October was established as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004 and is a collaborative effort between government agencies and private industry to help individuals protect themselves online, especially as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. Drake is kicking off Cybersecurity Awareness Month with our first topic—security culture.

Whether you know it or not, you play a major role in Drake’s security culture. That may sound intimidating, but chances are you’re already doing your part. Security culture comprises the ideas, customs, and social behaviors of a group or organization that influence its security. Reporting a phishing email to ITS, discussing a news-making cyber attack with a coworker—that’s security culture at work!

To keep yourself and Drake safe, remember the following cybersecurity tips to enhance our security culture:

• Think before you click. If you aren’t sure about a suspicious email, link, or website, report it and don’t open it.
• Keep your information private. Use privacy settings on social media and other websites to control who sees your information. Additionally, be cautious who you share your information with. Remember, Drake will not ask you for your passwords, social security number, or other personal information.
• Strengthen your password. Use a variety of characters, avoid using personal information, use a different password for every app and website, and change your passwords regularly.
• Use multifactor authentication. MFA provides another layer of security to ensure it’s really you accessing your information.

Drake prioritizes your safety, and we ask you to do your part to strengthen our security culture.

Take the cybersecurity quiz! The first 150 people to complete the quiz will receive a coupon to use at the campus Starbucks, and all student participants will be entered into a random drawing for 1 of 10 Griff II t-shirts. Complete the quiz by October 31, 2023.

Watch for next week’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month topic in OnCampus. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam.

For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

The Summer 2024 Uganda travel seminar is a three-week, six-credit course where Drake students visit Uganda to study sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. The course will take place in the first three weeks of Summer 2024.

Interested students can learn more about the program by attending information sessions on the following days/times:

• October 9th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112
• October 10th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112
• November 15th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112
• November 16th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112

Please contact Professor Henderson (heath.henderson@drake.edu) with any questions.

— Heath Henderson, Zimpleman College of Business

As you will recall from your own college search, the most influential person you talked with during your college visits were current students. The interaction that you have with prospective students and family members will impact their future interest in Drake and ultimately play a significant role in the student’s decision-making process. 

The goal of the Office of Admission is to articulate and communicate Drake’s mission statement which serves as a promise. As a representative of Drake, it is critical that you know, understand and communicate the tenets of the mission of the University through information and stories. As a member of Cole-ition you will provide tours to families, interact with prospective students, meet Drake staff and students, get service hours, develop speaking skills, and have a great resume builder!

If you are interested fill out this form with your information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2jSVnZdysnZkexJTxJPoIDL6qv3DqpPzft26VCVz6OUmn-A/viewform?fce_id=bd75ed72-d919-4544-b0eb-3c0e94ce726b

An informational session will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, from 1:30–2:15 p.m. in Sussman Theatre.

For questions, email admissioncoleition@drake.edu.

— Reed Nenonen, Senior, School of Education

The release of the 2024-2025 FAFSA will be delayed until December 2023 (exact date TBD). The delay is due to the implementation of changes required by the FAFSA Simplification Act. The 2024-2025 FAFSA is the application for need-based assistance and federal student loan programs for the summer 2024, fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters. It is available to students who are US citizens or eligible non-citizens.

The delayed release for the 2024-2025 FAFSA is a one-time occurrence. We expect that future FAFSA releases (2025-2026 year and beyond) will return to an October 1 release date. When the exact release date for the 2024-2025 FAFSA is known, an update will be provided.

The changes include modifications to the formula that calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI) (previously known as the Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC). We anticipate that some students’ financial aid eligibility for 2024-2025 will be impacted by these changes. Therefore, we encourage students to use the Federal Student Aid Estimator (available now) to determine how their estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) for 2024-2025 compares with their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) for this current year (2023-2024).

The Financial Aid Office is committed to helping students understand and plan for any changes in their financial aid eligibility.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

If you’ve been considering the idea of studying abroad next Spring, the deadline for the DU Spain program in Seville has been extended until Sept. 15. This unique semester program includes a cohort of Drake students with Faculty-in-Residence: Prof. Matthew Hayden. He will be teaching Cultural Diffusion: Values in Art and Architecture.

INFORMATION SESSION: To meet Professor Matthew Hayden and to learn more from the Global Engagement Office, attend one of two information sessions on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 12-1 p.m. or 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Cowles Library, Room 201.

In addition, students will learn alongside peers from Spain and other countries at a local university. Take coursework in English, Spanish, or a combination, depending on the program you select. You can earn credit toward your major(s), minor(s) and AOI(s)! Students will have the opportunity to live with a Spanish family at their Seville home or live in a Residencia (similar to an apartment). Learn more here or start an application in Terra Dotta.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

Are you unsure what the difference is between your Dining Dollars and Bulldog Bucks?  Dining Dollars are funds that are a part of your meal plan.  They are intended for on-campus dining.  You can use these funds at the Olmsted Starbucks, Hubbell Dining Hall, Spike’s Convenience Store (Lower Hubbell), the Library Cafe (in Midnight Hall), or at Concessions in the Knapp Center.

Dining Dollars are loaded at the start of the fall semester, and will carry forward to the end of the spring semester.  You’ll want to use these funds before you leave for home in the summer.

Bulldog Bucks are an optional account, also on your ID card, that you (or your family) load funds to as desired.  These funds carry forward from year to year until you leave Drake, and can be used both on and off campus.

Bulldog Bucks can be used for any on campus dining location (listed above), and can also be used at the Drake Bookstore, at campus printers, in the campus mailroom, at participating off campus locations, and on the GrubHub app.

Funds can be added online in the myDrake portal, or at www.acceptinglocations.com/drake.  You can also see the participating off campus merchants at this link.  Please note that the off campus merchants cannot take your Dining Dollars, they can only take Bulldog Bucks.

If you have any questions about your Dining Dollars or meal plan, feel free to contact dining@drake.edu.  If you have any questions about your Bulldog Bucks account, contact studentservices@drake.edu.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Golf: For Business & Life is back. The class is designed for students to learn the basics of golf.  For more information, visit: www.drake.edu/recservices/golfforbusinessandlife

Register by Sept. 7 at: https://forms.gle/LnMgvW413t4xfxay7.

For questions, contact Lisa Murphy at lisa.murphy@drake.edu.

— Lisa Murphy, Rec Services

You can get textbooks and course materials quickly with free two-day shipping to the Bulldog Shop when you order online at drake.ecampus.com.

Need quicker access? Go digital! Choose an eBook option at checkout and easily access everything in your personalized Digital Bookshelf.

Don’t want to commit to something permanent? We’ll save you up to 80% on textbook rentals. Amazon no longer offers rentals, but we do! Drake University’s Online Bookstore has the guaranteed right books that your professor chose.

Need help ordering? Follow our 6-step instructions guide HERE to get started.

— The Bulldog Shop

A new, special event is happening this fall called “A Room Full of Sisters.” It is being held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Olmsted and is open to undergraduate women+ students (the plus indicates any students who identify as or have been socialized as women).

This event will provide resources on navigating a PWI (predominantly white institution), relationships, finances, graduate school, and intergenerational conversations among women. Guest speakers will feature faculty, staff and students from Drake. It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow and learn ways to strengthen your relationships and future.

This event is free, and breakfast and lunch will be provided. A limited number of spots are available. Register here.

Sponsored by the Dean of Students Office, Broadlawn’s Counseling Center, Office of Community Engaged Learning & Service, and Office of Campus Equity & Inclusion.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning & Service