Building schedules will change at the end of this week to accommodate the summer semester. Most building hours will shorten from their normal academic year schedules to help maintain security in the summer months when there is less traffic on campus.

Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans (for example, 24/7 access to their office buildings), but the automated extended hour student plans will be shut off during this time.  Regular building hours and extended student access will resume at the start of the fall semester.

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency, or contact the Student Services Center (515-271-2000 or studentservices@drake.edu) if you have a general card access question or concern.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Drake Dining has revised their hours this week to make late-night study sessions a little better. View finals week hours of operation.

Starbucks hours of operation during the summer will be Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. We can’t wait to energize your summer!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Adams Leadership Awards! This ceremony, held on May 6, recognized student leadership and achievement across Drake’s campus through a variety of award categories. Please see below and congratulate the following Drake student, staff, and organization winners:

• Outstanding First Years: Gunner Onkst & Morgan Ryan
• Outstanding Sophomores: Sydney Dvorak & Olivia Stuber
• Outstanding Juniors/P1: Stephanie Kiel & Marguerite Stoffel
• Outstanding Senior/P2: Kirby Nelson
• Outstanding Bright College Student: Samra Aksamovic
• Outstanding Transfer Student: Nachy Gardiner
• Outstanding Student Organization Officer: Ruwayda Egal & Matthew Williams
• Outstanding Student Organization President/Chairperson: Elise Ambler (RHA)
• Outstanding Student Organization: The Times-Delphic
• Outstanding Organization Advisor: Kim Jones (Student Alumni Association)
• Outstanding Residence Hall Leader: Tyler Butler & Sydney Dvorak
• Wanda E. Everage Peer Mentor Award: Patricia Johnson & Matthew Williams
• Ron & Jane Olson Outstanding Global Service Learning Award: Briahna Amundson
• Outstanding Individual Service Award for Individual: Sydney Rottinghaus
• Outstanding Social Program: Kissing Rock (Student Alumni Association)
• Outstanding Equity and Inclusion Program: Saul Flores: The Walk of Immigrants
• Outstanding Alcohol Alternative Program: Dogtown After Hours
• Outstanding Collaboration Award: Power to the People: Uncovering the Black Panther Party’s Impact on Des Moines
• 2023 Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year Award: Matthew Williams

Note: For those who were unable to attend in person, a recording of the live stream can be found here.

— Kristin Economos, Adams Leadership Institute

Beginning May 14, 2023, all devices using Windows 7 or 8 operating systems or macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or lower will be blocked from accessing Drake networks.

Due to our security requirements, we need to ensure that non-vendor supported, older operating system versions are not accessing Drake networks. Once a vendor no longer supports security updates for an older operating system, we do not allow them on Drake networks in order to maintain campus technology wellbeing and prevent security risks.

Faculty and staff who have not already done so can set up technology consultations with IT using the Custom Technology Consultation/Training ticket. We urge faculty to reach out to ITS as soon as possible to upgrade existing or prepare new equipment for the summer and upcoming fall semesters. If needed, faculty and staff can submit a request to purchase new equipment using the Computer/Peripheral Request, allowing 6–8 weeks for new technology to be processed.

Students returning in the fall who need to upgrade their operating system can visit the Support Center in the lower level of Carnegie Hall for assistance. Mac users can find compatible devices for macOS Ventura, Monterey, and Big Sur at these links. Most Windows devices are compatible with modern operating systems.

If you have questions or concerns about the network change, please reach out to Jerome Hilscher, Assistant CITO and Director, Campus Relations at jerome.hilscher@drake.edu.If you have questions about your device or issues updating your operating system, visit service.drake.edu/its, call 515-271-3001, or visit the Support Center in the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

Jerome Hilscher, ITS

At the start of the summer term, Drake is updating the add/drop deadlines for courses and the refund policy for dropped courses. The goal of the decisions made in the policy update was intended to allow students the appropriate time to make a decision about continuing or dropping a course. Partial tuition refunds will reflect the length of a course based on session. 

Add/Drop Dates for a Course 

The add/drop deadlines can be found here for the upcoming terms. Students will be able to process adds and drops via Self Service in myDrake. To determine the add/drop date for a particular course via Self Service, please reference the following resources:

• Determining Add/Drop Dates for a Course for Students 
• Determining Add/Drop Dates for a Course for Faculty 

We encourage students to work with their advisers when registering for or dropping courses. Any changes that occur after the drop without a W period will require an add/drop form.

Your Tuition Refund 

Tuition refund percentages for dropped courses will be based on the session of the dropped course and the date the course is dropped. Students can locate their session for each course in their class schedule in Self Service in myDrake.

This change will allow tuition refunds to be issued for partially completed courses based on the specific length of the course. The date that a course is dropped will determine the percentage of tuition that is refunded. Detailed information regarding tuition refunds can be found here on the student account webpage.

Financial Aid Impact 

When a student withdraws from a course and is no longer attending any courses in that term, a student may need to be considered as completely withdrawn from the semester. When this occurs, federal student aid will continue to be prorated according to the rules prescribed by federal regulation.

Drake-funded scholarships and grants will continue to be prorated in proportion to the student’s tuition adjustments. For example, if tuition is adjusted to 60% of the original billed amount, Drake-funded scholarships and grants will also be adjusted to 60% of the original amount offered. More detailed information about the impact of complete withdrawals on financial aid eligibility can be found here.

Please note these changes will be implemented for the 2023 summer semester beginning May 15. 

If you have questions or concerns about the add/drop process, please reach out to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@drake.edu. For questions or concerns about tuition refunds, please reach out to Student Accounts at stuacct@drake.edu. 

Kris Brewster, ITS

University Archives and Special Collections at Cowles Library will have a two-day pop-up exhibit of 19th and early 20th century photographs May 4–5. Drop by the Drake University Archives on the 2nd floor of Cowles Library, between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to learn about early photographic formats and see some examples from our archival collections.

—Erin Menardi, Cowles Library

Inspired by student feedback at the Florence Myers Wallace lunch, here’s a friendly reminder that this organizational view of institutional leadership is a great way to get to know the leadership structure here at Drake. Instead of just boring text, you will find photos of each person. This can always be found on the Office of the President page and is maintained by the President’s Office. Bonus feature: if you click on a person’s image, you will be directed to their corresponding web page to learn more.  It is a handy tool, especially if you are new to Drake.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Interested in learning about Hollywood screenwriting from a professional? Join Drake alum Eric Ziobrowski (’02) for a one-week intensive in May. Open to graduating seniors and others in the community. Claim your spot soon! For more information contact: carol.spaulding@drake.edu.

— Carol Spaulding-Kruse, Professor of English