Category Archives: Archive

Featured Events Archive

The Changing Politics of U.S. Latin American Policy

What: The Changing Politics of U.S. Latin American Policy: Immigration, Cuba, Presidential Power, and the Latino Vote by David R. Ayón
When: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7–8:30 p.m.
Where: Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center

Sponsored by The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship. Free and open to the public.

David R. Ayón is senior strategist and advisor to the research firm Latino Decisions, senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Los Angeles of Loyola Marymount University, a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica and a director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation. His current work focuses on how Latino political development interacts with national U.S. politics and U.S.-Latin America relations. Educated at Princeton, Stanford, and El Colegio de Mexico, Ayón also writes a column for the Univision News website and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Check out all the events planned by the Center for Global Citizenship in spring 2016.

—Submitted by David Skidmore, Director, Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship

For Students Archive

Love being a Bulldog?

The Office of Admission is looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and fun Drake students to host prospective students during the Chicago Bus Trip. The Chicago Bus Trip is an annual admission recruiting event that allows admitted students from the Chicago area to get an inside look into “Drake life” through an overnight experience.

Hosts must be available from 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, to 8 a.m. on Monday, March 7; be in good academic standing with the University; and live in the residence halls.

Find more information and sign up online. Responses are due Feb. 11. You will be notified if you will be hosting a student in mid-February. Matches will be made on need and compatibility of academic major and involvement. If selected, you will need to attend a mandatory meeting on Thursday, March 3, at 3 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Larson at natalie.larson@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Natalie Larson, Admission Counselor

For Students Archive

Free fitness assessments

Fitness assessments are designed to evaluate your health and fitness, including your current fitness level and health risk for disease. A variety of health and fitness categories will be assessed including:

  • Muscular strength and endurance
  • Aerobic capacity
  • Height and weight
  • Waist-to-hip Ratio and girth measurements
  • Flexibility assessment (sit and reach)

Email wellness@drake.edu to schedule an appointment!

—Submitted by Drake Wellness

For Students Archive

Ready for an adventure?

Students interested in studying abroad in summer or fall 2016 should contact Drake International at x2084 for an advising appointment with Emily Enquist or Gretchen Beckley. You may also email studyabroad@drake.edu , or visit the International Center to pick up information and fill out an interest form.

Students with questions about the Horizons system can contact Annique Kiel, x3039 annique.kiel@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Drake International

For Students Archive

Deep thoughts, in French

Once a month this semester, in conjunction with L’Union des Français de l’Étranger (UFE-Iowa), Drake will host a Café Philosophique, or philosophical discussion. Students and French-speaking members of the Des Moines community will gather to discuss relevant topics and life questions, and voice opinions in a welcome, open environment—all in French!

Whether you wish to practice speaking in French or want the opportunity to listen to the French language, you are welcome to join. All gatherings will be in the Medbury Honors Lounge.

  • Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 1, 5:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 7, 5:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 3, 5:30 p.m.

—Submitted by Drake International

For Students Archive

Interning in the nation’s capital?

Are you interning in Washington, D.C. this summer? Would you like to have your travel and housing accommodations covered? The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement provides housing and transportation to a Drake undergraduate student with financial need who has secured a summer internship in a congressional office, government agency, or nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. This scholarship is designed to expose the student to policymakers and the policymaking process, much as Senator Harkin experienced as an intern for Congressman Neal Smith in the summer of 1969, an experience that inspired Senator Harkin to pursue a career in public service.

An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m., at The Harkin Institute, 2429 University Ave. For more information or to obtain an application form, please contact Amy Beller at amy.beller@drake.edu or 515-271-2875.

—Submitted by Amy Beller, Project Manager, Harkin Institute

For Faculty Archive

Writing Workshop opens Feb. 8

DESCRIPTION OF THE WRITING WORKSHOP: The workshop is staffed by peer tutors, all of whom have taken at least one course to train them and familiarize them with writing theory and pedagogy. Tutors help students identify areas of difficulty and work with them on a range of issues including fluency, organization, development, analysis, and argument. Tutors also help students copyedit their work as needed. Tutors do NOT write papers for students, nor do they simply act as proofreaders. All work on development and copy reading takes place within the context of the student’s own writing.

HOW TO SIGN UP: Students can sign up online at https://library.drake.edu/writing. This site is also linked to the English website. The website itself will give students directions on how to proceed. Typically, an appointment is for one half hour. Students can sign up for more than one session if they choose. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If students are having difficulty signing up, have them call the Writing Workshop at 271-4712. They could also email me with any concerns (jody.swilky@drake.edu).

LOCATION: The Writing Workshop is located in
Cowles Library, Room 47, on the lower level. Hours:

  • Monday through Friday during the day
  • Monday through Thursday during the evening
  • Saturday afternoon
  • Sunday afternoon and evening

COMMUNICATION WITH PROFESSORS: If you refer your student to the workshop, please let us know via email (jody.swilky@drake.edu). Have them bring the assignment they are responding to, as well as any writing they have done to complete the assignment. As part of the first visit, tutors always ask students if they have been referred. If a student is referred, the tutor will send an email letting you know that your student has attended and will briefly describe what work was done. If you do not receive an email from us, your student did not attend. If a student attends on his or her own, we do not inform professors unless the student specifically asks us to.

WORKSHOP SERVICES: In addition to tutoring students, workshop tutors are available to speak briefly to classes about the workshop. If you would like a tutor to come to your class, please call or email me. Please also feel free to call or email me with questions about writing, about working with students for whom English is not a first language, or with questions about any student who is having particular difficulty with writing.

—Submitted by Art Sanders on behalf of Jody Swilky, Writing Workshop Director

For Faculty Archive

Attention advisers: Changes in education abroad

Drake International is in the process of hiring a new education abroad adviser. In the interim, students may email questions to studyabroad@drake.edu or make an advising appointment with Emily Enquist or Gretchen Beckley by calling x2084. They may also visit the International Center to pick up information and fill out an interest form.

Until a new person is hired and trained, Annique Kiel will make education abroad presentations to classes or at special events. Contact annique.kiel@drake.edu or call her at x3039. Annique is also available for questions about the Horizons system.

—Submitted by Drake International

For Faculty Archive

Faculty Senate recap

Faculty Senate met Jan. 27. Highlights of the meeting included updates regarding the recent board of trustees meeting; approving the 2016–2017 spring break as March 13–17, 2017; and approving the 2019–2020 academic calendar. Faculty Senate’s next meeting is Feb. 17.

—Nancy Geiger, Student Information Analyst