Heard Around Campus — June 2026

DAPME held its annual Pan Asian Fest on May 20 for Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month.

Colleague Resource Group Spotlight: DAPME

DAPME: Drexel Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Employees is a Colleague Resource Group that seeks to facilitate community and fellowship through social, professional and cultural exchanges among Drexel employees of Asian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern descent and their allies, advocates and supporters.

"DAPME first began as a weekly lunch gathering of colleagues at the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design in 2023. Since our expansion as Drexel's Asian Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern colleague group, we have retained the communal and familial environment epitomized by our cultures,” explained Francis Aguas, DAPME facilitator, associate dean of community & global initiatives and professor of cinema & television in Westphal. “Through our Teams interactions, we brainstorm and ideate on events and programming that can fortify our safe and welcoming community. We welcome all to our annual events, which include Lunar New Year Celebration, PanAsianFest and Community Cake Day (celebrating Drexel's early diversity.) Watch out for our latest new event in September 2026, when we will premiere our first ever Harvest Moon Tet Chuseok Celebration."

To learn more about Drexel’s Colleague Resource Groups and how to start your own group, visit the HR website.

New: AI-Powered Workplace Excellence Certificate Series

As AI use rapidly expands at Drexel, learning more about how to effectively and ethically use AI has become essential for faculty and professional staff who support teaching, learning, research and administrative operations. The AI-Powered Workplace Excellence online certificate series offers accessible learning focused on real‑world applications, exploring key topics such as effective prompt development, data-informed decision‑making, workflow automation, and responsible AI use.

Together, these certificates provide a clear pathway for anyone looking to thoughtfully and responsibly integrate AI into their work.

• AI in Action Certificate
• AI in Action Everyday Workplace Wins
• AI in Action: Project Planning
• AI in Action: Prompting for Professionals
• AI in Action: Productivity & Decision-Making
• Using AI to Amplify Cross-Functional Teamwork
• Jump-Starting Cross-Functional Teamwork with AI
• AI Tools to Boost Cross-Functional Team Effectiveness

It’s Not Too Late to Support a WorkReady Summer Intern

The WorkReady Summer Internship Program is an annual civic engagement initiative in which Drexel faculty and professional staff provide work experiences to local high school youth. To support this commitment, the University is fully funding intern positions on Drexel's campuses, allowing faculty and professional staff to mentor and support interns at no cost to their departments. Intern hosts are still needed for the summer 2026 period, which runs from July 6 through Aug. 14. Please fill out the 2026 WorkReady Registration Form to apply for an intern today!

Drexel Benefits Dependent Verification Due June 30

To ensure the accuracy of Drexel University’s benefit plans and to comply with plan requirements, Human Resources is partnering with the Drexel University Benefits Center, powered by the University’s benefits administrator, WEX, to conduct a dependent verification audit throughout the month of June. If you currently have dependents enrolled in the University’s medical, dental, and/or vision plans, you are required to submit documentation to verify their eligibility no later than June 30, 2026. You should have received detailed instructions via email from WEX regarding this audit. Please be sure you have emails from WEX unblocked, so you don’t miss these important notices.

If you have questions, please contact the Drexel University Benefits Center at 844.690.3992. Representatives are available from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. to assist you.

Complete Exempt Leave Reports for Fiscal Year 2026 by June 23

Each year as part of the fiscal year-end process, all exempt employee leave reports for the fiscal year must be completed to ensure that time-off balances are correct, since the balances are used in calculating the University’s vacation and sick liability for our financial statements.

Please review your exempt leave reports for each month from July 2025 through May 2026 to confirm that they have been submitted and approved. Leave reports for Fiscal Year 2026, including the June 2026 reporting period, will remain open for creation, completion and submission until June 23. If you are responsible for approving exempt leave reports, please review the reporting periods from July 2025 through June 2026 and confirm that all exempt leave reports submitted to you have been approved. The deadline to approve leave reports for periods from July 2025 through June 2026 is June 26.

If you experience any problems creating, submitting or approving leave reports, contact the Payroll Office at payroll@drexel.edu .

Effort Report Certification Deadlines

Please ensure all effort reports for FY26 Q3 (January 1–March 31, 2026) are completed and certified by Friday, June 26. Looking ahead, the FY26 Q4 effort reporting period will have an accelerated timeline. Reports will be released on July 1 and must be certified by Aug. 7. If you have any questions, contact RAS@drexel.edu.

Wanted: Your Unused and Unneeded Printer/Copier Toner

Do you have new-in-box unused toner sitting in a supply closet gathering dust? Perhaps you had a desktop printer that's been replaced by a department Canon device, and you no longer need that toner. Drexel Climate & Sustainability can pick it up from you to re-sell through Drexel's Surplus program, to generate funding for sustainability programming. The team will be scheduling pick-ups throughout the summer term. Get started by emailing sustainability@drexel.edu to let them know what you have.

Summer 2026 in Philadelphia: Resources to Help You Celebrate Safely 

The summer of 2026 will be jam-packed with special events throughout the City of Philadelphia, including the FIFA World Cup, the Wawa Welcome America Festival and U.S. Semiquincentennial, and the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Drexel Public Safety encourages members of our community to be aware of these events and take advantage of the resources available to help you plan – whether you’re participating in the festivities or merely trying to navigate around them. Please read the Public Safety announcement for complete details.

Tips for Preventing Vehicle Theft

Thefts of motor vehicles and electric bikes and scooters continue to be one of the most common types of crimes impacting the Drexel community, particularly on the University City campus. Drexel Public Safety has a new safety tips page on its website with information on preventing motor vehicle thefts, and what to do if you are the victim of this crime. You’re invited to stop by Drexel Police Headquarters at 3219 Arch St. to arrange to pick up a free steering wheel lock for your vehicle.

Managing Within the Law: July 14

Drexel Human Resources’ Managing Within the Law workshop focuses on what every manager needs to know about creating a safe and inclusive work environment. Participants will learn where to turn for help in engaging staff, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, understanding disability and other accommodations, and issue spotting. There is a required pre-work assignment for this workshop, consisting of a 10-minute online course that will provide some foundational information on these important topics.

This session, held on July 14 from 10–11:30 a.m., is open to benefits-eligible faculty and professional staff and is a core component of The Art of Management. Register in Career Pathway, using your DrexelOne credentials to log in.

Join A Healthier U on Teams

Are you a member of A Healthier U on Teams? All faculty and professional staff members are invited to join this online community to stay on top of the latest information about the Employee Wellness Incentive Program, ask questions, and connect with Drexel colleagues on topics related to health and wellness. You will be the first to know about upcoming workshops and will get regular reminders about programs and benefits you may not have heard about, like the IBX Fitness Reimbursement Program described below.

How to Earn $150 Toward the Cost of Your Gym Membership

Drexel University benefit-eligible employees and their eligible dependents who enroll in Drexel medical plans with Independence Blue Cross (IBX) can earn reimbursements for many health-related products and services through the Healthy Lifestyles program. For example, if you visit one of IBX’s approved fitness centers, including the Drexel Recreation Center, 120 times within a 365-day period, you can earn $150 toward the cost of your gym membership. 

For more information, read the Healthy Lifestyles Fitness Reimbursement flyer [PDF], visit ibxpress.com, or call 1.800.ASK.BLUE, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (TDD 1.888.857.4816). Select prompt 1 for member information, and then select prompt 4 for Healthy Lifestyles.

Manage Your Health Care With the IBX Mobile App

Independence Blue Cross (IBX), Drexel's medical plan provider, has added new features when you log in to your member account through the IBX mobile app. Now you can: 

• Access Health Journeys for a quick view of everything related to your care, such as your personal health record, benefit coverage, condition-specific information, quick access to care, and programs to help you with your personal health and wellness goals.
• Build your care team for quick access to your primary care physician and preferred providers. 
• View personal reminders and activities to manage your health and care needs. 
• Easily find benefits and programs available to you.

Download the free IBX mobile app for your iPhone or Android from the App store or Google play. To log in, use the same username and password as you do when you log in at ibx.com. 

New Office Hours & Support Resources for SAP Ariba and Concur

To better support the Drexel community, Accounts Payable & Procurement Services are expanding the ways you can connect with their teams and access guidance for SAP Ariba and Concur. Microsoft Bookings is now available as a more efficient way for you to schedule dedicated time with AP & Procurement’s teams for questions, troubleshooting or guidance on specific transactions. Use the links below to connect with the appropriate team based on your support needs:

• Sourcing: For assistance with requisitions, purchase orders, encumbrances, and contracts
• Accounts Payable: For assistance with invoices, payments, and supplier onboarding
• Travel & Expense: For assistance with travel, P-Card, and Concur

Medicare Basics: What You Need to Know

This webinar from Health Advocate is being offered on July 22 from 12–1 p.m. Topics that will be covered include: What is Medicare? Who is eligible for Medicare? What are Medicare parts A, B, C and D? When do I need to enroll in Medicare if I work and currently have health coverage? Do I have to apply for Medicare or do I get it automatically? Plus, learn how Health Advocate can help you through the process. Register on Career Pathway to receive the Zoom link for this webinar. 

Participants in Drexel's Wellness Incentive Program are eligible to earn 15 points (a $15 credit) for attending this event. You must sign in to Zoom with your name in the participants’ box to receive credit. 

Upcoming TIAA Consultations and Webinars

To schedule a one-on-one consultation meeting to review your retirement account with Drexel’s TIAA consultant, Sabrina Evenosky, visit tiaa.org/schedulenow. Meetings are for one hour and take place at the Human Resources office, 3201 Arch St., 4th Floor, Suite 430. The next opportunity is July 9. If you need assistance scheduling an in-person on investment advice session, contact 800.732.8353, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 

TIAA is also offering the following webinars in July:

• Investing for beginners: Start your wealth journey: Discover on July 7 at 11 a.m. the basics of investing — no matter your starting amount — so you can begin building wealth today and for the future. 
• Quarterly economic and market update: On July 9 at 11 a.m., you can hear from the experts in TIAA's Wealth Chief Investment Office about key drivers of the markets and economy that are impacting investors. 
• Steps to help secure your income in retirement: A mid-career check-in: Take stock of where you are at this critical checkpoint and use retirement-saving strategies to better balance competing financial priorities on July 22 at 12 p.m.

Update on FY27 Fringe Benefit Rates

As communicated in the December 2025 announcement regarding the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) proposed fringe benefit rates, the University submitted its proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for review and anticipated that final approval could take several months. At this time, the proposal remains under federal review and has not yet been assigned to a negotiator.

In recent correspondence, HHS advised that institutions may continue using their currently approved provisional rates or may implement proposed rates pending completion of the federal review process.

Accordingly, Drexel is proposing to implement the FY27 fringe benefit rates proposed, effective July 1, 2026, while the federal review remains pending. For more information, please read the full announcement on the Office of the Comptroller website.

The Drexel Compliance Hotline Is Always Open

Drexel University is committed to an open and honest environment that promotes ethical and fair practices and treatment for all Drexel community members. We want our community members to feel comfortable asking questions and raising concerns. 

The Drexel Compliance Hotline is an easy-to-use, confidential reporting hotline hosted by an external, third-party provider, EthicsPoint. The Drexel Compliance Hotline is always open! You can contact the Hotline at any time, day or night, by phone or on the web to report actual or suspected misconduct of Drexel’s Code of Conduct, state or federal laws and regulations, or any other University policies or procedures. The information you provide will be investigated promptly and fairly. You may remain anonymous when making a report to the Drexel Compliance Hotline, although you are welcome to leave your name and contact information, without any fear of retaliation.

You’re encouraged to download the Compliance Hotline Poster [PDF] and post it in your workspace.

Call for Nominations: Compliance Ambassadors Certificate Program

Compliance Program Services (CPS) is currently taking nominations for the Compliance Ambassador Certificate Program, a professional development opportunity that prepares Drexel faculty and professional staff to serve as liaisons to CPS and as proactive compliance and ethics partners for their colleges, schools or administrative units. The mission of the Compliance Ambassador Program is to spread awareness, communications and educational materials to advance compliance and ethics standards at the unit level. Please see the Nomination Information Announcement for full details. The next orientation workshop (virtual) is Oct. 6. Nominations must be received by Oct. 2.

Review the Compliance Ambassadors Program SharePoint site for more information about the program and session dates. Email compliance@drexel.edu with any questions.