Policy Council
The Drexel University Policy Council ("Council") is established to provide a voice for Drexel University community members, including students, faculty and professional staff, in creating Official University Policies ("Policies" or "Policy"). The Council supports shared governance; facilitates the review, recommendations and maintenance of Policies; assists in making Policies accessible to all members of the University community; helps ensure an efficient and transparent policy development and compliance process through a more open review; and fosters collaboration by engaging stakeholders across the University community.
Policy Council Charge
The Policy Council helps the Director of Policy Compliance ensure that all Official University Policies align with the University's mission and vision. The Council shall be charged with the following:
- Reviewing Official University Policies that are new or materially change existing policy ("Proposed Policy"), and are up for triennial review and/or retirement.
- Applying an equity lens to the review of Proposed Policy by intentionally analyzing the potential impact of policy design and implementation on underserved and marginalized individuals and groups, and working to identify and eliminate barriers Proposed Polices may impose on those groups.
- Increasing engagement and accountability in policy development across the University through management of the University's Stakeholder Engagement Process (as described in Official University Policies, DU-01) and partnership with University stakeholders.
- Leading communication efforts to ensure all University constituents are given the opportunity to review Proposed Policies and provide feedback through a public comment period. The Council will collect this feedback and provide recommendations to the unit responsible for implementation and oversight of the Proposed Policy ("Sponsoring Unit").
- Ensuring that the Sponsoring Unit has an effective communication plan in place to make constituents aware of Proposed Policies.
- Providing tools and other guidance to members of the University community to help them in performing their roles in policy development and compliance, and to encourage precision, clarity and a user-friendly approach in Official University Policies.
Policy Council Membership
The Policy Council is comprised of nine to 15 representatives, including up to five representatives each from Drexel University's student body, faculty and professional staff. The Council is a diverse and inclusive group and that includes Drexel community members who, among other considerations, identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, as well as members of similarly underrepresented groups. Policy Council members receive training on Drexel's Policy management and compliance process. If no nominations for a given representative cohort are received, Policy Council will proceed as long as Policy Council has at least nine members.
The current members of Policy Council are:
- Aqila Clement, Professional Staff, Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture
- Cerys St. John Richter, Professional Staff, Thomas R. Kline School of Law
- Jody Pribbernow, Professional Staff, LeBow College of Business
- Guiseppe Salomone, Professional Staff, Office of the University Registrar
- Natalia Broz, Professional Staff, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
- Iyana McEachern, Student, College of Arts and Sciences
- Maanasa Valluri, Student, College of Computing and Informatics
Eligibility, Nomination and Selection for Membership
Drexel University students, faculty, and professional staff with an interest in University Policy and the review and impact of University Policy on the community may serve on the Council. We are seeking commitments from faculty, professional staff, and students to serve at least one but up to three academic years. The estimated time commitment associated with service on the Council is two hours per week. Currently there are five faculty positions, three student positions and one professional staff position open.
Drexel community members may nominate themselves or another individual by completing the Policy Council Nomination form; upon submission of the form, nominees will be notified and asked to provide a short essay on their qualifications to serve. Policy Council nominations will be accepted starting Sept. 19, 2024, and must be completed and received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
Current members of the Policy Council will convene to review each completed Policy Council nominee form and will select for membership nominees best suited to serve on the Council. The Director of Policy Compliance will record the review, notify each nominee of their selection status prior to public announcement, and confirm their acceptance of membership and commitment to serve, until the requisite 15-member Council is reached.
The final selection of Policy Council membership will be posted on this website and communicated to the University community.
For questions regarding the Drexel University Policy Council, please contact the Director of Policy Compliance at: policy@drexel.edu.