Welcome, first-generation Bulldogs!

Drake defines a first-generation student as a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. At Drake, about 20% of our incoming students are first-generation students.

The Office of New Student Programs and First-Generation Student Organization would like to invite you to attend the First-Generation Student Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 4–6 p.m. in Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted Center. Let’s get together to welcome our new first-gen Bulldogs and kick off the start of the academic year together. This is an opportunity to celebrate Drake’s first–generation students, faculty, and staff and to continue building relationships and support within the community. Feel free to drop in anytime between 4–6 p.m. for some ice cream and to mingle with other first-generation Bulldogs.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

Throughout September you can view proposed new DART bus routes and services for the Des Moines metro and give feedback.

The proposed changes are part of Reimagine DART, which aims to transform public transit in Greater Des Moines to meet Central Iowa’s evolving travel needs within a level of funding the region can afford through June 2027.

Here’s how to give feedback:

Visit reimagineDARTdsm.com to see what’s changing. After looking at a map and reading about the new network, you can fill out a brief survey and share what you like and what you think DART should reconsider.

You’re also invited to attend a public meeting in to learn more and ask questions.

Your Drake ID provides free and unlimited use of the DART bus system, so your input is valued.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Tune in Sept. 11 at 12 p.m. for an insider Everclass with Brian Hardin, Des Moines native and Director of Athletics at Drake University. Since 2017, Hardin has led Drake through its “golden era,” marked by record academic, competitive, and fundraising achievements. In this session, Hardin shares candid insights on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and its impact on student-athletes, the evolving responsibilities of a Division I athletic director, and the realities behind NCAA tournament selection and seeding. Learn how he has shaped Drake into Des Moines’ Hometown Team and a national model for success. Don’t miss this conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of college sports. Register for free: https://drake-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/A-xtBoHaTve4EPZjhCbCuQ#/registration

— Andy Verlengia, Alumni Relations

The Student Services Center has moved to the Johansen Student Center and can be found on the first level, on the south side of the building (the old Morehouse front desk).

The SSC is the location where you can pick up your parking pass, pickup and return keys, take an ID photo, pick up student payroll checks, and complete Student HR Paperwork for on campus employment.

Hours for the fall semester are:
Mondays–Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fridays: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Additionally, the campus print shop will remain closed until mid-September to allow us to move our equipment to our new space.  We will post in OnCampus once we have resumed print operations, and are currently planning to be up and running again by Sept. 15.

Thanks for your patience as we kick off the year!

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

 

WHAT WE DO: The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:

• Understanding instructions/prompts
• Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas
• Outlining and organizing
• Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft

We are a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

HOW TO SIGN UP TO VISIT: We use Starfish for scheduling. Please go here to book an appointment with a tutor.

Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, please remember to cancel and reschedule.

WHERE WE ARE: The lower level of Cowles Library—please follow the signs. We offer hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let us know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, we do not inform professors unless they specifically ask us to do so. Note: please contact megan.brown@drake.edu for instructions on how to ascertain if a student has attended a Writing Center appointment.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please contact Prof. Megan Brown, Director of Writing (megan.brown@drake.edu).

We look forward to working with you this semester!

— Megan Brown, Professor of English

 

 

Dogtown, known as one of Des Moines’ premier entertainment districts, boasts two concert venues, a movie theater, two independent bookstores, plenty of Drake sports, performing arts, and more. Visit www.dogtowndsm.com to discover all Dogtown has to offer.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Drake Art and Design alum Nikki Renee Anderson will be returning to Drake’s campus to open a solo exhibition in the Anderson Gallery this fall. Since graduating, Anderson has been successful as an artist, exhibiting extensively both nationally and internationally. She teaches full time at Harper College where she runs the Ceramics program. Anderson creates sculptures and installations that use her personal history to explore the feminine and the different roles of the self. Her exhibition Unfurling Garden will be on display in the Anderson Gallery, located in the Harmon Fine Arts building, from Sept. 4 to Oct 17. Anderson will return to campus to install her show and give an artist talk on Sept 4 from 4:30–5 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center, Room 204, followed by an opening reception for her exhibition from 5–7 p.m. in the Anderson Gallery.

—Lilah Anderson, Anderson Gallery

 

As the academic year begins, we encourage you to review the University Policy Library for a variety of policy topics. An important part of the policy approval process is a 15-day comment period for new policies. A new recording policy is now open for comment on the Policy Development webpage. The policy discusses when recordings are allowed on campus and 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. Comments may be submitted to dupolicies@drake.edu.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer