On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., The Comparison Project will host a meditation fair in Meredith Hall on Drake’s campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature meditation instructors representing many different religious and spiritual traditions and techniques. Light breakfast fare will be available.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and practice three different meditation styles at concurrent sessions during the first half of the event. Instructors of these sessions collectively represent the meditative traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, and Transcendental Meditation. During the second half of the event, all the instructors will be available for dialogue and Q&A.

The Comparison Project engages in the practice of comparative philosophy of religion, increases understanding of local-lived religion, and cultivates interfaith literacy and leadership. It is supported by Drake’s Center for the Humanities, Drake’s Slay Fund for Social Justice, and Cultivating Compassion: The Dr. Richard Deming Foundation.

For more information, visit: http://comparisonproject.wp.drake.edu, or email: comparisonproject@drake.edu.

— Timothy Knepper, Professor of Philosophy/Comparison Project Director

Drake Online and Continuing Education has recently been restructured into two key functional areas: Enrollment Management Services and Learning Design Services. This restructuring reflects our ongoing commitment to providing seamless, high-quality support across the entire online student journey—from inquiry and enrollment through course design and delivery.

The following leadership appointments are part of this restructuring:

• Dianna Gray, promoted to Strategic Director of Enrollment Management Services
• Shannon Hilscher, promoted to Manager of Learning Design Services

Dianna and Shannon have demonstrated exceptional leadership, collaboration, and dedication to Drake University, and will guide their teams effectively through this next phase of transition and growth.

Enrollment Management Services will focus on recruitment, admissions coordination, and student success operations to ensure an outstanding experience for prospective and current online learners. Several team members have taken on new or expanded roles within Drake Online:

• Suzanne Wisslead, promoted to Senior CRM Specialist
• Kelly Marckres, transitioned to Enrollment Management Specialist
• Tracy Davies, transitioned to Program Assistant for Enrollment Management

We are also pleased to welcome two new colleagues to the team:

• Crystal Fierro-Galbraith (joined August 2025) as Enrollment Management Specialist
• Sam Fiducci (joined January 2025) as Digital Marketing Specialist

Learning Design Services will continue to advance excellence in online course design, faculty collaboration, and the integration of innovative teaching practices and technologies. With this enhanced focus on student-centered, engaging learning experiences:

• Nichole Kiefer Stabile’s title has changed to Learning Design Specialist
• Trey Leech (joined November 2025) as a Learning Design Specialist

Supporting both teams, Bill Klein has transitioned to the role of Learning Analytics and Innovation Specialist, where he will manage data systems, analyze enrollment and learning trends, and implement technological solutions to support  our goals.

Additionally, Kendra Colbert serves as Office Support Coordinator, overseeing daily administrative operations, supporting staff, and ensuring the smooth coordination of office functions.

These changes position Drake Online for continued success in expanding access to high-quality online education. Please join me in congratulating our colleagues on their new roles and in welcoming our newest team members to Drake Online!

— Belle Cowden, Associate Provost for Online Programming

The Drake Women’s Basketball Team will face Lindenwood University on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. in the Knapp Center. This game is part of the annual Character Counts Day, which brings more than 6,000 K–8 students to campus for an exciting experience.

To ensure smooth logistics and maintain safety and security during this large event, please note the following important updates:

Parking Changes

• Lot 4 (Tennis Center) will be closed all day on Dec. 3 for bus parking.
• If you have a Lot 4 permit, you may park in:
  • Lot 1 (FAC)
  • Lot 24 (Harkin) on Wednesday.

Traffic Advisory

• Expect heavy traffic on Forest Avenue, especially near the Knapp Center and Bell Center, from morning until approximately 2:00 p.m.
• Please allow extra time for travel and consider alternate routes if possible.

Street Parking Restrictions

• There will be no parking on Clarke Street between 24th and 27th Streets on Dec. 3.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests and campus community. If you have questions, please contact Drake Public Safety.

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

Slips and falls can happen anytime or anywhere, but winter weather compounds these risks. There are several ways to minimize this risk to yourself and others:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings
• Avoid obstacles in your path, including slippery or wet surfaces
• Make sure work/personal areas have adequate lighting, and avoid storing things on the floor that could be a trip hazard
• Move at a measured pace, avoid rushing or running
• Increase caution in winter weather conditions: ice, snow, slush
• Avoid walkways that have not yet been plowed/shoveled as able

Report any slip and fall concerns. The Guardian app through Public Safety allows for text reporting of safety issues anywhere on campus. Public Safety can also be called directly at 515.271.2222.

Staff members may also report issues to their building contact.

— Taylor Laverty, Environmental Health and Safety

As we approach the end of the semester, here are some building updates you should know:

End of the Fall semester:

Building schedules will change for the Winter Break and the start/end of the semesters.  Following finals (12/8-12/12), we will adopt “administrative hours” for most campus buildings while classes are not in session (buildings will be open on weekdays from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm 12/15-12/19, and will be closed on the weekends starting on 12/13).  Most extended hour student access plans will also be disabled for the break, but Faculty/Staff plans will continue to work.

Winter Break:

Most campus doors will be locked for the winter break from December 20th to January 4th.  Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans (for example, 24/7 access to their office buildings), but extended hour student plans will continue to be shut off during this time. Please have your Drake credentials with you if you plan to access the buildings on the 22nd.

Start of J-Term:

“Administrative hours” (7:30am – 4:30pm) will resume starting on 1/5, and will continue through the J–Term time period (until 1/23).  Due to decreased weekend traffic during J-Term, we will lock buildings on the weekends through January, and will switch back to the Spring schedule on Saturday, 1/24.

If you have a scheduling conflict that will be affected by this door schedule, please speak to your building manager so they can put in a ticket to unlock the doors outside of our planned schedule.  Please note that not every building will follow this schedule exactly (Rec, Cowles, Law, and Olmsted often have some schedule variations), so feel free to check in at those buildings if you are unsure of their schedules.

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time. Feel free to email studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general (non-emergent) card access question or concern.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center