Mission & Values

Our mission: Provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.

Our inspiration: Together we transform lives and strengthen communities.

Core Values

Our core values form the foundation of how faculty and staff perform our work, how we conduct ourselves and how we interact with each other. At Drake, we focus on four core values that we believe best summarize our commitment to each other, to inclusivity, and to a world-class education. Through these core values, we hope to create a clear path to building a stronger, more vibrant campus culture.

Equity & Inclusion

At Drake, we value diversity as an institutional strength that encompasses a broad range of human differences. In continuing the long tradition of equity and inclusion at Drake University, we aspire to greater community leadership in the creation of a truly diverse and welcoming campus community.

Community Engagement

Drake's commitment to community engagement and service-learning is representative of our long-standing history of involvement and partnership with the Des Moines community. As demonstrated by our inspiration statement, “Together we transform lives and strengthen communities,” we encourage students and faculty to be active members of our community. Through partnerships with more than 100 nonprofit organizations and schools, and a combined 295,000 hours of service completed annually, we are dedicated to preparing the next generation of civic minded professionals.

Global Engagement

In an increasingly interconnected world, a global mindset is more important than ever. Gaining a deeper understanding of other cultures strengthens our tolerance and our ability to adapt, communicate, and think critically. Through diverse programming on campus, and more than 300 study abroad program in 50+ countries, we are committed to supporting the next generation of global citizens.

Sustainability

Drake recognizes the need for immediate and long-lasting actions that sustain environmental health, promote social equity, and encourage economic vitality, and seeks to incorporate these ideals through our campus operations, student engagement, and community outreach. As a leader in the community, we understand that sustainability goes beyond just reduce, reuse, and recycle. With five sustainable campus buildings, a student-led program to reduce food waste, and a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we strive to incorporate sustainable practices into our everyday operations.