The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship and the Nelson Institute are looking for submissions to the 2024 Nelson Student Research Symposium, which will be held March 8. This annual event promotes a university-wide discourse on global and intercultural topics. At the symposium, selected students are given a platform to share outcomes of their research on a global topic of interest, practicing presentation skills and obtaining useful feedback from Drake faculty.

We recommend that presentation topics be thematically framed by one of the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a framework for tackling complex, pressing global issues.

How to submit a proposal

While research presentations that support the theme are encouraged, all global topics from any academic discipline are welcome. Presentations will be about 15 minutes each. Papers (or concepts) should be submitted using this online form by Friday, Feb. 16, for consideration. Additional information about the Symposium and the submission process can be found at the Drake Nelson Institute website. For questions, please reach out to global@drake.edu.

— Dawson Urquidez, Global Engagement

Drake is proud to once again partner with CNN in hosting a nationally televised GOP presidential primary debate. The GOP primary debate will be held in historic Sheslow Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 10—just five days before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

This is the fifth presidential election cycle in a row that Drake has hosted a nationally televised debate, having hosted three democratic debates and now three republican debates since 2007. The debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max.

Drake’s mission statement promises students an exceptional learning environment, and hosting the debate exemplifies this commitment.  The debate brings national attention to our University, and we expect a number of national and international press as well as many other visitors to the campus.

In addition, the Drake Men’s Basketball Team will host Indiana State at the Knapp Center on Wednesday evening. Both teams are currently tied for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

In order to facilitate these two events, the following traffic accommodations, as well as road and building closures, will be in place.

• Carpenter Ave. will be closed to traffic Friday, Jan. 5, from 5 p.m. until Thursday, Jan. 11, at 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 10: 

• The Olmsted Center will be closed to the public.
• The Olmsted Lot (lot 16) will be closed to the public.
• Cole Hall will close to the public at 12 p.m.
• Old Main will close to the public at 1 pm.
• Guest for the Debate will be directed to park in the Harkin Lot (lot 24 and 24A).
• Guest for the Men’s Basketball game is asked to park in the Fac Lot (lot 1), Tennis Center Lot (lot 4) and Handicap lot (lot 3).

Thank you in advance for assisting us in making these events successful and safe.

— Scott Law, Executive Director for Public Safety

The Bell Center will be open the following hours during J-Term.

January 8–28
Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED

**All Facilities will be CLOSED Monday, Jan. 15, and Sunday, Jan. 28**

— Allison Bjork, Rec Services

The Iowa Wild is offering Drake faculty, staff, and students discounted tickets to their home hockey games this season.  Purchase tickets.  Their link will continue to be updated with new games throughout the season.  For faculty and staff, this information and link can also be found on the Human Resources Employee Perks page on myDrake.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship is pleased to announce that it is now accepting nominations from faculty, students, and staff for the 2024 Principal Global Citizenship Award for students, recognizing one current undergraduate or graduate student for their outstanding global and intercultural competency.

A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the student. This may be submitted by any member of the Drake campus community, including faculty, staff, administration, current students, and alumni. Students may self-nominate for this award, in which case they must submit a letter of support from a member of the Drake campus community.

Pursuant to the University’s mission to prepare students for “responsible global citizenship,” this letter must also explain how the nominee has made outstanding contributions toward enhancing their global and intercultural competency during their Drake career. Preference will be given to nominees who demonstrate any of the following attributes:

• Direct student-faculty engagement on joint research or other projects related to global or international topics
• Collaboration with international or local-global communities on a Global Service Learning project.

The nominee must be a current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in any Drake degree program and who is in good academic standing. The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years.

Nominees who indicate a willingness to be considered will be invited to submit a resume/CV and a brief statement. One or two additional letters of support from faculty, staff, or students may be submitted to support the nomination; this is optional. The recipient of the award will be strongly encouraged to present at the following year’s annual Global Citizenship Forum.

Any individual who was nominated for the award in the preceding year may be re-nominated. A record of previous nominees is maintained for two years. If a student is re-nominated, the nominator will be invited to review the file from the previous year to ensure that the nomination details are current.

Nominations for the 2024 award are due February 11th, 2024, and the recipient will be announced later in the Spring term. The selected awardee will receive a plaque and an award of up to $1,000. Nomination letters should be submitted via this online form.

Questions may be directed to Annique Kiel, executive director for Global Engagement and International Programs.

Starting in the spring semester, the new Drake Mobile ID will be available to campus.

Do you misplace or forget your Drake ID card? Do you frequently use campus services, including the dining halls, Bulldog Bucks, recreational services, and the library? You can soon access these services and more using just your mobile phone or smart watch. 

The Drake Mobile ID is a new, secure way for you to use Drake services from the convenience of your phone or watch. In order to use the mobile ID, you must have a picture on file with Student Services. Next, you will download the Transact E-Accounts application and add your Drake Mobile ID to your Apple or Samsung wallet. Then, simply hold your phone or watch to a card reader to scan your ID. No need to turn your device on or search for your card. More instructions and detailed information will be available before the launch date. 

A group of select students, faculty, and staff have graciously tested these features, and the Drake Mobile ID will be released to campus on January 29, 2024. Participation in the Drake Mobile ID is not required but encouraged. You are not required to dispose of your physical ID card if you choose to participate in the Drake Mobile ID. 

The Drake Mobile ID is subject to the same terms and conditions as a physical ID card. Any misuse, including sharing your credential with any other individual, is in violation of Drake University Student Conduct Code and will result in disciplinary action. The Drake Mobile ID uses the native NFC technology within each device that is also utilized for any other ID or payment function. Additionally, the ID credential stored within the Drake Mobile ID is encrypted and can only be read by readers deployed by Drake with the proper decryption. 

Please contact the Student Services Center with questions or concerns by emailing studentservices@drake.edu, visiting the office located in Olmsted, or calling 515-271-2000. 

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

As we head into the holiday break, please note that the Bulldog Shop store hours will be reduced to give our team a well-deserved rest. We will be closed Thursday, Dec. 21, through Tuesday, Jan. 2. Make sure to plan your visits accordingly and grab your Drake essentials and holiday gifts in time. Wishing everyone a relaxing and joyful break.

Please note: Online orders received after noon on Wednesday, Dec. 20, will be processed beginning Wednesday, Jan. 3.

— The Bulldog Shop

The Offices of Finance and Financial Aid would like to thank everyone for taking the time to complete the Administrative Services Survey earlier this fall.  We have gained valuable feedback to help us maintain and improve the services we provide to students, faculty, and staff.

Ratings for every question were very consistent with prior year ratings.  Each of the departments individually scored between 4.0 and 5.0 on the 5-point scale.  The overall satisfaction with the services provided by the Offices of Finance and Financial Aid score was 4.42 compared to 4.57 in 2022.  While there is always room for improvement, the unit’s staff are clearly doing their best to meet our service-oriented objectives to:

• Ensure our constituents are engaged and informed,
• Ensure integrity and transparency,
• Process university resources timely and accurately, and
• Improve service excellence.

The comments included in the survey were very helpful.  We appreciate the many positive comments that recognized outstanding service provided by staff.  The item for improvement that we noted and plan to work on over the next year is to ensure that we are having consistently positive interactions with all those that interact with the finance and financial aid functions.

Thank you again for participating in the Administrative Survey and please know that your input is reviewed and analyzed by the entire staff of the Offices of Finance and Financial Aid.

— Adam Voigts, Chief Financial Officer

It is with great sadness that we share that Professor Emeritus of History Julian Archer passed away on Nov. 23. Julian was an accomplished history professor who served Drake for 42 years.  In addition to his role as a faculty member, he lead multiple alumni travel excursions and was a long serving member of the Bucksbaum Committee. Julian will be deeply missed by his colleagues and by generations of students. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane. A memorial is being planned for next spring. Our deepest condolences go out to his children, Jane, Elisabeth, and Laird.