It’s around the middle of summer, and the middle of the summer term. That means there was a lot that happened in the past couple of weeks that Drexel faculty and staff should know about — and there are certain procedures and updates that they should be aware of going forward.
Here’s what was heard around campus this month:
Traffic Advisory: Chestnut Street Bridge Closure
This one’s probably going to impact a lot of Dragons going to and from the University City Campus. Starting on Aug. 5, the Chestnut Street Bridge will be closed to ALL TRAFFIC, including pedestrians, bicycles and cars, for one year for a renovation project. Thankfully, though, the bridge closure will not directly impact Drexel University's shuttle bus routes.
In an email sent July 22, Drexel Public Safety advised the University community students, faculty, professional staff and visitors to expect changes to traffic patterns around campus, like detours and increased cars, and made these suggestions: plan an alternate route, pad your commute with extra time, choose public transportation whenever possible, and be careful going through and around construction zones, either by vehicle or by foot.
To learn more about the PennDOT Chestnut Street Bridges Project, visit chestnutstreetbridges.com. To learn more about other long-term construction projects affecting traffic near campus, visit Drexel’s Construction and Traffic Advisories webpage.
Tuition Remission Update
Drexel Human Resources has listened to your feedback and is streamlining the tuition remission application process. Full-time, benefits-eligible faculty, professional staff, and family members must now submit their online application annually, once per academic year. You will no longer have to submit this application every academic term.
Full-time, benefits-eligible employees planning to utilize the tuition remission benefit for the fall 2019 term must submit their application via DrexelOne as soon as possible, if it has not been submitted already. If you do not plan to take courses until after the fall term, you must apply for tuition remission shortly after you are an accepted and registered student. More information including tuition remission benefits for family members, instructions on how to complete the tuition remission application, and links to the Tuition Remission Policies with the updated deadlines are available on the Drexel HR website.
Please reach out to Drexel’s HR Service Center with questions at 215.895.2850 or hr@drexel.edu.
Employee Assistance and Advocacy Program
In collaboration with Health Advocate, Drexel Human Resources will host a brief presentation on Aug. 6 at 12 p.m. to learn about all the ways your free Health Advocate Employee Assistance Program benefit can help you and your eligible family members save time and money on your healthcare and insurance-related issues. This event covers understanding your employee benefits, finding eldercare services, connecting with a licensed professional counselor or work/life specialist, and resolving insurance claim issues. For more information and to register, view the event listing in Career Pathway, accessed via DrexelOne. Earn 15 wellness points by attending this session!
Opioid Addiction: Signs and Symptoms, Myths and Misconceptions
In collaboration with Caron Treatment Centers, Drexel Human Resources will host an information session on Aug. 15 at 12 p.m. regarding the national opioid crisis. Opioid addiction impacts all of us, but it can be difficult to sort out what’s true and what’s not about this epidemic. Experts in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of opioid addiction will host this session, provide practical, accurate information, and address audience questions. For more information and to register, view the event listing in Career Pathway, accessed via DrexelOne. Earn 15 wellness points by attending this session!