Heard Around Campus — December

Remember Drexel’s Holiday Hours!

As stated in an email sent by President John Fry, the University will close at the end of the day on Dec. 21, remain closed on Dec. 24 and then reopen on Jan. 2. Visitors to the Academy of Natural Sciences will still be welcome at the museum during its regular hours of operation.

Construction Update

32nd and Market Street Intersections (former Firestone site): Improvements to pedestrian safety across Market Street and JFK Boulevard are nearly complete, with the final remaining lighting and signal work culminating over the coming weeks. This work will result in a new, signalized crosswalk at Lancaster Walk.  A second phase of work at JFK Boulevard is planned for completion by PennDOT at a later date.  

Armory Exterior Renovations (Lancaster Avenue Readiness Center): Work continues on exterior restoration and improvements to portions of the Armory building, including masonry and window restoration and new roofing. Funded jointly by the state and by Drexel, this project is managed by Pennsylvania's Department of General Services. The Drill Hall was returned to Drexel for occupancy for the start of the fall term; remaining construction is expected to be complete January 2019.

Bossone Research Enterprise Center Renovations: Construction is underway for the renovation of an existing laboratory on the third floor to increase usability for chemically intensive work related to energy and energy storage. The project is expected to be complete this winter.

Buckley Bubble: Construction is underway on foundations for a seasonal air-supported structure over Buckley Recreational Field. This project will allow year-round use of the field by providing an environmentally controlled environment during the colder months. First inflation of the “bubble” is expected in late fall.

Calhoun Residence Hall Renovation and Expansion: The University is preparing to renovate and expand Calhoun Hall, with American Campus Communities serving as the developer. The renovation will address the needs of the building envelope and modernize the residence hall throughout to provide an improved living experience with occupancy in fall 2019. In addition, the renovation will include an approximately 11,500-square-foot, two-story addition to provide critical space to relocate the Pennoni Honors College into the heart of Drexel’s campus, building a cohesive living-learning community and a stronger physical identity, anticipated to be completed in spring 2020.

Center for Automation Technology Renovations: The University will undertake the design and construction of approximately 5,685 gross square feet of wet research laboratories and technical support spaces for the College of Engineering in the Center for Automation Technology. The renovations, currently in the final stages of design, include two new wet research laboratories on the first floor, one on the second floor, and two on the third floor. 

The College of Computing and Informatics at 3675 Market St.: The University is leasing and renovating three floors of the new 3675 Market St. building to consolidate the College’s functions in one state-of-the-art facility. Renovations on two of the floors have begun, and move-in on those floors is expected in spring 2019.

Fabric Discovery Center (3101R Market St.): Drexel, in collaboration with Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, is establishing a statewide “Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center” in renovated space at 3101R Market St., in the heart of Schuylkill Yards and adjacent to recently created spaces for the University’s engineering programs. Construction is currently in progress, and the space is expected to be ready for equipment installation in March.

Main Building Improvements: The Main Building has been home to Drexel since the University’s founding in 1891 — a vital part of our everyday activities and one our most cherished icons. Ongoing work over the next several years will help ensure this building continues to serve the University in the years to come. Beginning next summer, the roof and skylights will be replaced. In preparation for this work, protective netting has been suspended across the ceiling of the Great Court.  

TKE House and other Fraternity & Sorority Housing Improvements: The University is performing miscellaneous repairs and renovations to several Fraternity & Sorority Life houses along Powelton Avenue and 34th Street. For example, the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) House at 3421 Powelton Avenue is currently undergoing non-structural repairs and renovations necessitated by weather-related damage. All work on the TKE House is expected to be complete by the end of January 2019.

School of Education in 3401 Market St.: Planning is underway for the consolidation of the School of Education in 3401 Market St., with move-in expected in spring 2019.

URBN Center Mechanical Systems Upgrade: Construction will begin in winter 2019 to enhance the HVAC system for the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Substantial completion is expected in late spring 2019.

For more updates on major capital projects around campus, including third-party developments, please visit drexel.edu/facilities/design/currentProjects.

2018–19 Winter Break Campus Bus Service

Drexel University bus service along the Powelton/Spring Garden Route (University City Loop), Dragon Route (Center City Loop) and Queen Lane Route (East Falls Loop) will run on modified holiday schedules [PDF] during the Winter Break.

• There will be no shuttle service on Dec. 22-25, Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 1.
• There will be no service on the Powelton-Spring Garden Route for the duration of the Winter Break.
• The Dragon and Queen Lane routes will operate on modified schedules Dec. 26–28.
• All routes will return to their normal schedules on Jan. 2, 2019.

Please consult the modified schedules [PDF] for the Dragon and Queen Lane routes when planning your travel to and from Drexel’s campuses during Winter Break.

Shipping & Receiving Winter Break Hours 

During the Winter Break, the Shipping and Receiving department will operate on Dec. 26-28, 2018, from the hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Jan. 2, 2019, Shipping and Receiving will return to its normal hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. 

Professional Staff Goal Setting for 2018–2019 Performance Cycle

Each year, Drexel’s professional staff members participate in a goal-setting process that provides guidance and direction and facilitates planning for the new performance cycle.

If you have not already begun the process of setting goals for the 2018–2019 performance cycle, it is time to do so. To create and submit your goals in Career Pathway, Drexel’s performance management online tool, hover over the Performance tab and select Goals, then select Create. When you’ve completed your goal setting, select Submit; you will still be able to edit or delete a goal, even after you submit it.

General information, including tips for creating goals, can be found on the Performance Management webpage. You may also take a short online course, Goal Setting in Career Pathway, that describes the goal-setting philosophy, process and procedure, via the Learning section of Career Pathway.

Registration Open for January R.A.D. for Women Classes

The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System for women is a series of classes that provides realistic defense methods to help participants make educated decisions about resistance. In January, the Department of Public Safety will host a R.A.D. series on the University City Campus that is free to the Drexel community. This series will educate participants about risk reduction strategies and the "Fight or Flight Syndrome." Participants will learn about personal weapons, vulnerable locations, postures, and the many options to employ if engaged in an aggressive encounter.

The class dates in this series are: Jan. 15, 17, 22, and 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Additional details, including the class location, will be emailed to registrants. You may register via the form at the bottom of the R.A.D. page on the Public Safety website. For more information, contact Karen Sams at 215.895.1609 or kjs52@drexel.edu.

2019 Wellness Incentive Program: Now Open to Spouses & Partners!

Did you hear that your domestic partner/spouse can earn $250 in 2019 through Drexel’s employee Wellness Incentive Program? If you participate to receive the full $400 in available credits, that’s $650 total for you and your partner! For details, visit the Wellness Incentive Program webpage, and start making those New Year’s resolutions now.  

Revised Policy: HIPAA Hybrid Entity Designation 

The Drexel University HIPAA Privacy Program was recently updated — make sure you’re up to date if you have to work with HIPAA at Drexel.

Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight: Resolve to Get Involved in 2019

Drexel’s Colleague Resource Groups, which are open to all faculty and professional staff members, strive to raise awareness and understanding of issues that are important to traditionally underrepresented groups and their allies. They’re also a great way to build and sustain a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, engaging, and diverse campus community. Drexel’s five active Colleague Resource Groups are:

• Bienvenidos
• Black Faculty & Professional Staff Association
• LGBTQA+ Faculty & Professional Staff Network
• Veterans Colleague Resource Group
• Women’s Financial Literacy & Learning

Each of these groups has its own vision for programming for the upcoming year. Consider making 2019 the year you get involved! You can read more at the Colleague Resource Groups web page on the Drexel University Diversity and Inclusive Excellence website, or by contacting the Office of Equality and Diversity by email.