Category Archives: For Students Archive

2020–2021 FAFSA available

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for academic year 2020–2021 is now available. The FAFSA is required to be considered for all need-based scholarships, grants, or student employment, as well as any federal student loans. The 2020–2021 FAFSA covers the summer 2020, fall 2020, and spring 2021 semesters.

We recommend that you complete the FAFSA soon. If you need help completing the FAFSA, staff in the Office of Student Financial Planning are available to assist you.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Cool Jobs Expo Oct. 21

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is partnering with 12–15 businesses for the Cool Jobs Expo, and Griff, to provide students with advice on future jobs and how to prepare and apply for jobs. The expo will take place Oct. 21 from 5–7 p.m. in Meredith Hall.

Think of it as speed networking. This event gives you time with employers, of your choosing, throughout the course of two hours. They’ll discuss with you what the job is, why it’s important, and how you can prepare to apply for jobs. The expo gives you a chance to head into the real world with a better idea of how to apply and achieve your goals. Did we mention there will be horses and dogs? Yeah, those are coming too!

— Kim Bates, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

D.C. experience scholarship open house

Undergraduate students of all majors, minors, and interests are invited to attend The Harkin Institute’s D.C. Experience Scholarship Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 7:30—9 p.m. The open house is a great place to learn about interning in Washington, D.C. and how the Institute can help fund your experience.

This is an informal event. Light refreshments will be provided. Arrive between 7:30 and 7:50 p.m. to meet past recipients and student employees of The Harkin Institute. A short program will begin at 8 p.m., and our 2018 scholarship recipients will share their experiences working in D.C. this past summer.

Students will also have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how to take advantage of this valuable scholarship.

The Harkin Institute D.C. Experience Scholarship was established in 2014 to honor Senator Harkin’s legacy by removing financial barriers that may keep otherwise qualified students from interning in a congressional office, government agency, or non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. Students who demonstrate financial need and are offered an internship that pays at or below the federal minimum wage are eligible for the scholarship.

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

Take the ITS Student Phishing Quiz Oct. 1–18

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). To celebrate the 15th year of NCSAM, ITS is holding a Phishing Quiz through Oct. 18. The Phishing Quiz is a contest where Drake students can learn about how to identify phishing emails and fraudulent websites and stay safe online. Everyone who completes the quiz will be entered to win a prize package–if you’re one of the first 100 students to enter, you’ll get an additional prize entry. Visit www.drake.edu/its/phish today to take the quiz.

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS

Travel to Uganda in May

Ever wanted to do research on an environmental issue in an African nation? How about human rights in a developing country? Want to implement a service learning project? You can do all these things and more in Uganda on the Uganda: Sustainable Development travel seminar! All majors and interest areas welcome and encouraged to enroll.

Applications are now available on Terra Dotta.You can also learn more at an information session:

  • Wednesday, October 9, 5:00 PM in Aliber 004
  • Thursday, October 10, 5:00 PM in Meredith 229​
  • Wednesday, November 6, 5:00 PM in Aliber 004
  • Thursday, November 21, 5:00 PM in Meredith 229

Questions? Email: stephanie.dana@drake.edu.

— Stephanie Dana Ely, International Partnerships and Customized Program Coordinator

Spring 2020 schedule and registration information

The spring 2020 schedule of classes and related registration information is available online. Registration for all three of those terms begins Monday, November 4.

View registration information, including the registration time table that shows when you become eligible to register. View the schedule of classes.

Some courses will be temporarily reserved for students who have declared a certain field-of-study (major, minor, concentration, or endorsement). On Monday, November 18, those reservations will be removed. Note that some coursed have restrictions that are permanent.

If you are an undergraduate or pharmacy student intending to make any changes to your field-of-study and have those changes take effect before registration begins, you must file your changes at your dean’s office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 28. Requests submitted after this date may not be accommodated until Wednesday, November 13.

For specific questions, including how to change your field of study, please contact your dean’s office.

— Kevin Moenkhaus, Associate Registrar

Make stickers, buttons in the Innovation Studio

Join us in the Innovation Studio (Meredith, 124C) from 1–4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to learn to use the sticker maker and the button maker. Come with a design idea or let us help you make one. Or just learn to use the equipment so you can come back later on your own (equipment is always available). Students of any major are welcome!

— Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Washington Center is on Campus

Can you see yourself living and working in Washington, D.C.?  A representative from The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars will be on campus on Tuesday, Sept. 25, and will hold an all-campus information session from 3:30–4:30 p.m. in Meredith, Room 237.

The Washington Center (TWC)  is a nonpartisan non-profit educational provider in Washington, D.C. that specializes in experiential learning for students across the country.  TWC is very well-regarded for its semester-long study in D.C. program, where students combine academic coursework, a full-time internship, and professional skills development.  They also run short academic seminars every January, offer summer internship programming, and have on-the-ground seminars during party nominating conventions every four years.

As an affiliated institution, Drake has a tuition exchange and credit exchange agreement with TWC.  One of the unique characteristics of TWC is the extent to which they orient their programming to student audiences outside of Political Science majors—from business and finance to media and communications, art and fine arts, law, social justice, sociology, history, museum studies, international affairs, english—their offerings and internships integrate a broad array of policy topics and areas of study. 

—Rachel Paine Caufield, Professor of Political Science

Have an inspiring professor? Refer them to the Center for Teaching Excellence

Which professors at Drake have inspired you to learn and grow as a student and as a person? The Center for Teaching Excellence is asking for your referrals as we build a corps of excellent teachers and mentors to help sustain Drake’s teaching-central mission. Please send an email to teaching.excellence@drake.edu with the name or names of excellent professors you’ve worked with and a few words about what makes them so great. Help us build a truly excellent Center for Teaching Excellence.

— Craig Owens, Professor of English

Learn about a unique study abroad opportunity in Spain

Financial incentive for the first 10 students to enroll! Apply or attend an upcoming information session to learn more.

Drake University is launching its own study abroad experience with a semester-long program in Alicante, Spain in January 2020. The new format, which allows students to travel in a cohort with a Drake professor and take advantage of the diverse academic offering of an international university, launches a new era of study abroad for Drake. Students have until Oct. 1 to sign up.

Annique Kiel, executive director of global engagement and international programs, says the program in Spain is responsive to student feedback regarding how international education programs are structured and that more Drake sponsored programs are in the works.

Students interested in the program can contact Nathan Jacobson, education abroad advisor, at nathan.jacobson@drake.edu. There is a special financial incentive for the first 10 students who commit to the inaugural program. Apply or learn more at the program landing page or by attending an information session in person:

  • Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 4:00 PM at Olmsted TMR132
  • Friday, September 20, 2019, 11:00 AM at Olmsted TMR132
  • Tuesday, September 24, 2019, 4:00 PM at Olmsted POM-CONF
  • Thursday, September 26, 2019, 11:00 AM at Olmsted POM-CONF
  • Thursday, September 26, 2019, 4:00 PM at Olmsted POM-CONF