It’s a new year and a new term — which is why there’s a lot going on at the University that Drexel faculty and staff should be aware about going forward. Here’s how to have a healthier and safer 2020 at Drexel this winter:
Volunteer to be a Peer Ambassador
Drexel Human Resources is looking for volunteers to serve as peer ambassadors to new employees, with the greatest needs being at the Center City, Queen Lane and Academy of Natural Sciences campuses. The Peer Ambassador Program assists new employees as they transition to the Drexel community by pairing them with a peer ambassador, who will meet with the new hire regularly during their first few months to discuss topics such as policies, procedures, work culture and campus activities.
You must receive supervisor approval to be a peer ambassador and must attend training before you are paired with a new hire. The program will maintain an Office365 Team with resources and a list of campus events to help introduce new hires to campus life. If you are interested in becoming a peer ambassador, please supply your contact information via this link. If you have any questions about the program, please email Lindsay Norlen at les37@drexel.edu.
Get Started on the 2020 Wellness Incentive Program
Did you know Drexel employees collectively earned more than half a million dollars in their paychecks for participating in our award-winning Wellness Incentive Program in 2019? The 2020 program is now underway. Don’t miss out on getting paid for healthy habits! Visit the Wellness Incentive Program page on the HR website for more details, and check Career Pathway and the HR Events Calendar for opportunities to earn points.
Free Financial Check-up Sessions (15 Wellness Points)
Feeling over-spent after the 2019 holiday season? Start your 2020 off right with a Financial Check-up with Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU). These free, 45-minute financial advising sessions will take place at the FMFCU University City branch (3200 Chestnut Square) on Jan. 29 and Feb. 6, and can earn you 15 points toward the Employee Wellness Incentive Program. To register, call FMFCU at 267.298.1018. See the listings on the HR Events Calendar for more information.
Drexel Police Monthly Meet & Greet
Held the third Wednesday of every month, Drexel Police encourages everyone to stop by the Police Substation in Gerri C. LeBow Hall (first floor, near the A.J. Drexel statue entrance) to ask questions, voice concerns, find resources, or just say hello. The next Meet & Greet is Jan. 15 from 1–3 p.m.
R.A.D. CLASSES
The R.A.D. System provides self-defense courses on the basics of hands-on defense training taught by certified R.A.D. instructors. R.A.D. manuals are provided to course participants, outlining the entire physical defense program. Sign up for RAD classes now on the Public Safety website.
Two-Hour Self-Protection Class
If you’d like to start off with a shorter, less physical self-defense class, Public Safety has created a two-hour class providing basic techniques for protecting yourself. Please contact Linda Moran at lmm467@drexel.edu to schedule your group for this class.
Construction Update — New CAT Labs Completed
Drexel Real Estate and Facilities capped off the 2019 calendar year by completing the final project in the University’s Research Laboratory Plan, which involved the renovation of core research facilities in three buildings on the University City Campus: 3101 Market Street, Bossone Research Enterprise Center, and the Center for Automation Technology (CAT).
The last phase of this plan came together in late December, with the substantial completion of approximately 5,685 square feet of wet research laboratories and technical support spaces for the College of Engineering in the CAT, at a total project cost of $4.8 million. The renovations included two new wet research laboratories on the first floor for Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, one lab on the second floor for Materials Engineering and two labs on the third floor for Chemical and Biological Engineering. The first tenants of the newly renovated spaces began to move in as soon as the University resumed operations in 2020.
The photos of the new spaces in the slideshow below were taken by Jordan Baumgarten. For a complete update on major campus projects, visit drexel.edu/facilities/design/currentProjects/.
This story was published in the winter 2020 issue of Drexel Quarterly.