June has always been a month of transition — graduation for students, the beginning and end of terms, the closing of the fiscal year — and that means there are always new procedures, opportunities and resources for Drexel faculty and professional staff to keep up with. This year is no exception, from pandemic-related changes to the University’s voluntary retirement plan to new and additional HR resources to businesses that have reopened on campus.
Here’s what was heard around campus this month:
Drexel University Online 403(b) Seminar and Enrollment Sessions
Drexel Human Resources is hosting the following virtual seminars for Drexel University Online employees to explain the Drexel 403(b) Plan and demonstrate how to enroll:
- June 30 from 11 a.m. to noon
- July 1 from 2–3 p.m.
To register, sign into Career Pathway via the Employee tab in DrexelOne and find the session you're looking for on the Event Calendar. For more information, please contact Karen Holbrook at klh78@drexel.edu.
Voluntary Retirement Incentive Plan and Tenured Faculty Transition Plan
In a recent survey sent to the Drexel community asking about concerns regarding our potential return to campus in the fall, faculty and professional staff members expressed an increased interest in retirement options due to the changes associated with the pandemic. In response, HR has developed enhanced retirement options available to eligible faculty and professional staff who wish to retire by Aug. 31, 2020: the Voluntary Retirement Incentive Plan (VRIP) and the Tenured Faculty Transition Plan (TFTP). For more information, please visit the HR website. Both faculty and professional staff can schedule 1:1 consultations to learn more.
Merchants Reopening Around Campus
Drexel Business Services is excited to inform you that a few of the local business and Drexel brands on campus have re-started their operations.
The following merchants have re-opened for takeout:
- Chick-fil-A’s location at Northside Dining Terrace
- Drexel Pizza at 33rd and Arch streets
- Shake Shack’s location at 32nd and Chestnut streets
- Fuel’s location at 32nd and Chestnut streets
- Chipotle’s location at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- Old Nelson’s location at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- Insomnia Cookies’ location at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue
The following merchants are currently open for service:
- Landmark Americana’s location at 34th and Market streets, serving an expanded outside seating area
- Wawa’s location at 34th and Market streets
Barnes and Noble is fulfilling online orders daily for merchandise, school supplies and many other instore items. Take advantage of your faculty/staff discount by using the code FACULTY1 for 15 percent off your order Saturday to Thursday, or 25 percent off on Fridays. The discount will be applied after the order is submitted.
Please visit the merchant’s website for hours and further details around their current operations.
Check Out the New Drexel Communications Playbook
The Drexel Communications Playbook for Faculty and Professional Staff is a list of quick links to communications-related resources designed to help you navigate the internal communication channels, policies and processes at Drexel University. The Playbook was developed by the Communications Working Group of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee. Categories include:
- How to find and communicate with colleagues
- Where to find information about Drexel
- Publications for your reading list
- Where to ask questions and give feedback
- How to market programs and events internally
- Emergency communications and the Compliance Hotline
Click here to view the Playbook on the HR website.
Wellness Offerings From HR
Earn $75 by Attending Retirement Planning Sessions
Drexel Human Resources’ partners at MetLife will be offering their four-part series, “Retirewise,” on Wednesdays in July. Employees of all ages can earn 15 wellness points ($15) per session and a bonus of $15 if you attend all four via the Wellness Incentive Program. For more details, please review the event page.
Intercultural Book Circle: “Such a Fun Age”
The next Intercultural Book Circle meeting will be held virtually on Aug. 11, and feature one of our own Drexel Dragons, Jeannine Cook, owner of Harriett's Bookshop located at 258 E. Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19125. The bookshop was named for historical heroine Harriet Tubman and celebrates women authors, women artists, and women activists. The book that will be discussed is “Such A Fun Age” by New York Times best seller Kiley Reid, who will also be at this event! Please join us in this opportunity to support our students and local businesses. Contact icm35@drexel.edu with questions or concerns. You must purchase the book via this link to gain access to this free event exclusive to the Drexel community. The ticket price is included in the book and shipping cost.
Here's a sneak peak at the novel:
Emira Tucker is a 25 year-old living in Philadelphia with two part-time jobs (typist and babysitter) and no health insurance. One night, Alix, the mother of the child for whom she babysits, calls upon her in an emergency, and Emira—clad in her “going out” clothes—takes the toddler to a yuppie grocery store, only to be accused of kidnapping by a security guard and fellow shopper. Emira and Alix’s lives, although distinctly different, intersect in a wholly surprising way, raising difficult questions about morality, forgiveness, race, class, and parenthood.
Introducing New Financial Approver Role
Drexel’s new financial approver role came about due to feedback from the University community since the introduction of the Journal Entry Workflow. Many department managers want to allow a team member access as a Requestor Plus in Smart Source to make purchases, without granting the capability to approve journal entries. Therefore, Procurement Services, IT, and the Office of the Comptroller Office have teamed up to provide the SWR050 option. This role basically works in tandem with SSR050, but when assigned to a user’s security profile, will exclude them as an approver in the Journal Entry Workflow application. Please review the Comptroller’s announcement for further details on SWR050.
Free Resources via the Employee Assistance Program and Health Advocate
Make an estate plan, get counseling and access free education resources online with Drexel’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is a treasure trove of resources and support offered at no charge to benefit-eligible employees and their immediate family members. You can access free counseling sessions, locate daycare or eldercare near you, and even create a will, at no cost. Please visit the HR website for more information.
Drexel HR also has you covered with free advocacy services for benefit-eligible faculty and professional staff and their immediate family members. Call Health Advocate to connect with a benefits specialist who can help you understand how to navigate health care during the COVID-19 outbreak. To explore all that Health Advocate has to offer, visit the HR website.