Resources for Parents and Families
At Drake we encourage parents to get involved in their student’s education. Below are links to the key resources you might need while your student attends Drake. If you can't find what you're looking for, try the search bar in the top right.
Academics: Authorizing Proxy Access
Students can grant parents/guardians access to their academic information by following these instructions.
Authorizing Proxy Access (How to)
Academics: Setting up Proxy Access
Once a student has granted you access, you will receive further instructions about setting up your proxy access account.
Set up a Proxy Access Account (How to)
Student Accounts: Set up Account
Students can also set you up as a Touchnet user by following the instructions at the link below.
Set up an Authorized User in Touchnet (How to)
Student Accounts: Logging In
Once your access has been created, follow the instructions at the link below to log into your Touchnet account.
Logging into Touchnet (How to)
Please note: due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, Drake University is legally restricted from disclosing your student’s educational records or private academic details, including their GPA, without their consent.
Parent & Family Advisory Council
The Parent & Family Advisory Council bridges families and University leadership. Council members provide insight on family experiences, advocate for parent and family interests, and help shape initiatives across campus at Drake.
If you are interested in learning more about the Parent & Family Advisory Council or you’d like to join, please email Marina Verlengia, Director of New Student and Family Programs.
Commencement
Watching your student cross the commencement stage is a moment of pride and celebration for them and for you. Drake’s Commencement Weekend each May is the official graduation event, as we do not hold a separate commencement for fall graduates.
To help you prepare for this milestone, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about attending, from maps and directions to the Knapp Center to information for your student to purchase their cap, gown, tassel, and other regalia they might need.
Order Caps, Gowns, and Tassels
Bulldog Bulletin and OnCampus
After your student is admitted to Drake, if they assign you to their student profile, you will join our parent and family-focused e-newsletter, the Bulldog Bulletin. This newsletter is sent to you monthly through your student’s move-in, and then will transition to alternating months during their time at Drake. The Bulldog Bulletin is designed to notify you about important dates or events, checklist items your student needs to complete, virtual sessions, and so much more.
In addition to the Bulldog Bulletin, once your student has completed their Orientation, you will automatically be added to our OnCampus e-newsletter. This is different than the Bulldog Bulletin; as a parent or family member, you will receive the same edition of OnCampus as your student. OnCampus is student-focused and highlights campus events and announcements. This newsletter is sent every other Tuesday.
Des Moines Visitor Information
Whether you’re joining us for Family Weekend, Commencement, or visiting over a weekend just to say hi, we want you to feel right at home in Des Moines. Explore local attractions, maps, restaurants, lodging, and airport details to help plan your stay.
Important Information
Drake University uses a secure payment system to process tuition payment. Your credit card and personal information are protected at the highest level.
As required by federal regulations, anyone beside the student attending classes must be authorized to see billing information, including parents.
Once a student has access to the campus portal, myDrake, they can navigate to the payment system from the "Make a Payment" link in Student Account section and go through the authorization process. For detailed instructions on completing this process, view Setting up Authorized Users and How to Login as an Authorized User.
After the authorization form has been completed, you will receive two emails from "ebill@drake.edu," one with username and the other with a password. Follow the link in the email. You will then be prompted to complete your account profile.
There are two guides to help out with this process:
If you need further assistance, please contact Student Accounts at 515-271-4777.
Drake University recognizes the importance of and encourages the student-parent relationship throughout the college experience. It is Drake’s philosophy to empower students to take responsibility for their academic success, personal development, and professional accomplishments. Open communications between you and your student is critical. Therefore, it is our goal to inform both you and your student of Drake’s policies and procedures and help you direct your student to appropriate resources to address his or her own concerns.
Students may grant a parent or guardian access to academic information via our Proxy Access system. Students can set up any combination of the below access options:
- No Access – Campus Communications Only: Provides access to emails sent from Drake, such as the parent newsletter
- Student Profile: Provides access to the student’s Profile Page in Self-Service
- Student Holds: Provides access to information regarding account holds
- Financial Aid Status: Provides access to financial aid package and information
- Student Grades: Provides access to a course list and midterm and final grades
- Tax Notification 1098T: Provides access to a copy of their 1098T
Students can grant parents/guardians access by following the instructions in Authorizing Proxy Access (How-to). Once they authorize your access, you will receive emails with further instructions. See Setting Up a Proxy Access Account (How-to) for details.
Your access to academic and financial aid information (Self Service) is separate from access to view your students account balance or make payments (Touchnet). See Logging into Touchnet as an Authorized Parent/Guardian User (How-to) for more information.
Given our philosophy of empowering students to take responsibility of their college experience, providing access to academic and financial aid information via Proxy Access is our preferred method of granting access. However, you may submit proof that the student is a dependant for tax purposes. Proof is considered to be a copy of the most recent year’s federal tax form showing that you claim your student as a dependent. This form should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Access will then be created for you, and your student will be notified that access has been given. A new request will need to be submitted annually to maintain access. We encourage you to discuss with your student whether this is a good choice for your family.
Drake Annual Fund
Family support plays a vital role in campus development. The Drake Annual Fund invites families to invest in Drake’s future—ensuring students have access to the latest academic programs, resources, and support systems.
