The end of October means more than just Halloween (which is, of course, important!) but also important deadlines now and in the next few weeks related to mandatory courses and forms filled out, Open Enrollment to set you up for next year and the upcoming November election, for which faculty and professional staff can receive time off to vote.
Here’s what was heard around Campus this month:
Last Call to Contribute to the 2022 Dragon Drive
Dragon Drive is the annual workplace giving campaign for Drexel University faculty and professional staff that takes place during the month of October. You can still make a gift to the drive through Oct. 31! When you do so, you will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win fun prizes. Make your gift through the Dragon Drive portal; log in using your DrexelOne credentials. For more information, please visit the Drexel HR website or contact HR at hr@drexel.edu.
Complete Enterprise Learning, Conflict of Interest by Nov. 1
This year, all faculty and professional staff are required to complete three online enterprise learning courses by Nov. 1: Drexel University Information Security Compliance, Understanding Title IX at Drexel, and Workplace Privacy and Confidentiality. These courses appear in your transcript on Career Pathway. Enterprise learning is meant to enhance your skills and knowledge and equip you with the tools to form and strengthen connections across the University. For more information on each required course, please visit the HR website.
Also by Nov. 1, all faculty and professional staff are required to disclose any actual or possible conflicts of interest or commitment they may have and certify that they have read the University-wide Code of Conduct. To access the Annual Conflict of Interest and Commitment report, log in to DrexelOne, navigate to the Employee tab, and select Conflict of Interest Disclosure under the Compliance and Privacy Programs channel.
2023 Open Enrollment Is Underway: Attend a Benefit Fair or Virtual Info Session
Now is the time to choose your benefits for the 2023 plan year. Open Enrollment closes on Nov. 15, 2022, and changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. No changes can be made to your benefits after Nov. 15, unless you have experienced a Qualifying Life Event such as marriage, birth, divorce or gain/loss of coverage from another employer plan.
Open Enrollment Benefit Fairs are back on campus! Come meet Drexel’s benefits vendors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 27, at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and on Nov. 1 at Queen Lane. HR is also hosting several virtual info sessions, for which you can register in Career Pathway (and recordings will be available on the Open Enrollment website afterward):
- New IBX Prescription Drug Plan (Nov. 2, 12–1 p.m.)
- SEPTA Key Advantage Pilot Program (Nov. 8, 12–1 p.m.)
If you have already completed your enrollment, remember to review your confirmation statement (available in the “My Drexel Benefits” portal under the “Your Toolbox” section) to ensure it is accurate.
Visit Drexel's Open Enrollment website for information about your benefit options, including an open enrollment guide, checklist, plan summaries, information session details/recordings and more.
Drexel Votes: Make a Plan to Cast Your Ballot
The 2022 General Election in all states will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8. You can easily check your registration status, polling place, what’s on your ballot, and other information at vote.org. As a reminder, Drexel University will have an early dismissal at 2 p.m. on Nov. 8 to give students, faculty and staff additional time to vote. In Pennsylvania, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you wish to vote by mail, the last day to request a Pennsylvania mail-in or absentee ballot is Nov. 1 by 5 p.m., and ballots must be received by your county board of elections by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 (be sure to enclose your ballot in the inner “secrecy” envelope and sign and date the outer envelope). The Philadelphia City Commissioners have established many mail-in ballot dropboxes and mobile mail-in ballot return locations you can explore on their website. For voter resources, engagement opportunities, frequently asked questions, events and more, please visit drexel.edu/vote.
Powelton/Spring Garden Weekend Shuttle Service Extended
The Powelton/Spring Garden Route now has extended weekend service from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Weekend bus service will make the same stops as weekday service (33rd and Market streets to 35th and Spring Garden streets, and ending at Vidas Athletic Complex). Please contact transitinfo@drexel.edu with any questions.
Drexel Named One of the Healthiest Workplaces in America
Drexel University was recently named one of the “Top 100 Healthiest Workplaces in America” by Healthiest Employers, and was the only university on the list – and the only one from Philadelphia to achieve this accolade. You can learn all about what makes Drexel’s A Healthier U wellness program special by visiting the HR website and browsing the many wellness offerings. And you still have one month left to log your wellness activities and earn credits for the 2022 Wellness Program, which ends Nov. 30 for employees and their eligible spouses/partners. Check out the Wellness Incentive Program webpage for a complete list of upcoming virtual wellness workshops.
What Can Health Advocate Do For You?
Health Advocate administers Drexel University’s Wellness Incentive Program, but did you know that it is also available to help you resolve any healthcare billing issues, answer questions about your healthcare coverage, find an in-network physician, or help you understand a medical diagnosis? Read about this perk firsthand in Wellness Consultant Monica Fauble’s account of her recent experience with Health Advocate, published on DrexelNEWS.
Register for the 2022 Global Teach Connection Summit
Drexel’s School of Education (SOE) invites you to participate in the upcoming 4th Educational Summit on Reimagining Global Education and Teaching, which will be held on Zoom Wednesday, Nov. 16, 12-6 p.m. This year’s summit will address the priority for providing teachers, traditionally underrepresented students, and faculty opportunities to engage in international education training and resource-sharing networks, as well as professional development to prepare them to meet the post-pandemic, new era academic, intercultural, and career challenges of an increasingly globalized education system and society leveraging the Global Education, Teaching, and Leadership Competencies. For more information, including the summit’s vision, co-sponsors and collaborators, and registration link, visit the event landing page on the SOE website.
Learn About Inclusive Communication With These “Micro-modules”
In an increasingly diverse world, it is imperative as a leader and a colleague to effectively communicate across cultures and perspectives. A suite of Inclusive Communication Micro-Modules (short bursts of content between 5–10 minutes long that focus on a specific learning outcome and let you study at your own pace) is available on Career Pathway to help enhance your communication and leadership skills. As a learner, you will deepen your understanding of identity and inclusive language, learn how to identify and challenge negative assumptions, participate in healthy conversations across differences, and more. Some of the offered modules include “Our Words Matter: Using Inclusive Language,” “How to Have Inclusive Conversations” and “Guide to Accessible Writing.” See the full list of Inclusive Communication Micro-Modules via Career Pathway.
Introducing Two Drexel Dining Plans for Faculty and Stuff
Drexel Campus Dining is now offering dining plan options for faculty and professional staff that will make dining on University City campus more convenient and affordable than ever: the Block 15 + 25 Dining Dollars plan and the Block 25 + 50 Dining Dollars plan. Although a dining plan is not required to dine in any of the Drexel Campus Dining locations (cash and credit card are accepted), there are benefits to purchasing a plan. Learn more on the Business Services website.
DragonCard Services Now Available at Creese Info Booth
The DragonCard office in Creese Student Center (32nd and Chestnut streets) recently relocated its services to the Information Desk and Office 118 on the first floor to provide a more streamlined service experience for the campus community. Please visit the DragonCard website for more information about their services. You can fill out the office’s inquiry form if you have any questions.
Process for Decommissioning Official University Policies
Official University Policies sometimes become outdated, obsolete or superseded by a new policy. In these instances, the policy that is no longer needed must be decommissioned through the following process prescribed by the Official University Policies policy (DU–01) [PDF].
- The Sponsoring Unit should consult with any Affected Units and the Office of the General Counsel to determine whether decommissioning is warranted.
- If warranted, the Sponsoring Unit must submit a completed Statement of Intent to Decommission an Official University Policy [PDF], including a communication plan, to the Director of Policy Compliance.
- The Director of Policy Compliance presents the proposed decommissioning to the Policy Council for review.
- If the Policy Council recommends decommissioning the policy, the Director of Policy Compliance and the Sponsoring Unit will present the proposal to Cabinet for review and recommendation to the President.
- Upon final approval by the President, the Director of Policy Compliance will handle removing the decommissioned policy from the Policy Directory and archiving it in the appropriate systems, while the Sponsoring Unit will implement the decommissioning communication plan.
For questions regarding Official University Policies or the New Policy Compliance Process, send inquiries to policy@drexel.edu.
Reminder From Comptroller
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.