks for using the Mobile Drake ID, and more. 

Please contact the Student Services Center with questions or concerns by emailing studentservices@drake.edu, visiting the office located in Olmsted, or calling 515-271-2000. If you have technical issues or questions, please submit a Drake ID Issue ticket, call 515-271-3001, or visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall. 

— Scott Law, Public Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

Solar snapshot: Meredith addition

As part of Drake’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050, we are constantly investigating opportunities to increase our renewable energy generation. The Meredith Hall revitalization was included in this goal as the building hosts numerous sustainable features, the newest addition being a 115 kW solar array.

The Meredith array started generating electricity this past December. You can track the in time generation through this public dashboard.

Drake has a history with solar power, as the Meredith array is the third solar installation on Drake’s campus. In 2023, Drake generated 236.6 MWh between the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center and Tennis Center arrays. That is 168 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent avoided, which is equivalent to the following:

  • The annual energy use of 21 homes
  • The annual carbon sequestered by 200 acres of U.S. forests
  • 188,186 pounds of coal burned
  • 430,676 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered vehicle

Drake’s first solar project was the 128 kW Tennis Center array that started generating electricity in 2019. This allows the building to function as Net-Zero as we generate as much electricity as it uses. View the Tennis Center solar dashboard here.

The second installation was the 48.7 kW Harkin Center array, added in 2021. This installation helped the building achieve a Three Green Globes rating, which is the highest rated project in the state of Iowa and the first in Iowa to receive this rating. View the Harkin solar dashboard here.

As we move forward, we will continue to identify and take advantage of opportunities to further increase our renewable energy generation. We anticipate the Morehouse Revitalization to be the next candidate for a solar project, with more to come. 

The Meredith Hall solar project and sustainability features were made possible through gifts from Greg Johansen and John Lorentzen.

— Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator