There’s an extra day in the month of February this year, thanks to the special leap year of 2020. That means there’s more time to catch up on news and events available to Drexel University faculty and staff!
Here’s what was heard around campus this month:
RecycleMania 2020: How to Get Involved
Drexel is once again participating in the nationwide RecycleMania competition among colleges and universities. For eight weeks, the University is tracking the amount of paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass, plastic, cell phones and computer equipment recycled on our campuses so we can benchmark Drexel’s performance against other institutions.
How can you get involved?
- Brush up on best practices. Visit drexel.edu/recycling for information and resources on Drexel’s recycling program. Then, check out the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Recycling 101 blog post for an exhaustive list of tips on how to recycle better and smarter — no matter where you are.
- Tell your friends. Print and post the Drexel Recycling Guide [PDF] and encourage others to recycle items they may not have realized were recyclable.
- Come to a RecycleMania Collection Event. Paper, cell phones, computer equipment*, old and used up toner and ink cartridges and plastic, glass and aluminum containers will be accepted for recycling from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 4 at New College Building (Geary Lobby) in Center City.
* The only way to ensure data stored on a hard drive is properly deleted is to overwrite it with pseudorandom numbers using a program called DBAN (see Drexel IT DBAN FaQ for more information, and contact security@drexel.edu if you need assistance). Drexel Green will be accepting old computers and other electronic devices for recycling at its three RecycleMania collection events, but it is the department's responsibility to ensure the hard drive is properly deleted. Drexel Green will not accept any devices for recycling that have not been properly and securely wiped.
iForum: Complicated Legacies
In a time where people are demanding accountability, how do we memorialize celebrities like Kobe Bryant who have a complicated legacy? For discussion on this topic, join iForum on March 5 from 12 to 1 p.m. This event is open to students, faculty, professional staff and community members. Some snacks will be provided, and feel free to bring your own lunch. Email Reema Malhotra at rrm73@drexel.edu to RSVP (not required but appreciated).
New Leave of Absence Process: Educational Sessions
Lincoln Financial Group, the University’s new provider for leave of absence and disability administration, and Drexel Human Resources (HR) are pleased to present a new and improved leave of absence process effective this calendar year. HR is hosting a series of educational sessions that will give an overview of the new process, its impact on pay and benefits, and the resources available for both employees and supervisors. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet your Leave and Disability Resources Consultant, members of the Drexel Benefits Team and HR Business Partners. HR is holding separate sessions for employees and supervisors, so please sign up to attend. The dates and locations are listed below; visit Career Pathway for registration details.
- University City: March 6, 11, 12 and 13
- Center City: March 5 and 9
- Queen Lane: March 19 and 20
Administrative Professionals Networking Event: March 12
The next networking event for the Drexel Administrative Professionals Learning Community will be held on Thursday, March 12, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Ida Chen Room of the James E. Marks Intercultural Center (3225 Arch Street). The theme is Diversity and Inclusion, and registration is limited. Visit Career Pathway to register via the Events Calendar.
R.A.D. AND Self-Protection Classes
The R.A.D. System provides self-defense courses on the basics of hands-on defense training taught by certified R.A.D. instructors. R.A.D. manuals are provided to course participants, outlining the entire physical defense program. Sign up for spring R.A.D. classes now on the Public Safety website. If you’d like to start off with a shorter, less physical self-defense class, Public Safety has created a two-hour class providing basic techniques for protecting yourself. Please contact Linda Moran at lmm467@drexel.edu to schedule your group for this new class.
Save the Date: 2020 Supplier Expo and Merchant Fair
Procurement Services and Business Services will host their 2020 Supplier Expo and Merchant Fair on April 22 at Behrakis Grand Hall in Creese Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, information sessions will be available throughout the day to offer details on P-Cards, travel, sourcing, support services, accounts payable, tax and more.
This event is open to the University community. Participating suppliers will have the opportunity to provide information and samples to students, faculty and professional staff. Stay tuned for updated information from Procurement Services.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Salary Cap Increase
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has increased the NIH Salary Cap for Executive Level II to $197,300, effective Jan. 5, 2020. The salary cap is a mandated provision of Congress that limits the amount of direct salary that can be charged to an NIH grant or contract. Salaries above the $197,300 limit must be allocated to the impacted grant’s cost share fund (281XXX).
The previous salary cap of $192,300 must still be used for all effort reporting periods prior to Dec. 31, 2019, and for the period from Jan. 1-4, 2020. As of Jan. 5, 2020, the new, higher rate can be used. In order to appropriately allocate the new salary cap, you will need to prorate, via a labor redistribution, the cost sharing of salaries for the month of January 2020 based on the effective date of the increase.
Although NIH will not be adjusting awards already issued in FY 2020, re-budgeting will be allowed to reflect the increase in the salary cap.
The full context of the NIH guidance can be found at: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-065.html. A historical record of the salary cap, including effective dates, can be found at: grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm.
If you have any questions regarding the new rates, please contact ras@drexel.edu.