Here's what was heard around campus this month:
Contribute to Drexel Libraries’ Black History Month Programming
As part of Drexel’s Black History Month celebrations, the Drexel Libraries is honoring the culture and contributions of African Americans and the African diaspora through a physical display in the W. W. Hagerty Library and a corresponding online exhibit. [Check out the 2022 display!] This year, the theme of Black History Month is ”Black Resistance.” Libraries is seeking contributions to explore this theme (and beyond) through photos, books, articles and other objects that showcase the accomplishments of Drexel’s Black researchers, teachers, scientists, artists, and others who have influenced and enriched our society. Please use Libraries’ Qualtrics form to submit content to be included in the exhibits. Submissions will be accepted through Feb. 17.
Did You Know SupportLinc Offers Monthly Free Trainings?
Each month, SupportLinc, Drexel’s Employee Assistance Program, offers free virtual seminars for employees on workplace-related topics. February’s topic is: Building Positive Self-Esteem: Strategies for Success. Select a date below to view a description and register for a session. You will receive a confirmation email with information about joining your seminar on the below times.
City View Lounge Opened to Faculty and Staff
The City View Lounge, located on the sixth floor of MacAlister Hall, opened in January as a dedicated rest and collaborative space exclusively for Drexel faculty and professional staff. Located in the former University Club, the space is open to employees during the same hours as MacAlister Hall, typically 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. during academic terms. The lounge also features a self-service market with hot brewed La Colombe coffee as well as traditional snack and beverage items. Please visit Business Services' feedback page to provide any questions or comments about on the new lounge. Business Services will evaluate feedback through winter and spring terms to enhance the experience.
Local Diverse Supplier Spotlight: 12th Street Catering
For 40 years, West Philadelphia’s own 12th Street Catering has been creating delicious food and great events in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. They provide a wide range of services, from boxed lunches for an in-house meeting to a fully transformed event space and multi-course dinner gala for thousands. From time-tested, delicious recipes made from scratch to dazzling décor displays to perfectly match your aesthetic, each element of their menu is carefully personalized and curated to satisfy your unique preference while always delivering an all-around amazing culinary experience. 12th Street Catering is a woman-owned business, headquartered on Drexel’s University City Campus in Powelton Village. For more information, visit their website at 12stcatering.com.
In an effort to promote and strengthen Drexel’s buy-local strategy, Accounts Payable and Procurement Services is spotlighting local and diverse businesses for the benefit of Drexel faculty and professional staff who may want to use their products and/or services.
Sign Up for an On-site Biometric Screening on March 7
Drexel’s Wellness Incentive Program returned this month, with a new user-friendly design and a mobile app that lets you earn wellness points on the go, One exciting way to earn points (which translates to cash!) for you and/or your spouse/partner is to sign up for a biometric screening. Drexel is hosting a screening in person on March 7 in Behrakis Grand Hall, located in Creese Student Center at 32nd and Chestnut streets. You don’t have to fast to attend. Early morning appointments fill quickly, so register today to secure your spot. Visit the program website for registration instructions.
New Year, New Benefits to Explore With Health Advocate
Faculty and professional staff members, plus their household members, can connect with Health Advocate to better understand their healthcare benefits, including locating a provider, finding a second opinion or understanding a diagnosis. Health Advocate can even help you with claims cases or confusing medical bills. Visit the program website to learn how to connect with Health Advocate.
Set Yourself Up for Success With Goal Setting and Performance Development
An important part of the performance cycle is establishing goals. Where do you want to go, and how will you get there? Goal setting is a wonderful way to track and measure progress and provide a sense of direction and purpose in life. If you haven’t already set goals for the 2022-2023 performance cycle, now is a good time to do so. Visit the Performance Development section of the HR website for more information, and start the year off right with courses on goal setting and performance development located in Career Pathway. From the importance of goal setting to building your confidence, choose from a selection of carefully curated learning modules geared toward enhancing your leadership capabilities and taking control of your career. Not sure where to start? Check out “Goal Setting in Career Pathway 2.0” for guidance.
Crush Your 2023 Goals: Graduate & Certificate Programs From LeBow
Have you ever considered an MBA or master’s degree to enhance your career goals but pushed it aside for the “right time?” Do you know the value of certificate programs and how they can elevate you to the next stage of your professional career? These practical advancement opportunities are conveniently available for you within the LeBow College of Business. The LeBow Graduate Enrollment Management team, alongside Drexel Human Resources representatives, will be sharing information about the graduate part-time and certificate programs offered in a flexible format and customizable plan to fit your current professional needs.Join them for a Virtual Employee Information Session on Feb. 8, 12–1 p.m. For the online session, participants must register in advance to receive the link. Additionally, employees interested in the part-time/online MBA or MS in Sport Business are invited to stop by during open office hours on Feb. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Gerri C. LeBow Hall, Suite 446. Contact Kerri Lord at kcl63@drexel.edu for more information.
University City Evening Parking Rates for Winter Term
Drexel Parking’s evening rates (5 p.m. to 5 a.m.) for employees and students were adjusted in November to $1 per hour in most Drexel-operated University City parking lots and a flat evening rate of $3 in the Drexel Parking Garage. If you have any questions, please contact parking@drexel.edu or 215.895.2813.
When & How to Initiate the Policy Compliance Process
Drexel University’s Policy Compliance Process applies only to Official University Policies — those policies that are ultimately approved by the University President — not to policies, procedures or guidelines established internally by individual schools, colleges or units. To initiate a formal review of a newly proposed or revised Official University Policy, the Sponsoring Unit of the policy must submit the following documents to Director of Policy Compliance Priscilla Wood at policy@drexel.edu:
- Completed Intake Form
- Copy of the original policy
- Proposed policy formatted in the new Policy Template
- Communication Plan
- Any additional supporting document
While Sponsoring Units may initiate a formal review at any time, Intake Forms for new and revised Official University Policies will only be processed on the second Tuesday of every month. (For example, on Feb. 14, the director of policy compliance will begin processing all intake forms received between Jan. 10 and Feb. 14). If you are currently drafting or developing a new policy or material changes to an existing policy, please visit the Policy Compliance website for guidance and send all questions to policy@drexel.edu.
Public Safety Bulletin: E-Bikes and Scooters Can Pose Fire Hazard
Lithium-ion batteries are usually the source of power for both electric bikes and electric scooters, and if not used correctly, or if damaged, those batteries can catch on fire or explode. That’s why Drexel’s Office of Fire and Emergency Services prohibits e-bikes or e-scooters to be connected to any electric outlet within Drexel buildings. If you use e-bikes or e-scooters, please review important safety tips to keep in mind when charging or storing these devices, or download the PDF bulletin issued by Public Safety.
Stay SAFE With Public Safety This Winter
Self-Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) classes, hosted by Public Safety, focus on mindset, self-awareness and techniques you could use in the event of a physical assault, and information on how and to whom you should report incidents and safety concerns. The next scheduled courses are Feb. 16 from 5–9:30 p.m. and March 14 from 5–9:30 p.m. Sign up on Qualtrics.
Faculty: Upload Your Spring Course Material Information
All faculty teaching courses for the 2023 spring quarter must submit course adoptions (the textbook and other learning material for a course) in the BNC Adoption & Insights Portal for the spring quarter to ensure course material information is available for students. Submitting your course material information as soon as possible provides the best service experience for students who rely on the bookstore. Providing course material information promptly supports scholarship students who are dependent on the bookstore to purchase course materials, increases the amount of used low-cost course materials available for purchase, decreases shipping and delivery time for students learning remotely, and allows the on-site Barnes & Noble team to provide informed answers to student questions about required material.
Faculty can access the BNC Adoption & Insights portal anytime via DrexelOne on the “Faculty” tab in the “Course Administration” section. To contact the store team, please email sm457@bncollege.com.
Journal Entry Workflow 3.0 Training: Feb. 15
This training, held virtually Feb. 15, 1–3 p.m., will provide an explanation of the functionality of the Journal Entry Workflow 3.0 tool for actual journal types only and allow for hands-on application in a test environment on how to process a journal entries (funding transfers, transaction corrections) using the tool. Learn how to process non-budget, research and non-research journal entries, how to attach supporting documentation and how to upload information into the tool. The session will also demonstrate how the tool works for journal submitters and approvals and how it interacts with the expenditure authorization tables. Register on Career Pathway
Touchnet uStore Deferred Revenue
When creating TouchNet Marketplace uStore products such as summer camps, pre-college programs, conferences or events that take place on or after July 1 of the next fiscal/academic year, with the exception of non-refundable deposits, those events should be initially charged to your fund and org using the deferred revenue account (0555) at the end of the TouchNet Accounting Code (Fund /Org/Acct). For more information on this process, please review the related announcement from Comptroller.
Reminder for Departments Expecting Receipts of Funds
Please email General Accounting at acct11@drexel.edu with the expected receipt (deposit) amount as well as FOAPAL to apply this receipt.