All posts by Kathryn Kuckelman

Register for the Harkin On Wellness Symposium: The Future of Clean Water

The 2025 Harkin On Wellness Symposium will take place April 16, 2025, focusing on the Future of Clean Water. This year’s theme was chosen to highlight and synthesize the progress being made around the country in protecting and improving water quality through community engagement, environmental education, watershed protection, water conservation initiatives, and innovative water quality monitoring programs.

Clean water is fundamental to public health and environmental sustainability and is increasingly under threat from climate change and other human-caused risks. Community-based initiatives that protect and improve water quality have been shown to have lasting, positive impacts on both human and environmental health. Furthermore, programs that engage communities in hands-on water quality improvement and conservation can foster environmental stewardship that benefits current and future generations.

This year’s event will recognize groups working to preserve clean water, including nonprofit organizations, environmental groups, and community organizations, for the tremendous role they play in protecting this vital resource.

Learn more and register here!

Drake Dining Satisfaction Survey

This spring, Drake Dining Services wants to hear from you! Fill out our survey, and you’ll automatically be entered to win one of three $100 Dining Dollar Prizes!

Our goal at Drake Dining Services is to create exceptional experiences every day. Your feedback is vital as we continue to evolve the dining program, and we invite you to take just a few short minutes to share your experience. The Customer Satisfaction Survey allows us to capture feedback on critical areas, such as food quality, variety, availability of healthy items, and customer service. In return, you will be entered to win one of three $100 Dining Dollar Prizes. The survey will be open from March 3rd to March 15th.

Get started by clicking: https://imo.cx/1S1bHVqE

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for helping us build a better dining program!

— Nicholas Mussman, Dining Services

Drake Road Races Student and Employee Discount Reminder

Registration for the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile, presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is open, and you can save by using these exclusive discount codes! But don’t wait—these codes expire on April 1, so make sure to register before then to secure the lower prices.

  • 5k – Use code 2025Drake5k
  • 10k – Use code 2025Drake10k
  • Half Marathon – Use code 2025DrakeHalf

Also, prices for the Grand Blue Mile, presented by Wellmark, will increase on April 1, so now’s the time to sign up and lock in the current rates before they go up!

Whether you’re running the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon or the mile, don’t miss your chance to be part of America’s Athletic Classic!

— Ben Huftalin, Drake Relays

Cowles Library Joins Libraries with Heart

Cowles Library is proud to partner with the American Heart Association as part of the Libraries with Heart initiative.

Thanks to generous funding from the Helmsley Foundation, students, staff, faculty, and community members can now check out self-measure blood pressure devices, access educational resources, and take proactive steps toward heart health. Need additional support? Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake University is available for follow-up care.

Cowles Library is more than a place for books—we’re a hub for access. From blood pressure monitors to our sensory collection and other non-traditional items in our Library of Things, we offer a variety of resources to support your learning, wellness, and exploration. Stop by and see what you can discover.

— Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library

ITS Database Maintenance March 23

ITS staff will be performing maintenance on our Oracle databases on Sunday, March 23, between 7–9 a.m. During this time, Drake systems including Self Service, Banner, ProcessMaker, eTranscripts, and Touchnet may be unavailable. This work is necessary to maintain the security of University data.

If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

To see the full 2025 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.

— Becky Klein, ITS

Provost’s Social and Faculty Research Celebration

The March Provost’s Social will be held Monday, March 24, in the Cowles Reading Room beginning at 4 p.m.

This month’s social will include a special celebration of faculty research and academic achievement. Those who submitted their recent publications will be featured on a rolling slide show, and their physical publications may be displayed. Please join us to celebrate our colleagues!

Refreshments will include an assortment of snacks and beverages. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children or partner.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Alumni Panel and Networking Event: An Evening in the Johansen Student Center

Where Can Your Degree Take You? A&S Alumni Panel and Networking Event

Please join the College of Arts & Sciences for an evening of career stories, alumni connections, and networking in the Johansen Student Center Ballroom! On Thursday, March 27,  from 6-8 p.m., we will host a panel of five A&S alumni for a panel discussion, networking hour, and drawing for Drake swag and gift cards. This event has been planned by the Student Advisory Commitee for the benefit of current students who wish to explore career pathways, receive career advice, and have the opportunity to interact with alumni.

Featured Alumni:

  • Rick Hunsaker, AS’88, MPA’90 – Geography, International Relations, and Politics major, Masters of Public Admin – Executive Director at Region XII Council of Governments
  • Denise Rathman, AS’88 – International Relations major – Executive Director at National Association of Social Workers (Iowa Chapter)
  • Madeline Goebel, AS’16 – International Relations major – Executive Officer III at Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
  • Napoleon Douglas, AS’14 – Theatre major – Artistic Director of Pyramid Theatre Company and freelance Artist/Producer/Choreographer
  • Finley Blakeman, AS’23 – Computer Science major – Software Engineer at Growers Edge

Students, faculty, and staff from any major or discipline are welcome to attend. Please pre-register for the event here and submit your questions for the panelists!

— Jill Allen, Associate Dean for College of Arts & Sciences

Summer and Fall 2025 Registration, Schedule of Classes

The Summer and Fall 2025 schedule of classes and related registration information is available online. Registration begins Monday, April 7.

View registration information, including the registration time table that shows when you become eligible to register. View the schedule of classes.

Some courses will be temporarily reserved for students who have declared a certain field-of-study (major, minor, concentration, or endorsement). On Monday, April 21st, those reservations will be removed. Note that some courses have restrictions that are permanent.

If you are an undergraduate or pharmacy student intending to make any changes to your field-of-study and have those changes take effect before registration begins, file your changes via the change of record request no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 31st. Requests submitted after this date may be delayed.

The change of record request can be found by navigating to myDrake, selecting Self-Service under commonly used apps, and clicking on the link for the change of record request under Student Records.

Ryan Trump, Registrar