College Response to COVID-19

Last updated: Friday, May 15, 2020

Drexel University is committed to preserving and maintaining the health and safety of all members of its community. Details on all university-wide measures being taken can be found on the Drexel coronavirus website.

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The College of Engineering is grateful to all of our community members for their patience and understanding as we navigate through this period of unprecedented change in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Our faculty and staff continue to work remotely and are dedicated to being available to assist you. Information regarding actions being taken by our college to support our students, faculty and staff, and future students is available below, and will be updated regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

For Current Engineering Students

  • How is the College of Engineering celebrating the Class of 2020?

    We are making every effort to provide a virtual celebration worthy of the accomplishments of our graduating students! An official graduation slideshow will be shared with graduates and their friends and family members. We invite you to share this link and submit your message. We are also using the hashtag #ForeverDragoneers (Drexel Dragon + Engineer) on social media. Your posts will be featured on the website! We have also created custom Drexel Engineering items that you might want to download and print for use in your photos or to decorate your home.

  • What is happening with Senior Design?

    Due to Governor Tom Wolf’s order of Thursday, March 19, to shutdown most businesses and schools in Pennsylvania, as well as Drexel’s closing of the campus to the public, there will be an impact to Senior Design. Faculty have been advised that students will not be doing further prototyping, laboratory or testing work. No physical component is to be asked of students on these projects. For reasons of safety, you are not expected nor encouraged to work remotely on a physical element of the project. Moving forward, expectations are all based on work that can be done remotely at your computer. As a college, we stand aligned with Drexel policies on research safety and accessibility.

  • What about my student activities and Engineering student clubs?

    In alignment with the closure of campus that became effective Friday, March 20, there is currently no student access to university or off-campus spaces for student activities, clubs or coursework. This includes facilities like shops and locations that house the SAE car, concrete canoe and other club items.

    • Using Slack: We encourage your organizations to have online meet-ups and stay connected to each other virtually. The college is using Slack for all Engineering student organizations. Every group is expected to have at least one person participate regularly in the Slack chats. Contact Ilene Marker (imm23@drexel.edu) for link access.
    • Club Funding: If your organization was allocated funding for spring events that are now cancelled or postponed, note that any funding that remains unused this year must be accounted for in your request for funding for academic year 2020-21.
    • Status of the Student Leadership Advisory Council: This group that Dean Walker announced at the end of fall term is still in the works. Please keep an eye out for additional information in the coming weeks.

  • Are student advisors still available?

    Yes! Our student advisors are working virtually and ready and available to assist you. Last week, all student advisors sent direct email to their advisees regarding Advising Continuity. Please email your advisor or schedule virtual appointments using the links provided in that email.

  • What tutoring resources are available to me?

    Our Academic Center for Engineers (ACE) continues to operate virtually. Email coe.ace@drexel.edu or contact the Director of ACE Ilene Marker with questions.

  • What about my engineering co-op?

    Since every co-op is unique, we advise you to contact your co-op advisor with any questions or concerns about how COVID-19 will or will not impact you.

  • Who do I contact if I have other academic concerns?

    Your first point of contact should be your advisor. If you feel that your question or concern has not been addressed, please reach out to your Department Head or Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs Kevin Scoles. Graduate students may reach out to Associate Dean for Enrollment and Graduate Education Kapil Dandekar.

  • How can I stay connected to the Drexel engineering community?

    We continue to work on ways to provide virtual engagement to our entire Engineering community as well. We welcome your submission of ideas and suggestions to engineering@drexel.edu.

    Using Slack: We encourage Engineering student clubs and activities to have online meet-ups and stay connected to each other virtually. The college is using Slack for all Engineering student organizations. Every group is expected to have at least one person participate regularly in the Slack chats. Contact Ilene Marker (imm23@drexel.edu) for link access.

  • What if I have other questions?

    Please visit Drexel’s Coronavirus: Information for Students webpage for more information. This includes the latest information on classes and exams, campus living, tuition and fees and more.

For Current Engineering Graduate Students

  • How is the College of Engineering celebrating the Class of 2020?

    We are making every effort to provide a virtual celebration worthy of the accomplishments of our graduating students! An official graduation slideshow will be shared with graduates and their friends and family members. We invite you to share this link and submit your message. We are also using the hashtag #ForeverDragoneers (Drexel Dragon + Engineer) on social media. Your posts will be featured on the website! We have also created custom Drexel Engineering items that you might want to download and print for use in your photos or to decorate your home.

  • What about my research and access to campus labs?

    Access to facilities is limited to essential personnel only. All Engineering research (e.g., papers, literature reviews, proposals, simulations, theory) is to be conducted remotely. Please develop a remote work plan with your advisor.

  • How will my MS thesis or PhD milestones be conducted while we are remote?

    Engineer MS thesis and PhD qualifying/candidacy/dissertations will be conducted via Zoom. Please check in with your advisor for details.

  • I have questions about ISSS/F-1 Visa.

    The ISSS staff is currently working from home. For questions and advising, we encourage all interactions to be conducted via email at isss@drexel.edu. If you are enrolled full-time this spring* and will complete your courses outside of the U.S., your status will remain active despite regulations governing full-time enrollment and online classes. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stated this in writing and ISSS is complying with SEVIS in reporting Drexel’s emergency plans to make sure that we (and you) are compliant.

    The 5-month physical presence requirement will not apply while the temporary measures related to COVID-19 are in place, as long as you remain in Active status. This means you can remain outside the U.S. for both the spring and summer terms. if you have a Vacation term or wish to take an International Break Term in the summer term (ISSS’ email on Thursday, March 26th).

  • What about graduating and OPT?

    If you plan to apply for OPT, you must mail your application to USCIS from inside the United States. If you leave the U.S. before applying for OPT and you do not return before the end of the spring term, you will not be able to enter the U.S. with your Drexel I-20 and F-1 visa.

  • What about I-20 and travel signatures?

    We are able to email your I-20 to you with a digital signature to your Drexel email. You no longer have to wait for ISSS office to re-open to pick up your I-20 or request mail service.

  • How can I stay connected to the Drexel engineering community?

    The Graduate College recently launched Zoom Room office hours that will feature a variety of guest speakers and topics relevant to the graduate community, similar to the normal in-person coffee and workshops. RSVP via thelink and share your topic ideas.

    We continue to work on ways to provide virtual engagement to our entire Engineering community as well. We welcome your submission of ideas and suggestions to engineering@drexel.edu.

  • What if I have other questions?

    The Graduate College continues to offer TA and graduate student resources on the graduate coronavirus updates webpage. You may also visit Drexel’s Coronavirus: Information for Students webpage for more information. This includes the latest information on classes and exams, campus living, tuition and fees and more.

For College Faculty and Staff

  • What are we doing about lab access and safety while campus closes to the public?

    Per President Fry’s message on Thursday, March 19, you should have now picked up any items from campus and returned home promptly. Effective Friday, March 20, at 5:00 pm, campus will be closed to the public. Only faculty and staff approved as critical personnel will have access to campus. We are actively working on a critical staffing plan to address the safety of labs as well as IT support while campus is otherwise closed.

  • What if I have other questions?

    For questions related to labs and research, please contact Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs Caroline Schauer. For all other college-related questions, faculty and staff should refer to the CoE Academic Continuity site and Drexel Staff Assembly-Engineering Team site, respectively (internal access only) for regular announcements and updates. You can also visit Drexel’s Coronavirus: Information for Faculty and Staff webpage for more information.

  • What resources is the college offering to faculty and staff working remotely?

    Please refer to Dean Sharon Walker’s recent email updates, which include access instructions and information about internal repositories for our faculty and staff.

For Our Future Engineering Students

  • What is the best way to contact college undergraduate student admissions?

    Please contact your undergraduate admissions representative.

  • What is the best way to contact college graduate admissions?

    Join admisions representatives for One-on-One Live Chats.

  • Will you still be hosting open houses?

    We are in the process of converting our open house activities to make them available virtually.

  • What if I have other questions?

    Please visit Drexel’s Coronavirus: Information for Prospective Students webpage for more information.

  • I was recently admitted to Drexel Engineering. What is happening with Admitted Students Day?

    Check out our new immersive virtual experience for admitted Engineering students, "The Moment.” Be sure to check back regularly, too, for updates provided continuously during April, including videos, stories, graphics, social sites, publications and so much more. You may also visit drexel.edu/undergrad/admitted for additional information and updates.

  • Can I take a virtual tour?

    Yes, join us for a video tour of campus at any time that works for you. We also welcome you to learn more about our offerings at a virtual information session.

Events and Additional Resources

How are Drexel Engineers giving back?