Your Next Steps to Becoming a Bulldog
DRAKE DRAKE DRAKE
Academics
The Drake Curriculum consists of three components: a First Year Seminar, and a set of either the Areas of Inquiry or the Honors track requirements. Students are required to complete both components to graduate.
DECIDE BETWEEN THE AREAS OF INQUIRY (AOIs) OR THE HONORS TRACK. At Drake, you can choose between two curriculum tracks: the AOI track OR the interdisciplinary Honors track. If you select the AOI track, you will take 9 courses across 9 disciplinary areas. The Honors track requires one course called Paths to Knowledge, plus three AOI courses and five Honors electives. Any Drake student is welcome to take honors courses, but students must declare the Honors track to be in the program. Learn more about the AOI and Honors tracks at drake.edu/dc .
PLAN TO PICK UP YOUR COURSE MATERIALS AT THE BULLDOG SHOP. Drake’s Course Ready program ensures you will be ready to go on the first day of class. No need to worry about ordering the right materials as this is all taken care of for you! Your class schedule will be sent to the Bulldog Shop in Olmsted, and your course materials will be ready for pick-up when you move in. This includes all required textbooks and any other course materials required by your instructor. Digital textbooks are available on your dashboard in place of physical copies whenever possible. The cost of Course Ready is $255 per semester and automatically added to your account. Course Ready materials are rentals and must be returned to the Bulldog Shop at the end of
each semester. You can opt-out of this program each semester, but if you do so, make sure you purchase all of your course materials on your own. Course Ready saves you time, money, and lowers stress. We’re here to support you!
COMPLETE AN ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM. Students with disabilities can begin the accommodation process by completing the Accommodation Request Form on the Access & Success website. After submitting the form and providing documentation of their diagnosis, students will be prompted to schedule an intake appointment on Starfish. Virtual appointments will be available starting in June, and in-person appointments can be scheduled for August. Additionally, Access & Success offers academic coaching and tutoring services to support all students.
START PLANNING FOR STUDY ABROAD. Before finalizing your classes for the fall term, think about how a study abroad experience fits into your academic plan. The Global Engagement Office is here to help identify programs that align with your goals and support you through the study abroad experience from pre-departure to re-entry. Drake offers semester and short-term opportunities designed with affordability in mind. Learn more about study abroad at drake.edu/global
Housing
You’ll feel right at home at the center of our community in one of our four first-year residence halls. Drake is dedicated to its two-year residency requirement, and as a new or transfer student, you must live in the residence halls for the first two years following high school graduation, unless you qualify for a commuter release. Housing placement is prioritized based on the completion date of your housing & meal plan contract and your paid $250 housing deposit–whichever is submitted latest–and your First Year Seminar registration.
SUBMIT YOUR HOUSING & MEAL PLAN APPLICATION BY JUNE 16TH. To do this, go to my.drake.edu, click on “Student Home”, then click on Campus Resources, then click on the fork and knife icon, “Housing & Meal Plans”, and select “Apply Here” to begin your Residence Hall 2025–2026 application and contract. Students requesting housing accommodations should have their provider complete the Disability Documentation Form by the preferred June 16th deadline.
APPLY FOR COMMUTER STATUS. Our two-year on-campus housing requirement is waived for those who apply and are approved for commuter status. To qualify, students must be married or living with their parent(s) or legal guardian, within a 45-mile radius of Drake’s campus. Eligible students will be asked to provide the necessary documentation for their request. A commuter status application does not guarantee approval. To apply, follow the same housing and meal plan application steps as above to begin your Commuter Fall 2025 application.
SUBMIT YOUR $250 HOUSING DEPOSIT BY JUNE 16TH. This is separate from the $250 tuition deposit you submitted when you accepted your admission to Drake. Information on how to submit your housing deposit can be found in your housing & meal plan application in the section, “Housing Deposit Information”, click “Pay Now” to submit your housing deposit.
REQUEST A ROOMMATE BY JUNE 16TH. To do this, go to my.drake.edu, and you will go to your completed “Residence Hall 2025-2026” application following the same steps you took to submit your housing and dining application. Click on the section “Roommate Selection”, and you will click on “Search for Roommate by Details” to begin the process. All roommate requests must be agreed to and confirmed by roommates by June 16th for you to be assigned together. If you don’t have a roommate in mind, you will be assigned someone based on the information you provided on your Housing & Meal Plan Application.
FIND YOUR RESIDENCE HALL PLACEMENT. On July 18th, log into my.drake.edu, click on “Self Service”, find the card titled “Student Records”, and click on “Housing Roommates.” You will then see your Hall of Assignment and any roommates that you may have.
PURCHASE A PARKING PASS ONLINE AT DRAKE.EDU/PUBLICSAFETY. Drake allows first-year students to have a car on campus. The online portal for fall parking permits opens in July. By purchasing a parking permit, you are guaranteed an available spot in the corresponding lot, although you are not guaranteed the most convenient space. Lots fill up quickly on a first-come, first-served basis.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE DART BUS ROUTES. If you do not plan to bring a car to campus, as a Drake student you ride the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) bus system for free by showing your Drake ID. Route information can be found online at ridedart.com
Scan to see important 2025–2026 residence hall dates.
Dining
The Hubb is Drake’s main dining facility and offers various all-you-care-to eat food stations. Residential meal plans offer Unlimited, 175 or 205 meal swipes per semester, as well as a set amount of dining dollars. Commuter meal plans are also available.
SELECT A MEAL PLAN. To view a full breakdown of our meal plan options, visit drake.edu/residencelife/ mealplans. Meal plan changes can be requested until the first Thursday of classes each semester. After this date, meal plans cannot be changed. Meal plans run throughout one semester, with dining dollars carrying over from fall to spring. All dining dollars expire at the end of the spring semester each year. To select your meal plan option, visit my.drake.edu, select the fork and knife icon under Campus Resources, and choose “Housing & Meal Plans.” In late July an email will be sent to all residential students and commuter students, to your drake.edu email address with the instructions on how to change your meal plan during August if you choose.
EXPLORE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DINING DOLLARS AND BULLDOG BUCKS. While the two may seem interchangeable at first, dining dollars can only be used at on-campus spots like Starbucks, Spike’s Spot C-Store, Cowles Café, and at concessions at athletic events. Bulldog Bucks can be used at any of those oncampus spots, as well as select restaurants in Dogtown, Drake printers around campus, The Bulldog Shop, and more. For a full breakdown, visit drake.edu/life/dining.
NOTIFY OUR DIETICIAN OF ANY SPECIAL DINING REQUIREMENTS. If you are gluten-free, vegan, have a food allergy, or have other specific dietary needs, contact our registered dietician Samantha Matt at Samantha.Matt@drake.edu.
FIND NEW RESTAURANTS AROUND DRAKE AND DOGTOWN.
Dogtown is the dining and retail area across the street from Old Main. Here, you’ll find places to eat like the Drake Diner, Fernando’s Mexican Grill, Gursha Ethiopian Grill, Hummus Mediterranean Grill, Mars Café, Dough Co. Pizza, Lucky Horse, and Krispy Krunchy Chicken. On the east side of campus, you’ll find Haiku Sushi, 8 Degrees Café & Boba, and University Library Café.
Student Life
Campus involvement is integral in shaping your college experience by creating lasting friendships through shared interests. Drake offers more than 170 student organizations you can be a part of, from academic groups to fraternity and sorority life to multicultural organizations. If you don’t see a pre-established group that aligns with your interests, you can form a new one.
JOIN CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS.
Getting involved with clubs and organizations is a great way to expand your connections on campus academically, professionally, and socially. We encourage you to check out our Fraternity and Sorority Life, sports clubs, various religious organizations, multicultural organizations, student government, and a variety of special interest groups. Drake also offers academic clubs and professional fraternities and honor societies. To see a full list of current student clubs and organizations, and to find the steps to create your own Registered Student Organization, visit drake.edu/studentorganizations.
CHECK OUT OUR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
Drake Recreational Services provides students with a variety of healthy and fun activities, programs, and services.
Intramurals consist of competitive and recreational leagues and tournaments. Drake offers Sport Clubs and Premier Sport Clubs for more practice and competition opportunities to continue playing sports on a more competitive level. Group X programs provide various group exercise classes including yoga and strength training. For a full list of all our programs, visit drake.edu/recservices or download the free DrakeRecServices app.
EXPLORE AUDITION OPPORTUNITIES. You don’t have to be a music, art, or theatre major to participate in our fine arts program. If you enjoy making art, we’re guaranteed to have a place for you. Join groups like our marching band or various choirs, or exhibit your art at our very own Anderson Gallery. To see opportunities open to all students, regardless of major, visit drake.edu/studentinvolvement.
Health And Safety
We take the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff seriously. When you enroll at Drake, you are also enrolled in our Bulldog Alert system, which connects the campus to real-time announcements of campus closings, security alerts, inclement weather, and more. Bulldog Alerts are sent to the Drake email and phone number we have associated with your file. Our Department of Public Safety collaborates with local law enforcement and community organizations to keep our campus safe and secure.
VISIT THE COUNSELING AND HEALTH CENTER. The Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake provides routine wellness exams, vaccinations, non-emergent, acute illnesses and injuries, urgent care, mental health, family medicine, and a rotation of specialties. This clinic is located right next to Walgreens, across from campus. As a student, your office visit is free. However, any additional services including laboratory work, X-rays, and injections, will incur an additional cost to you. Before services are rendered, a provider will discuss the needed services and fee schedule. Drake’s counseling center, located inside the Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake, offers free, unlimited in-person and telehealth therapy sessions for all of our students.
COMPLETE AND RETURN YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY FORM TO THE BROADLAWNS COMMUNITY CLINIC AT DRAKE. Medical history forms are required for all full-time students and must be completed before the second week of classes. If you do not complete this form, you will not be able to register for spring semester courses. Visit drake.edu/ health for a full list of health policies and forms, as well as mailing addresses or emails to send your health records.
DOWNLOAD THE RAVE GUARDIAN APP. This app allows you to check in with family, friends, Drake Public Safety, or others you trust to help you stay safe both on and off campus. You can set a safety timer to notify those you trust to check in on you if you are alone or in an unfamiliar place. Rave Guardian also allows you to send emergency communications easily by calling or texting tips and photos to safety officials directly. Rave Guardian can be found in both Apple and Android app stores and is free to download.
Working On Campus
There are many reasons to have an on-campus job while attending classes. Many students will work with departments or offices that closely align with their professional and personal interests, while others work to simply have additional spending money. All campus jobs will help students gain valuable skills that employers are looking for.
BROWSE ON-CAMPUS JOBS. Search for and apply for on-campus jobs on Handshake, Drake’s career management platform.
1. Log-in at drake.joinhandshake.com with your Drake ID and password
2. Browse jobs under Drake University On-Campus Employment
3. Apply for and schedule interviews directly on the platform!
Our Career Services team is here to help you find the right fit, whether as a student worker or landing a full-time job after graduation.
PREPARE FOR YOUR CAREER. Career Services offers comprehensive services to undergraduate and graduate students, including internship and job searches, resume and cover letter writing and feedback, interview preparation, graduate school applications, and more! Learn more at drake.edu/career
Drake Information Technology Services (ITS) provides and maintains internet access across campus, oversees information security and network support, maintains technology support for classrooms, and offers general technology support to students, faculty, and staff. These steps will help you get started with the technology you’ll use while at Drake.
SET UP YOUR DRAKE PASSWORD. To log into campus websites including myDrake (my.drake.edu), you must first set a password. Visit password.drake.edu to manage your password, recovery information, and Multi-Factor Authentication.
CONFIGURE MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA). Download the free Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone and visit myDrake. Once your password and MFA are configured, you’ll be able to access your class schedule, grades, proxy access settings, your Drake Outlook email, Wi-Fi on campus, printing on campus, and much more.
DOWNLOAD YOUR MOBILE DRAKE ID. Install the Transact eAccounts app on your phone and use your Drake login to access your mobile ID and save it to your Apple Wallet, Samsung Wallet, or Android Wallet. Some smartwatches connected to your phone may prompt you to add the mobile ID at any reader where physical cards are also accepted. Your mobile ID serves as your key to access your residence hall and academic buildings after hours, as well as your Cowles Library card.
REVIEW THE ITS NEW STUDENT RESOURCES. Visit drake.edu/its and select the “New Student Resources” link for additional next steps such as setting up proxy access, discounts for computer purchases, free software downloads, and much more.
NEED HELP? Reach out to the ITS Support Center at service.drake.edu/its or 515-271-3001 for technology assistance.
Bulldog Families
Families, we know this is an overwhelming time when your student receives a lot of information. Here are the basics you should know before move-in day in August.
PREPARE FOR MOVE-IN. To check-in and receive their room key, your student will need a photo ID, a move-in time slot, a completed housing and meal plan contract, and a paid housing deposit. For move-in day, please label all moving boxes and items with your student’s full name and the name of their residence hall. Any items mailed ahead of move-in must arrive no earlier than Monday, August 18th. Anything mailed before this date will be returned to the sender.
SEND A LETTER OR A CARE PACKAGE TO YOUR STUDENT. Mail is sorted by resident name. Room numbers are not used for sorting. Letters and packages will be delivered to Drake Postal Operations in Olmsted, and students must show a photo ID to claim their mail.
Please address mail to: (Full Student Name) 2875 University Avenue Des Moines, IA 50311
BECOME AN AUTHORIZED USER ON YOUR STUDENT’S TOUCHNET ACCOUNT. Your student must authorize you as a user for Student Accounts to discuss their billing with you.
Step 1: For students:
1. You student must sign in to their my.drake.edu account navigate to the Student Account and Financial Aid section to select “Student Home” then “Make a Payment.”
2. Once directed to TouchNet, under My Profile Setup, they must select “Authorized Users,” and complete the “Add Authorized Users.” Your student should use an email you will always have access to, like your Gmail or Yahoo.
3. They must read the agreement check the boxes and click “Continue” to initiate authorization.
4. Ensure your student has granted you access to both the academic side and the billing side. Access to one will not grant access to the other.
Step 2: For Parents:
Once added by your student, you will receive an email that contains your username a temporary password, and the TouchNet link. Using those login credentials, you will be able to access your student’s TouchNet account and create a permanent password. If you fail to log in three times in a row, you will be locked out of your account for 45 minutes, and we cannot reset this.
You now have access to your student’s account. If you need further assistance, contact Student Accounts at 515-271-4777 or stuacct@drake.edu.
A5
Bulldog Shop, Olmsted Center 18, C2
Coleman Studio Theatre, Harmon Fine Arts Center 42, B4
Fine Arts Box O ce, Harmon Fine Arts Center 42, B4
Levitt Hall, Old Main 40, C4
Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted Center 18, C2
C1
Public
Recreational Services, Bell Center 5, A4
Registrar’s O ce, Carnegie Hall 37, C4
Sheslow Auditorium, Old Main 40, C4 Starbucks, Olmsted Center 18, C2
Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center 18, C2
Turner Jazz Center, The Patty and Fred
Harmon Fine Arts Center 42, B4
DEPARTMENTS
Access & Success, Cowles Library 34, C3
Administration, Old Main 40, C4
Admission, Cole Hall 38, C4
Alumni, Alumni House 39, D4
Finance and Administration, Old Main 40, C4
Information Technology Services
Carnegie Hall 37, C4
Computer Help Desk/Information Technology
Services, Carnegie Hall 37, C4
Dean of Students O ce, Old Main 40, C4
Development, Old Main 40, D5
Drake Postal Operations, Olmsted 18, C2
Global Engagement
See Cowles Library 34, C3
Human Resources, Old Main 40, C4
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Drake, Alumni House 39, D4
President’s O ce, Old Main 40, C4
Provost’s O ce, Old Main 40, C4
Public Safety, lower level Ross Hall 10, C1
Recreational Services, Bell Center 5, A4
Registrar’s O ce, Carnegie Hall 37, C4
Residence Life, Olmsted Center 18, C2 The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center,
