Category Archives: Archive

Save the Date: Drake’s 14th Annual All In 24-Hour Giving Challenge Returns April 7–8

Mark your calendar! Drake’s 14th annual All In 24-Hour Giving Challenge kicks off at noon on Wednesday, April 7, and runs through noon on Thursday, April 8.

This special tradition brings alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends together to support the areas of campus that mean the most to them. Collectively, gifts of all sizes create new opportunities for today’s students. It’s a celebration of the generosity and shared commitment that define the Drake community.

For now, save the date and keep an eye out for more details on how to get involved as All In approaches.

Together, we’re All In!

— Heidi Weiss, Assistant Director of Annual Giving

Walk the Bulldog Mile Oct. 7 As Part of the Healthiest State Walk

Grab your walking shoes and join the Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to meet at noon at the start of the Bulldog Mile.  This one-mile path begins outside the Olmsted Center (just southeast of the building). 

Pick up a sticker at the beginning of the walk and wear it. If you still have it on at the end of the walk, you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize.  If that’s not enough, you can earn additional raffle tickets with a deck of cards and a little luck.

If it is raining, we will move the event to the indoor track at the Knapp Center (entering through the Bell Center to scan in).  Come alone, bring a friend, or make it a team or department event!  Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Today is the Deadline: Join the Walktober Step Challenge and Help Drake Keep the Trophy

Looking for an extra push to get up and move this fall? The annual Walktober step challenge is back!

Once again, Drake is going head-to-head with Des Moines University to see which campus can log the highest average step total throughout October. The winner takes home the coveted Walktober traveling trophy—along with ultimate bragging rights for the entire year.

As the reigning champions, the trophy is currently sitting right where it belongs: here at Drake. Let’s make sure it stays that way!

How to Participate You can step up solo as an individual or form a team of 4 to 8 people to add a little friendly internal competition to the mix.

Ready to Walk? Register TODAY!

  • Deadline: TODAY, Tuesday, Sept. 29
  • How to Sign Up: Email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu
  • Team Registration: Include your team name, the team captain, and a list of all team members.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Register for Upcoming Fall Intramural Sports

Registration is officially open for fall intramural sports and special events! Sign up for 3-on-3 or CoRec Basketball, 4v4 Flag Football, or join us for the Bags Tournament and Bulldog Run/Walk during Parents Weekend.

All registrations are handled through IMLeagues via the DrakeRec App. Don’t miss these upcoming deadlines:

  • Bags Tournament: Sept. 30
  • Bulldog Run/Walk: Oct. 3
  • 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament: Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.
  • CoRec Basketball League: Oct. 15
  • 4v4 Flag Football League: Oct. 15

Download the DrakeRec App today to secure your spot!

Everyday Safety Starts with You

Many personal safety risks can be reduced through simple habits and increased awareness. Whether you’re in a residence hall, parking lot, classroom, or walking across campus, taking a few precautions can make a significant difference.

Residence Halls and Offices

  • Never prop open exterior doors.
  • Do not allow strangers to enter secured buildings behind you.
  • Keep your room or office door locked when unattended.
  • Report damaged locks or doors immediately.

Parking Lots

  • Have your keys ready before reaching your vehicle.
  • Stay alert and avoid distractions such as texting while walking.
  • Park in well-lit areas whenever possible.
  • If something feels wrong, return to a populated area and contact Public Safety.

Walking on Campus

  • Use well-lit, established pathways.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings.
  • Avoid headphones at volumes that limit awareness.
  • Keep your phone accessible, but avoid becoming distracted by it.
  • Trust your instincts if a situation feels unsafe.

Nighttime Travel Tips

  • Avoid walking alone whenever possible.
  • Travel with friends, classmates, or coworkers.
  • Let someone know your destination and expected arrival time.
  • Stay in well-lit areas and avoid shortcuts through isolated locations.
  • If you feel uncomfortable, contact Public Safety or utilize Safe Ride transportation services.

One of the best crime-prevention strategies is avoiding isolation. Safety is enhanced when people look out for one another, especially during evening hours.

By combining awareness, preparation, and good judgment, each of us can help maintain a safe campus environment.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Des Moines Marathon and road closures Oct. 18 

Drake University is proud to be highlighted as part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon, on Sunday, Oct. 18. The famed ‘Blue Oval’ and the Drake campus will be part of the race around the mile 9 marker. Both DPS and DMPD staff will be here to ensure a safe racecourse.

The IMT Marathon will place runners in and around Drake from 8:30 – 11:30 am. Please expect traffic disruptions both near campus and throughout the racecourse.

For more information on the IMT Des Moines Marathon and course, please click this Des Moines Marathon 2026.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Celebrating a Century of Science Fiction: The Legacy of Amazing Stories

Join us this October as we celebrate a century of science fiction and stop by University Archives to check out a new exhibit curated by Rod Henshaw, Dean Emeritus, Cowles Library.

Celebrating a Century of Science Fiction: The Legacy of Amazing Stories is on display Oct. 1–31 on the second floor of Cowles Library, outside Drake University Archives & Special Collections.

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Amazing Stories, the first magazine devoted entirely to science fiction, founded under the editorship of Hugo Gernsback. The pulp magazines of the 1920s and ’30s became a proving ground for science fiction writers, and by the early 1940s, the genre had entered its “Golden Age,” with Astounding Science Fiction, under editor John W. Campbell, hosting writers such as Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, A. E. van Vogt, and Arthur C. Clarke.

These magazines also drew a devoted fan base known as “First Fandom,” who held the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939 in New York City. “Worldcon” continues today, drawing tens of thousands of fans each year.

Among the 1939 attendees was a young Ray Bradbury, destined for one of the greatest literary careers of any American author. His works, including The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, and The October Country, became literary classics and helped propel science fiction into a global cultural phenomenon.

— Hope Bibens, Dean, Cowles Library

AI Acceptable Use Policy Open for Comment

Drake’s new Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy is available for campus review and comment on the Policy Development and Review page of the University Policy Library internal site (Drake login required). This policy establishes standards for the acceptable use of AI technologies at Drake. It addresses the responsible use, acquisition, integration, and deployment of AI technologies. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that AI-enabled content, automation, and representations of the University are used in a manner that protects security, compliance, institutional integrity, and the rights and privacy of individuals. 

The campus comment period has been extended through Friday, October 9, 2026.

Comments may be submitted to dupolicies@drake.edu. 

— Keren Fiorenza, Chief Information Technology Officer

Area Construction Updates

Interested in the latest development updates around campus? Here is where three key local construction projects currently stand:

  • Drake Village (31st & University): As part of a $23.9 million project, Dev Partners is preparing to renovate the Ross, Norman, and McCoy buildings. Construction is slated to begin this winter, with target completion in 2029. A future phase of the project will add three brand-new buildings.
  • Valo (25th & Carpenter): Following previous delays, Merge Urban Development Group expects to restart construction later this year. Check out the newly posted signs on-site to view rendering concepts for the property.
  • Home2Suites: Exterior work is moving forward, with most of the front brickwork now removed in preparation for replacement. Nelson Construction expects all work to wrap up—and scaffolding to come down—by late 2026.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Religious Holiday Calendar and Notification Form

Drake University is committed to fostering a community where students, faculty, and staff can practice, observe, and engage with their religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions with respect and understanding.

The Religious Holidays Calendar highlights observances that members of the Drake community may recognize throughout the academic year. The calendar is intended to serve as a resource for awareness, planning, and fostering a more inclusive campus community. It is important to recognize that not everyone within a particular religious, spiritual, or cultural tradition observes the same holidays or practices them in the same way. Dates may also vary depending on tradition, community, calendar, or other factors. The calendar is therefore not intended to be an exhaustive list of all observances or practices.

The Faculty Senate-Religious Accommodations Policy (12/2020) allows for reasonable accommodations. Students should inform their instructor in writing of their need to observe a religious holiday or rite well in advance of their absence.

Students who anticipate missing class, an exam, or another academic activity due to a religious, spiritual, or cultural observance should communicate with their instructors as early as possible and follow Drake University’s established religious holiday notification process. The form is located on the Religious Holidays Calendar website. Faculty and staff are encouraged to work with students in accordance with university policies and to approach these conversations with flexibility and respect.

Thank you for helping us build a Drake community where individuals feel respected, supported, and able to honor the traditions and practices that are meaningful to them.

Please reach out to me at anisa.hansen@drake.edu with any questions or issues.

— Anisa Hansen, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion