By explicitly putting students at the center of everything we do, Drexel can improve student retention and strengthen long-term student commitment to the University, leading to student success and ultimately, Drexel’s success. The Students First Certificate Series provides curated courses focused on areas in which Drexel employees can serve and lead students by modeling Drexel’s values.

Our Ethical Campus

Demonstrating consistent ethical behavior in the work we do, in our interactions with others, and in our processes and procedures, sets an example for the students who look to Drexel’s employees for guidance and models for their own behavior. The Students First Certificate: Our Ethical Campus program offers the courses listed below and more to provide direction and recommendations for demonstrating ethical behavior. It will take approximately two hours to complete.

• Micro-Module: Your Integrity at Work
• Micro-Module: Minimizing Gossip in the Workplace
• Micro-Module: Making Ethical Decisions
• Micro-Module: Ethical Warning Signs
• Micro-Module: 5 Common Workplace Issues and How to Handle Them

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Connecting Through Communication

The ability to communicate effectively with students greatly impacts their lives and our own. Remember that recent interaction with a student that didn’t go well? Imagine what that situation might have felt like for both of you if you were more skilled at connecting with the student. The Students First Certificate: Connecting through Communication program offers perspectives and ideas for enhancing connection through the courses listed below and many more. It will take approximately four hours to complete.

• Bo Seo on What Debate Teaches Us About Listening to Each Other – NBIC
• A Guide to Empathy at Work
• Communication Fundamentals
• Our Words Matter: Using Inclusive Language
• Your Guide to Unconscious Bias

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Critical Thinking in Action

Thinking critically and solving problems effectively are essential to success in our everyday work, but especially so when trying to help students navigate ambiguous and confusing situations. The Students First Certificate: Critical Thinking in Action program offers the courses listed below, and more, to help you think about information and problems in new ways. It will take approximately three hours to complete.

• Critical Thinking and Information Literacy
• Steven Johnson on Farsighted Decisions – NBIC
• Critical Thinking Fundamentals
• Creative Problem Solving Fundamentals
• Micro-Module: 5 Ways to Increase Your Mental Agility

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Our Inclusive Campus

At Drexel, “Inclusion means that everyone’s perspective matters and that people who have been excluded from important discussions historically are now invited into critical conversations... we recognize that inclusion must be active and intentional, and it requires ongoing self-reflection.” As leaders and models for students, Drexel faculty and professional staff have a special obligation and honor to actively create a campus environment that is inclusive and fosters belonging. The Students First Certificate: Our Inclusive Campus program offers the courses listed below and many more that provide guidance and perspectives to amplify our ability to create that inclusive environment. It will take approximately four hours to complete.

• How to Recognize and Overcome Bias – Featuring Bestselling Author Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt - NBIC
• A Guide to Cultural Competence
• Our Words Matter: Using Inclusive Language
• Zachary Wood on Having Uncomfortable Conversations About Sensitive Issues – NBIC
• Inclusive Language – Pride
• Are You an Ally? Try Taking on These 5 Roles

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Elevating Student Support

By explicitly putting students at the center of everything we do, Drexel can improve student retention and strengthen long term student commitment to the university. The Students First Certificate: Elevating Student Support program offers the courses listed below and more providing tools and strategies for centering the student and supporting them in various contexts. It will take approximately 3.5 hours to complete.

• Cultural Sensitivity in Customer Service
• Handling Difficult Customer Service Scenarios
• Do You Have These Four Essential Customer Service Skills?
• Dealing With Stress, Pressure, and Burnout
• Soliciting and Responding to Customer Feedback

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Building Bridges

Sometimes, interactions don’t go the way we would have liked. Maybe we said or did something we’re not proud of. Perhaps we didn’t show up the way we like to. The Students First Certificate: Building Bridges program offers the courses listed below, and many more, showing how we can respond next time. By showing up with a bridge-building mindset, we can support students productively and demonstrate what that looks like in practice. This program will take approximately 4.5 hours to complete.

• Micro-Module: Cultivating Strong Professional Relationships
• Micro-Module: Repairing a Broken Work Relationship
• Micro-Module: No Hard Feelings – Professional vs. Emotional
• Dr. Brene Brown on Empathy – A Video Short
• Listening to More Than Just Words

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