All posts by Ryan Zantingh

For Students Archive

Schedule Financial Aid appointments through Starfish

Effective now, Drake students should utilize Starfish to schedule appointments with staff in the Financial Aid Office. Appointment requests received via phone or email will be directed to the Starfish appointment scheduler. (The main Financial Aid Office email and phone line remain available for questions that do not require an appointment.) 

This change will streamline financial aid appointment scheduling and provide students with the ability to request appointments at any time, even during non-business hours. Coming soon, our office will be implementing a check-in kiosk for in-person visitors that will facilitate a meeting with available staff or allow a student to schedule a meeting for another time. 

— Ryan Zantingh, Financial Aid Office

Campus Announcements Archive

Get engaged with Civic Action Week April 7–13

Civic Action Week is a campus-wide week of events for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to learn, engage, and encourage collective responses to persistent societal challenges.

Civic Action Week centers around the Pathways for Civic Action and Social Change. We recognize there are many strategies needed to create change; the Pathways include: Community Engaged Learning & Research, Community Organizing & Activism, Direct Service, Philanthropy, Policy & Governance, and Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Responsibility.

Consider participating in one or more of the events happening that week!

Monday, April 8

  • SNAP out of Food Insecurity, 2-3pm in the Olmsted Breezeway. Join the first-year Changemaker Scholars to learn about food insecurity and how it affects college students. Learn about the many resources that are available for students, and discover ways to get involved! (Other tabling events will occur April 16 from 1-3pm and April 18, 9-10:30am). (Pathways – Community Organizing & Activism, Policy & Governance)

Wednesday, April 10

  • Civic Action Week tabling, 12:15-2pm in the Olmsted Breezeway. Swing by to learn about Civic Action Week events, grab some swag, and share why or how you like to give back to the community.

Thursday, April 11

  • Careers in Social Change Virtual Panel. 4-5pm on Zoom. Hear from professionals on how they have used their career to create change. Panelists include George Scott of YMCA Greater Des Moines, Kathryn Lehmann with FEMA, and Annelise Tarnowski, founder of the Rook Room.  Register on Handshake. Sponsored by Office of Community Engaged Learning and Career Services.

Friday, April 12

  • Findley Elementary School First-Grade Visit to Drake. Drake has adopted the first grade class at Findley Elementary School and on April 12 the students will visit campus for a morning full of activities. Start your day off the best way! Anyone from the Drake community is invited to welcome the students when they arrive at 9:30am with a “Welcome Tunnel” at the University entrance of Meredith. Form a line from the front doors down the sidewalk. Drake students have the opportunity to promote a college-going culture for youth in Des Moines. Contact abigail.axell@drake.edu for more information.  Hosted by the Office of Community Engaged Learning. (Pathway – Direct Service)
  • Sprout Spring Volunteer Day. 2-4pm. Help prepare the beds for spring planting, plant cool-weather crops, and clean up litter that has acquired over the winter.  (Pathway – Direct Service). 

Saturday, April 13

  • Drake Constitutional Law Symposium – “Climate Change, the Environment, and Constitutions.” 8:30-1pm in Cartwright Hall, 213. Prestigious speakers will discuss current environmental topics. (Pathways – policy & governance, community organizing & activism)
  • Sprout Garden Compost Pile Sifting, sponsored by DEAL. 1-2:30pm at the Sprout Garden. Sift through completed piles, break down garden waste, and prepare to build a new pile. (Pathway – direct service).

Learn more about events and opportunities. Follow along on Instagram @drakeservice.

 — Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

For Students Archive

J-Term travel seminars still accepting applications

If you’ve been considering applying for a 2025 J-Term travel seminar, it’s not too late. Most programs are still accepting applications, with admittance on a rolling basis when space is available. Review available programs and apply on Terra Dotta or reach out with any questions to studyabroad@drake.edu.

Locations include:

  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Hawaii
  • India
  • Italy
  • Kosovo
  • Madagascar
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Panama
  • Thailand & Vietnam
  • Washington, D.C.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

For Students Archive

DU England: Harlaxton still accepting applications

Applications for DU England: Harlaxton for Fall 2024 are still open until April 15. Don’t miss out on a chance to live and study in a manor house in the English countryside with Drake Faculty-in-Residence, Professor of Political Science, Mary McCarthy. AOIs available. Take your full financial aid package & Drake scholarships with you. Learn more and start an application, contact our office with questions (studyabroad@drake.edu), or book an advising appointment on Calendly.

— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

2024 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness

Whether you’re budgeting for the present or planning for your retirement, managing your finances can be an overwhelming task. That’s why The Harkin Institute chose “Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness” as the theme for this year’s Harkin Retirement Security Symposium. The event will bring together advocacy and community organizations, government agencies, and private companies and their foundations that work on financial wellness and retirement security. The symposium will provide a forum to discuss the most pressing challenges and find collaborative opportunities to address documented financial wellness needs and their relationship to retirement security, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations.

WHAT: 2024 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness

WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

WHERE: Olmstead Center at Drake University (2875 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 5031)

RSVP: Registration is free for Drake students, staff, and faculty! The event will also be livestreamed on The Harkin Institute’s YouTube channel.

For more information on the 2024 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium, click here.

— Kathryn Kuckelman, The Harkin Institute

Campus Announcements Archive

Building Brands, Empowering Entrepreneurs: A Conversation with Emily Steele, BN’12

Join us Wednesday, April 10, at 7 p.m. to hear from Emily Steele, BN’12, Drake alum and the CEO & co-founder of Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds is a dynamic marketing platform connecting place-based brands with community-minded content creators. Emily will share insights on her innovative approach to marketing and entrepreneurship, leveraging social media and community collaboration to empower small businesses and elevate emerging brands.

This is a virtual event open to Drake faculty, staff, and students.

Register here.

Questions? Reach out to Andy Verlengia at andrew.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Andy Verlengia, Office of Alumni Relations

Campus Announcements Archive

Form a welcome tunnel for Findley Elementary first graders April 12, 9:35 a.m.

Start your morning in the best possible way. On Friday, April 12, first-graders from Findley Elementary School will be visiting campus. Join us at the main entrance of Meredith to form a welcome tunnel at 9:35 a.m. (Students should be arriving around 9:45 a.m.). It will only take 15 minutes of your time, yet it will leave a lasting impact on the students. If you can wear your favorite Drake gear, even better.

Drake University has adopted the Findley Elementary School first-grade class and it is a special occasion to have them visit Drake each spring. The students will have a chance to hear from student leaders, go on a “bulldog scavenger hunt,” participate in learning activities with a health sciences class, and do drills with the football team. Thanks to all of those who are involved in making this a special day. Let’s give them the best Bulldog welcome!

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Reminder about Security Awareness Training

On Monday, March 25, all faculty and staff should’ve received an email from “Drake Information Technology Services (ITS)” with the subject line “You’ve been enrolled in ITS security awareness training” regarding a mandatory security awareness training module from our training partner, KnowBe4. If you haven’t completed the training, you’ll receive a reminder message with a link to the training module later this week. The course should be completed as soon as possible and will take you about 15 minutes. 

Cyber security awareness training provides our Drake community information to effectively protect both institutional and personal data. This training is also required for Drake to comply with applicable data privacy laws and helps contain our cyber insurance costs.

We appreciate the number of people who reached out to verify the legitimacy of the message. If you have other questions or concerns, submit an Account/Security Request or call the ITS Support Center at 515-271-3001.

— Becky Klein, ITS

For Faculty Archive

DU Semester Faculty-in Residence positions abroad available

Drake University is seeking interested faculty to apply for the DU Faculty-in-Residence positions to teach and support student learning on Drake’s semester-long, cohort-model, study abroad programs.

Two openings available. You may apply for one or both positions.

  • Spring 2025 in Seville, Spain
  • Fall 2025 in Grantham, England

The DU Semester Faculty-in-Residence applications are live through Qualtrics for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. To learn more about these opportunities including eligibility, compensation, responsibilities, and to officially apply, please go to: QUALTICS LINK

Submissions are due Wednesday, May 1. If you have questions or want to learn more about these opportunities, please reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement