Registration for the Drake Road Races is now open. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this Drake Relays tradition and finish on the iconic Blue Oval. The two-day flash sale ends tonight at midnight—lock in the lowest prices of the year:
Half Marathon – $55 10k – $35 5k – $25
All participants receive a premium apparel item, commemorative medal, race bib, free race photos, a ticket to the Drake Relays Distance Carnival on Thursday, April 23, and more.
This year’s Benefits and Wellness Fair will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9-11:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall, Old Main. Please mark your calendars for this “come and go” event.
Representatives from our benefits partners will be present to answer your questions, including: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Broadlawns, Delta Dental and DeltaVision, TIAA, Long Term Care Strategies, The Hartford, Bank of America, and Employee & Family Resources. Stop by and chat with registered dietitian Samantha Matt and representatives from Drake Recreational Services and be sure to get your blood pressure checked by our wonderful kinesiology students. Bonus! Griff II will be making an appearance!
There will be beverages, freebies, and a chance to win prizes. Most importantly, this is an opportunity for you to be sure you understand and take advantage of the benefits and perks offered to you as an employee of Drake University and help prepare you to make benefit elections during open enrollment (from Oct. 31 to Dec. 1 this year), which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Don’t forget to pick up a bingo card when you arrive and have the vendors you visit mark their square. If you secure a blackout (filling in all vendor spots), you will be entered in a drawing for prizes.
The International Student Association (ISA) is thrilled to invite you to International Night 2025: Waves of the World.
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating global cultures through music, fashion, and performances. Experience a wave of diversity, creativity, and community all in one night.
Join the Sustainability Coordinator for a lovely Fall walk to learn about the sustainability initiatives around campus. The walk will be held Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 12 p.m. We will meet at the start of the Bulldog Mile by the Olmsted Center (see the star on the map).
What: Neighborhood Welcome Event When: Thursday, Oct. 23, from 4:30–6 p.m. Where: 1132 26th Street, Des Moines, Iowa
Come join a special evening celebrating the return of the historic Stockham Home to its new location in the Drake Neighborhood—a story of preservation, partnership, and community pride. The Stockham House is an architectural treasure that has been expertly relocated and restored to ensure its legacy endures.
Enjoy: • Guided tours of the restored home • Stories of its history and preservation • Networking with InvestDSM, Drake Neighborhood Association, Drake University, Dogtown Business and Entertainment District • Light refreshments and community fellowship
Celebrate what’s possible when neighbors, institutions, and local partners unite to preserve our shared heritage and strengthen our community.
Verizon currently operates a cell tower atop the McCoy Apartment building at 1220 31st Street, a property owned by Drake University. To enhance service capacity and upgrade equipment, Verizon has proposed relocating the tower to the roof of Goodwin-Kirk Residence Hall.
Drake University has collaborated with Verizon consultants over the past year to develop this plan. The City of Des Moines has granted final approval for the rooftop antenna installations, which will include required screening. Supporting equipment will be housed in a secure, fenced area between Goodwin-Kirk Residence Hall and Aliber Hall.
Contractors are now finalizing schedules, with construction expected to begin later this fall and wrap up by early winter. Facilities Planning and Management, along with Residence Life, will keep Goodwin-Kirk residents informed throughout the project and ensure all work complies with campus protocols while minimizing disruptions.
— Kevin Moran, Executive Director Facilities, Planning and Management
It’s National Transfer Student Week, Oct. 20–24. This is a time for us to celebrate and recognize our transfer students and appreciate the faculty and staff who support them. Faculty, staff, and students can join the celebrations all week long:
Monday, October 20 – Transfer Student T-Shirt Swap 📍 Olmsted Breezeway 🕛 12:00–2:00 p.m. Stop by our table wearing a t-shirt from your previous college/university and pick up a free Drake t-shirt (while supplies last), symbolizing your transition to becoming a Bulldog. Griff will visiting from 12:15 – 12:45 pm!
Wednesday, October 22 – Free Lunch in the Dining Hall 📍 Hubbell Dining Hall 🕦 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Pick up a free lunch ticket in the lobby of Hubbell Dining (while supplies last) and enjoy a meal on us. Look for the reserved tables signs to join other transfer students, staff and faculty.
Friday, October 24 – Women’s Volleyball Game 📍 Knapp Center 🕔 Meet at 5:45 p.m. in the Knapp Center Lobby. Game starts at 6:00 p.m. Cheer on the Bulldogs as they take on Indiana State! Students get in free! We also have a limited number of free tickets for a Drake student’s plus one (while supplies last). Please email Alicia.hilligas@drake.edu if you are planning to bring a guest.
We are proud of our transfer students and programs, and hope that ‘all roads lead to home’ at Drake.
Thank you to those of you who have completed the Survey of Administrative Services, but we still need to hear from more of you! Your voice helps shape continuous improvement in these areas across campus: Facilities Planning and Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Public Safety, University Communications & Marketing, and the SPARC (grants) office.
Click here to complete this year’s survey by today. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete. You will only be asked to provide feedback on the areas you work with regularly.
Cowles Library has developed a Textbook Alternatives Dashboard that displays both Open Educational Resources (OER) and library-purchased e-Books currently used by faculty in their courses. OER are free, adaptable, and easily accessible materials that help reduce student costs while giving instructors the flexibility to tailor content to better fit their teaching and students’ learning needs.
See the OER Initiatives Research Guide for more information on the current faculty OER grant program. The application deadline has been extended to Oct. 31.
Faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value of Joyful Accountability will be recognized at the Provost’s Social today, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. in the Schicklers Club (formerly known as Courtside Club). This is a family friendly event. Please join us to congratulate your colleagues who have been nominated for exhibiting Joyful Accountability!
