Congratulations — you’ve reached the end of 2021, and the end of fall term at Drexel University. Make sure you’re aware of what’s changing over the winter break while you relax, and what you can expect in the winter term in 2022, from suspended campus bus service to wellness events to winter term parking permits.
Here’s what was heard around campus this month:
Campus Bus Service Suspended During Winter Break
Drexel University shuttle bus service along all routes will be suspended from Dec. 24, 2021, through Jan. 2, 2022. All routes will resume normal operations on Jan. 3, with the Powelton/Spring Garden Route adding a new 11 p.m. departure from 33rd and Market streets to Vidas Athletic Complex for 2022. Also during Winter Break, the Shipping and Receiving department will operate on Dec. 27–30 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., returning to its normal hours of 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 3.
Winter Term Parking Permits
Winter quarter and semester parking permits are now available for purchase by students, faculty and professional staff. To register for a Drexel Parking Permit, visit ParkDrexel, located in DrexelOne under the Campus and Community tab, or visit Drexel Parking Services website for details.
Compliance Program Services Awareness Survey
Please provide valuable feedback to Compliance Program Services by completing this Awareness Survey via Qualtrics. All responses are completely anonymous. Feedback will be used to enhance our Compliance Program at Drexel. Thank you in advance for completing this 10 minute or less survey!
Build Your Management Skills With the Supervisory Certificate Program
In the whirlwind of the day-to-day, professional development is often an afterthought. However, opportunities to learn and grow can provide necessary tools to calm the whirlwind. The Supervisory Certificate Program (SCP) provides learning opportunities for newer and aspiring managers and helps them expand their skills so they, their teams, and the organization benefit. If you are an aspiring or newer manager interested in participating in the program, you can find more information on the SCP website.
Confronting Antisemitism Through Storytelling
In an effort to inform the Drexel population about the issue of antisemitic rhetoric and behavior, a partnership between the Pennoni Honors College, Drexel Hillel, Jewish Studies and the College of Arts & Sciences seeks to create a storytelling event on the Drexel University campus in spring 2022. The goal is to bring together students, faculty, staff and members of the community to consider the present-day implications of discrimination against Jews. Rather than a panel discussion or conference, this event will showcase stories that reflect real-life experience and give a more vivid, first-hand account of antisemitism. You are invited to submit a story for this project, however big or small, about antisemitism as it may have occurred to you or that you observed as a Jewish person or Jewish ally.
A Frank Conversation: Disability Inclusion and Ableism
This panel discussion on Jan. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon will address the history of the disability rights movement, leading to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973). The legal landscape set the tone for compliance in public and private settings, granting individuals with disabilities protections to equal access and equal opportunity. This frank conversation will highlight diversity through the lens of disability and identify the barriers presented by ableist views and biases. Register on Zoom.
MLK Jr. Week of Service and Engagement: Jan. 10-17
The Lindy Center for Civic Engagement is hosting its second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Service and Engagement from Jan. 10–17. All events will be open to the entire Drexel community. For more information on events, the list of which will grow in the coming weeks, please browse Drexel’s civic engagement database.
Ready, Set, Register for 2022 Wellness Events
Get your calendar wellness-ready by registering for these upcoming wellness events! We’ve got brand new content and old favorites alike. Register through the Events Calendar in Career Pathway:
- Restore and Rejuvenate: Self-Massage, Stretching, and Stress Reduction: Jan. 11, 2–2:45 p.m.
- Your Heart and Hormones: Understanding Menopause and Heart Health: Jan 12., 12–1 p.m.
- Breast Health: Awareness is Power: Jan. 18, 12–1 p.m.
- Resting in the Body: A Two-Part Mindfulness Workshop: Feb. 1 and 8, 1–2 p.m.
- Navigating the Wellness Incentive Program: Feb. 9, 1–2 p.m.
- Your Annual Gyn Visit: Why, When, and What Happened to the Annual Pap Smear?: Feb. 22, 12–1 p.m.
- The Mortgage Lending Process: Feb. 23, 1–2 p.m.
Manage Your Health With Free Nutrition Counseling
Are you thinking about getting your health back on track, or interested in tips to maintain a balanced lifestyle? Drexel University employees enrolled in an Independence Blue Cross health insurance plan are eligible for six visits per year with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at no additional cost! Outpatient nutrition counseling with a licensed Registered Dietitian is available to the entire Drexel University community. Telehealth is available for preferred clients. Whether you are a student, faculty, or professional staff, the goal is to help you lead happy and healthy lives through nutrition. Sign up for an appointment today by emailing nutritionappts@drexel.edu.
Earn Wellness Points in a Personal Winter Olympics Challenge
After the success of this year’s Winter Employee Olympics, Drexel Recreational Athletics and Human Resources are hosting a Winter Olympics Personal Wellness Challenge from Feb. 4–20. Exercise for 30 minutes at least six times during the challenge period to earn 25 Wellness Incentive Program points and either a comfy, cozy Employee Olympics commemorative scarf or A Healthier U logo mug*. Challenge yourself to complete physical activities that are best-suited for your personal fitness goals. You can walk, run, row, dance, swim, or gym your way to better health!
To enter the Personal Winter Olympics Challenge, email Monica Fauble at mfauble@drexel.edu. Monica will send a reminder email in February, when the challenge begins, to help you stay motivated and to remember to log your activity.
*Scarves and mugs will be available for pick-up at the Drexel Recreation Center in late February. These items are in limited supply, so we cannot guarantee which prize you will receive. Scarves and mugs must be claimed in person.
Connect With Public Safety This Winter
Come say “hi” to the Public Safety folks over some delicious hot chocolate! Stop by the southeast corner of 33rd and Arch streets (near the entrance to Buckley Field) for Cocoa with Cops on the following dates and times: Jan. 12 from 2–3:30 p.m.; Feb. 16 from 2–3:30 p.m.; and March 9 from 5–6:30 p.m.
Drexel Police will also be at select men’s and women’s basketball games this season, near the student section, to say hello, offer resources, help you register your property or answer any other questions.
Policy Process Implementation Updates
The Office of Compliance, Policy and Privacy Services is continuing to review nominations for Policy Council and expects to announce the members of the inaugural Council in January. In the interim, as we continue to implement the new, streamlined policy process, please contact policy@drexel.edu for steps to take now if your unit has existing Official University Policies, plans to propose new Official University Policies, or plans to make material changes to existing Official University Policies. Be sure to note these important dates in the phased roll-out of the new process:
- Starting Jan. 3, 2022, all new or proposed policies and material changes to existing policies must be processed through the new policy standards described on the Policy Compliance website.
- By Feb. 28, all existing Official University Policies must be converted to the Word document version of the new Policy Template (with each relevant section of the template completed) and submitted to the Director of Policy Compliance. Only policies that are submitted in the Official University Policy template will be reviewed and included in the Official University Policy Directory after Feb. 28.
Please email policy@drexel.edu with any questions.
Office of the Comptroller Updates
- Drexel University has submitted the fringe benefit proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish the FY23 fringe benefit rates for sponsored projects. These rates are not final; however, significant changes are not expected, so you should begin to utilize these proposed rates on any proposal submissions that will have salary and wages after July 1, 2022, to ensure that you have budgeted adequate funding. View the Dec. 13 Comptroller announcement for details.
- Effective for the Fiscal Year 2022 Quarter 2 effort reporting certification period, which will be released on Jan. 17, the University will no longer require effort report certification for those grants that are fully funded by unrestricted, private, industry, foundations, or internal (Drexel) funding, and for which the sponsor does not require effort reporting. View the Dec. 13 Comptroller announcement for more information.
- Departments that are expecting any receipts of funds (deposits): Please email General Accounting at acct11@drexel.edu with the expected receipt amount as well as FOAPAL to apply this receipt.
Drexel Supports Philadelphia’s First Annual Black Business Expo
Tari Wright, founder of Not Wright Brand, recently hosted Philadelphia’s first Black Business Expo, in which business, health and community converged with an entrepreneur-focused basketball tournament. With the help of Drexel Business Services, the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, as well as support from Barnes & Noble, Drexel sponsored a vendor table offering resources to the entrepreneurs, and provided gift prizes and Drexel apparel to the finalist. Read about this event on 6ABC Action News and BlackEnterprise.com.