For the remainder of 2026, Drake University faculty and staff can receive a 10% discount on membership to Blank Park Zoo. 

To purchase a discounted membership, go to https://www.blankparkzoo.com/memberships and click PURCHASE NOW. Select Zoo Memberships, complete the rest of the form, and enter the code BPZPARTNER10 at checkout.  Please note: this promotion is for Zoo memberships, no combos or joint specialty memberships.

Zoo memberships include free, unlimited daytime admission to Blank Park Zoo for one year. Members also receive 50% off admission at nearly 200 other zoos and aquariums, including: Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Kansas City Zoo. A full list of benefits and member discounts can be found on the website.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Fall 2026 BUILD schedule is available for viewing and registration is open.  Simply click on BUILD – Upcoming Sessions for the full list, including detailed descriptions. 

Are you ready to register?  There is an online registration link to a Qualtrics survey that makes signing up easy.

Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) is a platform for faculty and staff to learn new ideas as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others from across campus.  Most classes are only an hour in length, and many are facilitated by our own faculty and staff.

Take the time to invest in yourself, support your colleagues, and take in the culture that Drake has to offer.

— Linda Feidan, Human Resources

Managers, please encourage your new employees to attend the first available New Employee Orientation (NEO) after their employment. Either the manager or new employee can RSVP by sending an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Please put “NEO” in the subject line of the email.  The next available NEO session will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 9–11 a.m. in Conference Rooms 310/311 of the Olmsted Center (2^nd floor).

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Employment scams are on the rise, and we want to help you stay safe during your job search. We are aware that several fraudulent postings—some impersonating Drake Career Services, Financial Aid, or Drake alumni—have been emailed directly to students. These emails often look official and may even feature the Drake logo.

Please exercise caution when applying for or accepting positions. Students are encouraged to research the employer to protect against fraudulent postings.

Here are key red flags to watch for:

• Unfamiliar Email Addresses or URLs: Always check the email address and website URL. Does something look off? The official Career Services email is career.services@drake.edu, or you may get something from your college’s career services liaison. Check Starfish to verify your liaison.
• Grammar & Typos: Spelling errors, poor grammar, or awkward phrasing are common warning signs.
• Immediate Offers: If you get an immediate job offer without going through an application or interview process or directly talking to someone from the company, it is likely a scam.
• Financial Requests: Any request that asks you to share your bank information, handle cash or credit transactions remotely, or to pay a fee prior to starting work, is a major red flag.
• “Too Good to be True”: If the pay and benefits are extremely high or seem “too good to be true,” be wary.

If you receive a suspicious email with these red flags, do not click on any links in the email. Report it immediately to ITS using the ITS Phishing Alert button. See here for how to report a phishing message.

When in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Career Services liaison to review job opportunities before taking action!

— Amanda Martin, Career Services

Looking for a fun, motivating way to stay on track with your health goals? Join us this July for HealthyU BINGO.  The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) during the month with healthy activities that you complete from a provided list and then get together to play some games of HealthyU BINGO for prizes.

To get started, or if you have questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.  All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of HealthyU BINGO activities and a blank BINGO card.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Looking for a fun way to stay on track with your health goals this summer? Join us for HealthyU BINGO this July.  The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) during the month, with healthy activities that you complete from a provided list and then get together to play some games of HealthyU BINGO for prizes.

To get started or if you have questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.  All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of HealthyU BINGO activities and a blank BINGO card.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Managers, please encourage your new team members to attend the first available New Employee Orientation after their start date.

The next orientation session is scheduled for:

• Date: Wednesday, June 10
• Time: 9–11:30 a.m.
• Location: Johansen Student Center, Scripps Meeting Room 301 (3rd Floor)

Either the manager or the new employee can reserve a spot. To RSVP, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu and include “NEO” in the subject line.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed annually in May since 1949, was established by the founder of Mental Health America to shed light on the challenges faced by those living with mental health conditions.

While stigma around mental health and treatment has decreased in recent years, there are still people who hesitate to take steps to address mental health challenges, seek care, and talk about mental health with friends, family, and even their medical providers.  Did you know that one in five Americans experience a mental illness each year and on average, people live with symptoms of a mental illness for 10 years before seeking treatment, largely due to the stigma?

So, what can you do?  How should you observe Mental Health Awareness Month?

• Take care of yourself. Life has many ups and downs. Some problems you may be able to solve on your own, but not always, and that is okay. When you need mental health assistance, reach out.
• Take care of your loved ones. Check up on your family and friends. Sometimes, all a person needs is a shoulder to lean on, or an ear to listen.  But if they need more help than you can provide, support them, and assist them to find the right treatment.
• Talk about mental health. The more everyone talks about it, the more normalized it will become, reducing the stigma attached to mental health disorders and helping others to seek treatment.
• Learn more. Attend live or virtual events, access resources.

Human Resources has created a Mental Health Awareness Month webpage that includes a detailed list of resources and upcoming events to assist you.

Remember, it is OK to not be OK.  Please reach out when you need help, be there for others who need an assist, and start the conversation.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join Drake’s Corporate Games team! This annual company-based competition for organizations in central Iowa runs from May 30 through July 31.  With over 20 events to choose from, Des Moines Corporate Games (DMCG) is a great way to meet new people and have fun.

Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Try everything from pickleball, golf, and sand volleyball to a fitness walk, 5K run, and bags.  You may participate in as many events as you want.

Activities are held in the evenings and on weekends and are free (except golf cart rental). ALL Drake faculty and staff, student employees, interns, and retirees are invited and encouraged to join Drake’s team.

To participate in this year’s Des Moines Corporate Games, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu for registration instructions or click HERE for an instruction PDF.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

As the weather starts to warm up, it’s time to get outdoors and get moving. If you need a little nudge, join this year’s Walk this May team step challenge!  During the month of May, teams will record their weekly step counts. Team step totals and team rankings will be shared weekly to keep the competitive juices flowing.

To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Monday, April 27, with your list of 4 to 8 team members, team name, and who will be your team captain.  Grab your shoes and let’s get going.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources