No tricks here! Just treats offered by way of informing Drexel faculty and staff of the upcoming Open Enrollment season and how they can support their communities through various annual campaigns.
Here’s what was heard around campus this month:
Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1
Open Enrollment for Drexel faculty and professional staff will take place from Nov. 1–30 this year. This annual process gives you the opportunity to enroll in new benefit plans or make changes to your existing coverage for the 2020 plan year. It is also a good time to verify that your dependents are current and that we have the current information for them. Details about 2020 plan enhancements will be provided soon.
Save the dates for the upcoming Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs taking place at the following locations from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come speak with your benefits representatives and enter raffles to win prizes. Vendors will also be on hand to answer all of your questions. No need to preregister.
- Nov. 4: Queen Lane Campus, The Atrium
- Nov. 6: University City Campus, Recreation Center Lobby, 3301 Market Street
- Nov. 12: The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Commons Room
- Nov. 14: Center City Campus, 245 N. 15th Street, Room 3506
Make Time to Vote on Nov. 5
Drexel employees are encouraged to make time to vote in local county and municipal elections on Nov. 5. Drexel has a long tradition of scholarship and advocacy around the importance of voting rights and the values of freedom and democracy that American citizens uphold by participating regularly in local, state and national elections. The Civic Engagement Policy grants the use of one hour of paid civic engagement time off to enable voting.
Dragon Drive Campaign Extended Through Nov. 1
Drexel’s annual Dragon Drive has been extended through Nov. 1 for faculty and professional staff to support charities in Philadelphia and beyond. Dragons can donate to one of the several participating organizations by making a tax-deductible donation to the 2019 Dragon Drive. Many payment options are accepted, including payroll deduction. Information on how to donate and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the Drexel HR website.
Individuals who make a contribution to the Dragon Drive by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 will be entered in a raffle drawing to win a variety of prizes. For campaign updates, a list of raffle prize winners and other information, visit http://www.drexel.edu/dragondrive. The raffle prize winners will be updated on the website during the first week of November.
Drexel Wins Award for Exceptional Grounds Management
For the second time in three years, Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) has recognized Drexel University with the Honor Award for exceptional grounds management in the Urban University category of its 2019 Green Star Awards. In applying for the award, Drexel Grounds Department Director Scott Dunham and Assistant Director Tony Gale described the overall beauty of the University’s campus landscape, the hard work of their crewmembers, and their solutions to common challenges.
PGMS gave Drexel positive marks for:
- Overall turf conditions, including color, height, thickness and edges.
- Maintenance of landscape beds and thoughtful selection, diversity and placement of plants.
- Open design incorporated into an urban environment.
- Effective solutions to landscaping challenges, including water runoff and potential safety concerns.
- Sustainability practices, such as permeable paving, retention basins, moisture sensors, tree inventory and local plant purchasing, composting, and organic pesticide use.
- Strong knowledge and utilization of budget.
Learn more about Drexel’s sustainable landscaping solutions on the Real Estate and Facilities website.
Contribute to Drexel’s Annual Active Duty Care Package Drive
From now until Dec. 4, you can drop off items like certain packaged foods, toiletries and other items at three locations on the University City Campus to be included in boxes sent to active duty service members. A full list of needed items, and where to drop them off, can be found here.
Items will be packaged during an event on Dec. 6 at the Drexel Recreation Center Lobby from 10 a.m. to noon.
Journal Entry Workflow 2.0 Training
This course will provide an explanation of the functionality of the Journal Entry Workflow 2.0 tool and allow for hands-on application in a test environment on how to process journal entries (funding transfers, transaction corrections) using the tool. Learn how to process non-budget, research and non-research journal entries, how to attach supporting documentation and how to upload information into the tool. The session will show how the tool works for journal submitters and approvals and how it interacts with the expenditure authorization tables. Register via Career Pathway to attend this training on Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Hagerty Library, L-14 Computer Lab.
Donate Items for the Camp Out For Hunger
The Department of Public Safety is collecting donations throughout the month of November for the Philadelphia Camp Out For Hunger 2019, an annual event that collects items for Philabundance. Last year, Public Safety filled their police wagon with items, and they are hoping to exceed that goal this year with your help.
You can drop off the following items through Dec. 2, at the Drexel Public Safety suite in 3201 Arch St. (3rd floor) or Drexel Police Headquarters at 3219 Arch St.:
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Cooking oil
- Canned tuna, meat, fruits, vegetables, stew and/or soups
- Oatmeal and/or breakfast cereal
- Whole grain pasta and/or rice
- 100 percent juice
- Boxed, non-refrigerated milk
- Cash donations to purchase food items
To make a cash donation, request a donation box, or if you have any questions, please contact Linda Moran at lmm467@drexel.edu or Officer Logan Wells at ldw52@drexel.edu.
Faculty/Staff Family Days at the DAC
Show your Drexel pride and join Drexel Basketball for Faculty/Staff Family Days on Nov. 20 and Jan. 19. Tickets are available at a special rate of $12 for adults, which includes admission to the game and a $5 voucher for concessions. Admission for children under the age of 12 is free with the purchase of an adult ticket (youth tickets don’t include the $5 voucher).
To purchase tickets, visit drexeltickets.com, and select the "Faculty/Staff Family Day" ticket type for Men’s Basketball vs. Bryant on Nov. 20 or Women’s Basketball vs. Delaware on Jan. 19. You can also purchase tickets by calling 1.866.4.DREXEL or visiting the Drexel Ticket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets must be purchased in advance; offer not valid day of the game.
Celebrating You — an Administrative Professionals Networking Event
Drexel employees are invited to attend an administrative professionals networking event on Dec. 10 from 2–4 p.m. at the Three Parkway Building, Room 1043, on the Center City Campus. Join for informal networking with other administrative professionals from across the University, guest speakers, and professional development activities. The theme for this event is “Celebrating You,” with a focus on celebrating individual and team successes. Registration is limited. Please register in Career Pathway, accessed under the Employee tab of DrexelOne.
The Drexel Administrative Professionals Learning Community intends to host these types of networking events on a regular basis. Attendees will learn to increase their productivity, become better communicators, upgrade their technology skills, develop new skills and position themselves for career success. To request access to the Administrative Professionals Learning Community Office 365 Team, please contact Executive Assistant for Human Resources Kristin Nestor at ken55@drexel.edu.
Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight: Supplier Inclusion Program
To better reflect its mission to pursue a more inclusive procurement model, Procurement Services is relaunching Drexel’s Supplier Diversity Program with a new name: the Supplier Inclusion Program. The word “inclusion” more accurately represents the program's goal to give all types of suppliers the opportunity to interact with Drexel, whether it be by directly engaging in a transactional business relationship or by reaching out to the University for guidance, development and partnership. This refocused terminology also better defines how Procurement Services aims to collaborate with our suppliers, and places emphasis on how important it is to support smaller, local and diverse businesses.
Communities are better served when we promote inclusion through positive messaging and engagement. Visit the Procurement Services website to learn more about Supplier Inclusion.