Category Archives: For Students Archive

Apply for a J-Term 2022 travel seminar

Reminder: Apply for a J-Term 2022 travel seminar today! The priority deadline is April 15. 

Visit the J-Term 2022 Virtual Information Fair page for detailed information on the available travel seminars and courses. Then, be sure to apply in Terra Dotta, our online application system. 

After April 15, applications will be reviewed and students will be notified of their application status (accepted, waitlisted, denial) by May 1. Please carefully review the following information if you are interested in participating in going abroad or on a domestic program for J-Term 2022:

Deposits & Independent Withdrawals: After acceptance, to secure your spot on a travel seminar, you will need to commit to the program in Terra Dotta, pay your $500 deposit, and complete Terra Dotta post acceptance steps. Given the impact of COVID-19 on students and families, we have temporarily revised our deposit refund policy. If you choose to independently withdraw prior to Sept. 15, your deposit will be refunded. Withdrawals must be done in writing to nathan.jacobson@drake.edu. If after Sept. 15 you decide you want to withdraw from the program, you will be subject to Drake’s withdrawal and refund policies. Because of this, we strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with our withdrawal and refund policies which can be found in Terra Dotta.

Please be assured that your health and safety is of utmost importance. Given that this is an ever-evolving global situation, applicants will be notified if we make a change to the policy regarding J-Term travel seminars. Should you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to studyabroad@drake.edu.

J-Term 2022 Application Timeline:

— April 15: Priority Deadline

— May 1: Accept/waitlist Students who applied by April 15

— May 15: Students Commit in Terra Dotta and pay a $500 Deposit to secure their place in the program

— April 15–Sept. 1: Students can still apply if travel seminars have openings; deposits are due within two weeks of acceptance

— Sept. 15: Final day to apply and final day for deposit refunds

Nathan Jacobson, Education Abroad Coordinator

There’s still time to start the Dogtown Dash

We’re only halfway through the Dogtown Dash, which means there’s still plenty of time to get started (or finish) visiting eight neighborhood businesses. Either use your ID card for payment at a Bulldog Bucks merchant (see participating locations), or tag yourself on social media using #dogtowndash to enter at any other local establishment.
 
We want to see your favorite places in Dogtown, and give you a free T-shirt! Tracking will end May 2.
 
Reminder: Participating merchants can only accept your Bulldog Bucks, not Flex Dollars. If you’re running low, Bulldog Bucks can be added in myDrake or at acceptinglocations.com/drake.  Balances will carry forward to next year. 

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Staff appreciation celebration

Celebrate the employees on campus that make a difference in your life. For three days, Student Senate and Sodexo will be facilitating an appreciation program to allow you to purchase $5 Starbucks gift cards and create thank you notes for any staff member that you want to thank (Facilities, Sodexo, Res Life, etc.).

When: March 31–April 2 from 4–7 p.m. each day
Where: Olmsted Starbucks

You can use your Flex Dollars, Bulldog Bucks, cash, or card to purchase the gift cards. Senate is providing thank you notes for you to fill out, and will deliver them via campus mail for you. If you’re not sure who to give a card to (but want to participate), you can donate without addressing the card, and we’ll give it to someone who hasn’t received one.

Feel free to send any questions to sydnei.washington@drake.edu.

— Sydnei Washington, ED’22

Deadline approaching: Get paid for your business/business idea

Applications are being accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 4, for the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. Apply online or download a PDF to submit by email. Sponsored by John Pappajohn and Equity Dynamics Inc., the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is open to any Iowa college or university student who wants to start their own venture. Regional winners in the Pappajohn competition receive $500 and three statewide finalists will receive $5,000. 

Please visit https://bit.ly/30kvcPX to learn more and download a PDF of the application, visit https://bit.ly/2OpySgU to apply online, or email jpec@drake.edu for more information.

Don’t miss out on your chance to get seed funding for your venture. Apply today!

— Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Wellness updates

Rec Services updated its group exercise schedule and added two new classes: HIIT on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Express Abs on Fridays at 11:45 a.m. Also, a quick 30-minute workout is offered at 12:15 p.m. any day of the week. These classes are lower intensity and perfect to help break up your day and get your body moving.

Did you know Rec Services is hiring? If you’re interested in teaching an exercise class or working in the wellness field, email wellness@drake.edu.

IM registration deadlines:
Sand volleyball: Wednesday, March 31
FIFA: Wednesday, March 31

— Emily Madsen, Rec Services

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility expansion

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit eligibility was expanded to college students who may have previously been ineligible. Until the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted, students with an estimated family contribution (EFC, as calculated by the FAFSA) of zero or students who are eligible for Federal Work-Study are eligible for SNAP benefits. More information about the expanded eligibility of SNAP benefits is available here.

Students who wish to request benefits should do so from the state in which they are currently living and attending school. Visit the SNAP State Directory for information about each state’s SNAP program.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Community Engaged Learning is hiring

The Office of Community Engaged Learning is hiring for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Community Engagement Peers help connect fellow students to local non-profit organizations, causes, and volunteer opportunities. They also each have their own project/responsibilities.

Applications are due March 18. See what positions are available and for a full position description.

For questions, contact amanda.martin@drake.edu.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

FinAid Forms is here

In January, the Office of Student Financial Planning announced exciting new enhancements to students’ financial aid experience at Drake, including:

  1. Award notifications that will be delivered via email (beginning for 2021-2022 award year)
  2. Access to your personal financial aid information through the Financial Aid Portal
  3. FinAid Forms will digitize nearly all financial aid requirements while also offering secure document upload and e-signatures.

This announcement provides more information about FinAid Forms. Students who have financial aid document requirements for award year 2021-2022 will begin receiving email notices this week to register their FinAid Forms account. The email will come from finaidforms@drake.edu.

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Students will log into FinAid Forms using their Drake ID and password. However, before accessing FinAid Forms students will need to authenticate their identity by providing information that matches the information provided on the 2021-2022 FAFSA (including social security number).

When setting up your account you will provide an email address to receive notifications when new financial aid requirements have been assigned. You can also provide a mobile number to receive text message alerts about new requirements.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

J-Term 2022 Information Fair (virtual) March 17

Students are invited to access Drake’s virtual J-Term Information Fair Wednesday, March 17, on the University website.

J-Term 2022 Information Fair

On March 17, the website will be updated to include an informational video created by fellow Bulldogs as well as a list of J-Term 2022 on-campus course offerings and travel seminars.

After watching the video, students will be asked to complete a survey to express their J-Term course/seminar preferences. Students will then be contacted by the professor who is leading their preferred J-Term course/seminar.

The fair is intended to provide valuable information on the courses students can take, places they can travel, and the overall processes of J-Term. The three-week term is a great opportunity to take courses not always available during the spring and fall semesters—either abroad or right here on campus.

— Sandra Harris, Office of the Associate Provost