Category Archives: Campus Announcements

Planned Panopto Maintenance April 12

Drake’s Vendor partners at Panopto will perform database maintenance on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting approximately 3 hours. During this time, Panopto will be unavailable. This work is necessary to improve the stability and capacity of the overall Panopto system.

If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

To see the full 2025 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.

— Becky Klein, ITS

Griff Gives Back Pet Food Drive; Help Griff II Reach His Goal

Griff II’s annual Griff Gives Back pet food drive is underway. In its 10th year, Griff’s goal is to collect 20,000 pounds of pet food to benefit area pets in need through The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry. There are many easy and convenient ways to donate.

Together, and with your help, Griff hopes to continue supporting The Pet Project Midwest’s very important initiative of feeding pets in need so they can stay in the homes where they are loved.

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

Upcoming Yoga Classes; Fitness Instructor Meeting

Drake Wellness is offering a range of relaxing yoga classes this May. See a list of dates and times below or visit the Drake Rec app.

In addition, aspiring fitness instructors are invited to an informational meeting on April 16 at 4 p.m. in the Bell Center Studio to learn about becoming a Group Fitness Instructor.

Yoga Nidra – May 8 and 12 at 6 p.m. – A relaxation and meditation practice that guides participants to a state of conscious relaxation, blurring the line between wakefulness and sleep. Practiced lying down, it involves systematic relaxation, breath awareness, and guided visualization to induce deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Sign up through the Drake Rec app.

NamasTea Yoga – May 9 at 12:15 p.m. – A session of yoga and a cup of tea to soothe your nerves before finals week. Sign up through the Drake Rec app.

— Gail Witte, Recreational Services

Professional Headshot Sessions April 25

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Friday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff.

Visit the Drake University events calendar and select REGISTER to select a time for your photo.

High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug 3–6 weeks after the photos are taken. Images can be downloaded at https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1.

— Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing

Beautiful Bulldog Contest April 21

Mark your calendars for the 46th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest®. The contest will take place Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. Doors will open to fans at 5 p.m. to enjoy the Rescue Dog Festival and Kids Zone before the pageant begins. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a giveaway for the first 125 students to show up with their Drake ID.

The Beautiful Bulldog Contest® at Drake University is a unique trademarked event with an over 40-year history. The event kicks off a week-long Drake Relays celebration. Thirty English Bulldogs walk the pup-way to impress judges in hopes of being crowned the Most Beautiful Bulldog. The winner of the contest will reign as the Most Beautiful Bulldog for the 2025 Drake Relays.

For questions, email beautifulbulldog@drake.edu.

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Office

Cowles Library April Featured Collections

This April brings a literary treat,
With poems and books, both can’t be beat!
It’s National Poetry Month so let’s celebrate,
With rhymes and stories that captivate!

For bookish hearts and poets, too,
We’ve got the perfect reads for you.
Come browse in person, or click online,
A book, a poem – your perfect find.

National Poetry Month – Immerse yourself in the power of poetry with a curated collection featuring classic and contemporary poets. Explore diverse voices, styles, and themes that bring language to life.
Books About Books (Early April) – Dive into stories where libraries, bookstores, and book lovers take center stage! Our selection includes fiction and nonfiction that celebrate the magic of books and the people who cherish them.

Stop by, get inspired, and discover your next favorite read at Cowles Library!

—Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library


Disability Awareness Week April 7–12

Join the Disability Coalition for its third annual Disability Awareness Week from April 7–12. From a panel on the connections between mental and physical health, to a student-led presentation on how Drake can best support disabled students, to trivia and resources in the Olmsted Breezeway—there’s something for everyone in this week dedicated to accessibility and advocacy.

Professional captioning will be available at the events on April 7 and 9. Contact disabilitycoalition@drake.edu with any questions or additional accommodation requests.

— Morgan Ryan, AS

Drake Relays Parking and Road Closure Info

The Drake Relays brings thousands of athletes, alumni, and guests to campus. As a reminder, parking and travel on and around campus will be impacted Saturday, April 19, through Saturday, April 26.

It is highly recommended that if you are coming to campus from off grounds, that you use public transportation, if possible.  If you do plan on driving, give yourself plenty of time to find parking.  Please remember that cars that are parked on the grass, illegally in handicap spaces, or blocking operations will be towed without notice.

All valid residential and commuter permits will be honored on Thursday, April 24, and until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 25.  Only residential permits are valid in residential lots and commuter permits in commuter lots, unless posted otherwise.  Please note that the Olmsted and Ray Promenade lot still require the correct permit color to park in those lots before 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 19– Sunday, April 27 – Lot 17 (Facilities Lot) will be closed/no parking allowed

Wednesday, April 23 at 10 a.m. – Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m. – Forest Avenue will be fully closed from 27th Street to 29th Street and will allow for only limited access from 24th to 27th Streets and from 29th to 31st Streets. No street parking is allowed along Forest Avenue.

Wednesday, April 23 – Saturday, April 26 – 27th Street will be intermittently closed between Forest Avenue and Clarke Street.

Wednesday, April 23 – Saturday, April 26 – Lot 18 S (Studio Arts) will be closed/no parking allowed

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services