Full-time employees in a regular position at Drake University are eligible to participate in tuition exchange programs, which offer waived or discounted tuition at other participating institutions for employees, their spouse/partner, or eligible dependent(s).

Those wishing to apply for tuition exchange starting in the 2024–2025 academic year can apply now. Applications should only be completed for students not already approved for tuition exchange—those who have been approved for tuition exchange in prior years will automatically be re-certified for consideration in the 2024–2025 academic year (assuming the employee remains eligible).

There are three steps in the tuition exchange application process:

1. Employee/student submits a tuition exchange application online through one or both of the tuition exchange programs listed below (the student should also apply for admission at each school listed on the tuition exchange application).
2. Drake’s Financial Aid Office will confirm and certify the employee’s eligibility to participate in the tuition exchange program. This is done on a rolling basis as applications are received.
3. Each school listed on the TE application will determine whether they can offer the student a tuition exchange award.

Schools have different application deadlines and timelines for announcing award determinations. It is the employee’s responsibility to submit the tuition exchange application early enough to allow time for step #2 to be completed in advance of each school’s deadlines.

Details about each of Drake’s tuition exchange programs are provided below:

Tuition Exchange, Inc. (TE)
TE has over 670 participating schools. Visit tuitionexchange.org to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.

Council of Independent Colleges & Universities Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP)
CIC-TEP has over 440 participating schools. Visit cic.edu/tep to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Student Financial Aid

As we begin a new semester, please be reminded that Drake-owned technology is required by policy to be returned to the ITS Department.

When a faculty member, staff member, or student employee leaves Drake, the Drake-owned technology (e.g., laptops and docking stations) must be returned to ITS by the employee’s manager or direct supervisor within 10 business days of the last date of employment. For technology replacement or to receive a loaner computer, the previous technology must be returned within 10 days of deployment of the new technology. Please submit tickets to Computer/Peripheral Request in the ITS Service Portal.

For more information and detailed steps, please see the full Required Return of Drake-owned Technology Policy at https://www.drake.edu/its/about/itspolicies/.

Please reach out to Alicia Mann, Budget and Office Manager, at alicia.mann@drake.edu with questions or concerns.

— Alicia Mann, ITS

Drake’s global partner institution in Mexico, Tecnológico de Monterrey (TEC), is seeking faculty members to participate in a short-term international teaching opportunity on their campuses across Mexico Nov. 6–10.

International Faculty Week 2023 connects faculty members from universities all over the world, providing the opportunity to come to Mexico to teach in a multicultural environment while engaging with TEC undergraduate students from all areas and networking with international colleagues. This program is an opportunity to experience teaching at Mexico’s top private university!

Drake faculty from any discipline are eligible to participate, and the language of instruction for any topic can be English or Spanish. Learn more about this unique international opportunity by reviewing this overview document and FAQ.

To apply, complete the online registration form by Sept. 22. You will need to provide a CV (in English or Spanish) and proposed lecture topics. Selected candidates will be notified in early October.

Past participant experiences

“This opportunity to represent the Zimpleman College of Business at Drake University at this global event reminds me of the words of UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim ‘…to teach if we are called upon, to be taught if we are fortunate.’”

— Dean Alejandro Hernandez, Zimpleman College of Business, March 2023, Mexico City Campus

“Dr. James Sacco was assigned to the Tecnológico de Monterrey School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Monterrey, where he taught several classes on diverse toxicology topics to graduate and undergraduate students attending various programs, including Bachelor of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, and Biotechnology. He also had the opportunity to observe study and research facilities for students and faculty and laid the foundation for future collaboration in both research and teaching projects.”

—James Sacco, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, March 2023, Monterrey Campus

Funding available through Global Engagement

Drake Global Engagement is pleased to accept funding requests to cover travel expenses. Complete our online application form to request grant funding through the Global Engagement Grant. Applications must include a proposed budget and a letter of support from the head of your academic unit. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. More information about funding for international activities can be found on our website.

Please direct questions related to this opportunity, Drake’s international partnerships, and funding for international activities to global@drake.edu.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

The start of a new academic year is an exciting and busy time.  Efforts across campus are underway to provide a warm welcome back for all Drake students—and you are invited to join in the fun! You can find the whole calendar of events here for the week of Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

It’s not too late to be part of the effort.  Hang a welcome sign on your door, set out some treats for students in your office area, invite a student to lunch … get creative!  Here’s to an excellent new year.

— Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success

The Slay Fund for Social Justice welcomes a new faculty director, Jill Allen, for the 2023–2024 academic year. The Slay Fund for Social Justice is a wide-ranging endowed fund which aims to (1) support programs and initiatives which directly advance social justice and (2) continue important ongoing efforts around advancing social justice work in the Drake community. This fund is made possible through the generous support of Drake alumni, Brent and Diane Slay, who have shared in Drake’s commitment to elevate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice conversations and encourage social justice action.

Allen, an Iowa native and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, joined the Drake faculty in 2015 and specializes in prejudice reduction interventions related to STEM education and understanding the social consequences of sexual objectification among women and men. In addition to teaching courses which resonate with social justice themes, such as Psychology of Gender and Psychology of Prejudice, Allen’s scholarly pursuits target key psychological mechanisms (i.e., belonging, motivation) to mitigate the negative consequences of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination for stigmatized groups. “It is privilege to carry forward the Slays’ vision to provide exceptional social justice opportunities on Drake’s campus and within the Des Moines community,” adds Allen. “The types of experiential learning opportunities, leadership development, and mentoring programs sponsored by the Slay Fund have the potential to change a student’s trajectory, as well as to open hearts and minds toward diverse viewpoints.”

To learn more about the Slay Fund for Social Justice, or to discuss a possible grant proposal, please visit https://www.drake.edu/slay/ or reach out directly at slayfund@drake.edu.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Join All Staff Council on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 2–4 p.m. to spruce up the Sprout Garden and Food Forest. Help with weeding, harvesting, and other important tasks.

No experience is necessary. Gloves and tools will be provided and you can come and go as your time allows. Please dress for the weather and wear something you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Close-toed shoes are recommended. Bring sunscreen and a hat if you prefer.

To sign up, visit https://givepul.se/a64btj.

Refreshments will be provided by the All Staff Council Events & Community Service committee. The Sprout Garden is located at 1270 30th Street in Des Moines.

— Elissa Johnson

The Drake community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Daniel L. Power. Dan served as director of the Drake Legal Clinic from 1971 to 1994. He was a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice when he joined the Drake Law faculty as the founding Executive Director of Clinical Programs. An early proponent of clinical education, Dan was purposefully looking for a law school that would allow him to start a legal clinic.

Dan’s vision and dedication helped grow the clinic program from handling clients’ simple criminal and civil matters in an old house in the Drake neighborhood into the nationally recognized program it is today. His partnership with the late Congressman Neal Smith and his wife Bea led to the building of the state-of-the-art Neal and Bea Smith Law Center that now houses the clinic programs. Last fall, the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center courtroom was named the Daniel L. Power Courtroom in his honor.

Faculty, staff, and alumni will remember Dan’s generosity of spirit. His commitment to every student who came through the Legal Clinic helped launch many successful careers. And his annual St. Patrick’s Day green carnation deliveries to the Law School and Clinic will be long remembered.

“We celebrate Dan’s pioneering vision for clinical legal education but even more so his passion for helping students be better prepared for the practice of Law,” said Drake Law Dean Jerry Anderson.

The family has planned a visitation at Iles Dunn’s Funeral Home, 2121 Grand Avenue in Des Moines on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 4–7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m. at Saint Augustin Church. Dan’s full obituary can be found here.

Facilities Planning and Management is excited to welcome Heather Winslow to the Capital Projects team.  Heather will be joining the team as a project administrator assisting Michelle Huggins and Rob Ebel in the management of building construction projects large and small, furniture procurement, signage, and office moves. Heather joins the team from Finance where she has been an integral part of their team for the last three years. 

You will see her out-and-about on campus, as well as included on meeting invites as we complete projects for the start of classes, and gear-up for the next phase of new projects. We have created a new email for our Projects team capitalprojects@drake.edu. Please feel free to contact our team using this email, and Heather will help to get your project idea captured and answer questions on your existing projects.

Please join me in welcoming Heather to this new role!

— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning & Management

Two food trucks, Mactopia and Bearded Jackal, will be on campus Thursday, Aug. 17, as part of the Learning Symposium to offer lunch to Drake faculty and staff. Food will be ready at 11:30 a.m. for Learning Symposium attendees (lunch voucher provided at the symposium).

Register for the Learning Symposium through EventBrite. Faculty and staff not attending the Learning Symposium are invited to join for lunch at their own cost (anticipated $12–15, including food and beverage) starting at 12:30 p.m. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available.

Mactopia items will include Perfection, Garden of Eden (vegetarian), Bliss, and Paradise, as well as soft drinks. Bearded Jackal items will include Peruvian Chicken, Bulgogi, Skirt Steak with Chimichurri, or Thai Curry Tofu (vegetarian). This will come with a side of street corn and Dragon Fruit Lemonade.

— Lauren McCarthy, Zimpleman College of Business

The Drake University Procurement Office, with the assistance of an evaluation committee of cross-representative faculty and staff, conducted a competitive RFP process to evaluate travel management service providers. As a result of the evaluation, Drake University will be transitioning all non-athletic travel management services to Travel Leaders beginning August 22, 2023.  Over the last few months, we have been working closely with Travel Leaders to ensure a seamless transition with minimal impact to our travelers. Please note this change does not impact our current travel policy.

Travel Leaders/Destinations Unlimited (TLDU) has over 35 years of experience managing higher education travel and is familiar with the various types of travel we have and our unique challenges. This partnership will provide numerous benefits to our traveling faculty, staff, and students. 

Traveler Benefits: ·       Access to air, car, hotel discounts ·       Quick and simple reservations ·       Expert agent team – NOT a call center ·       24/7 traveler support ·       Online booking tool help desk

University Benefits: ·       Savings – air, car, hotel ·       Spend Analytics & Reporting ·       Enhanced Duty of Care ·       Carbon emission reporting ·       Travel industry guidance

Travel Leaders will be offering several virtual training sessions to prepare travelers for this change and answer questions you may have about the program.

August 22, 10:30-11:30am
August 23, 9-10am and 2-3pm
August 24, 1-2pm

If you have not already received a meeting invitation and would like to attend a training session, email procurement@drake.edu to request an invitation. Please indicate in the email the date that works best for you.

The Procurement website is currently under construction and is scheduled to be updated with FAQ and other travel specific information prior to scheduled training noted above. Please check back to the website for pertinent information in the weeks to come. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email procurement@drake.edu.  

— Adam Voigts, Chief Financial Officer