Parents Banner

Learning @ Drake

Making the Grade

www.drake.edu/academics

The Drake Curriculum provides your student with opportunities across the curriculum and within his or her major. This unique curriculum begins with First-year Seminars and concludes with a Senior Capstone Experience - a research project, thesis or other major work to synthesize his/her educational experience at Drake.

Grade reports are no longer printed and mailed, but made available to your student online.

To receive a Drake degree, your student must have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average. Students must complete 124 hours of class work, or about 15 hours per semester, to graduate, except Pharmacy, which requires 208 hours. The average class at Drake equals three hours of credit, although some are worth more and some less.

Breaking Down the GPA

GPA = Number of grade points earned/ number of credit hours attempted.
A = 4.0 points
B = 3.0 points
C = 2.0 points
D = 1.0 points
F = 0.0 points*

*Earning an F means no credit toward graduation for that course, although the zero is figured as part of the GPA.

Achieving Success

Office of Academic Assistance, x3752, www.drake.edu/students, e-mail: chrystal.stanley@drake.edu

Drake's Academic Assistance Office provides general academic assistance. Students interested in time management, study skills or test-taking strategies can contact the Academic Assistance Office. Students needing content-specific assistance are encouraged to work directly with their professors and academic departments.

Computers on campus

Office of Information Technology, x3214, www.drake.edu/it

Every residence hall room has Ethernet ports - one per resident - that give students full, high-speed connections to the campus-wide network, the Internet and e-mail. Students are expected to bring their own computers to campus. The University also offers attractive pricing arrangements with several manufacturers for students who wish to purchase a computer. Students may also use computer labs located conveniently across campus.

Professional and Career Development Services

Professional and Career Development Services, x3721, www.drake.edu/career

Professional and Career Development Services helps all Drake students and alumni build a successful career or internship search by offering a full range of career decision-making and job-search services. Students seeking part-time jobs are invited to visit Professional and Career Development Services for a list of available part-time positions. In addition, Drake offers a work-study program that is based on calculated financial need as determined by Student Financial Planning.

Professional and Career Development Services provides:

  • individual career counseling and resume assistance
  • interview preparation and career information
  • guidance on conducting a job search
  • value and skill assessment for major and career exploration
  • graduate/professional school test assistance
  • employer literature and career workshops
  • position listings and job descriptions
  • connections to Drake alumni

Tuition Payment and Drop Policies

Office of Student Accounts, x2151, www.drake.edu/accounts

The Office of Student Accounts offers several options for paying for your student's Drake education. You should choose a method of payment and complete a payment plan application by the time your student registers for classes.

Student who have not paid or registered for a payment plan by the end of the period for dropping classes will receive a letter from the Office of Student Accounts informing them that they have an additional 10 days to make the necessary arrangements. If students have not made the necessary arrangements by the fourth week of the semester, they will be dropped from classes for the semester and not allowed to re-enroll or live in University housing until the following academic term.