Category Archives: For Students Archive

For Students Archive

Attend a press conference with the nation’s mayors

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) would like students to attend and participate in a special press conference this afternoon about issues facing our nation’s urban areas. USCM is encouraging students to come prepared with questions for the mayors, who represent Columbia, SC; Santa Fe, NM; Baltimore, MD; and Des Moines. The event takes place today at 2 p.m. in the Turner Jazz Center. The USCM press release follows:

THE NATION’S MAYORS TO BRING URBAN AGENDA TO IOWA

Washington, D.C. – The nation’s mayors will bring their urban agenda – The 2016 Compact for a Better America: A Call to Action – to Des Moines, Iowa for The Brown & Black Presidential Forum on Monday, January 11, 2016. The Compact calls on the Presidential candidates and Congress to INVEST in and PROTECT America’s cities and metro areas (www.usmayors.org).

Under the leadership of USCM President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a bipartisan group of mayors from cities large and small will attend the Brown & Black Presidential Forum to stress to Presidential Candidates how important city/metropolitan issues are to the country and a growing number of Americans.

With more than 85% of people in the United States living in our nation’s cities and metro areas, mayors clearly understand how urban issues impact everyday Americans and are calling on candidates to focus on these issues. Mayors are convinced that despite their geographic location, cities large and small across over the country are plagued by the same challenges including access to healthcare, job creation, affordable housing, immigration, crime and illegal guns, failing public schools and climate protection.

Billed as the oldest Forum addressing minority issues, The Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum is an element of Urban Dreams’ non-partisan Project V.O.T.E. (Voting Opportunities Through Education). It is the nation’s only presidential forum in which all candidates have the opportunity to answer essential concerns of African-Americans and Latinos. The non-partisan event began in 1984 and has figured prominently in the Iowa caucuses. It is recognized as the oldest continuous minority forum for presidential candidates in America and one of the longest-running presidential forums in the nation.

“The issues of Des Moines and of cities around Iowa are the same issues that face mayors around the country each and every day. We support The Brown & Black Forum in its mission to present to the next President of the United States the challenges and opportunities before us and we believe it is critical that mayors participate,” said Tom Cochran, USCM CEO & Executive Director.

WHO:
Baltimore, MD Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, USCM President
Columbia, SC Mayor Steven Benjamin, USCM Trustee
Des Moines, IA Mayor Frank Cownie, USCM Trustee
Santa Fe, NM Mayor Javier Gonzales, USCM Member
Tom Cochran, USCM CEO & Executive Director

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE – MAYORS WILL REACT TO CANDIDATES AND SPEAK TO URBAN ISSUES IMPACTING AMERICA’S CITIES
WHEN: Monday, January 11, 2016 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Drake University | Turner Jazz Center

—Submitted by Jarad Bernstein, Director of Public Relations and Media Management

For Students Archive

AmeriCorps positions available

Are you looking to gain hands-on work experience in the areas of health and wellness? Drake is pleased to offer several AmeriCorps positions in collaboration with the Healthiest State Initiative. Earn a living stipend, education award, and great work experience in exchange for service. For more information on the spring positions, visit http://1.usa.gov/1U2tF5H and for more information on the summer positions, visit http://1.usa.gov/1mycSNk.

—Submitted by Amanda Martin, AmeriCorps and Service-Learning Programs Coordinator

For Students Archive

J-Term registration deadline

Online registration for 2016 J-Term will end on Wednesday, Dec. 23. After that date, you will not be able to add or swap J-Term classes online. Registration will resume when the University reopens from winter break on Monday, Jan. 4. At that time, all J-Term adds or drops must be conducted using the paper add-drop forms available in all deans’ offices.

If the changes you make to your J-Term schedule have financial consequences, you will be either billed or refunded in early January. The J-Term Student Finance FAQ has more detailed information about J-Term charges.

Online registration for the Spring 2016 semester will remain open during winter break, ending Sunday, Jan. 24.

—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost

For Students Archive

DELTA Rx’s Next Top Entrepreneur Competition

  • Do you have an idea for an innovative health care solution?
  • Are you looking to grow as an entrepreneurial leader?
  • Share your idea and win CASH prizes!

DELTA Rx’s Next Top Entrepreneur Competition is taking place in February 2016, and you don’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity!

The competition is open to all students, regardless of major, with a health care innovation. During three rounds of competition, you will develop your creativity and presentation skills through business plan presentations, problem solving, and feedback from innovators. The competition judges will represent the pharmacy, health care, and business sectors. Participants can register as an individual or in a team.

LEARN MORE:
Information sessions to provide competition guidelines and recommendations will be held 4–4:30 p.m. in Harvey Ingham 004, on Feb. 8, and in Harvey Ingham 019 on Feb. 9. You can also learn more here.

SIGN UP: To register yourself or your team, email deltarx@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Sarah Dean

For Students Archive

A message from public safety & student life

As we begin to wind down the semester, Chief Law and I ask that each of you keep the following in mind

Stay safe: Each and every one of us represents Drake University. Respect each other, respect yourself, and watch over each other during these last few weeks of the fall semester. If you plan to participate in social activities this weekend or next prior to finals, please do so in a manner that ultimately highlights the best of who you are and who we are as a University. Remember:

  • Take advantage of the Drake Safe Ride program.
  • Utilize the Drake Guardian App.
  • Be an active bystander: If you see a fellow Drake student at risk, intervene to help.
  • If you see something, say something by calling Drake Public Safety at 515-271-2222 or the Des Moines Police Department at 911.
  • If you choose to use alcohol, do so responsibly. Drake offers exciting and enriching social activities and cocurricular events throughout the semester that are alcohol-free alternatives.
  • Pay attention to your surroundings.

Enjoy the holiday break: If you will be going home for winter break, be sure to spend your time reconnecting with family and friends and recharging your batteries for what promises to be an exciting and eventful spring semester.

Get excited for J-Term: For those of you participating in J-Term travel seminars, please immerse yourself in the opportunity to further understand what it means to be a responsible global citizen. If you are taking an on-campus J-Term course, we hope you enjoy this educational experience.

Celebrate December graduates: To those whose journey here at Drake is coming to an end and who will be graduating on Dec. 19, congratulations! You are entering into an esteemed group of Drake alumni, and you will carry that honor with you throughout the rest of your life.

The Division of Student Life and the Department of Public Safety wish all of you and your families the very best as we move into 2016—good luck with your final exams!

—Jerry Parker, Acting Dean of Students, & Scott Law, Director, Public Safety

For Students Archive

Student travel scholarship available

Iowa Sister States is excited to announce the Jeff Zimpleman Iowa Sister States Scholarship. The scholarship, exclusive to Iowa students, is offered to further student interest in the world of international relations via one of Iowa’s nine Sister State relationships. The Sister States are:

  • Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan (established in 1960)
  • Yucatán, Mexico (1965)
  • Hebei Province, China (1983)
  • Terengganu, Malaysia (1987)
  • Stavropol Krai, Russia (1988)
  • Taiwan (1989)
  • Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine (1996)
  • Veneto Region, Italy (1997)
  • Kosovo (2013)

The scholarship is available for Iowa students enrolled in colleges and universities in the state of Iowa who are seeking a degree in international business or agriculture, international relations, language, or culture (including music, art, and film). Students participating in travel seminars, internships, conferences, or symposia reflecting these majors are also eligible to apply.

Iowa Sister States is proud to partner with the family of Jeff Zimpleman in the creation of this scholarship. Jeff’s love of exploring new places and his understanding of the importance of nurturing international relationships resonates with the very essence of Iowa Sister States’ organizational vision to “be a leader in integrating Iowans with the world community.” Iowan Jeff Zimpleman, a citizen diplomat, did just that. With this scholarship we offer you the same opportunity.

Complete details of the scholarship and the application are located on the Iowa Sister States website. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2016. Scholarship money will be disbursed in time for use during the 2016–2017 academic year.

—Submitted by Drake International

For Students Archive

Harkin Institute DC Experience Scholarship

Are you interning in Washington D.C. this summer? Would you like to have your travel and housing accommodations covered? The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement provides housing and transportation to a Drake undergraduate student with financial need who has secured a summer internship in a congressional office, government agency, or nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.

This scholarship is designed to expose students to policymakers and the policymaking process, much as Sen. Tom Harkin experienced as an intern for Rep. Neal Smith in the summer of 1969, an experience that inspired Sen. Harkin to pursue a career in public service. For more information or to obtain an application form, please contact Amy Beller at amy.beller@drake.edu or 515-271-2875. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2016.

—Submitted by Amy Beller, Project Manager

For Students Archive

“How to Prepare for the Foreign Service Exam”

The Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs presents “How to Prepare for the Foreign Service Exam” on Monday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 234. Drake alumna Lauren Garza, AS’05, GR’09, will present.

Lauren currently serves as a public diplomacy desk officer for West Africa in the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. She joined the State Department in 2009. Prior to this, Garza served as a consular officer in Monterrey, Mexico, and Vancouver, Canada. Lauren graduated from Drake with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Politics, and French. She received her Master of Public Administration from Drake in 2009 while working as a foreign student adviser and study abroad adviser.

In addition to having lived in Mexico and Canada, Lauren studied abroad in Nantes, France, and served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Gumi, South Korea. She is married with a one-year-old and an adopted street pooch from Mexico.

—Submitted by Drake International

For Students Archive

Student events: Week of Nov. 16

Teach in China Program informational sessions
You are invited to an informational session about Drake’s Teach in China Program. Graduating seniors and alumni can hear from Drake graduates who have participated previously. All sessions are to be held on Drake’s campus, but we welcome remote participants via Skype for non-Drake applicants. Please contact Kirk Martin should you need to attend remotely at 515- 271-3035, kirk.martin@drake.edu, or WeChat: kirkdavidmartin.

Info Sessions
Wednesday, Nov. 18
3:30–4:30 p.m., Drake International offices in The Point
OR
7–8 p.m., Olmsted Center, Pomerantz Conference Room

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7–8 p.m. Olmsted Center, Pomerantz Conference Room

Thursday, Dec. 3, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Drake International

—Submitted by Kirk Martin, Director of Chinese Cultural Exchange Program

 

Orientation leaders information session
Want to help welcome new students to Drake University? Want to get involved? Want an on-campus job this summer? Consider becoming an orientation leader!

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend one of three information sessions:

  • Wednesday, Nov 18, 7 p.m.—Olmsted Center, Room 310/311
  • Friday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m.—Olmsted Center, TMR 132
  • Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, 12 p.m.—Olmsted Center, Room 310/311

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position. Please visit www.drake.edu/orientation/orientationleaders/ to learn more about the position, but if you have any questions, feel free to contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Marina Verlengia, Director, Campus Programming


Drake Recreational Services and APhA-ASP Operation Diabetes present the Diabetes Awareness Week Wellness Challenge!
Plan to exercise three of the six days from Sunday, Nov. 15–Friday, Nov. 20 AND sign up to participate in the 2K Glow Fun Run on Nov. 20—you will receive a prize! While exercising at the Bell Center or Drake Underground, sign your name at the front desk. Questions? Contact us at wellness@drake.edu.

Diabetes Awareness Week Wellness Presentation
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious health condition that has now reached near-epidemic levels. Understanding more about diabetes can help spread awareness to fight this disease. Join Drake Recreational Services on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Sussman Theater for an informational session about diabetes and what you can do to improve your lifestyle.

—Submitted by Ellen Lowe, Assistant Director of Recreational Services – Wellness