Catch up on the biggest news and stories from this past fall term — and what you’ll need to know for the rest of the winter term.
Making Drexel More Efficient — Survey Deadline Extended
The Institutional Effectiveness Committee was created as part of the University Strategic Planning process to foster a culture of continuous improvement and to reduce inefficient and redundant activity. In November, the committee launched an online survey to capture your day-to-day and overarching issues and your suggestions on how to fix them. You have until = Jan. 18 to provide crucial feedback about existing challenges, your proposed solutions and success stories that can be integrated and replicated University-wide.
No idea is too big and no topic is off the table. The committee wants to hear from you, so if you haven’t already, please complete the survey today! The survey is anonymous, but you have the opportunity to include your contact information should the committee need to follow up with you for further information and/or to participate in a focus group.
Colleague Resource Groups: Resolve to Get Involved in 2019
Drexel’s Colleague Resource Groups, which are open to all faculty and professional staff members, strive to raise awareness and understanding of issues that are important to traditionally underrepresented groups and their allies. They’re also a great way to build and sustain a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, engaging and diverse campus community. Drexel’s five active Colleague Resource Groups are:
- Bienvenidos
- Black Faculty & Professional Staff Association
- LGBTQA+ Faculty & Professional Staff Network
- Veterans Colleague Resource Group
- Women’s Financial Literacy & Learning
Each of these groups has its own vision for programming for the upcoming year. Consider making 2019 the year you get involved! You can read more at the Colleague Resource Groups web page on the Drexel University Diversity and Inclusive Excellence website, or by contacting the Office of Equality and Diversity by email.
Planning a Youth Event or Program? Use the Interacting With Minors Checklist
Drexel’s Protection of Minors and Reporting Child Abuse Policy (PS-1) provides requirements, guidelines and procedures, in accordance with all applicable state laws, for the protection and supervision of minors (anyone under the age of 18) who attend Drexel or take part in its programs and activities.
If you are planning a Drexel event, program or activity that will involve minors, please use the Interacting With Minors Checklist [PDF] to help guide you through these processes and requirements. The Department of Public Safety also has an online video training that can help you navigate your responsibilities under the policy.
For questions about the Protection of Minors Policy and associated procedures, contact Minors Coordinator Stephen Guckin at 215.571.4091 or protectionofminors@drexel.edu. For questions about background checks, refer to the Background Check Policy (HR-52) and/or contact your HR Business Partner.
Registration Open for January R.A.D. for Women Classes
The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System for women is a series of classes that provides realistic defense methods to help participants make educated decisions about resistance. In January, the Department of Public Safety will host a R.A.D. series on the University City Campus that is free to the Drexel community. This series will educate participants about risk reduction strategies and the "Fight or Flight Syndrome." Participants will learn about personal weapons, vulnerable locations, postures, and the many options to employ if engaged in an aggressive encounter.
The remaining class dates in this series are: Jan. 17, 22, and 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Additional details, including the class location, will be emailed to registrants. You may register via the form at the bottom of the R.A.D. page on the Public Safety website. For more information, contact Karen Sams at 215.895.1609 or kjs52@drexel.edu.
Construction Update
Wrapping Up This Winter: In the coming weeks, the signalized crosswalk at Lancaster Walk will complete Drexel’s work on the intersection of 32nd and Market streets (the former Firestone site), and Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services will put the finishing touches on its exterior renovations of the Armory. The University is also nearing completion of its renovation of an existing laboratory on the third floor of Bossone Research Enterprise Center, which will increase the lab’s usability for chemically intensive work related to energy and energy storage.
Moves Planned for Spring: Renovations are underway at 3675 Market St. to create a new, consolidated home for the College of Computing & Informatics. The College is expected to begin moving the space this spring. That move will allow the School of Education to consolidate in 3401 Market St. this spring as well. Farther east on Market Street, construction is in progress on the Fabric Discovery Center at 3101R Market St., and the space is expected to be ready for equipment installation in March.
Student Housing Improvements: The University is performing miscellaneous repairs and renovations to several Fraternity & Sorority Life houses along Powelton Avenue and 34th Street. For example, non-structural repairs and renovations to the Tau Kappa Epsilon House are currently underway, with completion expected by the end of this month. Meanwhile, the University is undertaking much more extensive renovations of Calhoun Residence Hall, which will address the needs of the building envelope and modernize the hall to provide an improved living experience, with occupancy in fall 2019. The renovation will also include a two-story addition to relocate the Pennoni Honors College into the heart of Drexel’s campus; the addition is expected to be complete in spring 2020.
For a complete list of major current projects, visit drexel.edu/facilities/design/currentProjects.
This story was published in the winter 2019 issue of Drexel Quarterly.