Building Community is the theme of the Drake University 5th Annual Learning Symposium. The Symposium will be Friday, Aug. 18, and proposals for the event are due by this Wednesday, April 19, to Drinda Williams, drinda.williams@drake.edu .

This year’s symposium is intended to examine the many ways in which Drake can build an inclusive community internally, with those in the Des Moines community, and with our international partners. The Office of the Provost seeks proposals that feature how we might build and enhance the varied communities that are part of the Drake experience. Those working on proposals might consider including a community partner in their presentation.

—Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

The final spring semester Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lunch is Friday, April 21, at noon in Medbury Hall, Room 201. These discussions are opportunities for those engaged in SoTL projects at any level—from just thinking about starting one to almost complete—or those simply curious about SoTL to share ideas, seek advice, or ask questions of colleagues engaged in this process. If you would like us to provide lunch for you, please register by Tuesday, April 18, at 10 a.m. online. For more information, contact arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Save the date (May 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.) for the annual All Staff Council Kickball Tournament! All Staff Council will be giving away free mini-cupcakes from Crème Cupcakes— available on a first come, first serve basis to all kickball players and NON-players.

Registration is open for four to six teams of up to 10 staff and/or faculty members. Games will be 25 minutes and winner determined when 25 minutes expires.

Need a team? Register as an individual and All Staff Council will assign you to a team or create a team of “free agents.”

Register to play by May 12 at www.drake.edu/asc.

—All Staff Council Special Events Committee

Faculty and staff—did you know you have a Bulldog Bucks account on your Drake ID card? Bulldog Bucks are used for food at campus dining locations, and recently, we’ve added the option to pay for an Uber ride!

Uber setup is easy:

1. Open the latest version of the Uber app.
2. Tap Payment, Add Payment, Campus Card, and Drake University.
3. Log in using your Drake ID and password, and you are ready to go!

This could be a great way to get around town during Relays week or while traveling on business; feel free to add funds to your Bulldog Bucks online before you need them.

Reach out to the Student Services Center if you have any questions or run into issues adding this payment method.

—Sara Heijerman, Student Card Office

On behalf of the Associate Provost for Equity & Inclusion, the Division of Student Life, and the Office of Student Inclusion, Involvement and Leadership, we invite all interested faculty and staff to participate in a one-hour webinar focusing on undocumented students. This online training is being facilitated through Teman Training and Consulting and will occur on May 3 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Drake Room located in the Olmsted Center. Please see the brief description of this webinar below:

Undocumented students and serving them at the college/university level is one of the hottest topics in higher education. Learn how to assist these students and understand the best way to maximize the service you offer them. The webinar on May 3 will address these issues not only on a national level, but also for your own state. I strongly encourage you and your office to attend.

No RSVP is necessary. However, if you are unable to attend, we will not be able to share any PowerPoint slides or videos since we do not own the rights to this training.

—Jerry Parker, Dean of Students

Rosemarie Van Dyck, former Drake foreign language department head, passed away earlier this month. Please see her obituary and information for remembrances here.

You are invited to nominate students for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) D-PREP program.

D-PREP is a program that introduces students to careers in the health care professions by educating them about opportunities in health sciences and inspiring them to explore different pathways. Students participate in hands-on laboratory experiences, educational sessions, and interactive discussions with students and faculty in the CPHS to understand how to best prepare for a career in health care. Special emphasis is placed on promoting cultural competence and diversity in health care and among health professionals. The overarching goal of this program is to expose students to a wide variety of opportunities within health care and educate them about how they can best prepare for a career in the health professions.

Program Goals:

• Students will learn about careers in the health care professions.
• Students will learn about promoting cultural competence and diversity in health care and among health professionals.
• Students will learn about the importance of practical lab experiences and begin to develop laboratory skills.
• Students will investigate the role of health care professionals to gain a better understanding of patient-provider relationships through skill-building exercises.
• Students will be able to plan their remaining high school curriculum and extracurricular activities to prepare for a career in health care.

This summer we will host an overnight event for students who are interested in learning more about careers in health care and what they can do with a degree in the sciences. This event will take place on Thursday, July 20–Friday, July 21, on campus and will include a number of activities that will help students learn about preparing for a career in the health professions. Our sessions will include:

• Career options in health care
• Promoting cultural competence and diversity in health care
• Lab activities in pharmacy and health sciences
• Interaction with current pharmacy and health sciences students and faculty
• College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences programs at Drake
• Preparing for college admission
• Staying overnight in an on-campus residence hall
• Meals on campus

Students must meet the following requirements in order to participate:

• Must be enrolled as a 9th, 10th, or 11th grader during the 2016–2017 academic year (current year)
• Have an interest in careers in health care, math, and/or science fields

Due to the costs involved in providing an overnight experience on campus, there is an $80 fee for participating in the D-PREP program. All students that meet the eligibility criteria above are welcome to apply. Scholarships may be available to students from traditionally underrepresented groups within the health care professions.

If you have students who are interested in a career in the health professions, please nominate them using our nomination form. Students will be notified of your nomination via email, at which time we will send them a link to complete our online application. Student applications are due by Thursday, June 1. Students will be notified of their acceptance into the program via email by Thursday, June 15.

If you have questions about D-PREP or our CPHS programs, please contact:
Sydni Fenner
Assistant Director of Admissions & Student Affairs, CPHS
271-3018
sydni.fenner@drake.edu

We appreciate your help in supporting and preparing the next generation of health professionals!

—Sydni Fenner, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences