Sponsored by John Pappajohn and Equity Dynamics, Inc., the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. Plans are judged based on a) Content of Plan and b) Viability of business idea. Three (3) seed grants in the amount of $5,000 are awarded to the top three business plans submitted in the competition. In addition, all finalists receive $500 if not chosen for the top awards.

Any full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate registered for the 2021-2022 academic year is eligible. Plans must be for a start-up business only (not for an existing business). Visit https://tinyurl.com/drakestudentpappajohn to learn more and apply! Questions? Email jpec@drake.edu.

— Stephanie Cardwell, CBPA

DART’s Express Routes (92, 93, 95, 96, 98 and 99) have experienced decreased ridership due to new travel patterns and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on local commuters. Because of this decrease in ridership, DART is proposing reducing the number of trips its Express Routes run. By surveying riders, DART hopes to find the times they need to arrive in, and leave, downtown Des Moines. DART is not planning to end service on any routes as part of this effort.

If you currently utilize any of DART’s Express Routes, they invite you to take a survey, sharing what time you want to see their routes run. You are welcome to share contact information when you complete the survey to receive information in the future including proposed schedules after the survey closes. DART expects to begin making changes to its Express Routes in June 2022.

If you prefer not to fill out the survey online, you may pick up and drop off a paper copy of the survey at the DART Customer Service window at DART Central Station (620 Cherry St.) or request a survey by calling DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100, option 0.

If you have questions about these survey efforts, please visit ridedart.com/June.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Please join faculty from the Department of Political Science and the Department of History for a panel discussion about the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. This event will be held on Wednesday, March 2, from 12:30–1:45 p.m. in the Reading Room at Cowles Library.

Panelists include:

• Amir Busnov (B.A. in International Relations from Drake University): Following his graduation from Drake, Mr. Busnov completed his Masters in International Affairs from the Fletcher School for Law and Diplomacy. He recently returned from Ukraine where he has been serving as a Monitoring Officer with the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Special Monitoring Mission.
• Rob Collis (Visiting Assistant Professor of History): Professor Collis specializes in European and Russian history, and has published widely on Russian history.
• Debra DeLaet (Professor of Political Science): Professor DeLaet has particular interest in the politics of international law and the role of the United Nations in global politics. Her scholarship focuses on human rights and global gender issues.
• David Skidmore (Professor of Political Science) has a scholarly interest in U.S. foreign policy decision-making. His scholarship focuses on U.S. foreign policy and international political economy.
• Kieran Williams (Assistant Professor of Political Science): Professor Williams has a special interest in the politics of Central and Eastern Europe. His publications include several works relating to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

Panelists will share their regional expertise as well as perspectives related to international law and international security. There will be ample time for questions and discussion. Light refreshments will be served.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

The Summer 2022, Fall 2022, J-Term 2023 schedule of classes and related registration information is available online. Registration begins Monday, April 11.

View registration information, including the registration time table that shows when you become eligible to register. View the schedule of classes.

Some courses will be temporarily reserved for students who have declared a certain field-of-study (major, minor, concentration, or endorsement). On Monday, April 25, those reservations will be removed. Note that some courses have restrictions that are permanent.

If you are an undergraduate or pharmacy student intending to make any changes to your field-of-study and have those changes take effect before registration begins, you must file your changes via the change of record request no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 4. Requests submitted after this date may not be accommodated until Wednesday, April 27.

— Ryan Trump, Office of the Registrar

Student Press Freedom Day is an annual day of celebration founded by the Student Press Law Center in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of the First Amendment and student journalism. As part of the 2022 celebration on Feb. 24, and in coordination with the theme ‘Unmute Yourself,’ The Times-Delphic will hold a day of events to raise awareness about the importance of student press freedom while giving Drake students the opportunity to ‘unmute themselves’ through interactive events. View the full schedule. 

— Emma Brustkern, Senior

Information Technology Services (ITS) is excited to announce the launch of its new internal department site for students, faculty, and staff. You can find ITS’ internal department site from myDrake by going to the Department Sites link in the Campus Resources section, and then accessing Information Technology Services from the Campus Services subsection.

ITS will continue to work with individual departments across campus to move their internal-facing content into their internal department sites. If your department would like to start creating your area’s internal site, please reach out.

— Jeff Regan, ITS

Join us for a virtual career conference that celebrates being limitless and authentically you in the pursuit of your goals.

The event will be held virtually on March 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features speakers from around the country. With the focus on inspiring you to be limitless, the conference is relevant for all majors, first-year students, and grad students.

Why should you attend?

• Keynote speaker Christen Brandt, author and She’s the First co-founder will walk you through the process of creating your own impact plan, finding your North Star, and avoiding the biggest mistakes in social change.

• Hear about career journeys and engage with professionals on a variety of topics on which you can learn today and practice tomorrow!
• Get guidance on how to jumpstart your career, live authentically, and be confident in a professional setting.
• Practical tips on how to be limitless in a changing work culture and tips to navigate burnout and reduce stress.
• Sessions will be interactive to provide students with the chance to engage and network with presenters!
• Build your True Blue Skills (career competencies)!

Register for the conference with your Drake email.

Full conference details:  drake.edu/careerconference/.

— Annette Watson, Academic Excellence and Student Success

For the past 10 years, Drake University has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus (Higher Education) and once again our campus has received this award for 2021. To be honored with this prestigious award requires an annual application process. The benchmarks include maintaining a tree advisory committee, adherence to a Campus Tree Care Plan, dedicated expenditures for the Campus Tree Care Program, an Arbor Day Observance, and a Service-Learning Project. The application is approved by the Iowa DNR and the Arbor Day Foundation.

Drake has more than 1,500 trees on campus, including about 130 Ash trees. Decisions to remove trees are made only after careful analysis of whether the tree can be saved as well as evaluating potential safety issues. Our grounds team puts a great deal of time and effort into planting and caring for the trees we have on campus. Over the last five years, Drake grounds staff has planted 379 new trees on campus.

Recently, it was determined that an ash tree needed to be removed and an oak tree needed to be pruned near Meredith/Jewett.  With warmer temperatures, our contractor was able to complete this work last week.

— Colin Atkinson, Facilities Planning and Management