It’s National Transfer Student Week, Oct. 20–24. This is a time for us to celebrate and recognize our transfer students and appreciate the faculty and staff who support them. Faculty, staff, and students can join the celebrations all week long:

Follow @drakestudentcentral on Instagram all week as we put some of our transfer student leaders in the spotlight!

Monday, October 20 – Transfer Student T-Shirt Swap
📍 Olmsted Breezeway
🕛 12:00–2:00 p.m.
Stop by our table wearing a t-shirt from your previous college/university and pick up a free Drake t-shirt (while supplies last), symbolizing your transition to becoming a Bulldog. Griff will visiting from 12:15 – 12:45 pm!

Wednesday, October 22 – Free Lunch in the Dining Hall
📍 Hubbell Dining Hall
🕦 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Pick up a free lunch ticket in the lobby of Hubbell Dining (while supplies last) and enjoy a meal on us. Look for the reserved tables signs to join other transfer students, staff and faculty.

Friday, October 24 – Women’s Volleyball Game
📍 Knapp Center
🕔 Meet at 5:45 p.m. in the Knapp Center Lobby. Game starts at 6:00 p.m. Cheer on the Bulldogs as they take on Indiana State! Students get in free! We also have a limited number of free tickets for a Drake student’s plus one (while supplies last). Please email Alicia.hilligas@drake.edu if you are planning to bring a guest.

We are proud of our transfer students and programs, and hope that ‘all roads lead to home’ at Drake.

— Jill Batten, Office of Advising

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Friday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Main, Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff.

High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug 3-6 weeks after the photos are taken.

— Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing

Join us for an exclusive Everclass session with David Lubbers, JO’86—former ESPN investigative producer and award-winning sports journalist—now Assistant Professor of Multimedia News Journalism at Drake. Over nearly two decades at ESPN, Lubbers produced stories for E:60, Outside the Lines, and SportsCenter, covering everything from Super Bowls to Michael Jordan. A career highlight: interviewing legendary coach John Wooden—and asking about Drake’s 1969 Final Four matchup with UCLA. With multiple Peabody and Emmy Awards, Lubbers brings unmatched storytelling experience and a deep passion for journalism.

When: Thursday, Oct. 23, at 12 p.m.
Where: Zoom – Register for free

— Andy Verlengia, Alumni Relations

Drake Panhellenic and IFC will be hosting trick-or-treating on 34th Street at the sorority and fraternity houses. The event will be on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5–7 p.m. We would love to have everyone join us for a fun-filled night of candy, games, and more.

— Ella Bloom, PH’26

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Strengthen Our Digital Safety Together!

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the entire Bulldog community is invited to take important steps to boost our collective digital safety and awareness. With the rise of AI-driven threats and evolving online risks, now is the perfect time to learn, participate, and take action to protect yourself and our university.

Access practical guides and the latest security updates on the ITS Internal Site (login required), which includes additional information to help you stay safe and secure online. 

Stay Connected and Informed

• Follow Us on Instagram: Stay up to date with real-time security tips, campus news, and interactive content by following @drakeitservices on Instagram.
• Starbucks Incentive: Visit the ITS Support Center in Carnegie Hall and show one of our Instagram posts to receive a coupon for our campus Starbucks location—a reward for your commitment to campus security!

Faculty & Staff: Mandatory Security Awareness Training

• Required Training: All faculty and staff must complete the annual “Security Awareness Foundations” training during Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a concise, 20-minute online module provided by our partner, KnowBe4.
• Key Dates: Watch for your invitation email on Wednesday, October 22 and finish the training by November 21. Managers will receive reminder emails during the final week for anyone who hasn’t completed the training.
• Why It Matters: This training reviews fundamental cybersecurity habits—the “core 4”—and covers new challenges posed by AI threats. Your participation is essential for campus security.

If you have questions about the training or need help, contact the ITS Support Center at the information below.

Need Help? 

Whether you’re a student, faculty, or staff member, if you have questions about cybersecurity or need assistance, reach out to the ITS Support Center at service.drake.edu/its or 515-271-3001.

Cybersecurity is our shared responsibility. By staying informed, participating in training, and practicing smart habits, we can build a safer digital environment for everyone. Visit our Internal Site for more resources and join us in making Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 a success!

— Becky Klein, ITS

Once again, Drake University is proud to be highlighted as part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon, on Sunday, Oct. 19. The famed ‘Blue Oval’ and the Drake campus will be part of the race around the mile 9  marker.  Runners will approach Drake from 25th to Carpenter, left into the campus and south through campus to 27th to run the oval. Both DPS and DMPD staff will be here to insure a safe race course.

The IMT Marathon will place runners in and around Drake from 8:30 – 11:30 am.  Please expect traffic disruptions both near campus and throughout the racecourse.

For more information on the IMT Des Moines Marathon and course, please click this link – DMM-Athlete-Guide-2024.

Drake will hold its annual campus fire drills on Oct. 13, 14, 15, and 20 in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. All drills will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. with the exception of the residence halls, which will be conducted from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 20. We have planned this to minimize disruption to classes. The majority of academic buildings will be completed during the week of fall break. This also allows us to have a more efficient utilization of our staff for these drills. The residence halls will be done from 6–9 p.m. to increase participation in the residence hall evacuation.

Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. When the alarm sounds:

• Evacuate the building.
• Buildings will be locked down and cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.
• Remember to dress accordingly.

The fire drills will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Services (271-2706). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety. Your cooperation in this very important campus safety exercise regarding the Drake Emergency Response Plan is appreciated.

Fire drill schedule:

Monday – Oct. 13

Meredith
Aliber
Cowles
Opperman
Cartwright
Harmon Fine Arts Center
Howard
Carnegie
Medbury
Collier-Scripps

Tuesday – Oct. 14

Olin
Science Connector Building
Harvey-Ingham
Cline
Fitch
STAH
Occupational Therapy

Wednesday – Oct. 15

Olmsted Center
Hubbell
Student Health
Alumni House
ROTC
Bell Center
Knapp Center
Fieldhouse
Tennis Center

Monday – Oct. 20

Cole
Old Main
Public Safety
Kinne Center
Vote Smart
Legal Clinic
Dial Center

All residence halls (6–9 p.m.)

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

A new policy generally prohibiting the recording of conversations without the permission of all parties is now posted in the University Policy Library. The policy also covers when recordings are allowed in academic programming, the permissions needed to record, and limits on distribution of approved recordings. The purpose of the policy is to protect privacy, promote trust, uphold academic integrity, support accessibility, and ensure legal compliance. Thanks to those involved in providing input into the new policy and to those who submitted comments during the public comment period.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) is offering a free replacement of lead water service lines for about 400 qualifying homes in the Drake Neighborhood (see highlighted map area). This project is part of DMWW’s commitment to provide safe, reliable drinking water for Des Moines families. While your water is safe to drink today, removing lead lines is a proactive step to ensure long-term health and safety. Best of all, it’s 100% free, and you can participate even if your bill isn’t up to date.

Sign and return your agreement today to secure your free replacement and help bring lead-free water to every home in the neighborhood. Didn’t receive an agreement or misplaced yours? Contact DMWW at lead@dmww.com or (515) 283-8754. And don’t forget to encourage your neighbors to sign up too. Together, we can make this project possible.

— Sydney Dvorak, Sustainability Coordinator