Chief Student Affairs Officer Jerry Parker sent an email Aug. 8 communicating the University’s COVID-19 preparation plans. Additionally, he sent an email Aug. 17 with information about monkeypox, summarized below.

Monkeypox (MPV) Information and Resources
MPV is a disease caused by infection from the monkeypox virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking cases associated with a recent outbreak of MPV that has been reported in several countries, including the United States. The Iowa Department of Public Health tracks cases of MPV in the state with a dashboard that is updated each Wednesday.

How is MPV spread?
Everyone is susceptible to MPV regardless of age or sex. It is most commonly transmitted through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with infected people or animals. Less commonly, it can be spread through contact with objects, fabrics (for example clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with an active case of MPV. It can also be spread via respiratory secretions or oral fluids from a person with MPV during prolonged face-to-face contact or during intimate physical and/or sexual contact; however, it does not linger in the air and is not thought to be transmitted during short periods of shared air space. People who do not have MPV symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.

What are the symptoms of MPV?
Symptoms include a rash or sores, sometimes located on hands, feet, chest, face, around the genitals, or inside the body including mouth, vagina, or anus. Other symptoms of MPV may include: fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue. These symptoms can occur before the onset of the characteristic rash or sores.

What should I do if I think I have MPV?
If you have a rash that is consistent with MPV, speak with a healthcare provider even if you have had no known contact with someone who has MPV. Students can call the Drake Student Health Center at 515-271-3731 or their personal healthcare provider. Employees should contact their personal healthcare provider.

Is there a vaccine for MPV?
While there are effective vaccines for MPV, the CDC does not currently recommend widespread pre-exposure vaccination against MPV. The CDC does recommend that individuals with a known MPV exposure receive a vaccine within four days of exposure to prevent onset of the disease. Delaying a post-exposure vaccine up to 14 days after exposure may reduce MPV symptoms. Additional vaccine information is available from the Polk County Health Department.

How do I reduce my risk of contracting MPV?
Actions an individual can take to reduce the risk of contracting MPV include:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact including kissing and sexual activity with people who have a rash, sores, or confirmed MPV.
• Do not handle, touch, or share bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with a rash, sores, or confirmed MPV.
• Do not use eating utensils or cups of a person with MPV.
• Wash your hands often.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces and objects.

What If I get Infected?
If you have a confirmed case of MPV, you will be required to isolate in consultation with the Polk County Health Department. Because of the longer isolation periods required for MPV—typically two to four weeks according to the CDC—residential students who are able will be strongly encouraged to isolate at home or off campus. Where that is not feasible, the University is currently planning to make isolation rooms available and arrange for food delivery. If an individual lives off campus, they will be expected to isolate at their off-campus residence or another off-campus location.

Where can I learn more?
For more information about MPV, please visit the CDC’s FAQ and MPV websites maintained by the Iowa Department of Health and the Polk County Health Department. Students can also call their healthcare provider or Student Health at 515–271–3731.

The Midwest Association Student Financial Aid Administrators “MASFAA” Access Committee is excited to announce a $500 scholarship opportunity. The MASFAA Access Scholarship seeks to support students facing barriers to their financial, academic, and social success.  Students of all degree programs (certificate, associate, undergraduate, graduate, and professional) are welcome to apply from the nine states of the MASFAA region.

Although a QR code is on the attached flyer, a direct link to the application is:  masfaaweb.org/event-4895048

Applications are due Sept. 15.

— Brandi Miller, Student Financial Planning

Drake University is excited to announce our new study abroad program in Seville, Spain for the Spring 2023 semester. Students with or without a background in Spanish are invited to apply and join a group of students and a Drake faculty member while studying abroad in Spain during the 2023 term. The first 10 students to commit to the Drake in Spain program will be given a $500 grant to attend the program. The deadline to apply will be September 1, 2022.

Read more and apply to the program: drake-sa.terradotta.com/?go=Seville

Additionally, students are invited to email studyabroad@drake.edu with questions or to setup an appointment with the study abroad advisor.

— Karen Williams, Global Engagement

Looking for summer work? The Fine Arts Coordinator is hiring multiple candidates for the following summer position:

Fine Arts Events Staff
This summer position is to help assist the Fine Arts Coordinator run and manage various events on campus in the fine arts spaces (Harmon Fine Arts Center, Sheslow Auditorium, and the Turner Jazz Center). Various tasks include setting up the Performing Arts Hall for shows along with the Technical Director, helping events with sound set up, lights, recording, set up, building management, opening and closing the buildings for events, etc., as applicable. Other duties could include preparing for or cleaning up after events, supervision of building during events, documenting event issues/concerns to the Fine Arts Coordinator, etc. Students who are good communicators, want to represent Drake in a professional and positive light, and have good customer service skills are encouraged. Training will be provided.

— Jacob Lemmons, Fine Arts Coordinator

Consider taking a study break and join us in laying the foundation of the Sprout Food Forest.

Thanks to funding from Student Senate, we will be installing a walking path at the Sprout Garden and Food Forest on Thursday, May 5, (rain date Saturday, May 7). Volunteers are needed to help clear mulch and lay the gravel.

Gloves and tools are provided, please wear close toed shoes, and bring a water bottle and sunscreen. Volunteers will earn a free #DrakeServes shirt. Please review the available slots and signup: signupgenius.com/go/5080d4ea4ae23aaf94-sprout.

— Renee Sedlacek Lee, Community Engaged Learning 

If you will be enrolled in the Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 semesters and wish to be considered for need-based grants, Federal Work-Study, or federal loans, please complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.

Not sure if you already completed it? Check your documents listed in Financial Aid Self-Service.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Your final opportunity of the semester to polish your writing with the terrific tutors at our Writing Workshop is close-of-day on Sunday, May 8.

Many thanks to our peer tutors, and the director of the Writing Workshop, Professor Jody Swilky.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Students, you should have received an email inviting you to complete the Drake Student Survey. Check your inbox for an email titled “Reminder: Drake wants to hear from you.”

The Drake Student Survey explores your perception of your time here at Drake; including your learning experiences, Drake services, and other issues from both inside and outside the classroom. Your feedback is very important as it will help administrators, faculty, staff, student leaders, and others improve curriculum, student support, and the campus environment.

For questions, contact Kevin Saunders in the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment at kevin.saunders@drake.edu.

Thank you for your participation.

—Kevin Saunders, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

As a student tech, you will be able to support fellow students, faculty, and staff with day-to-day troubleshooting of campus-wide technical resources. Assistance may be needed to promote computing resources across campus and professional customer service is required every day to coordinate with those who need assistance, as well as with the others at Drake ITS.

Preferred candidates have great time management and communication skills, the ability to apply learned knowledge to new and challenging situations, excellent verbal and written skills, and general computer literacy. No prior IT support experience is needed-all majors encouraged to apply. Training will be provided. Apply to be a student tech on Handshake today.

— Becky Klein, ITS