October 26, 2021

Dear Members of the Drexel Community,

Whether you voted early by mail or plan to cast your ballot in person, we want to say how proud we are of every member of the Drexel community who’s committed to making a difference by participating in this election. If you haven’t already done so, we hope you have a plan to go to the polls and vote on Tuesday, November 2, whether here in Philadelphia or in your home community. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Thanks to the advocacy of the Undergraduate Student Government Association, the University will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2 in an effort to encourage voter turnout and in support of the USGA’s expanded efforts to make this a day of service. Although classes will not be cancelled, faculty are encouraged to be flexible when possible. In addition to the early closing, benefits-eligible professional staff members can receive one hour of paid time off to vote as an act of civic engagement; should you elect to take this benefit, please record the time as “Civic Engagement Time” on your time sheet or leave report.

This will be the second general election for which the University will make this special accommodation. A broad-based coalition of student organizations, schools, colleges and administrative offices, including the Office of Government and Community Relations and the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, have done a remarkable job of informing and encouraging every eligible member of our campus community to register and participate in the election process. And on Election Day, many members of the Drexel community will give of their time to work the polls.

As the University is called upon from time to time to perform its civic duty as a forum for political discourse, we encourage all registered voters in the Drexel community to participate in the election.

Sincerely,

John Fry
President

Helen Y. Bowman
Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer

Paul E. Jensen
Executive Vice President and Nina Henderson Provost and University Professor

Subir Sahu, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Success