Category Archives: For Students Archive

Young Professional Brunch with nationally recognized pollster J. Ann Selzer Oct. 2

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!

J. Ann Selzer has worked in polling for more than three decades. Her career began at The Des Moines Register in 1987, and she began her own company, Selzer and Company, in 1994, currently serving as the president. She has been in charge of the nationally-renowned Iowa Poll since her start at the Register.

Selzer’s polling in Iowa has consistently been the most accurate of all available polling. Selzer’s polling accurately predicted Barack Obama’s 2008 victory in the Iowa Caucuses and closely mirrored the results of the Presidential Election in Iowa in 2016 and 2020.

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 

Apply today: The Naumann Women’s Leadership Scholarship

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

Student exchange at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico)

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!

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

Access and Success offers a variety of resources: Coaching, tutoring, workshops, and more

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

Drake track and field tryout

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: Apply for a J-Term 2022 experience

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

Need extra cash? These campus departments are hiring

Drake Dining
Drake Dining is hiring all part-time positions at the following locations:

Starbucks at Olmsted
Hubbell Dining Hall
Drake Catering
Spike’s C-Store

Please visit drake.joinhandshake.com to submit your application.

— Casey Morgan, Dining Services

Drake Recreation Services
Open recreation employment offers very flexible schedules, competitive pay, and a fun work environment. For more information, or if you are interested in working, please send a resume to recservices@drake.edu.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services

Office of Events
The Office of Conference and Event Services is hiring student workers for the 2021–2022 school year. Responsibilities include setting up, tearing down, and working during a variety of events across campus.  Scheduling is flexible, and there are opportunities for promotion.  Prior events experience is not required.  Email steve.ramsey@drake.edu for more information and to apply.

— Steve Ramsey, Events Management

Policy on religious accommodations for classes

In December 2020, the Faculty Senate passed a motion that stated: “To ensure equity, Drake University will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable religious accommodations to students whose religious beliefs and practices conflict with an academic requirement unless such an accommodation would create an undue hardship on the University community.”

Students can inform instructors of classes they will miss due to religious holidays via this form. Students are encouraged to have a conversation with their instructors ahead of time in order to reschedule exams or assignments and find a mutually acceptable path to make up for missed work.

The full text of Drake’s policy, along with examples of reasonable accommodations can be found online.

— Jennifer Harvey, Campus Equity and Inclusion