Applications are live for Summer 2022 travel seminars. Priority deadline for applications is Dec.r 15. Start an application today.

Summer 2022 travel seminars are:

• Germany & Poland: Heritage and Holocaust
• Uganda: Sustainable Development in Africa

Additionally, information sessions for each of the Summer 2022 travel seminars will be held in the coming weeks. For Germany and Poland, a virtual session will take place on Friday, Oct. 8, at 12 p.m. For Uganda, a hybrid session is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 102.  Session links and additional information on these events can be found on the University calendar.

To apply for a travel seminar, visit Terra Dotta, Drake’s online application portal. Use your Drake ID and password to login.

For questions about a specific travel seminar, contact the course instructor. For general study abroad questions or issues with Terra Dotta, contact studyabroad@drake.edu.

— Nathan Jacobson, Education Abroad Coordinator

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 the information sessions being offered. Click here to sign up for a session.

• Wednesday, Oct. 13., at 7 p.m. in Olmsted Conference Room 310
• Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., Zoom session

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position.

Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

The 2022–2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available. Students who wish to be considered for need-based grants and federal work-study for the 2022–2023 year must complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is also required in order to borrow federal student loans, which are usually the best student loans available.

Pharmacy students who would like to be considered for the Health Professions Loan must include parental information on the FAFSA (even if not required to do so).

If you need assistance with the FAFSA, contact the Office of Student Financial Planning.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

One in five people can’t identify a phishing email. That’s why ITS works to educate the campus community about how to detect and avoid being caught by malicious emails that “phish” for personal and campus data. In recognition of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), ITS is sharing tips and tools for keeping you safe online and not becoming a cyber-victim.

From Oct. 1–18, ITS is holding a phishing quiz, a contest where students can take a quiz to learn more about how to identify phishing emails and fraudulent websites.

Everyone who takes the 10-question quiz will be entered to win one of six prizes, no matter how many answers they get right. Visit drake.edu/its/quiz to see the full contest rules and take the quiz starting Oct. 1.

The goal of this contest is to empower students to be able to keep their data secure. Learn more about IT Security this month and beyond by following Drake ITS on Twitter at @DrakeITServices.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Join The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 9 a.m., for our exclusive Young Professional Brunch with nationally recognized pollster J. Ann Selzer who has been referred to as “the best pollster in politics” by FiveThirtyEight.

This event is open to Drake University undergraduate and graduate students. Registration is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Only 25 spots are available so sign up now!

The Harkin Institute’s student brunches and events offer intimate opportunities for Drake University students to learn from industry leaders about their careers and gain advice about future career opportunities. Past participants have included U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, United Way of Central Iowa President Elisabeth Buck and Delta Dental President and CEO Jeff Russell.

— Emily Schettler, Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement 

Calling all undergraduate women in student leadership roles. You are invited to apply for the Deni Druehl Naumann Women’s Leadership Scholarship.

The scholarship was established by Deni Druehl, JO’78, and Michael Naumann in April 2014 to recognize undergraduate women at Drake University who inspire, have passion, and positively impact the lives of others around them. Applicants to this scholarship must exhibit a commitment to contribute their leadership skills and talents to Drake activities such as (but not limited to): the Adams Leadership Institute, the LEAD concentration, recognized campus student organizations, and/or University sponsored activities, e.g. Panhellenic Council, Residence Life, and/or Student Senate.

The selected scholarship recipient will be awarded $2,500 to be disbursed during the 2021–2022 academic year. The scholarship is not automatically renewed each year, but previous recipients are eligible to apply each year following their initial award.

To apply for the scholarship, please submit an application at the link below by Sunday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. Candidates will be notified of their selection status by Oct. 15.

Please submit the following information in the application form:

• Name, primary major, Drake GPA, and anticipated graduation term (i.e. Spring 2022)
• Essay questions:
  1. Describe your most meaningful leadership experience and/or role on campus as a leader at Drake. What, specifically, did you learn as a result of this experience?
  2. Please indicate how you hope to continue positively impacting the Drake community as a student leader and how this scholarship may help you do so.

For questions, contact Kristin Economos, director of student leadership programs, at kristin.economos@drake.edu.

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

In 2021, Drake renewed its partnership with Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec), a university with 36 campuses across Mexico. Drake has partnerships around the world that facilitate study abroad, joint research, and visiting scholars.

Tec is known for implementing a unique challenge-based education model, Tec21, which focuses on innovation, hands-on experiences, and social impact. This model offers courses that differ from traditional ones in terms of topics, method of instruction, and length. Starting in 2022, this model will be available to exchange students who attend Tec for a semester or a full academic year of study. We encourage Drake students to take advantage of this unique study abroad opportunity!

• Learn More about Student Exchange at Drake
• Learn More about Tec21

Interested in student exchange at Tecnológico de Monterrey?
Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. for a virtual information session presented by Tec’s International Programs Office. Learn More.

If you are unable to join this session or wish to speak to a study abroad advisor about this or other study abroad opportunities, contact studyabroad@drake.edu.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Partnerships Coordinator

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you needing help getting organized?  Are you struggling in your classes?  Access and Success can help!

Access and Success is a resource that offers academic coaching, disability services, and tutoring. We also offer workshops and webinars on a variety of topics.

If you are interested in any of these resources, check out your Starfish Success Network to get connected quickly and easily. Our next workshop, Tests and Time, is coming up soon. Check out our website for more information: Access & Success Workshops.

— Michelle Laughlin, Access and Success

The Drake University track and field program will hold tryouts Wednesday, Sept. 29,  from 3:30–4:45 p.m. for both men’s and women’s track and field. To participate:

• Email Asha Gibson at asha.gibson@drake.edu with intent to tryout.
• Attend an interest meeting Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. Location details will only be provided to individuals who submit email of intent to tryout.

— Asha Gibson-Smith, Head Track & Field Coach

First-year students have 10 opportunities to participate in a J-Term experience, including travel experiences, a retreat, and virtual courses. Apply for a J-Term first-year experience now. Applications are open until Sept. 21 on a first come, first served basis..

Travel abroad experiences:
1. Belize: Ethical Chocolate: How does that cacao actually get into my chocolate bar?
2. England: Responsible Global Citizenship in Action: Exploring Cultural Identity through the British Experience

To apply for a first-year J-Term abroad experience, visit Terra Dotta, Drake’s online application portal for travel experiences. Use your Drake ID and password to login. For questions about a specific program, contact the seminar leader. For general study abroad questions or issues with Terra Dotta, contact studyabroad@drake.edu.

Retreat experience:
3. Every Bulldog a Changemaker

Virtual experiences
4. Mental Health First Aid
5. Mindfulness: what, why, how?
6. Prevention Ambassador Training
7. Social Change Leadership
8. Unchain Your Motivation
9. Unleashing Your Genius
10. You DU Follow Through

To learn more about these experiences and to find registration instructions, students should visit the First-Year J-Term Experience website. For questions, contact Laura Shell at laura.shell@drake.edu. For questions specific to abroad experiences, contact Maria Rohach at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Director of Education Abroad, and Laura Shell, Access and Success Coordinator