All posts by Megan Brown

Writing Center Opens Feb. 9

WHAT WE DO: The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:

  • Understanding instructions/prompts
  • Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas
  • Outlining and organizing
  • Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft

We are a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

HOW TO SIGN UP TO VISIT: We use Starfish for scheduling. Please go here to book an appointment with a tutor, or use the QR code below.

Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, please remember to cancel and reschedule.

WHERE WE ARE: The lower level of Cowles Library—please follow the signs. We offer hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let us know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, we do not inform professors unless they specifically ask us to do so. Note: please contact megan.brown@drake.edu for instructions on how to ascertain if a student has attended a Writing Center appointment.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please contact Prof. Megan Brown, Director of Writing (megan.brown@drake.edu).

 

 

New Spiritual Wellness Room On Campus

We’re pleased to share that Collier Scripps Room 133 is now a Spiritual Wellness Room as a welcoming resource for our campus community. Students, staff, and faculty are invited to use this interfaith space for quiet reflection, prayer, meditation, gentle rest, or nursing. Available items include prayer rugs, shawls, yoga mats, and a meditation bowl, along with other supportive materials.

I would like to thank the Muslim Faculty/Staff Affinity group for spearheading this initiative. I also appreciate Dr. Ryan Wise, Dean of the School of Education, and the School of Education’s Diversity Committee for their support in these efforts.

— Terrance Pendleton, Office for Campus Equity and Inclusion

W-2 Forms Available On MyDrake

W-2 forms are available online through myDrake’s Employee Dashboard. To access and print your W-2, look to the “Taxes” section of the Employee Dashboard. Within this section, click “W-2 Wage and Tax Statement” and select the tax year for 2025.  Instructions are available for your reference. If you have questions, contact Payroll at 271–3190 or Human Resources at 271–3133.

— Lisa Etnyre, Human Resources

Top 5 Reasons To Attend Level Up With AI: An Alumni Networking Breakfast

#5  Free breakfast 

#4  Open networking time to meet people who want to help you succeed  

#3  Advice from alumni who’ve turned Drake experiences into careers 

#2  Honest talk about AI – a keynote from Ben Weinberg (Class of 2017) 

And #1… A morning that might change your future! 

 Event Details: 

Friday, February 6 

8:30 – 10:00 AM 

Olmsted Student Center, Parents Hall 

AI is here. Students have questions, and Drake alumni have some advice! Join Career Services, Alumni Relations, and Drake alumni from diverse academic and industry areas for a conversation about IF, WHEN, & HOW to use AI to support your career development! Sponsored by The Principality Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. 

Keynote Speaker: 

Ben Weinberg (Class of 2017), Director of Talent Development at F&G and former religion major at Drake University, shares that most people don’t really understand AI, but everyone is going to need the knowledge to talk about it and the skills to use it. He’s excited to share is expertise about talent development, AI, and the power of relationships. Students will walk away feeling energized, informed, and ready to leverage new networking relationships! 

Registration: 

Students can register in Eventbrite, and space is limited. The full agenda is below. 

8:30 AM – Check-In 
8:45 AM – Breakfast & Networking
9:00 AM – Keynote Address: Ben Weinberg ‘17
9:25 AM – Open Networking 

**Drake faculty and staff are welcome to attend and may use the same Student Registration Eventbrite link. Faculty and staff who plan to attend are encouraged to bring at least two students with you! 

Last Chance To Sign Up For The Career Fair

All students from all majors are invited! 

Who: Employers, graduate/professional program partners, students, alumni, and more! 

  • Over 300 students attend the fair annually. 
  • Alumni from the Class of 2024 and 2025 are invited.  
  • Nearly 100 employers and educational representatives from graduate and professional programs.  
  • Drake Faculty and staff are also encouraged to attend.  

What: Networking, internship/job searching, learning about graduate/professional programs, career exploration, collecting free swag, and more!  

When: Thursday, February 12, 3:00 – 6:00 PM; Come and go as you are able! 

Where: Olmsted Student Center 

  • Student Check-In – Olmsted Breezeway 
  • Career Fair – Upper Level 

Why: Let us count the ways! 

  • New this year, University Communications and Marketing will be providing Drake students with an opportunity to have your professional headshot taken (images to be shared following the fair – approximately one week).  
  • Drake employers often recruit FIRST from the stack of resumes they receive at our Career Fair. 
  • Between 60-80% of jobs are secured through professional networks, and you must build your network BEFORE you need it! 
  • Opportunities exist that you never knew about with organizations you might never consider.  
  • Practice builds confidence. You may not be formally searching for an opportunity right now, but you can build your confidence for future fairs by practicing your elevator pitch, sharing your resume, and talking with employers NOW! 

Student Registration is open! 
Sign up on Handshake: https://drake.joinhandshake.com/edu/career_fairs/57887 

Professional attire required at the fair!
No jeans or sweatpants. A suit is recommended. If you don’t own a suit, wear trousers/dress pants/skirt and a button-down shirt, blouse or sweater. 

Polish Your Resume & Other Career Fair Resources: Thursday, February 5; walk-in, in-person anytime between 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

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.

  • Tuesday, February 3, at 8 p.m. on Zoom
  • Wednesday, February 11, at 5 p.m. in JSC 250

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position. Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student and Parent Programs

Join Drake’s Welcome Weekend Team

Peer Mentor/Academic Consultants (PMACs) aim to assist new first-year students in feeling welcome, comfortable and connected at Drake. They do this by initiating communication with incoming first-year students in July, facilitating peer connections during Welcome Weekend, and continuing to assist students as they navigate their first semester at Drake.

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

  • PMAC Info Session – Thursday, February 5, at 6 p.m. in JSC 250
  • PMAC Info Session – Tuesday, February 10, on Zoom at 8 p.m.

For more information about the role and application, visit our website.

Health Care Professional Incentive Program

The State of Iowa is happy to announce the eligibility criteria for inaugural awards under the Health Care Professional Incentive Program (HCPIP). The application will become available on Feb. 1 and close on March 31.

The HCPIP provides awards in the form of an income bonus or a payment against a recipient’s federal student loan(s) for those who agree to work in an eligible health occupation and practice in an eligible location.

For 2025-2026 awards, the eligible occupations include:

·         Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (includes all categories)

·         Licensed Professional Counselor (Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, Mental Health Counselor)

·         Nurse Educator

·         Occupational Therapist

·         Physical Therapist

·         Physician Assistant (includes all categories)

·         Physicians (MD and DO)

·         Registered Nurse

·         Social Worker (licensed social workers qualified to provide mental health counseling).

Information about the eligible practice areas (counties), award amounts, and the application process is available at educate.iowa.gov/hcpip.

Questions about HCPIP can be directed to grants@iowacollegeaid.gov.

— Kristi Fuller, Financial Aid Office

Lounge: New Student Event Platform

You asked, we listened! Introducing Lounge, a new application that centralizes student led events happening on campus, student organization communications and management, and student organization event planning.

Want to know what is going on this weekend? Lounge can help with that. Want to know what registered student orgs are active on campus Lounge can tell you that. Is you org or club in need of a centralized space to store documents for future members? Lounge does that too! Are you tired of searching multiple different websites to fill out forms and request rooms and order food? Lounge has it all!

The app is compatible for both mobile and desktop users and it’s free to download. This is to be used not only by student organizations, but all students on campus.

Please download the app using the QR code on the attached flyer, visiting the website here or email Tiffany Hach (tiffany.hach@drake.edu) with any questions.

— Tiffany Hach, Director of Student Life