Chief Wellness Officer and Senior Vice Provost for Community Health Marla Gold, MD, explained the decisions that led to Philadelphia’s new indoor masking mandate, and how Drexel will be responding accordingly.

Alisia Lipsey, a fourth-year Drexel University dance major who worked at two different locations for the Young Children’s Center for the Arts during the fall/winter 2020 co-op cycle, spoke with DrexelNow about building relationships with the Center’s young students and older faculty as well as what it was like to complete an in-person co-op at the pandemic’s pre-omicron peak.

DrexelNow asked three international Dragons who joined our campus community last fall about what made them choose Drexel, navigating the pandemic and if the experience is meeting their expectations (spoiler alert, it’s exceeding them).

Since its founding a decade ago, the Drexel Global Scholar program (DGS) has welcomed more than 80 international students from nearly 40 countries to the University with a full scholarship and ample programming which helps bolster a rich peer community from freshman year through graduation.

After a fully virtual weeklong celebration last year and a remote start to this year’s winter term, there’s one thing that a return to in-person programming for Homecoming 2022, taking place Jan. 17–23, is set to provide students that is sorely needed — a sense of Dragon community and pride.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, “ARTH 300: The History of Modern Design” students have been cultivating the beauty and meaning from everyday objects. That work is now on display on Drexel’s University City Campus and a half a world away thanks to new collaborators abroad.

This week marks the first fully in-person finals week since fall 2019. Undergraduate students hanging around campus on Dec. 3 explained how they’re preparing and how they plan to celebrate afterward.

The staff of Drexel University’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supported international Dragons through a laundry list of ever-changing circumstances with the blend of practicality and hope needed in pandemic times.

Drexel students are once again engaging globally through study abroad and alternative programs, and though their experiences are affecting by the pandemic, they’re all the more worth it.

New faculty and professional staff from the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design shared what media, pandemic innovations and campus spots they’ve been enjoying.

Organizers of the premiere annual entrepreneurship event hosted by the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship explain why the 2021 StartUp Fest will be more immersive, accessible, and alumni-oriented than years past while still highlighting the student startup ecosystem at Drexel.

After a fully virtual recruitment process in 2020, the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils moved forward with a hybrid model this year which allowed students interested in joining Greek life to find their new home away from home in person.

Check out these places on Drexel’s University City Campus for when you’re hungry and don’t know what to eat or where to eat it.

More than 2,200 first-year students moved into campus housing from Sept. 10–13 in the first key indication of Drexel’s return to campus this fall, and their thoughts and feelings were reminiscent of pre-pandemic norms despite remaining health and safety protocols.

Incoming Undergraduate Student Government Association President Jarod Watson explains how and why students should take it slow during their return to campus and practice safe habits, respect for others and putting the Dragon community first.

Welcome back to Drexel…fully in person. Whether you’re reacquainting yourself with campus after being remote or are exploring it for the first time, know that throughout this unusual past year and a half, Drexel has not stood still.

On Sept. 17, faculty and professional staff were invited to hear information and have questions answered related to current policies and procedures used to ensure a safe return to in-person activity on campus for all Dragons.

One hundred and forty second- and third-year Dragons completed their faculty-mentored STAR research experience last month, and partook in a range of opportunities spanning remote, hybrid and in-person modalities, as well as six-month part-time and three-month full-time timeframes.

With the return to campus for all students as well as faculty and professional staff, there are updated procedures, hours and openings that all Dragons should be aware of.

More than 850 participants joined presenters at 6 p.m. on Sept. 8 to hear a run-down of information regarding policies and procedures put in place to ensure the safety of the Dragon community during the return to campus this fall.

DrexelNow checked in with the new students joining our campus community this fall about their past experiences, future plans, and their hopes and worries about starting their Drexel careers amidst the ongoing pandemic.

For the summer term, Drexel’s on-campus operations related to dining, recreation and on-campus spaces have changed to reflect current guidance and very low rates of COVID-19 infection on campus.

As part of its TRIPOD initiative, the university-community literary arts program Writers Room helped celebrate and share stories of the Paul Robeson High School senior class and their resiliency during the pandemic — culminating in the projection of the students’ portraits on the side of the University City Campus’ Nesbitt Hall on the evening of June 17.

On June 11, the University returned to the Citizens Bank Park to honor the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates with an in-person ceremony that was livestreamed.

Drexel University faculty, staff, students and community partners, along with Sunray Pharmacy, have come together to put on weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships in Powelton Village.

Created by the Steinbright Career Development Center and launched in June 2020, the AYC module’s focus on professional development and meaningful networking helped students turn lost or delayed co-ops due to the pandemic into both credit and opportunity.

A trio of public health experts discussed side effects, spread, development, clinical trials and other concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine hesitancy.

University leaders discussed today’s admissions and student life news as well as upcoming priorities of the new strategic plan.

In their own words, Drexel basketball and wrestling student athletes, coaches and staff recount the 2020–2021 season’s differences, delays, setbacks and triumphs.

Five academic and four administrative units are participating in a pilot project to test the viability of widening the University’s existing Flexible Work Arrangement Policy.

On April 19, more than 1,000 Dragons received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at one of many Drexel University-sponsored and Sunray Pharmacy-operated clinics for employees and students.

How were Drexel and other institutions now part of the University affected by the 20th century influenza outbreak? Based off of their archival collections, it’s hard to say.

Five seasoned pandemic co-op students who are part of the Steinbright Career Development Center’s Peer Mentor program already knocked their pandemic co-ops out of the park. Now, they’re sharing success strategies to help other Dragons make their current co-op experiences a grand slam.

Three master’s students in different disciplines of creative arts therapy discussed the stressors, hurdles and advice for maintaining sound mental health one year into the coronavirus pandemic.

With the warmer weather has come expanded offerings both on and near campus in terms of recreation, dining and arts and culture.

Since March 2020, Drexel faculty and international academic partners have been pivoting planned study abroad trips to engaging remote learning opportunities.

After a rollercoaster of a year that changed the way Drexel’s student body engages with campus, the community and each other, two student leaders reflect on what was learned and where the Dragon community can go from here.

In the last two meetings of a series of Q&As held last week, University leaders discussed topics like vaccine updates, ramping up face-to-face offerings, mask requirements and on-campus parking and dining.

In two Q&As held last week, University leaders discussed topics like vaccinations, phased return and ventilation in office spaces. 

At the beginning of winter term, the University instituted a new public safety measure to ensure that everyone on campus observes pandemic-era safety guidelines, especially in high-traffic areas at peak times.

Drexel will extend its Test-Optional policy, which offers prospective students flexibility in the face of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, for the next two admission cycles (2022–2023 and 2023–2024).

Marla Gold, MD, director of the Return Oversight Committee, discussed how decisions are made to ensure the safety of Drexel students, faculty, professional staff and neighbors both on and off campus.

Cardboard cutouts of historical and local Black figures were placed in the stands of Drexel’s Daskalakis Athletic Center in recognition of Black History Month.

Members of the Return Oversight Committee virtually answered submitted questions from faculty and professional staff in the first of three sessions. Read the questions and answers that most relate to students.

Members of the Return Oversight Committee virtually answered submitted questions related to working from home, vaccine access, campus operations and safety and more.

DrexelNow spoke with undergraduate students on campus about this phase of Drexel University’s reopening, including health and safety protocols for residence halls and in-person learning, making new friends and staying connected, and their advice and hopes for the near future.

Despite being mostly virtual, Drexel’s weeklong Homecoming celebration and Spirit Week from Feb. 1–7 will still boast many of the annual events current students and alumni have come to look forward to.

University leadership shared information for faculty and professional staff related to COVID-19 testing and vaccine availability on campus and the return to campus, among other topics.

Drexel University students were invited to a Virtual Town Hall on Jan. 13 to receive up-to-date information about winter term health, safety and testing protocols related to COVID-19.

In a second installment, six more deans from the University’s colleges and schools reflect on what happened and what they’ve learned.

As students move into on-campus residencies for the first time this academic year, here are the academic, recreational, health and retail amenities which will be open for winter term.

As select faculty and professional staff return to campus, here are the recreational, health and retail amenities which will be open for winter term.

More than 1,000 Drexel University undergraduate students will move on campus starting Jan. 16, though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to augment this college rite of passage and necessitate virtual programming.

Though it was announced in late October that Drexel University would welcome undergraduate students back for campus living, the process of preparing academic and residential spaces in the face of COVID-19 has been both ongoing and thorough.