The Student Alumni Association (SAA) brings a collection of Drake traditions right to first-year students. Find a new Drake tradition that you want to try—ranging from Hubbelling down Quad Creek Hill to celebrating our Drake neighborhood with Halloween Hoops.

College is full of opportunities, and Drake has the resources to help you make the most of them. Join your PMAC to discover campus services, learn insider tips for navigating your first year, and build habits that will set you up for success—both inside and outside the classroom. Whether you have questions or just want to get ahead, this session will help you feel confident and connected from day one.

There's no better way to kick off your Drake journey than by experiencing the excitement of Bulldog Athletics! Join your classmates for an evening at the Drake Women's Soccer game against Iowa State. Connect with your new community, enjoy the game-day atmosphere, and start building lifelong memories as you cheer on the Bulldogs.

Looking for a flexible job that fits your class schedule? Stop by the On-Campus Job Fair to meet representatives from Drake departments hiring student employees. Learn about available positions, ask questions, and discover how an on-campus job can help you build skills, make connections, and become more involved in the Drake community.

Starting college is exciting and overwhelming. Between finding your place on campus, making new friends, and figuring out how to balance academics with everything else, it’s easy to feel like you’re just keeping up. This interactive session is designed to help you not just survive but thrive during your transition to college.

You’ll learn how to:

• Navigate your new environment with confidence by building systems that keep you organized and reduce stress.
• Approach student leadership and involvement intentionally, choosing opportunities that align with your strengths and goals.
• Build relationships and communicate effectively to create a strong network of peers, mentors, and faculty from the start.

Through real-life strategies, small-group discussions, and hands-on exercises, you’ll walk away with practical tools to stay focused, build community, and start shaping a college experience that reflects who you are and who you want to become. Whether you’re nervous, excited, or both, this session will give you the confidence and clarity to launch your Drake journey with purpose.

FYS Collab time is a time for you to meet other students during welcome weekend. Activities will vary from group to group but all the PMACs have ensured a great environment and easy way to get to know more students.

Start your first day with confidence! Explore campus, locate your classrooms, and get familiar with the academic buildings before classes begin on Monday. PMACs will be stationed throughout campus to answer questions, provide directions, and help you feel ready for a successful first day.

Come play basketball, volleyball, bags, frisbee, and more! This is an open recreation night to meet some new friends and wind down for the day.

Join us for an inspiring and reflective event as we bring together distinguished students and alumni from Drake University for an insightful series of talks centered around belonging on our campus. These four accomplished speakers, all of whom have navigated their unique paths within the Drake community, will share their personal journeys and experiences in fostering a more inclusive environment. Through their engaging talks, they will shed light on the challenges they've encountered, the progress they've witnessed, and the transformative power of inclusive initiatives at Drake University. Be prepared to gain fresh perspectives, inspiring insights, and actionable ideas as these students and alumni reflect on the past, examine the present, and envision an even more inclusive future for our institution. This event promises to ignite important conversations and inspire meaningful change as we continue our collective journey towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive Drake community.

There's plenty going on this afternoon! Students will have an opportunity to meet others while crafting, playing games, exploring the Drake community and more!