SupportLinc’s Free Training for June: What DEIB Really Means
Each month, SupportLinc (Drexel’s employee assistance plan vendor) offers free virtual seminars on workplace-related topics. June’s topic is: “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: What that really means.” The webinar will be held on June 7 and you can register for any of the following times: 8–9 a.m., 3–4 p.m., or 8–9 p.m.
Register for the June 21 Employee Olympics
Drexel's Employee Olympics returns on Wednesday, June 21, from 2–5 p.m. Benefits-eligible faculty and professional staff can register to participate in the Fun Walk or compete in one of the games: baggo, beach volleyball, basketball, dodgeball, or table tennis (new this year!). Registration is now open. If you're not participating in one of the events, you can still come out to enjoy the therapy dogs, snacks and camaraderie of the event (registration not required for spectators). Visit the HR website for instructions on how to register and participate.
Save the Date for Upcoming Wellness Workshops
A Healthier U strives to continually offer new and exciting workshops to help you navigate your health. Summer and fall will arrive before you know it, so be sure to mark your calendars for the following events, all of which will earn you 15 Wellness Incentive Program points each for attending:
- Certified QPR Gatekeeper Training: Suicide Prevention: July 11
- Mocktails and Hydrating Summer Beverages: July 18
- The Art and Science of Intermittent Fasting/Time Restricted Eating: July 19
- Substance Use and Abuse: When Is a Little a Little Too Much?: Sept. 13
- The Road to Retirement: A Guide to Understanding Medicare and Social Security: Oct. 3
- Finding Balance in a Digitally Driven World: Oct. 11
You can always visit the HR Events Calendar to find the next and best workshop to suit your needs.
How to Max Out Your Wellness Incentive Program Earnings
There are more than 1,000 wellness points available in the Wellness Incentive Program for benefits-eligible faculty, professional staff and their eligible partners and spouses. Check out “Four Paths to $400 in Your Paycheck!” on the DrexelNEWS website to learn several ways to most effectively take advantage of the program. Be sure to share how you’re maximizing the program over at A Healthier U’s Teams site.
Closing Out Mental Health Awareness Month
May is almost over, but it’s never too late to put your mental well-being first. If you haven’t already, please bookmark Human Resources’ Mental and Emotional Well-being resource page and share it with a colleague or two. In addition, HR’s Talent Development team has highlighted multiple wellness learning opportunities on the home page of Career Pathway, where you can also find additional well-being offerings by browsing for training.
Take a Noncredit Certificate Course – on Drexel!
Did you know that Drexel's tuition remission benefit covers noncredit certification courses? There’s still time to register for the following spring 2023 courses:
- Practical Project Management (virtual): Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- PMP Exam Prep (virtual): Saturday, July 8, 15, 22, 29 and August 5, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Visit the Goodwin College CPE Website to view the complete list of noncredit professional courses. Register in two easy steps:
- Complete HR’s online remission request application on DrexelOne. On the Employee tab, under “My Benefits,” find the Tuition Remission link. Once you open the link, choose Tuition Benefit Form Entry. For the student type, please choose Noncredit from the drop-down options and AY 22-23 for the academic year.
- Email goodwin.ce@drexel.edu and connect with a CPE team member.
Take a Public Safety Self-Protection Class
Self-Awareness for Everyone (SAFE), Public Safety’s self-protection program, is divided into two sessions: SAFE I and SAFE II. Participants are encouraged to register in groups of two or more to practice the hands-on techniques (this is recommended, but not required).
- SAFE I begins with a brief overview of the class and explains the reporting processes, mindset and various free public safety services that are provided. It focuses on stances and patterns of movement, then gives a general overview of striking such as punching palm strikes and how to kick and knee properly. SAFE I ends with instructions on how to defend against arm grabs and some chokes. SAFE I classes will be offered the second week of every month on Monday and Wednesday.
- SAFE II begins with a quick review of what was learned in SAFE I. Class then transitions to defense from both arm grabs and body grabs, then explores various techniques from the ground (for example: how to defend against an assailant that is sitting on top of you and roll them off). SAFE II classes will be offered the fourth week of every month on Monday and Wednesday and cannot be taken until SAFE I is complete.
Register on Eventbrite; these classes are also available by request.
Drexel Public Safety Is Instagram Official
Have you heard? Drexel Public Safety recently launched their official Instagram, on which the team will share events, safety reminders and other community commitments relevant for all Dragons. Follow them now @drexelpublicsafety!
Drexel-Led Consortium Releases Climate Resilience Research Agenda for the Philadelphia Region
The Philadelphia region will experience more frequent heat waves and flooding events over the next 20 years according to the most recent analysis of projections generated by the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN). In hopes of preparing the city for these changes, Drexel University, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Academy of Natural Sciences and CCRUN convened more than 100 experts to produce a research agenda that, if pursued, could help fortify Philadelphia and its most vulnerable populations, against the extreme effects of climate change. Developed over the last two years in working groups consisting of regional practitioners, representatives of the nonprofit sector and University researchers, the plan focused on four key areas:
- Cascading climate hazards
- Health and environmental vulnerability
- The built environment and infrastructure systems
- Regional climate governance and adaptive management
The full report can be viewed on the Climate and Sustainability website.
Planning a Meeting? Consult These Tips and Best Practices
Research shows that the amount of time office workers spend in meetings has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of online meeting tools like Zoom and Teams. Spending all day in meetings hampers productivity and leads to burnout and “Zoom fatigue.” We can all be a part of the solution by taking a pause before scheduling that next meeting to ask: Should that work discussion be a meeting, or will Teams chat suffice? How long should the meeting be? What kind of information should I include in the meeting agenda? To help you find answers to these questions, Drexel Human Resources has put together some tips and best practices for scheduling, planning and hosting work meetings. Bookmark this resource, share it with a colleague and help Drexel cultivate a healthy and collegial meeting culture.
Remember to Elect Your Beneficiary Through TIAA
Did you know the beneficiary designation on your Defined Contribution Retirement Plan account takes priority over your last will and testament? Keeping your beneficiary information up to date is one of the most critical parts of managing your retirement assets. Missing, incorrect or out-of-date beneficiary information can cause needless headaches for your heirs.
Updating your beneficiary information is easy to do while logged in to DrexelOne, on tiaa.org, or through the TIAA app on your phone. Once logged in, under the Action tab, choose Add/Edit beneficiaries. From there, you can designate beneficiaries and select how much each should receive. Please note: If you are married, you cannot choose less than 50 percent for your spouse without your spouse’s consent in writing.
If you need help updating your beneficiaries, please reach out to TIAA customer service at 1.800.842.2252.
Policy Council: Call for Nominations for 2023-2024
Starting May 31, the Office of Compliance, Policy and Privacy Services will be accepting nominations for new members to serve on the Policy Council for the 2023-2024 academic year. Please visit the Policy Council website starting May 31 for details on eligibility and how to submit a nomination. Nominations must be received by Thursday, June 29, 11:59 p.m. The Policy Council supports shared governance, facilitates the review, recommendation and maintenance of policies, assists in making policies accessible to all members of the University community, helps ensure an efficient and transparent policy development and compliance process through a more open review, and fosters collaboration by engaging stakeholders across the University community. The Policy Council seeks to be a diverse and inclusive group that includes, among other considerations, Drexel community members who identify as Black, Indigenous or as people of color, as well as members of similarly underrepresented groups. Members of the Drexel community with an interest in university policymaking may nominate themselves or someone else to serve. Please direct any questions to policy@drexel.edu.
Policy Compliance Program Updates & Reminders:
- The Removal of Property from the University Policy has been formally decommissioned. If you have any questions, please contact hr@drexel.edu.
- The open and close dates of Public Comment Periods for Official University Policies, along with information about how to view policies and comment on them, will be announced on the Public Comment Period webpage, the University Events Calendar, the “It’s Okay to Ask” compliance e-newsletter, and in “Heard Around Campus.” There are no policies currently under public comment.
- Policies that have been approved through the Expedited Process are enacted as interim policies, and then must go through the Standard Review process within a year of approval. The Policy Directory shows which policies are in interim status.
- You can find all Official University Policies, as well as information about their current status, on Drexel’s Policy Directory.
Upcoming Trainings for Journal Entry Workflow
The Office of the Comptroller will be hosting two upcoming Journal Entry Workflow 3.0 virtual training sessions, the first of which is just in time for fiscal year-end close: Wednesday, June 21, from 1–3 p.m., and Tuesday, October 17, 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn how to submit and approve journal entries in a test environment; they will also learn how to attach supporting documentation, upload journals into the tool and more. Register in Career Pathway and contact slw383@drexel.edu with questions.
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.