Wait — before you leave for winter break! Make sure you’re aware of timesheets, new insurance cards, changes to retirement plans and other important deadlines and updates to get you through 2024 and into 2025.
Complete Your Timesheets and Leave Reports Before Winter Break
Drexel’s Winter Break has been extended by two business days, making this Friday, Dec. 20, the last working day before the break begins. All professional staff members are strongly encouraged to submit their timesheets and leave reports before leaving for Winter Break. Employees who are paid biweekly should refer to the guidance they’ve received from the Payroll Office for completing their timesheets during this period.
Spend FSA Funds Before Year-End
Remember to spend the money in your 2024 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) before the end of the year, since these accounts are “use it or lose it.” You can carry over $610 of unused funds from your 2024 healthcare FSA into 2025, but any remainder will be forfeited. There is no carryover for the dependent care FSA, and any unused/unclaimed funds will be forfeited. Do not forget that you can purchase FSA-approved products using your health care FSA on fsastore.com. In addition, you have until March 31, 2025, to submit manual reimbursement requests to WEX for both your healthcare and dependent care FSAs for claims incurred between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, that have not already been paid for using your WEX card.
Bus Service and Shipping & Receiving Over Winter Break
Drexel bus service will be suspended from Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, 2025, resuming normal service on Jan. 2. During Winter Break, Drexel Shipping and Receiving will operate on Dec. 27 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but will otherwise be closed.
New Member ID Cards and Numbers for Drexel’s Medical/Rx and Vision Plans
All participants of the Drexel medical/prescription and vision plans will receive a new ID card and ID number from Independence Blue Cross (IBX) to use for the 2025 plan year. ID cards will be mailed to your home address from IBX and are expected to arrive on or around Jan. 1. IMPORTANT CHANGE: These new cards will reflect changes to the group numbers and ID numbers for all participants, so you must provide this new card on your first visit for services in 2025. Review IBX's helpful PDF flyer for more information on how to navigate accessing your new ID card and numbers digitally.
Three Steps to Kickstart Earning 2025 Wellness Incentive Program Points
Drexel University's Wellness Incentive Program will return Jan. 1. All employees enrolled in the program can earn up to $400 annually by participating in wellness-related activities. Please note: Effective for 2025, University employees and/or their spouses new to Health Advocate will need to use the code DrexelU to register. Here are three steps you can take soon to get a head start on earning:
- Set a calendar reminder to log into or register for the program in the new year (if new to the program, use the code DrexelU to register). You must complete your 2025 Personal Health Profile (PHP) so that you can start getting paid in February. Bonus step: Encourage your eligible spouse to register, as they can earn an additional $250!
- Schedule your onsite biometric screening (worth 100 points or $100), which will be held on Feb. 18 in Behrakis Grand Hall in the Creese Student Center located at 32nd and Chestnut streets. Registration opens Jan. 1. To learn how to schedule your screening, visit the program website (FAQ “How do I schedule my biometric screening?”) or contact Health Advocate at 1.866.695.8622 for help logging in or registering.
- Register in Career Pathway for the virtual webinar, “Navigating the Wellness Incentive Program,” on Jan. 22 to learn tips and tricks to help you earn the full $400. There are many other workshops scheduled for early 2025 for which you can already register; visit Career Pathway or the HR events calendar to explore these options.
Review and/or Make Changes to Your 2025 Retirement Plan Contributions
The annual employee contribution limit for the 403(b) plan will increase in 2025. Employees can contribute up to $23,500, an increase of $500 from the 2024 limit. The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and older who participate will remain at $7,500, the same amount in 2024 for a total contribution of $31,000 in 2025 (see “super catch-up contribution” opportunity below for employees aged 60-63).
The annual employee contribution limit for the 457(b) plan will increase to $23,500 in 2025, and additional contributions may be made in the three years before turning age 65. Employees can contact TIAA for additional information on this special catch-up provision. Remember that enrollments and changes in the 457(b) plan are effective the following month.
New for 2025: Super Catch-up Contribution for 403(b) Plans
If you are aged 60–63 or will be by Dec. 31, 2025, you are eligible to maximize your contribution toward your 403(b) retirement plan by contributing at the higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 (instead of $7,500) starting on Jan. 1, 2025. Contributing at this higher rate means you’ll contribute a total of $34,750 for 2025, instead of $31,000. To change your salary deferral for 2025, log into DrexelOne, click on the Employee tab, then scroll down to “My Benefits” on the left-hand side of the screen and click on “Retirement Plan Management.” Once you are in the TIAA portal, click on “Manage Contributions” under the “Accounts” dropdown menu and follow the prompts. If you need assistance, contact TIAA directly at 800.842.2252.
Review Your First Paystub of 2025
It is especially important to review your first paystub of 2025 to confirm that your health and retirement benefit deductions are accurate. If they are not accurate, please report any discrepancies to Human Resources as soon as possible, hr@drexel.edu. To view your 2025 benefit confirmation statement through the benefits portal, log into DrexelOne, select the Employee tab, then “My Drexel Benefits.” On the home page, navigate to Your Toolbox section on the top right side of the page. Scroll down to “Benefit confirmation Statement/Saved documents.” To view your Direct Deposit Advice/Pay Stub, log into DrexelOne, Employee Tab, then select “Direct Deposit Advice/Pay Stub.”
Winter TIAA Consultations at Salus at Drexel University
TIAA will be on campus at Salus at Drexel University from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the following dates/locations:
- Jan. 9 and Jan. 23 (The Eye Institute — shared HR/security office room 902)
- Jan. 16 and Jan. 30 (Elkins Park — HR office 4401, fourth floor, Breyer Office Park)
RSVP today, as space is limited. You may register for sessions at tiaa.org/schedulenow or by calling 800.732.8353 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Earn Certifications at Goodwin College of Professional Studies
Are you searching for professional development courses that can help you establish and advance your career? At Goodwin College of Professional Studies, you can complete short professional certificates in project management, web design, and data analytics and earn industry certifications such as Lean Six Sigma and Project Management. Drexel's tuition remission benefits cover professional non-credit professional certificates and online, self- paced courses to help you achieve your professional goals. To learn more, email goodwin.ce@drexel.edu.
Drexel Compliance Hotline Is Always Open
Compliance at Drexel is a shared responsibility. If you become aware of situations that are in violation of University policy, are illegal, or constitute improper conduct, please do the right thing and contact the Office of Compliance, Policy and Privacy Services at compliance@drexel.edu or file a Drexel Compliance Hotline Report. Reporting to the Drexel Compliance Hotline is easy. Visit the Drexel Compliance Hotline website or make a report over the phone by calling 866.358.1010. All reports are completely anonymous, handled through a secure third-party vendor, and thoroughly investigated by the appropriate University department.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Drexel Compliance Hotline should not be used for immediate threats to life or safety. If you are aware of any incident that may constitute such a threat, or criminal conduct, including sexual assault, child abuse or other similar misconduct (whether on- or off-campus), report the incident immediately to the Drexel Police Department at 215.895.2222, or the Philadelphia Police Department at 911.
Policy Status Updates
- Repeated Courses and GPA Adjustments: Undergraduate Students (PO-02): This policy has been updated so that there is no cap on the number of courses that undergraduate students may repeat using the GPA adjustment option.
- Faculty Mediation and Grievance (PO-36) has been decommissioned. Drexel has several other avenues for faculty to address relevant matters including the University Ombuds, Human Resources, and the Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture.
- Statute of Limitations on Earned Course Credit (PO-69) has been updated so now there is no time limitation, with exceptions, for applying credits from Drexel and other institutions to a degree program.
- Doctoral Candidacy and Dissertation Committees (PO – 97) has been updated to outline the requirements for the students enrolled in a PhD or doctoral program, as well as the requirements for candidacy exams and dissertations.
- Doctoral E-Forms Usage (PO – 98) has been updated to provide doctoral students with guidance on E-Forms usage.
You can review Provost policies and all other Official University Policies on the Policy Directory, and contact the director of Policy Compliance at policy@drexel.edu if you have any questions.
FY26 Proposed Fringe Rates for Sponsored Programs
Drexel University has submitted the fringe benefit proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish the fiscal year 2026 fringe benefit rates for sponsored projects. These rates are not final until we receive the official rate letter from DHHS; however, the Office of the Comptroller does not expect any significant changes when they are finalized. It is anticipated that the University will not receive the approved, final rate letter for at least three to six months. Therefore, you should begin to utilize these proposed rates on any proposal submissions that will have salary and wages after July 1, 2025, to ensure that you have budgeted adequate funding. Coeus and Banner have been updated to reflect the new proposed rates effective July 1.