March

Unidentified male playing guitar while his brain activity is recorded. Where in the Brain Does Creativity Come from? Evidence from Jazz Musicians

A new brain-imaging study out of Drexel University's Creativity Research Lab sheds light on the controversy on which side of the brain is responsible for creativity by studying the brain of jazz guitarists during improvisation. 

Third-year medical student Edward Guo after collecting PPE supplies. Photo courtesy Estefania Alba-Rodriguez and Kira Smith. Drexel Collects Coronavirus-related Supplies for Donations
Medical and nursing faculty, staff and students are gathering masks, gowns, gloves and other personal protective equipment to donate to hospitals and health care workers.
New Research Reveals Insights into How Fruit Flies Find Food What Can Fruit Flies Teach Us About How Creatures Find Food?
Until now, researchers haven't yet understood how individual directional cues and search movements are used together to help fruit flies find food. Thanks to a recently published study of fruit flies in PLOS Computational Biology from researchers at Drexel University's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, researchers now have a way to parse out how different mechanisms are used individually and in conjunction with each other.
Coronavirus Q&A: #COVIDCalls with Disaster Historian Scott Knowles
Every day, the head of Drexel’s Department of History speaks with experts about news and developments related to COVID-19 — and he wants you to listen in.
Image of Drexel communecement setup at Citizens Bank Park Finding the Right Time to Celebrate Drexel’s Class of 2020

This is a time of uncertainty, disruption and sacrifice. Our University has had to change the way we teach, conduct research and serve our community. And today, we regret to announce yet another step, which will be a particular disappointment to the members of the Class of 2020: That is, the pandemic has forced us to postpone all Drexel commencement ceremonies this spring.

To help cope with this transition to a fully online curriculum this spring term, some of Drexel University Online’s top students provided their online learning hacks and best practices. Online Learning Tips From Your Fellow Dragons
Some Drexel University students will take their first online class this spring as the curriculum goes virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help cope with this transition, some of Drexel’s top online students provided their online learning hacks and best practices.
red rendering of coronavirus with campus update March 25 Drexel’s Spring Term: A Rich Offering of Student Experiences

Although popular gathering spots like the Korman Quad, the DAC and campus coffee shops won’t be their usual hives of activity this spring, we promise an engaging and challenging academic — and social — experience, utilizing an array of creative digital tools to keep everyone in the Drexel community connected.

red rendering of coronavirus with COVID-19 update March 25 First-Year Medical Student Tests Positive for COVID-19

We learned today that a first-year Drexel medical student has confirmed positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The student lives in an off-campus residence and was last on campus (at Queen Lane) on March 13. The student only recently developed symptoms and had no symptoms when on campus. Student Health and the Department of Public Health have been notified. 

We are contacting the small number of students with whom the student interacted and advising them to adhere to strict social distancing and monitor themselves for symptoms until March 27.

Check out These Drexel Resources for Online Learning Check out These Drexel Resources for Online Learning
With the University shifting to handling most campus functions remotely for faculty, staff and students, now is the time to make sure you’re up to date on best practices for working online.
A 2014 aerial shot of Drexel's University City Campus. Photo credit: Kelly & Massa Photography. March 23: Drexel’s Campus is Closed. Now What?
With campus now officially closed as of March 20, here’s what Dragons should know about what resources are and are not available as they prepare to work and learn remotely.
autoimmune ‘But You Don’t Look Sick?’ How Broad Categories like Autoimmune Impact Patient Experience  
When your disease is hard to name and doesn’t have visible symptoms, it can be hard for others to understand that you are sick. And, when people don’t know much about your disease, it can be hard to explain it to family and friends.
From a “shelter-in-place” order to options for upcoming relief efforts, here’s what Drexel University Dragons remaining local to Philadelphia should know about the city’s response measures to the novel coronavirus outbreak. COVID-19 Response: Changes in and Around Philadelphia as of March 23
From a “shelter-in-place” order to options for upcoming relief efforts, here’s what Dragons remaining local to Philadelphia should know about the city’s response measures to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
campus update 3-21 Another Drexel Student Tests Positive for COVID-19

We learned today that a Drexel undergraduate student has confirmed positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The student lives in an on-campus residence but has remained off campus with her family since March 15.  Thankfully, she has recovered from the virus and no longer has any symptoms.

 
rendering of COVID-19 Drexel Student Tests Positive for COVID-19 Coronavirus

I am writing to inform you that a Drexel graduate student has become the first known member of our community to contract the COVID-19 coronavirus. Fortunately, this student is recovering at home and said to be doing well.

faculty staff update 3-20 Resources for Campus Closure and Remote Work

To prepare the majority of our faculty and professional staff members to effectively work remotely, we have listed important reminders and information below.

campus update 3-20 Transforming the Drexel Experience; Caring for Our Community

We are deeply thankful to our students — and their families — and Drexel faculty, professional staff and other employees for pulling together under such trying and fluid circumstances.

 
Rendering of coronavirus with faculty/staff update: March 19 Drexel Campus Closure Procedures Moved Up Due to Governor’s Order

We are writing to you this evening on a matter of some urgency, following the order issued by Gov. Tom Wolf late this afternoon concerning the shutdown of most businesses and schools in Pennsylvania to help stem the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Red image of coronavirus cell with: Campus Update: March 19, Three Parkway Visitor to CNHP in Three Parkway Diagnosed with COVID-19

There are no known cases of the coronavirus among anyone in the Drexel community, but the management at Three Parkway, one of Drexel’s Center City campus locations — where Drexel utilizes multiple floors — has alerted the University that a visitor last seen at the building on Thursday, March 12 has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

coronavirus campus update 3-19 Drexel Gears Up for Remote Learning, Research; Campus Clearing Out

Drexel students and faculty are ramping up preparations for remote teaching and learning in the spring term, aided by professional staff from across the University working diligently to provide support — while preparations continue to close the campus to the public tomorrow.

 
Dance, Cook, Listen: Creative Ideas for Health and Well-being Dance, Cook, Listen: Creative Ideas for Health and Well-being
Members of Drexel's Creative Arts Therapies Department offered tips on how to manage yourself creatively and effectively while in social isolation.
Coronavirus COVID-19 Q&A With Dornsife School of Public Health Dean Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD

In this Q&A, the dean of the Dornsife School of Public Health sorts out fact from fiction and shares what experts know so far about the novel coronavirus.

campus update 3-18 Campus Prepares for Move-Out, Closure to Public

We are moving ahead today with our decision to close all campus facilities to the public on Friday, March 20, leaving minimal on-site staffing until further notice, while continuing core University operations and planning for the start of the spring term.

 
Red cell of COVID-19 with Campus Update March 17 text University Core Operations Continue as Campus Closes to the Public; Student Move-out Saturday
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to drive major changes in the way we conduct teaching, research and campus operations at Drexel. In addition to earlier measures designed to safeguard all of us, Drexel will close all campus facilities to the public as of the end of the day on Friday, March 20 until further notice — open only to those faculty, professional staff and other employees needed to maintain critical operations or required on campus to assist in delivering online education.
red cell of COVID-19 with words Campus Update: March 16 Entire Spring Term to be Taught Remotely; Clinical Experiences Suspended; On-Campus Research Activities Restricted
As final exams begin this week, we are taking stock of the latest recommendations for stemming the COVID-19 coronavirus and making adjustments and changes accordingly to our plans for teaching and research going forward into the spring term.
Here’s how the city has responded to the novel coronavirus outbreak, and what Drexel University Dragons remaining on or near campus should keep in mind. What Dragons Should Know About Changes in Philadelphia Due to COVID-19
Here’s how the city has responded to the novel coronavirus outbreak, and what Dragons remaining on or near campus should keep in mind.
water Heavy Spring Rainfall is Followed by Spikes in Gastrointestinal Illness in Philadelphia
Heavy spring rainfall in Philadelphia may lead to twice the rate of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI), such as diarrhea or vomiting, throughout the city, reports a three-year study recently published in PLOS One from researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
Nine out of Ten Transgender Adults Do Not Have Their Self-Identified Name and Gender on All Their Identification Documents  Transgender Adults Holding Gender-Affirming IDs Have Better Mental Health
Having gender-affirming documents, such as a passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate, may improve mental health among transgender adults, according to findings published today in The Lancet Public Health from researchers at Drexel University.
campus update March 14 COVID-19 Exposure at St. Christopher's Hospital
On late Friday night, March 13, we learned that a physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children who worked in the ICU, has been diagnosed with a presumed case of COVID-19. The physician was last at the hospital on March 11 and began to feel unwell later that day. We know that the infection was not acquired in the hospital.
faculty-staff-update-3-13 Coronavirus Information and Resources for Faculty and Professional Staff

The past few weeks have been challenging for all as we navigate uncharted territory. We are enormously grateful for the flexibility and compassion Drexel’s faculty and professional staff have all shown, and for the high standards and care you have continued to provide the campus community.  

 
coronavirus campus update 3-13 Charting Drexel's Way Forward Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
As we close out this extraordinary and challenging week together, we would like to pause briefly, and thank each of you for your understanding, cooperation and support as we map a safe course through the threats posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
dry MXene Water-Free Way to Make MXenes Could Mean New Uses for the Promising Nanomaterials
Drexel University researchers have discovered a different way to make the atom-thin material that presents a number of new opportunities for using it. The new discovery removes water from the MXene-making process, which means the materials can be used in applications in which water is a contaminant or hampers performance, such as battery electrodes and next-generation solar cells.
red cell of COVID-19 with the words campus update: March 12 Spring Break Lengthened, Online Courses for Start of Spring Quarter, Campus to Remain Open

The COVID-19 outbreak, now officially designated a pandemic by the World Health Organization, calls for extraordinary measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In light of this, Drexel is announcing several changes to ensure our students’ health and safety while they continue their educational progress.

faculty staff coronavirus update Coronavirus Information and Resources for Faculty and Staff
As the University continues to closely monitor the evolving situation regarding the coronavirus, or COVID-19, we wanted to provide some further guidance and resources for faculty and professional staff. The health and safety of all community members are of the utmost importance here at Drexel.
Red cell of coronavirus with the words Campus Update: March 11 Final Exams Move Online Next Week as Coronavirus Precaution

Drexel continues to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus and are taking precautions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The campus remains open, but after consultation with deans and other academic leaders, we have decided to conduct next week’s quarter final exams online, rather than in classroom settings.

Shara Epstein, MD, answers a question at the CNHP event as Deborah Clegg, PhD, pictured left, and Merritt Brockman, DHA, seated in the center, look on. Photo courtesy Craig Schlanser. Drexel Panels Address COVID-19 Best Practices
The College of Nursing and Health Professions and Dornsife School of Public Health hosted discussions on how health care professionals and the general public can be prepared to face the novel coronavirus.
Red cell of coronavirus with the words Campus Update: March 11 COVID-19 Exposure at St. Christopher's Hospital

On Tuesday, an independent physician with admitting privileges at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children was diagnosed with a presumed case of COVID-19. Based on risk assessment guidelines from both the federal government and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 from this individual is low. The Department of Health is contacting the patient families for follow up. We do not have any reports of the coronavirus among Drexel students, faculty or professional staff that might be linked to this individual. 

Red image of a coronavirus cell under microscope with the text Campus Update: March 10 Travel Ban Widened; Outside Events, International Co-ops, Study Abroad, Spring Break ‘Intensives’ Cancelled Due to COVID-19

The University continues to operate as normal and has no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, we are taking extra precautions to safeguard the Drexel community amid an uptick of cases in the Philadelphia region. This situation will require many of us to alter our daily routines and travel plans, and likely mean postponing highly anticipated meetings and events. Certainly, that will be the case with our latest decision — to cancel all international co-op placements for the spring-summer cycle and study-abroad programs for the spring term, as well as the spring break Intensive Courses Abroad and student organization international travel.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Q&A with College of Medicine Dean Charles B. Cairns, MD
In this Q&A, the Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean discussed what is known and unknown about COVID-19, and what sources he's turning to for coronavirus news and updates.
bulk MXene Making More MXene — Researchers Unveil a Scalable Production System for the Promising, 2D Nanomaterials

For more than a decade, two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene, have been touted as the key to making better microchips, batteries, antennas and many other devices. But a significant challenge of using these atom-thin building materials for the technology of the future is ensuring that they can be produced in bulk quantities without losing their quality. For one of the most promising new types of 2D nanomaterials, MXenes, that’s no longer a problem. Researchers at Drexel University and the Materials Research Center in Ukraine have designed a system that can be used to make large quantities of the material while preserving its unique properties.

coronavirus update Safeguarding Drexel Community with Stepped-Up Coronavirus Precautionary Measures

Following the confirmation of the first few coronavirus cases in the Philadelphia area, Drexel University will be taking additional steps in the coming days to safeguard students, faculty and professional staff. These measures likely will require that we alter our daily routines and some spring break travel plans, and yet still carry on the University's critical mission of teaching and research. Working together, we will do everything possible to mitigate the impact of the expected spread of the coronavirus in our region.

rendering of the garden at 32nd and Market Streets with seating and trucks Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Drexel Partner on New Garden Space

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Drexel University are partnering on a new garden space that will open this spring for Drexel students, faculty, alumni and the public. Located at 32nd and Market Streets, The Gateway Garden at Drexel is being brought to life by PHS, and it will serve as a vibrant entrance to Drexel’s campus. The project will transform a once-vacant space into a hub of horticultural excellence and engaging activities year round. The two organizations announced the garden and revealed renderings at an event held March 4 at the Flower Show.

As part of its celebration of the 100th anniversary of its cooperative education program this academic year, Drexel University hosted the inaugural University-wide Co-op Send-off celebration. Drexel Sends Co-op Students Off in Style
As part of its celebration of the 100th anniversary of its cooperative education program this academic year, Drexel University hosted the inaugural University-wide Co-op Send-off celebration.
A multi-million-dollar project to repair the roof and skylight of Drexel University’s first campus building will start around March 16. Drexel Main Building Roof Renovations Set to Start This Month
A multi-million-dollar project to repair the roof and skylight of Drexel University’s first campus building will start around March 16. Here’s how the renovations may impact Dragons.
Kristen Furlong spent her first year at Drexel University as an undeclared student through the Goodwin College of Professional Studies’ First-Year Exploratory Studies (FYE) program, which provides undecided students with the opportunity to explore their academic interests and options before selecting a major. Major-switcher Memoirs: The Growing Support Systems for Undeclared Students at Drexel
Over the last five years, Drexel University has ushered in more than 1,500 undeclared students, and because of the support systems in place, they leave more confident and prepared Dragons.
dps PUBLIC SAFETY AND U – March (Faculty/Staff)
The Department of Public Safety urges all members of the University community to enjoy March activities responsibly when imbibing in alcoholic beverages.
dps PUBLIC SAFETY AND U – March (Student)
The Department of Public Safety urges students to observe federal drinking age laws and consume responsibly when imbibing in alcoholic beverages.
Map of world in red with words campus update March 2 Drexel Establishes University-wide Plans to Cope with Potential Coronavirus Outbreak

As the number of coronavirus cases grows in the United States, Drexel University is enacting contingency plans to ensure that students, faculty and professional staff are safeguarded, while continuing to provide for learning and research and critical campus functions.

The Drexel delegation hiked to the Bioko program's research site on a beach monitoring marine turtles’ nesting grounds. Photo credit: Scott Cooper. In Equatorial Guinea, Drexel Leaders Deepen Longstanding Research Partnership
A delegation led by President John Fry traveled to the African nation to further the University’s commitment to its Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program.