The Office of Student Financial Planning has been working to implement several exciting enhancements that will improve the financial aid experience for students at Drake. These enhancements include:

• Electronic financial aid award notifications: Financial aid award notifications for the 2021–2022 academic year will be sent via email. As a result, students will receive their financial aid notifications more quickly and will be able to access them from any internet-connected device.
• Financial aid information in MyDrake: From MyDrake, students will be able to view and accept financial aid awards (beginning with 2021–2022) as well as view their financial aid document requirements.
• Smart digital forms with e-signature: Pre-populated digital forms with skip logic, data validation, secure document upload, and electronic signatures will allow students to complete their financial aid requirements more quickly and accurately, from the device of their choice.

These changes will be rolled out over the next few months. Additional information will be provided in the near future.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Interested in studying abroad this summer? Apply for a summer 2021 travel seminar! Applications are due by Feb. 1.

Summer 2021 travel seminars:

• England: Theatre History in London
• Germany & Poland: Heritage and Holocaust
• Uganda: Sustainable Development in Africa

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

Call for student research presentations:
The Nelson Student Research Symposium will take place next March during the 2021 Global Citizen Forum, giving Drake students the opportunity to share their research related to international and global topics.

This year’s theme is “International Perspectives on Racial Justice.” While research presentations that support the theme are encouraged, all global topics from any academic discipline are welcome. Submission details:

• Submit your paper or concept via the online submission form for consideration. Submission deadline is Feb. 18, 2021.
• Drake undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to present their research.
• Information about past symposia is available on our website.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Partnerships Coordinator

The application deadline for Summer 2021 travel seminars has been extended to Feb. 1, 2021. If you are interested in studying abroad this summer, we encourage you to start an application today. 

Summer 2021 travel seminars:

• England: Theatre History in London
• Germany & Poland: Heritage and Holocaust
• Spain & Morocco: Exploring the Intersection of Ethics and Culture
• Uganda: Sustainable Development in Africa

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, Center for International Programs and Services

Although rental books are due Dec. 11, the University Bookstore has issued a 30-day grace period to allow extra time for shipping your books back to us. During this period, all late fees will be suspended. If you have any questions on where or how to mail your books, please contact kyle.mcvay@drake.edu for assistance or log into your account at www.universitybook.com. The bookstore is also open through the break for in-person returns.

— Kyle McVay, University Bookstore

Do you have plans for after graduation? Interested in living and working abroad? Look no further than Working Worldwide, an opportunity for recent graduates to live and work in China or Kosovo for a year.

A virtual information session is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Use this link to access the Zoom meeting: https://drake-edu.zoom.us/j/86221689464

At this information session, we will look at the placement opportunities in China and Kosovo and answer any questions you may have. If you are looking to expand your horizons, develop skills to be a competitive professional, and do something different after graduation, Working Worldwide is the program for you!

For questions, reach out to Education Abroad Coordinator, Nathan Jacobson at nathan.jacobson@drake.edu.

— Nathan Jacobson, Global Engagement

While your textbook rentals are not due yet, please make note of your rental return options. The University Bookstore will send you these instructions again 10–14 days before your due date and again three days before your due date.

Your rental books are due back to the University Bookstore, in-person or shipped via mail, by your rental due date. 

Return in-person:
Rental books can be returned to the University Bookstore inside the Olmsted Center anytime Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5pm. Note: Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 23–25. Please have the phone number or patron ID number associated with your rental account available for efficient check-in.

Return by mail:
You can return your rental books by mail using the carrier of your choice. Please note: Shipping will be at your expense. We recommend using a trackable service.

Important: To ensure your rental returns are correctly processed to your rental account, follow the steps below to generate your rental packing slip. Your packing slip is crucial to include in your box. It identifies you, what you’re returning, and where to send your rentals.

1. Sign into the University Bookstore website using the email you used to rent your textbook. If you forgot or haven’t set up a password, click “forgot password” to reset. Then click on My Account-Rentals.
2. You will be directed to the “Rentals Page” in “My Account”.
3. Scroll down to view “Rental History.” Click the “Return by Mail Button” or “Return all Rentals by Mail” link. A pop-up will open.
4. Follow the steps to print your packing list. Print two copies, one to go in your box and the other to take to your shipping carrier as it has the store address.
5. Take note of your tracking number.  You will receive an email confirmation when your rental return is processed.
6. If the above steps do not work for you please write your name, email address, phone number, and patron id on a sheet of paper to include with your rental return package.

Please have your books postmarked by Dec. 11 to avoid any late fees. During this transit time, we have a shipping grace period to allow the additional time for delivery.

Please reach out to the University Bookstore with any questions by contacting Kyle McVay at kyle.mcvay@drake.edu or 515-274-3401.

The Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal (DUSSJ) is now accepting submissions for its Spring 2021 edition.

Any current Drake undergraduate (or recent graduate) is eligible to submit a paper on a topic in the social sciences (political science, international relations, anthropology, sociology, economics, history, and social psychology). Submissions may be short analytic essays or longer research papers. Papers that feature thoughtful, original analysis, polished writing, and careful citation are especially welcome.

The deadline for submission is Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.

No more than one submission per person will be considered. Submissions will be blind peer-reviewed by a student editorial board. When submitting a paper, please indicate if it is a research paper or short analytic essay. Also, please indicate the primary discipline and any secondary discipline(s).

See drake.edu/dussj for additional information. Questions and submissions should be sent to the DUSSJ faculty advisor, Professor Heath Henderson, at advisor.dussj@gmail.com.

— Heath Henderson, Economics, CBPA