The following message by President John Fry about plans for the fall term was sent to the Drexel community. The University will be ramping up in-person and hybrid classes through the summer. Drexel expects that, by the fall, every student will be able to have face-to-face learning experiences, although some hybrid classes and other operational modifications may remain based on public health guidance.
Dear Students and Colleagues,
As more and more people become vaccinated in our region, I am pleased to tell you that Drexel is planning to return to an in-person learning experience in the fall — with more students living and learning on campus, more face-to-face classes, and more University offices staffed in-person to serve students.
This has been a long time coming — one year after we pivoted successfully to remote learning at the start of the pandemic shutdown. I am deeply appreciative of all that members of the Drexel community have done to get us through this stressful time.
Hybrid and In-Person Learning
We will be ramping up our in-person and hybrid classes through the summer. We expect that, by the fall, every student will be able to have face-to-face learning experiences, although some hybrid classes and other operational modifications may remain based on public health guidance. The ability to maximize face-to-face instruction will be linked to occupancy and distancing guidance from health authorities, from whom we will seek guidance on a regular basis.
I am optimistic, and I anticipate that academic buildings, student centers, residence and dining halls, and athletic and recreational facilities will be open and available for use. At the same time, please understand that the future path of the pandemic and its timing is uncertain. We will continue to prioritize campus health and safety while supporting a sense of community and demonstrating respect for the needs and well-being of students, faculty, and professional staff. I know that you will have specific questions, and we will share additional information as it becomes available. Please check the FAQs on our Drexel Response to Coronavirus website for the latest updates.
Encouraging Vaccination
We have asked Philadelphia officials to designate Drexel as a vaccination distribution center for our community. If approved, we will follow the city’s phased vaccination distribution strategy. In the meantime, we strongly encourage you to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine from other sources once you become eligible. While we currently do not require vaccination for on-campus work and learning, Drexel is a science-based institution and we’re inspired by the innovation and work that have allowed safe and effective vaccines to become available. When it’s your turn, I hope you will get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, and the Drexel community. If you live in Philadelphia, you can sign up on the city’s COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form to be notified when you are eligible.
Once again, thank you for the vigilance and sense of community you have shown this past year, which has enabled us to maintain our academic endeavors despite the public health challenges. Our COVID-19 case rate on campus continues to average well below key threshold rates thanks to your efforts. I know that I can count on your continued adherence to safety protocols and your flexibility in meeting evolving circumstances. Together, masks, social distancing, handwashing and vaccination have been shown to work.
It is my fervent hope to return to a full, robust on-campus experience for our students, faculty and professional staff this fall. Together, we can do this.
Sincerely,
John Fry
President