Social distancing and remote learning created a period of reduced or altered opportunities to practice oral communication techniques that we all need in a variety of situations. Drake University’s Speaking Center is here to support students, faculty, and staff in our shared efforts to develop and advance these crucial skills.

Students can book appointments to meet with a tutor or the director for help in preparing, composing, and delivering speeches and presentations—or even to get advice for initiating difficult conversations and participating in interactive discussions. We can accommodate students who need presentations to be recorded in a private venue for a small audience. We also work with students, faculty, or staff on strategies for navigating situational anxiety related to public speaking, stereotype threat, and/or imposter syndrome.

Location and Hours: The Speaking Center will be holding appointments in our tutoring space downstairs in Cowles Library, Room 039. Please follow the signs through the tutoring areas back to the SW corner to find our new location. Tutoring appointments are currently available Monday–Thursday afternoon.

To make an appointment: Visit http://library.drake.edu/speaking to schedule a personal meeting with a tutor.

Appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes each, and students are encouraged to schedule multiple times while preparing for a single event if they wish. Any questions or concerns should be directed to speaking-help@drake.edu.

Speaking Center Services: Speaking Center tutors have experience and training in speech pedagogy and are prepared to assist students when selecting and narrowing topics, organizing ideas, drafting and revising an outline, preparing visual aids, and practicing delivery. The Speaking Center’s staff also facilitates access to research and resources that can help speakers and presenters and can address a variety of oral communication issues.

— Faber McAlister, Associate Professor of Rhetoric

Cowles Library is always expanding our catalog of books, databases, streaming services, news subscriptions and digital resources. We’re excited to now offer audio and ebooks as part of our ever-growing selection of new popular titles. You can also always access our featured collections to explore more curated topics.

Come visit us in the library to browse our collections and start the academic year off right.

— Erin Menardi, Cowles Library

Drake University joins other colleges and universities throughout the country in recognizing September as National Campus Safety Awareness Month to bring attention to the issue of safety on campus. As we begin the academic year, we remain mindful of the importance of safety on campus.  

The mission of Drake Public Safety is to provide a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Drake Public Safety strives to achieve this mission through a community friendly approach that enhances safety through the visibility of Public Safety personnel, preventive patrols, 24-hour accessibility, positive conflict resolution, and a variety of safety programs.

Drake Public Safety reminds all members of the campus community that one of the best ways to prevent crimes on the campus is by locking room doors and vehicles. Most crimes on our campus are crimes of convenience, with the perpetrator taking advantage of unsecured buildings, rooms, or vehicles. Even if you are sitting alone in your room or will only be gone for a minute, locking your doors will greatly reduce the risk of your being the victim of a crime. 

Public Safety works in partnership with many groups, including the Des Moines Police Department, Title IX Office, University Counseling Center, and the Division of Student Affairs, by identifying, assessing, and managing the risk around campus safety both on and off our grounds.

In addition to security training, Drake Public Safety officers are trained to assist in a variety of medical emergencies. Officers have undergone training in CPR and first aid and have access to portable defibrillators for use in emergency situations. Over the past several years DPS staff has increased their ability to intervene in medical emergencies with the help of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Drake Public Safety staff have been trained in the use of Narcan to help address the issue of the opioid epidemic in America. DPS staff now carry Narcan on patrol as an added safety net for the community.

We know that without the participation of the campus community our efforts to maintain a safe campus would not be successful. We ask that “if you see something, say something,” and we know that many of the best ideas for how to improve campus safety come only through our partnership with the community.

If you have not done so yet, we recommend that you download our Drake Guardian App for additional safety when travelling on and around the campus, it is a “blue light” in your pocket. If you have any questions about campus safety, please reach out to me, Scott Law, the Director of Public Safety at scott.law@drake.edu.

— Scott Law, Public Safety

As a reminder, the new myDrake website was launched on July 28, and ITS is happy to assist with your user experience and answer any questions. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one, group, or departmental training, please submit a Custom Technology Consultation/Training ticket.

For more information about the myDrake launch and navigating the new site, please see New myDrake launching July 28, Using the new myDrake, and Understanding the new myDrake. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its.

— Rashmee Virmani, ITS

Ambassador-in-Residence Terry Branstad will host the second annual U.S.-China Symposium at Drake University on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Levitt Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

The symposium is an initiative of the Ambassador-in-Residence program at Drake. Terry Branstad, former U.S. Ambassador to China and Governor of Iowa, is currently serving as the Ambassador-in-Residence at Drake. The Ambassador will host an annual symposium to convene experienced professionals, academics, and other experts to speak on various topics related to China and U.S.-China relations, with the aim to provide a platform for multiple viewpoints and opportunities for candid discussion.

The 2023 symposium will include sessions on national security and defense with Lieutenant General Larry Nicholson (Retired), advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff; trade and business with Greyson Mann, Government Affairs Manager at the U.S.-China Business Council; and international relations with Bobby Richey, former Deputy Chief of Mission and Agriculture Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Students, faculty, staff, and community members interested in China/East Asia, U.S. foreign affairs, international relations, and international business are encouraged to attend.

Learn more and register for the symposium at drake.edu/branstad.

Contact the Ambassador

In his role as the Ambassador-in-Residence, Ambassador Branstad is also available during the academic year to meet with faculty, staff, and students individually, and to speak to classes and student organizations. This is an exceptional opportunity to hear the first-hand experiences of someone who has helped shape Iowa and U.S. history.

Direct questions and inquiries to ambassador@drake.edu.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

Welcome back to campus, Bulldogs. September is Suicide Awareness Month and we have a variety of events this month to support you. The Drake Counseling Center is collaborating with a variety of organizations on campus to remind you that hope and healing is possible.

Please join us at our events:

Free Movie Friday:
Sept. 8, 6–7:30 p.m., Sussman theater

• Join us for free popcorn, drinks, and a panel following the movie to discuss ways to prevent suicide and support others.

A Room Full of Sisters
Sept. 9, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Upper Olmsted

• Event will be open to women+ students (the plus indicates any students that identify as or have been socialized as women). This event will provide resources on navigating a PWI, relationships, finances, graduate school, and critical conversations between women. We will have guest speakers from the Des Moines community and Drake university. It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow and learn ways to improve your relationships and future. Make sure to register!

Suicide Awareness Walk (Walk begins at 10:15)
Sept. 16, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Helmick Commons South

• Join us in walking with us to bring awareness to suicide prevention, hope, and receive various campus and community resources.
• Free QPR Gatekeeper Trainings – QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. These are the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

As a reminder, students have access to Uwill, a platform for immediate access to teletherapy! You can sign up at app.uwill.com. Through this app, students have access to a 24/7/365 crisis hotline: 833.646.1526. In addition, you can always use the national suicide helpline when needed by contacting or texting 988.

Remember, that no matter what you are experiencing, you are not alone, you belong here, and there is help available, including our counseling center and various community resources. Visit our website to learn more about these resources and our services: drake.edu/counselingcenter/

Two things are true: Your life has meaning and It’s okay to seek help. You are not broken and we are here to help you, especially at the Drake counseling center.

We hope to see you throughout September.

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Drake Counseling Center

Get ready to brush up your creativity! Our featured collection on the visual arts is here to ignite your imagination. Dive into a world of masterpieces, colors, and inspiration, and let the artistic journey begin.

— Erin Menardi, Cowles Library

On July 28, the new myDrake website was launched. As the start of the semester approaches, we are happy to assist with your user experience and answer any questions. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one, group, or departmental training, please submit a Custom Technology Consultation/Training ticket.  

Because the new myDrake website has changed platforms, any saved links or bookmarks you may use will need to be updated. When accessing myDrake for the first time, please clear your browser cache and cookies. Delete your old myDrake bookmark by right clicking and selecting delete. Then, visit https://my.drake.edu or https://drakeedu.sharepoint.com.sites/myDrake. From there, add a new myDrake bookmark by clicking the star icon on the right side of the address bar. Rename and save the bookmark to your desired location.

For more information about the myDrake launch and navigating the new site, please see New myDrake launching July 28 and Using the new myDrake. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its.

— Rashmee Virmani, ITS

Update as of July 25, 2023:

• TIAA notified the University that personal identifiable information of approximately 650 current and former employees may have been exposed through the MOVEit Transfer data breach. TIAA indicated that Pension Benefit Information, LLC, one of its vendors, was impacted by the incident. Affected individuals will receive a notification letter directly from Pension Benefit Information (PBI) via postal mail. The vendor is offering free credit monitoring for two years to each of the individuals impacted.
• NSC has informed Drake that personal data, which may include name, date of birth, and academic transcripts, of current and former students may have been breached. Impacted students and alumni will be notified via postal mail. Please read any notices you receive carefully.

This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Original alert posted June 10, 2023:

Cybersecurity incident alert related to third-party breaches

Drake University has been notified by two of the University’s service providers, National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA), that certain personally identifiable information and data of some members of our community may have been impacted by the MOVEit Transfer tool vulnerability that is affecting millions across the country. The scope and extent of this data breach is still under investigation. This message shares what we know to date.

MOVEit Transfer is a third-party software used by NSC to support the transfer of data files. Read an update from NSC that shares what files and data are suspected to be affected.

TIAA has stated that no information was obtained from TIAA systems. However, one of its vendors uses the MOVEit Transfer tool, and some participant data may have been exposed through that third party.

The University takes data privacy and security very seriously and is working diligently with its cybersecurity team as well as NSC and TIAA to determine the full scope of the incident and response. If it is determined that Drake community members were affected by this attack, appropriate action will be taken, including notifications. 

It is important to note that Drake University systems were not impacted. Once notified of the breach, the University took immediate action to verify its systems were secure. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates on this page, in the OnCampus newsletter, and via email to faculty, staff, and students. In the meantime, we urge all campus community members to follow these steps to protect their information and stay safe online:

• Regularly monitor your credit score and online accounts.
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) everywhere it is available. Using multiple factors to authenticate into an account makes it more difficult for hackers to access your accounts.
• Be vigilant in spotting phishing attacks. Don’t open or respond to suspicious or unsolicited phone calls, emails, or texts. If you believe you’ve been targeted by a phishing attack, see Reporting a Phishing Message (How-to).
• Consider placing a temporary credit freeze at no cost, as described in this US Government alert: https://www.usa.gov/credit-freeze. This will protect you in the event of any potential fraudulent attempts to open credit in your name.