Undergraduate and pharmacy (P1-P3) students who want to borrow federal student loans for the summer semester must complete the Summer Financial Aid Application.

Graduate and law students who are registered at least half-time (5+ credits) for summer and who have completed the 2025–2026 FAFSA will automatically be offered their federal student loan eligibility for the summer semester. These students should only complete this form if they receive a financial aid offer that does not include financial aid for the summer semester.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Dogtown After Hours is a student led, alcohol alternative event held every spring. Stop by the Olmsted center April 11 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. for a night of fun! Alongside collaborations with Your Life Iowa, Drake Dance Marathon, and a guest appearance from Griff II, come climb a rock wall, play on giant inflatables, eat comfort food, help out with our service activity, watch Drake performance groups, win prizes, and more at our 2000’s-2010’s nostalgia themed event.

Want to do more than just attend? We also need volunteers! This event is huge, and we need many hands to make sure this event runs smooth. We are looking for volunteers to cover one-hour shifts throughout the night. The tasks you will be asked to do will vary depending on which room or activity you are stationed at. Tasks are typically keeping an eye on lines, helping our vendors in maintaining their activity, keeping the floors clean from any major obstacles, etc. Volunteers also receive an extra prize ticket for a chance to win one of our awesome prizes.

Find more information

— Paityne Gehring, ED, AS

The Financial Aid Office will soon be preparing 2025-2026 financial aid offers for continuing students. If you wish to be considered for need-based assistance or federal student loans in the summer 2025, fall 2025, or spring 2026 semesters and have not yet completed the 2025-2026 FAFSA, and please submit it at www.studentaid.gov as soon as possible.

If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, schedule an appointment or contact the Financial Aid Office for help.

Applications open until April 1, 2025, for The Harkin Institute D.C. Experience Scholarship and the Robert J. Waters and Patricia J. Beneke Endowed Washington, D.C. Experience Scholarship.

These scholarships help cover the costs of housing and travel expenses for those completing an internship in Washington, D.C.

Haven’t secured an internship yet? No problem. You can still apply for our scholarship while searching.

Click here to learn more and apply!

— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

Latinos Unidos of Iowa is providing 22 scholarships to students of Latino descent who are enrolled at Iowa colleges and universities. The application and more information are available here. The application deadline is June 15, 2025.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Where Can Your Degree Take You? A&S Alumni Panel and Networking Event

Please join the College of Arts & Sciences for an evening of career stories, alumni connections, and networking in the Johansen Student Center Ballroom! On Thursday, March 27,  from 6-8 p.m., we will host a panel of five A&S alumni for a panel discussion, networking hour, and drawing for Drake swag and gift cards. This event has been planned by the Student Advisory Commitee for the benefit of current students who wish to explore career pathways, receive career advice, and have the opportunity to interact with alumni.

Featured Alumni:

• Rick Hunsaker, AS’88, MPA’90 – Geography, International Relations, and Politics major, Masters of Public Admin – Executive Director at Region XII Council of Governments
• Denise Rathman, AS’88 – International Relations major – Executive Director at National Association of Social Workers (Iowa Chapter)
• Madeline Goebel, AS’16 – International Relations major – Executive Officer III at Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
• Napoleon Douglas, AS’14 – Theatre major – Artistic Director of Pyramid Theatre Company and freelance Artist/Producer/Choreographer
• Finley Blakeman, AS’23 – Computer Science major – Software Engineer at Growers Edge

Students, faculty, and staff from any major or discipline are welcome to attend. Please pre-register for the event here and submit your questions for the panelists!

— Jill Allen, Associate Dean for College of Arts & Sciences

We’re inviting students to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement to help us improve the Drake Experience. On February 18, first-years and seniors received an email invitation to participate. In appreciation, we will enter all students who complete the survey by March 30 into a drawing for 1 of 15 bookstore gift cards worth $50 each. Your chances of winning depend on how many complete the survey; the last time we administered this survey 441 students responded.

First-year and senior students who want to access the survey can also go to nssesurvey.org or use the QR code below.

— Kevin Saunders, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment

Come write letters to your legislators March 12 from 5–6 p.m. in Johansen Student Center, Room 230. This is a non-partisan space where students can make their voices heard. Letters and stamps will be provided, along with food.

— Chloe Lepak, College of Arts & Sciences