A new online form is now available—and required—for current students who wish to transfer credit to Drake. The form is interactive and serves as an agreement between the student and Drake regarding how the transfer course will be applied to the student’s program. Visit the Transfer Credit Information page to access the form and other transfer credit articulation tools. If students have questions about their transfer credit, they should contact the Registrar’s Office at 515-271-2241 or email registrar@drake.edu.

Sara Schoneberg

The application deadline for Drake’s Teach in China program has been extended to March 19. This post-graduate opportunity is not one to miss. Get paid to teach English full-time, while living abroad and experiencing a new culture and way of life. Details can be found on the program website or by contacting Stephanie Dana Ely, program coordinator, at stephanie.dana@drake.edu.

— Stephanie Dana Ely, Drake International

Are you spending spring break in Des Moines and wanting to do something fun, exciting, and free within your community?

The Office of Community Engaged Learning and Service is reaching out to students to take part in the Spring Break with the Community program on Thursday, March 15. This is a great way for students to get out and get involved in the community through meaningful service work, while having a good time. The day will include volunteer work followed by a free lunch and fun activities in downtown Des Moines.

Register by Wednesday, March 7. Limited space is available. Alternatively, you may stop by our sign-up stand in the Olmsted Breezeway from March 5 to March 7.

Contact ropafadzo.runesu@drake.edu for questions or more information.

Bonus event:

Des Moines University will be Hosting the annual Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium, under the theme “Blueprint to Building Community,” on Wednesday, March 14. Register and find out more information.

— Ropafadzo Runesu

The Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs is pleased to announce the fifth annual Nelson Undergraduate Conference on Global Affairs on April 6 and 7 in the Olmsted Center. A major purpose of the conference is to recognize and share high-quality undergraduate research related to any international topic. Student research panels are scheduled for the morning of Saturday, April 8. Students from any major are invited to submit papers for consideration. Once a paper is accepted, the author will be invited to present his or her paper in summary form (i.e., 12-15 minute oral presentation) on a conference panel. Panels will be composed of presentations on related topics. In addition to the panel presentations, accepted papers will be posted on the conference website. Cash prizes of up to $200 will be awarded to the top presenters as selected by faculty and visiting judges.

Papers should meet the following criteria:

• Address any international/global theme or topic
• Include significant empirical content.
• Cite all relevant sources appropriately.
• Exceed 10 pages (double-spaced) in length.
• Meet high standards with regard to academic quality and clarity of presentation.

Submissions will be reviewed by Professor Jeffrey Kappen, interim director of the Nelson Institute, and members of the Nelson Institute Advisory Group. The submission deadline is March 16. Students will be notified of the status of their submission by March 23rd. Please email any questions and your paper submission to globalcitizenship@drake.edu.

Students submitting papers must register for the conference at the time of submission. Please complete the online registration.

Students and faculty are welcome (and encouraged) to attend the conference even if they are not presenting a paper. The registration deadline for those not submitting a paper is March 30.

Students who attend the full conference will receive a certificate of participation.

For questions, contact Denise Ganpat at denise.ganpat@drake.edu.

— Denise Ganpat, Provost’s Office

The Student Organizational Showcase is tonight, Feb. 27. Come to the Pomerantz Stage at 7 p.m. to see 10 different organizations perform, present, and share their culture with Drake. Free pizza will be provided.

— Giada Morresi

Do you want to join and lead campus conversations on violence prevention and intervention?  If so, the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) team is seeking new peer educators to work with students and other groups on campus.

The MVP program is a great opportunity for students to develop skills in presenting, networking, and community outreach. MVP inspires leadership and a sense of community by teaching individuals how to speak up and be an example for others when it comes to prevention and intervention. Peer educators receive 13 hours of training, serve on our full MVP team, and present the curriculum on campus.

The MVP team is hosting a train the trainer event on Friday, April 6, from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to join the MVP program. Contact prevention@drake.edu to reserve your spot.

— Katie Overberg, Title IX Coordinator

Stop by the Innovation Studio on Wednesday, March 7, anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to learn how to use the silhouette cameo to make custom vinyl stickers. It only takes a few minutes to learn and cut stickers.

— Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers

The Office of Community Engaged Learning has several paid positions open for the 2018-2019 academic year. Positions include a community garden coordinator, campus and community engagement coordinator, communications and social media coordinator, and more. Applications are due March 5.  There is also an internship opportunity available this spring with the local non-profit agency Rebuilding Together. Visit the Community Engaged Learning and Service website for more information on these opportunities.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning & Service

The Office of Community Engaged Learning & Service is looking for a creative student to design an image for a new volunteer campaign called #DrakeServes. The idea behind the campaign is to build awareness of Drake student involvement in the community and provide a unified image when students participate in Drake sponsored community engagement initiatives in Des Moines.

The design contest is open to the entire campus community. Design entries must be submitted by Friday, March 9, to servicelearning@drake.edu (include original file and PDF/JPG). Designers can submit more than one design! The artist whose design is selected will work with staff of Community Engaged Learning & Service and University Communications the week of March 19 to finalize their design. The selected designer will have their image printed on 1,000 t-shirts and receive a $50 gift card.
Design Requirements:

• Design must work on a solid blue background (T-shirt) as well as on white (for print)
• Include hashtag #DrakeServes
• Use any color combination of the following palette: Drake blue, cyan blue, white, or yellow
• Must have a Drake look and feel (use of bulldog, paw prints, etc. is encouraged)
• Include the Des Moines skyline or an image of a Des Moines bridge

For inspiration, view a collection of images.

Contact servicelearning@drake.edu for any questions.

— Renee Sedlacek, Community Engaged Learning & Service