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Living @ Drake

Staying Healthy

American Republic Student Health Center, x3731, www.drake.edu/students/health
The American Republic Student Health Center provides outpatient services for students' illnesses, injuries and routine health care needs. The center is located on campus, and health professionals are available on site Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and by phone.

Services include:

  • health screening
  • immunizations and other injections
  • acute care for illnesses and injuries
  • annual physicals and health education

If students require emergency treatment or specialized care beyond services provided by the Health Center, referrals to physicians, specialists and emergency departments near Drake are made as necessary.

Drake's Counseling Center is also conveniently located at the Student Health Center and offers group and individual counseling.

A Balanced Diet

Sodexho Campus Dining Services, x3175, www.drake.edu/students/dining
Drake dining services provider, Sodexho, offers a variety of meal plans that let students budget how and when they spend their meal plans over the semester.

  • Hubbell Dining Hall's Ultimate Dining/Crossroads offers a buffet.
  • Spike's C-Store and Spike's Pizza/Sub Shoppe are perfect for students on the go.
  • Terrace Court serves breakfast and a range of food options throughout the day.
  • Starbucks Coffees, Freshens Smoothies, and a variety of to-go items are available in the Olmsted Center.

Shaping up

Bell Center, x3173, www.drakeservices.org
Students also have many opportunities to exercise in exceptional facilities.

Drake offers:

  • swimming
  • jogging
  • racquetball
  • tennis
  • intramural sports
  • aerobics
  • diet and exercise schedule created by trained staff

Meeting your needs

Student Disabilities Services, x1835 (voice), x2825 (TTY), www.drake.edu/sds/
Student Disabilities Services, located in Old Main, offers support and accommodation for students with disabilities to participate in all Drake programs and activities. Students who need accommodations, accessible residence hall rooms and/or wheelchair-accessible classrooms should contact Disability Services as soon as possible.

Safety First

Campus Security Services, x2222, www.drake.edu/security
While Drake is a very safe place, the University doesn't take any chances with students' welfare. Drake maintains a full security force 24 hours a day, operates a free and convenient shuttle service between campus and off-campus housing during the evenings and has emergency phones located around campus for students to use in case of an emergency.

Students are asked to keep doors locked, and overnight guests and visitors must be checked in by their Drake host at the student's residence hall front desk. Overnight visitors receive guest passes to use as identification for admission to the residence hall after 11 pm, when doors are locked.

The Social Side

Student Life Center, x3711, www.drake.edu/life
The Student Activities Board offers a number of all-University events throughout the year, as do the residence halls and Greek organizations.  Students can join one or several of the more than 160 campus organizations at Drake and take advantage of the opportunity to volunteer in the community. Professional fraternities and other major-related organizations combine the academic and social worlds and let students learn more about various fields and professions.

Culture, Arts and other entertainment

Drake Arts, x2018, www.drake.edu/arts
Artistic expression abounds on Drake's campus, and most fine arts events are free to students.

  • The Drake Theatre Arts Department sponsors productions ranging from musicals and contemporary plays to one-act and student-directed performances.
  • Campus choral ensembles, symphony and band performances are open to all Drake students.
  • The Art Department sponsors art exhibitions of guest artists, faculty and students.

Heading Home

Office of Alumni and Parent Programs, x2500, www.drake.edu/alumni, e-mail: barbara.boose@drake.edu
A number of Drake students head home to Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City and other areas, so students can often catch a ride with each other. A ride board is posted in Olmsted Center so students can find someone with whom to share the road.

With the help of parent volunteers, the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs will be offering chartered buses for students from the Chicago and Milwaukee areas fall, Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks. Call the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs if you are interested, or click here for Fall Break bus information.

Support from Afar

Whether you're five miles or 500 miles from Drake, you can still give your student the comforts of home.

  • Sodexho Dining Services offers theme packages ("Happy Birthday," "Thinking of You," and other sesonal themes) for parents to send their students from home on a big day. Call 800-44-DRAKE, extension 2009 to order.
  • Local florists, chocolatiers and bakeries offer a full selection of goodies to surprise your student. See the list below for idea.

Florists

Boesen the Florist
515-274-4761

Irene's Flowers and Exotic Plants
515-274-3859

Plaza Florist and Gifts
515-276-4951

Sweets

Cookies by Design
515-252-7757

Dressing for Drake

Now that you're a Drake parent, you'll want to look the part - as will your student. The D-shoppe and University Bookstore offer a wide variety of college paraphernalia.

If you or your student needs money while on campus, Olmsted Center has an ATM machine, and the Cashier's Office in Old Main cashes checks up to $50.

"You Auto Know"

All students may have cars on campus.

  • Students must purchase a parking sticker or hang-tag to park in Drake-owned lots.
  • Parking passes can be purchased during registration or from the Cashier's Office for $110 per year.
  • The Olmsted lot, near the Olmsted Center, is a pay lot. You can pay cash or buy a pay lot pass in Olmsted Center's D-Shoppe.

Drake has its own parking rules and traffic court. Unpaid parking tickets can keep students from registering or receiving grade reports, so tickets should be paid immediately.