Welcome Week Helps New Dragons Adjust to Life at Drexel University
President Merlo shakes hands with a student after speaking at his welcome breakfast.
Drexel University’s newest class of Dragons began arriving on campus with their bags and a schedule of hundreds of events to partake in during Welcome Week. Students moved into their residence halls over the weekend and got introduced to Philadelphia and University City, but as soon as they were settled, life at Drexel began in earnest. Here’s a snapshot of how students got to know their peers, colleges, schools and University community.
Monday, Sept. 14
Incoming students kicked off their first week on campus by having breakfast with Drexel President Antonio Merlo, PhD, who hosted his second annual welcome event at the Daskalakis Athletic Center (DAC). Subir Sahu, PhD, senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success, introduced students to the man he called their number one fan, and Merlo made a “Drexel-ent” deal with the assembled students to once again meet up in four or five years at Commencement.
“When I look at this room, I stare into the future of this University, and I cannot feel anything but optimism and joy,” Merlo said. "I can just see all the wonderful things you're going to do, both while you're here at Drexel, but most importantly, what you're going to do once you leave the doors of this University and are going to change the world the way Dragons do.”
Merlo encouraged students to stop and chat with him when they see him walking through campus, because he wants to hear about student experiences.
“You will find your path here at Drexel, and we are all going to be here to help you. We are all going to be here to advise you. And to make sure that whatever it is that you are aspiring to be, whoever you are aspiring to be, you are going to find your home here,” Merlo said. “Take advantage of everything this university has to offer. Experience Drexel. Experience all the things that will be presented in front of you."
Afterwards, students streamed out of the DAC and back into the sunshine on Lancaster Walk, where carnival-themed inflatable obstacle courses and games awaited them for Monday Funday! Throughout the day, there were more opportunities to get to know campus, like a scavenger hunt through the University’s various collections that brought students to iconic spots on campus like the Pearlstein Gallery, a contemporary art gallery within the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. There was also an event for commuters and transfer students.
The day ended with First Bash, an event hosted every year by student organization funding The Good Idea Fund that brings new students to Lancaster Walk for pizza, games, airbrushed shirts, music and an opportunity to get to know new friends.
College tip of the day: In a Ready Set College event hosted by the Center for Learning and Academic Success Services (CLASS), students learned that in college, much of their learning is done in the free time between classes. You’ll learn what to prioritize while in class, but you need to spend a lot of time with the material on your own outside of class to absorb everything.
Emma Klass and Grace Cunningham with ice cream made at the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Tuesday, Sept. 15
If Monday’s events existed to get students acquainted with life on campus, Tuesday’s existed to introduce them to life in the classroom. Drexel’s colleges and schools hosted block parties, assemblies and fairs to show students what the academic and extracurricular life of a Dragon will be like. Of course, free food abounded.
At several colleges and schools, like the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business and the Thomas R. Kline School of Law, students received “passports” to guide them through their days. They collected stickers for breakout sessions that taught them about advising, getting to know their peers and programs they can join.
At the College of Arts and Sciences, students collected T-shirts designed by fellow incoming students and gathered information from their new departments, while at the College of Nursing and Health Professions, students toured the Drexel Health Sciences Building in groups before gathering again for carnival games and ice cream made by the culinary sciences department.
Students from the Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health ended their day by volunteering at the Dornsife Center for Community Partnerships’ monthly community dinner. At the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, a block party atmosphere took over the area behind the URBN Center, where students played video games and Jenga.
The newly integrated Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing passed out bags with the new college name, and students used them to hold freebies from the tables along the Race Street Lawn as they browsed campus and college organizations and resources.
After a day of academics, students headed to the Vidas Athletic Complex for Bounce-a-palooza and some family-friendly tailgating before the men’s soccer team took on La Salle University.
College tip of the day: At the Kline undergraduate law program orientation, students were encouraged to get comfortable in the lounge spaces for them within the building — something that all students can use to get comfortable around campus and in their communities within their college, school and major.
Emma Stuart gets her face painted by Amanda Desouza at GoBlueGold Day.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
By Wednesday, students were getting acquainted with resources and traditions on campus through neighborhood tours, an open house at the W. W. Hagerty Library, their first GoBlueGold Day (for those unaware, on Wednesdays, we wear blue and gold) and more.
Writers Room took groups of students on walking tours throughout the neighborhoods nearby the University including Mantua and Powelton Village. At a panel with the Steinbright Center for Career Development, peer mentors and ambassadors shared tips for making the most of co-op experiences, like the importance developing connections during them to make strides in your chosen industry.
The University City campus was buzzing in the early afternoon as celebrations kicked off for University founder Anthony J. Drexel’s 200th birthday party at the Paul Peck Alumni Center. New Dragons connected with their distant founder through Drexel trivia, learning more about his and through two student-curated exhibitions, and of course, birthday cupcakes. Outside on Perelman Plaza, the first GoBlueGold Day of the academic year kicked off and new students could swap old shirts for a new Drexel shirt.
The Pennoni Honors College brought the fun and the resources with their Bentley Block Party, playing games and sharing information about ways students can connect with the college and do research even in their undergraduate careers through the Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Program.
Throughout the evening, students gathered with newfound communities to paint tote bags, sing karaoke, dive into a movie at the Rec Center pool, make trash puppets and stress toys and more.
College tip of the day: In another Ready Set College session hosted by CLASS, students learned the difference between learning and memorizing and the importance of routine to help clear up space in their long-term memories. It’s important to establish a routine in college and stick to it, day after day and week after week.
Students and members of the Drexel men's basketball team play carnival-style games against each other.
Thursday, Sept. 17
Students continued learning about ways to make their lives on campus better, through resources for academics, mental health and their social lives. In the morning, students learned about Drexel Global’s resources for studying abroad, whether for a quarter or just a class, as well as international student organizations like the German Club,K-Pop Club and more.
On Lancaster Walk, dozens of students gathered around guests from the Philly Goat Project. The Counseling Center and Center for Autism and Neurodiversity organized an event to bring students face to face with some of their best resources for mental health, and to a few goats to soak in their calming presence. Students took pictures and walked with the animals, whose handlers tried to keep them from eating the campus grass.
As the day continued, the Patrick McGonigal Academic Resource Center opened its doors for an Open House (and cake) so students could learn about their one-stop-shop for academic help including coaching, the Writing Center and different academic supports for specific subjects.
In the afternoon, new Dragons took on the men’s and women’s basketball teams in carnival-style games, trying to best their teams in pop-a-shot, giant ring toss and others. For each win they racked up, they got a raffle ticket to win custom Nikes or a pair of Airpods.
College tip of the day: CLASS brought together several students for a panel on what they wished they knew before coming to college, and ambassadors from the ARC emphasized the importance of joining everything you can in your first year on campus. Sometimes, they said, it’s best to nearly bite off more than you can chew, and work backwards from there to find out what you most enjoy.
Students from the Drexel Emergency Medical Services meet with other students to talk about their organization.
Friday, Sept. 18
Welcome Week began to wind down on Friday, though students not in their first year were now moving in for the new academic year. To get ready for the first week of classes, students walked their schedules with advisers and learned about the importance of staying mentally healthy with Active Minds.
On and around Lancaster Walk, students stayed busy with plenty of opportunities for fun and community with Touch-a-Truck from the student-run Drexel University organization, vinyl painting with DragonFly (a student organization hosting a free concert on campus on Oct. 17) and a meet-and-greet with members of Drexel’s club and intramural sports teams.
College tip of the day: In one last Ready Set College session from the Steinbright Career Development Center, students got tips in career planning. Students should focus on building their LinkedIn profiles as well as résumé and cover letter, because recruiters and hiring managers will be looking at those materials. Also, when preparing for job interviews, be ready to answer questions about your strengths, weaknesses and goals honestly.
