Fall term is always a busy season at Drexel University — and not just because it’s the beginning of the academic year. Faculty and staff should be aware of several updates when finishing up the term, from benefits (like Open Enrollment and the final days of the 2019 Wellness Incentive Program) to how they score free or discounted tickets to local museums, cultural events and Drexel basketball games.

Dragon Drive: Support Local Charities

Drexel’s annual Dragon Drive is underway for the month of October. It’s a great opportunity for Drexel faculty and professional staff to come together to raise funds for worthwhile charities in our community and beyond. Please consider supporting one of the several participating organizations by making a tax-deductible donation to the 2019 Dragon Drive. Many payment options are accepted, including payroll deduction. Information on how to donate and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the Drexel HR website.

Benefits Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1

Open Enrollment will take place from Nov. 1–30 this year. This annual process gives you the opportunity to enroll in new benefits plans or make changes to your existing coverage for the 2020 plan year. It is also a good time to verify that your dependents are current and that we have the current information for them. Details about 2020 plan enhancements will be provided soon.

Save the dates for the upcoming Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs taking place at the following locations from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

• Nov. 6: University City Campus, 3301 Market Street, Recreation Center, 1st Floor Lobby
• Nov. 4:  Queen Lane Campus, The Atrium
• Nov. 12: The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Commons Room
• Nov. 14: Center City Campus, 245 N. 15th Street, Room 3506

Come speak with your benefits representatives and enter raffles to win prizes. Vendors will also be on hand to answer all of your questions. No need to preregister.

Final Days to Earn Wellness Points for 2019

The 2019 Wellness Incentive Program concludes on Nov. 30. If you are a registrant of this program and still need to reach the maximum earning potential for yourself (up to $400) or your partner (up to $250), now is the time to review your options and see what else you can do to earn points.

• Review this Employee Table [PDF] and the Spouse/Domestic Partner Table [PDF] for ways to earn points.
• Attend a Drexel wellness event or activity where earning points is an option. Scroll down the Wellness Incentive Program webpage to review upcoming events.
• Meditate, meditate, meditate. Join the Drexel Meditation Group on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. at the James E. Marks Intercultural Center, Room 017, for half-hour meditation sessions. Participants in the Wellness Incentive Program are eligible to earn 5 points (a $5 credit) for each session they attend on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

Introducing the Philadelphia Cultural Pass

Drexel’s new Philadelphia Cultural Pass Program, offering free and discounted tickets for employees to visit museums and events in the city, was officially launched in the October issue of the HR @ Your Service Newsletter. For details on the program and other important HR news, read the newsletter.

Faculty/Staff Family Days at the DAC

Show your Drexel pride and join Drexel Basketball for Faculty/Staff Family Days on Nov. 20 and Jan. 19! Tickets are available at a special rate of $12 for adults, which includes admission to the game and a $5 voucher for concessions. Admission for children under the age of 12 is free with the purchase of an adult ticket (youth tickets don’t include the $5 voucher).

To purchase tickets, visit drexeltickets.com, and select the "Faculty/Staff Family Day" ticket type for Men’s Basketball vs. Bryant on Nov. 20 or Women’s Basketball vs. Delaware on Jan. 19. You can also purchase tickets by calling 1.866.4.DREXEL or visiting the Drexel Ticket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday–Friday. Tickets must be purchased in advance; offer not valid day of the game.

Make Time to Vote on Nov. 5

Drexel employees are encouraged to make time to vote in local county and municipal elections on Nov. 5. Drexel has a long tradition of scholarship and advocacy around the importance of voting rights and the values of freedom and democracy that American citizens uphold by participating regularly in local, state and national elections. The Civic Engagement Policy grants the use of one hour of paid civic engagement time off to enable voting. This policy also supports our longstanding tradition of encouraging Drexel students to become registered voters, educated and engaged citizens, and active supporters of the candidate of their choice.

Reimagining the Supplier Inclusion Program

To better reflect its mission to pursue a more inclusive procurement model, Procurement Services is relaunching Drexel’s Supplier Diversity Program with a new name: the Supplier Inclusion Program. The word “inclusion” more accurately represents the program's goal to give all types of suppliers the opportunity to interact with Drexel, whether it be by directly engaging in a transactional business relationship or by reaching out to the University for guidance, development and partnership. This refocused terminology also better defines how Procurement Services aims to collaborate with our suppliers, and places emphasis on how important it is to support smaller, local and diverse businesses.

Communities are better served when we promote inclusion through positive messaging and engagement. Visit the Procurement Services website to learn more about Supplier Inclusion.

Volunteer to be a Peer Ambassador

Drexel HR’s Peer Ambassador Program assists new employees as they transition to the Drexel community by acquainting them with life at the University. The program pairs each new hire with a peer ambassador, who will meet with the new hire regularly during their first few months to discuss topics such as policies, procedures, work culture and campus activities.

HR is looking for volunteers to be peer ambassadors. You must receive supervisor approval to participate and must attend training before you are paired with a new hire. The program will maintain an Office365 Team with resources and a list of campus events to help introduce new hires to campus life. If you are interested in becoming a peer ambassador, please supply your contact information via this link. If you have any questions about the program, please email Lindsay Norlen at les37@drexel.edu.

Construction Update: Enhancing the Student Experience

These three projects exemplify Drexel’s commitment to enhancing students’ living, learning and recreational experiences on campus. For more construction updates, visit the Real Estate and Facilities website.

Bentley Hall: The residence hall formerly known as Calhoun welcomed the first new class of residents since its makeover last month. With the help of a $5 million gift from Trustee Greg S. Bentley, CEO of Bentley Systems, and his wife Caroline, Bentley Hall received repairs to the building envelope and renovations throughout the interior to provide an improved, modern student living experience. For an in-depth look at how students are enjoying their newly renovated home away from home, read this DrexelNow feature.

Main Building Auditorium: The Main Building Auditorium got a new look this summer, with upgrades including new carpet, tile, stage floor refinishing, lighting and a fresh coat of paint. Perhaps best of all for the students who study and take exams there, all the seating has been replaced to incorporate tablet arms for all chairs.

Buckley and Vidas Bubbles: Some of Drexel’s most-used outdoor athletics spaces can now be used year-round, thanks to the addition of new infrastructure to support seasonal, air-supported “bubbles” over Buckley Recreational Field and three existing tennis courts at Vidas Athletic Complex. Once inflated, the structures will provide a controlled environment for play during the colder months. First inflation of the Buckley and Vidas Bubbles is expected in late fall 2019.

Reminder: Emergency Number for Center City Campus

Drexel Public Safety would like to remind all faculty, professional staff, and students on the Center City Campus of the following numbers to call in the event of any emergency or safety/security issue: 215.895.2222 or 911. Save 215.895.2222 (“Drexel Public Safety”) in your mobile phone contacts and delete any old emergency numbers you may have had for the Center City Campus. Please remove and/or ignore any signs or stickers in your work areas advising you to call a different number. 

This story was published in the fall 2019 issue of Drexel Quarterly.