All posts by Chelsea Funk

For Students Archive

DU Spain Spring 2024 deadline extended

If you’ve been considering the idea of studying abroad next Spring, the deadline for the DU Spain program in Seville has been extended until Sept. 15. This unique semester program includes a cohort of Drake students with Faculty-in-Residence: Prof. Matthew Hayden. He will be teaching Cultural Diffusion: Values in Art and Architecture.

INFORMATION SESSION: To meet Professor Matthew Hayden and to learn more from the Global Engagement Office, attend one of two information sessions on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 12-1 p.m. or 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Cowles Library, Room 201.

In addition, students will learn alongside peers from Spain and other countries at a local university. Take coursework in English, Spanish, or a combination, depending on the program you select. You can earn credit toward your major(s), minor(s) and AOI(s)! Students will have the opportunity to live with a Spanish family at their Seville home or live in a Residencia (similar to an apartment). Learn more here or start an application in Terra Dotta.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Join Drake’s Walktober step challenge with DMU and Wesley Life

If you are looking for a way to motivate yourself to get up and move more, join this year’s Walktober step challenge.  Drake is competing with Des Moines University and Wesley Life to see which site’s competitors can achieve the highest average step total during the month of October.  The winning site claims the Walktober traveling trophy for a year and bragging rights.  Drake won the trophy last year and we want to keep it here!

You are welcome to register as an individual, or create a team (adding a little internal competition to our already external one).  If you would like participate, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.  If you are putting together a team, please include your team’s name, team captain, and team members (4-6 people per team).  This event is open to all faculty, staff, and students.  Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 29.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive

Cowles Library OER grant stipend opportunity

Cowles Library is excited to announce an opportunity for full-time Drake faculty interested in learning more about using open educational resources (OER) in their courses. After successfully offering these grants last fall, the Provost’s Office is generously supporting them again this fall. These open resources replace costly textbooks and are beneficial to students in your courses in so many ways.  The Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program is offering $500 stipends to participants who complete the program, which comprises a workshop, self-paced learning modules, and peer discussion.

This program will be limited to six (6) participants in fall 2023, and participants must complete all required components to receive their stipend. We expect the time commitment for the program to be ten to twelve (10-12) hours, which includes the virtual kickoff workshop on Friday, October 6, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Apply now: Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program Application

Deadline: Applications are due by Wednesday, Sept. 27. Individuals will be notified of the status of their application by Monday, Oct. 2. Grants will be awarded based on representation of a wide range of disciplines and the alignment of application responses to the proposed content of this program.

Questions? Contact the project leads: Teri Koch, at teri.koch@drake.edu or Andrew Welch at andrew.welch@drake.edu.

— Teri Koch, Cowles Library

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Celebration of Life for Maddy Maxwell Oct. 5

Please join President Marty Martin, Emeritus President David Maxwell, and the Board of Trustees in celebrating the life and leadership of Madeleine “Maddy” Maxwell on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 4:30–6 p.m. at the Patty and Fred Turner Jazz Center.

Maddy passed away June 14. Emeritus President David and Maddy Maxwell led the University from 1999–2015. As the University’s first lady for 16 years, Maddy worked tirelessly to bring the campus and community together. She was a true servant-leader, and she lived a life devoted to transforming lives and strengthening communities. Maddy’s joyful spirit, boundless energy, and deep commitment to students will serve as inspiration for generations of graduates and community friends.

Please RSVP by Sept. 29 to Erica Hartschen at erica.hartschen@drake.edu or 515-271-4990.  
Parking for the celebration can be found off Forest Ave across from the Knapp Center.

— Erica Hartschen, University Advancement

Campus Announcements Archive

Diverse student/alumni welcome receptions

The Office of Alumni Relations reaffirms Drake’s commitment to diversity by recognizing and nurturing different identities. In 2020, we committed to fostering community between our diverse students and alumni. Starting this week, Alumni Relations will host two receptions to welcome our LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students to campus for another great year! These welcome receptions serve to create community among diverse students, alumni, faculty, and staff. For students, this is an opportunity to meet individuals like you who have been where you are. And of course, there will also be refreshments (and Griff…shhh)!

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 7–8:30 p.m., we welcome all LGBTQ+ students, alumni, faculty/staff, and allies to the Reading Room in Cowles Library for Rainbow Welcome. And then, next week on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 6:30–8 p.m., we welcome all BIPOC students, alumni, faculty/staff, and allies to the Alumni House for the BIPOC Student/Alumni Welcome.

— Gregory Lin, Alumni Relations

For Staff Archive

All Staff Council Special Interest Committee wants your input

The All Staff Council Special Interest Committee explores initiatives, questions, and/or concerns through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus.

To help ensure that the work of our committee is aligned with staff needs, please share any suggestions, concerns, or other feedback you’d like us to look into using this form. If you’d like us to respond to your feedback directly, please include your name and contact information, otherwise let us know your thoughts anonymously.

The Special Interest Committee chair is Erica McGowan. Additional members of the committee are Laura Shell, Diana Newman, Alicia Mann, Kris Brewster, Teresa Downs and Mady Nachtman.

— Erica McGowan, All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Municipal Observatory fall schedule; Astronaut Peggy Whitson special guest Sept. 22

Check out the Fall 2023 schedule for the Drake Observatory. Events take place Friday nights from Sept. 15–Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public. For more information, visit: https://www.drake.edu/observatory/.

The Observatory is honored to host astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson on Sept. 22. The Observatory is teaming up with Capital City Pride of Des Moines to make this event possible.

— Aaron Haack, College of Arts & Sciences

Strategic Updates Archive

Provost’s Social Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.

Faculty and staff are invited to join us for the next Provost’s Drake Social, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Cowles Library Reading Room, beginning at 4 p.m.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children and partner.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

HR Information Archive

New Broadlawns Community Clinic taking patients Sept. 11 with no co-pays for Drake employees

The new Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake is opening Sept. 11. The clinic will be open to the general community as well as Drake students, faculty, and staff. 

For faculty and staff that choose to use their services, this is an urgent care and family medicine clinic: 

  • With no co-pays for walk-in visits, primary, and specialist visits 
  • A lower out-of-pocket maximum 
  • Lower deductibles for emergency room visits, as well as for both outpatient and inpatient care 
  • All in network 
  • Right across the street! 

You can review the pricing in greater detail on page seven of Drake’s new digital benefits guide. 

— Maureen DeArmond, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

Bulldog Connect Networking Lunch

All Staff Council is holding a Bulldog Connect Networking Lunch for staff members on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Come join us for a $5 lunch at Hubbell Dining Hall. We encourage attendees to wear their Drake name tag. Anyone is welcome to come—bring a fellow Bulldog along with you. Look for the table with the Drake swag and a special Bulldog Connect table tent in Hubbell. Members of All Staff Council’s Events & Community Service committee will host lunch so you’ll always have a friendly face to talk to! Come and go as your schedule allows.

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of All Staff Council