Category Archives: For Students Archive

Interning in D.C.?

The Harkin Institute D.C. Experience Scholarship provides financial assistance to a Drake undergraduate student who has secured an internship in a congressional office, government agency, or nonprofit in Washington, D.C. This opportunity is open to students of every major, area of study, and political party affiliation.

The scholarship covers:

  • Travel expenses up to $500
  • Housing accommodations for a 12-week period from May to August 2017 with Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH)

Apply and learn more at drake.edu/harkininstitute/scholarship. Applications are due April 4.

—Erin Austin, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement

Global service-learning grant available

Three grants are available for global service-learning program development. Funding is awarded on a rolling basis until  June 30.

  1. Fellow Grant to develop global service-learning (GSL) programming. Funding to develop GSL partnerships or develop innovative GSL experiences. Faculty and staff can apply. Up to $9,000 for travel and $750 for release time.
  2. Match Grant for GSL project/course. Faculty, staff, and students can apply. Up to $500 toward project implementation resource needs.
  3. Mini Grants for GSL courses and cocurricular experiences. Faculty, staff, and students can apply. Up to $200 toward GSL resource needs.

Please visit this site for more information on each opportunity and how to apply.

—Amanda Martin, Community Engagement and Service-Learning

Mini grants available for service-learning and social justice programming

Drake’s Community Action Board (CAB), in collaboration with Drake’s Community Engaged Learning Office, is pleased to offer mini-grants to support students and student organizations carrying out service-learning and social justice programming. This program should help meet a community-identified need, spread awareness, or make a meaningful impact for others. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/cabgrant. Applications are accepted year-round. Questions? Email drakecab@gmail.com.

—Mollie Clark

Teach in China

Want to become conversant in Mandarin Chinese? Interested in immersing yourself in an ancient and unique culture? How about learning the business practices of one of the United States’ largest trading partners? Need a gap year before going to grad school? Then teach English in China at one of Drake’s nine partner institutions in one of five Chinese cities!

Since 2004, Drake University’s Teach in China program has placed more than 220 graduates in full-time teaching positions in China. To learn more, please visit our website and attend an information session.

Information sessions are being held:

Tuesday, Feb. 21
3:30–4:30 p.m., Drake International (1331 27th St.)
7:30–8:30 p.m., Pomerantz Conference Room, Olmsted Center

Wednesday, Feb. 22
3:30–4:30 p.m., Drake International (1331 27th St.)

Please contact Stephanie Dana (stephanie.dana@drake.edu) with any questions.

—Stephanie Dana, Drake International

Golf for Life

Who: Drake students (priority for upperclassmen)

What: Learn to play golf from a professional and how to use it as a business tool from local business professionals.

The non-credit course is two parts. The first part is 7–10 group golf lessons at Glen Oaks Country Club and then a small best ball golf outing. You will choose which golf time works for you, Wednesday or Thursday evenings.

The second part comprises about four classroom sessions with speakers who will discuss the importance of golf in the business world. These sessions will be on various Tuesday evenings 5:30–6:30 p.m. throughout the semester.

You must be available for both parts of the program.

 When: The first classroom session will be Tuesday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. and lessons will begin March 22.

Why: To gain the knowledge and skills to utilize golf as a vital business skill

Cost: $80
Application Deadline: March 3; Applications are online at www.drake.edu/recservices

For more information, please contact Lisa Murphy at lisa.murphy@drake.edu or 271-4710.

—Lisa Murphy, Recreational Services

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

We know from research that approximately 1 in 5 students on college campuses has an eating disorder. New studies incorporating binge eating disorder suggest that those numbers are even higher—nearly half of women and one-third of men on campus.

Spearheaded by the National Eating Disorders Association, the goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness (#NEDAwareness) Week is to shine the spotlight on eating disorders and put life-saving resources into the hands of those in need. This year’s theme is “It’s Time to Talk About It” and we’re encouraging everyone to get screened. Take the free, confidential, 3-minute online screening at http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/NEDA.

Look for events hosted by the Counseling Center the week of Feb. 26–March 4. These events include a picture collage of Drake students who have suffered from eating disorders, resource tables in Olmsted and Hubbell, online screenings, and covered mirrors throughout campus.

Off campus, the High Trestle Trail Bridge in Des Moines will be lit in the signature blue and green colors of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to put a spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders. And the Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa is hosting community events in Des Moines March 3–4, as well. Find more about EDCI’s program at www.edciowa.com/.

Questions? Visit www.myNEDA.org for eating disorders information, resources, and treatment options.

—Melissa Nord, Student Health Center

Become a student ambassador

Applications to be a student ambassador in the Office of Admission are live! Ambassadors represent the University to prospective students and families, providing campus tours and facilitating the campus visit area in Cole Hall. To view the full job description and access the application, please click here. All application materials are due March 1. Questions? Email zachary.blevins@drake.edu.

New! Language minors and international relations major requirements

An International Relations / World Languages & Cultures Joint Information Session will take place on Friday, Feb. 24, 12:30–1:30 p.m., in Medbury Honors Lounge, for students to learn about new opportunities being unveiled this year in the area of international studies at Drake.

The Department of World Languages & Cultures is introducing new minors in language and culture (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish), as well as minors in East Asian Studies and Latin American Studies.

The Department of Political Science is introducing new requirements for their international relations major, which include an enhanced commitment to teaching students about the global political economy and international law, as well as new course offerings in international security. In the current era of global change, there has never been a more exciting time to join these programs and become more aware of all the opportunities that they provide.

The information session will be an opportunity for students to learn more about the new major requirements and minors, as well as how to combine majors and minors across these two departments or with your current program of study in another department. For more information, contact Professor Mary M. McCarthy (mary.mccarthy@drake.edu) or Professor Marc Pinheiro-Cadd (marc.pinheiro-cadd@drake.edu).

—Mary McCarthy, Department of Political Science

Let your voice make a difference

Drake undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will receive an invitation this week from President Martin and Provost Mattison to complete the Drake Student Survey. By telling us about your Drake experience, you help us identify ways to improve curriculum, student support, and the campus environment.

—Kevin Saunders, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment