Coronavirus-related Cancellations and Changes on Drexel’s Campus

Please visit the ‘Drexel’s Response to Coronavirus’ website for the latest information on campus preparations and responses regarding COVID-19.

In the last couple of days, so much has been changing at Drexel University in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which is why Dragons should monitor their Drexel email accounts for University messages and refer to the ‘Drexel’s Response to Coronavirus’ website for the most up-to-date news, information, frequently asked questions and other important announcements.

As of March 16, here’s what Dragons should be aware of in terms of what’s going on at Drexel’s campuses, including information on events, dining services and other updates relevant to those staying on campus or using campus services during this time.

Notable Campus Updates From the ‘Drexel’s Response to Coronavirus’ website 

Know What Campus Events and Gatherings are Allowed

Smaller on-campus gatherings of students, faculty and professional staff should continue as usual. However, large events that can’t be moved online are being postponed or cancelled. As of March 15, the CDC recommends that in-person events that consist of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks.

All non-academic events of any size hosted primarily for individuals from outside of Drexel are cancelled. 

Intercollegiate athletic events have been suspended until further notice. 

As of March 14, Student Life is canceling all student organization events until further notice. 

Call Drexel Facilities for Extra Soap, Sanitizer and Paper Towels

If a bathroom is out of soap or paper towels, or an on-campus sanitizer station is empty, call the Facilities Call Center (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at 215.895.1700 to report the concern. Student residents can also contact their residence hall Front Desk for assistance.

Drexel Recreation Center Remains Open, With Some Suspensions

The Drexel Rec will remain open. Hours: Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Rec Center access will be limited to the fitness floors and locker rooms.

All programming is suspended — this includes group exercise classes, intramural sports, club sports practices/games/travel, personal training sessions, small group training sessions and swim lessons. The climbing wall, DAC Pool, equipment window rental, multi-purpose courts (basketball courts), group exercise studios, and member services will be closed.

If you are a member and will not be utilizing your membership, The Rec Center can freeze your membership. Please contact memberships@drexel.edu.

All guest passes have been suspended. All new membership sales have been suspended.

You can renew your membership online at reccenter.drexel.edu.

Shipping and Receiving Still Running as Normal

Shipping and Receiving is running under normal operation. If there are changes in university operations, Facilities will make every effort to have Shipping and Receiving remain open and operating hours will be posted on the facilities website at drexel.edu/facilities and in the General Services Building.

What to Know About Campus Living and Dining Services

Aramark, the University’s contracted food service provider, instituted several additional measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Those measures include:

• Installing additional hand sanitizer stations
• Increase cleaning of high touch areas
• Temporarily discontinuing the Cupanion re-usable mug option at Urban Eatery and Starbucks

If students don’t want to hand their DragonCard to a cashier anymore, they can download the GET App (search for GET in your app store) and log in using your Drexel Connect credentials. Each Campus Dining point of sale can accept the GET App as a form of payment using their customer-facing barcode scanner.

Additionally, the self-serv kiosks at Urban Eatery are cleaned regularly. In addition, please remember that the kiosks are optional. All purchases can occur via the cashier as well.

On March 16, all non-essential businesses were ordered to shut down by 5 p.m., though “essential” businesses including supermarkets, gas stations and veterinary clinics, among others, will remain open going forward. Additionally, some businesses and restaurants have opted to temporarily close voluntarily. For carry-out and delivery services from restaurants and businesses on and off campus, be sure to call ahead or check their websites and social media for updates on their status and operations.

As a result, all Campus Dining locations will close all seating areas and serve take-out only. Additionally, Campus Dining locations will have the following adjusted operating hours starting March 17 through March 20:

• Handschumacher Dining Center: CLOSED
• Starbucks in Gerri C. LeBow Hall: CLOSED
• Kosher Café: 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Urban Eatery:
  • Downtown Grounds: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Ignite: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Vespa: 11 a.m. – 8 a.m.
  • Greene Street: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Street Fare: CLOSED
  • U.C. Veg: CLOSED
• Northside Dining Terrace:
  • The Market: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Chick-fil-A: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Sushi: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Subway: CLOSED
• ThirtyOne 41 in Main Building: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Drexel’s Galleries Closed

The A. J. Drexel Picture Gallery, Rincliffe Gallery, Pearlstein Gallery and Fox Historic Costume Collection Gallery will be closed until further notice. Efforts are being made to reschedule and/or extend exhibitions that were planned during this time and information will be available on the individual collections’ and gallery websites.

Other Notable Campus Updates

Academy of Natural Sciences Closed

Due to ongoing concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, The Academy of Natural Sciences will temporarily close to the public and remain closed through at least March 31. All public programming is canceled or postponed through April 30.

Counseling Center Limits Face-to-Face Meetings, Adds Remote Options

Continuing through April 20 (Week 3), Drexel’s Counseling Center will be significantly limiting face-to-face meeting while providing remote options for students who cannot be seen in person and who reside in Pennsylvania due to licensure restrictions. Please call the Counseling Center at 215.895.1415 (or the crisis after hours line, 215.416.3337) if you are in need of emergent help or consultation. Further updates will be posted as they become available.

Drexel Libraries Updates Finals Hours, Will Close March 23 but Still Offer Dragons Support

Drexel Libraries Hours: March 16–22

W. W. Hagerty Library Hours

During the remainder of the final exam period, the W. W. Hagerty Library will remain open to faculty, students and staff with current Drexel Dragon cards as follows. We encourage all students, faculty and staff who visit the Libraries to practice social distancing according to health guidelines.

March 16–19: 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

March 20: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

March 21–22: Closed

Note: 24/7 service in the Dragons’ Learning Den will not be extended until further notice.

Queen Lane Library & Hahnemann Library Hours

The Queen Lane and Hahnemann Libraries will be closed, effective March 16, 2020. The 24/7 areas in each facility will remain open as long as access to those buildings continues.

Drexel Libraries Hours: Beginning March 23, 2020

Effective Monday, March 23, all Libraries physical spaces will be closed until further notice.

CAA Cancels All Competitions for the Remainder of the Winter and Spring Sports Seasons

The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) has canceled all conference and non-conference competitions for the remainder of the winter and spring sports seasons. The CAA has also indefinitely suspended all in-person, on- and off-campus recruiting.

Drexel Writing Center Remains Open Through Online Appointments

From an email sent by the Drexel Writing Center on March 15:

The Drexel Writing Center will remain open in the spring 2020 term. We will hold all spring appointments online until further notice. Our online appointments are synchronous, feature audio and video components, as well as a whiteboard and chat function. To access your online appointment:

1. Log in to drexel.mywconline.com

2. Click on your appointment on the appropriate schedule.

3. Click on the red "Start or Join Consultation" link.

If there are technical difficulties using the WCOnline synchronous appointment module, we will move to using Zoom or Microsoft Teams. You have access to a Zoom account and Teams through Drexel. Please reach out to dwc@drexel.edu with questions.

Dornsife Center Cancels All Non-Drexel Programming and Activities

On March 12, the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships announced the cancellation of all Dornsife Center programming, events and activities for non-Drexel related purposes. Any scheduled Drexel academic for-credit classes held there continued as planned until the end of this term on March 13.

Lindy Center Cancels Programming, Service Placements

The Lindy Center has canceled all Drexel Community Scholars and CIVC 101 service placements starting March 14 through the foreseeable future. It had canceled Lindy Center programming through the foreseeable future.

Center for Scholar Development Cancels In-Person Drop-in Hours

In-person drop-in hours are canceled for the foreseeable future. Office staff will be operating during normal business hours but will be primarily remote until late April.