June

For the summer term, Drexel’s on-campus operations related to dining, recreation and on-campus spaces have changed to reflect current guidance and very low rates of COVID-19 infection on campus.

Senior leaders discussed the University’s anti-racism efforts from the past year, including updates from the work of the Anti-Racism Task Force, with faculty and professional staff at an online event.

The ongoing pandemic and the unique challenges to health care delivery it continues to create have brought to light the need for medical professionals to have a broader skillset to solve the most complex and pressing challenges. Because of this need, and to ensure technology and clinical care are optimized to an individual patient’s needs, Drexel University recently launched an unprecedented offering for future leaders in STEM and health disciplines: a new minor in pediatric engineering.

Brandywine Realty Trust and Drexel University marked the commencement of construction of 3025 JFK, the first vertical development within Schuylkill Yards – a $3.5 billion innovation neighborhood in University City – with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 24 featuring state and local dignitaries and project partners.

A message with updates on Drexel's COVID-19 measures was sent to the University community. Masking now optional for fully vaccinated persons inside Drexel buildings. Eating indoors is no longer restricted. The deadline for all Drexel students and employees to be vaccinated or have received an exemption is July 1 for semester students and August 1 for employees and students on the quarter system.

On June 21, University leaders provided an update on the current status of how faculty and professional staff are taking steps to execute the strategic plan — and how they can still get involved.

Learn more about the food, drink and shopping options at the new Gateway Garden on campus, as well as the remote work pilot program and the reinstatement of the 403(b) match program.

As part of its TRIPOD initiative, the university-community literary arts program Writers Room helped celebrate and share stories of the Paul Robeson High School senior class and their resiliency during the pandemic — culminating in the projection of the students’ portraits on the side of the University City Campus’ Nesbitt Hall on the evening of June 17.

The 18-year-old Paul Robeson High School grad who won a $50,000 scholarship live on national television explains her existing ties to the University, as well as her excitement and plans for starting at Drexel this fall.

TEDxDrexelU, a student organization whose mission it is to bring the spirit of TED to the Drexel community, will present a two-day virtual conference featuring Drexel faculty and alumni speakers June 26–27.

The Urban Health Collaborative, housed in Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, recently published its “COVID-19 Health Inequities in Cities” dashboard – which exposes deeply intrenched inequities in cities across the United States through the lens of comprehensive data on COVID-19 outcomes. Unlike other COVID-19 dashboards that look at data at broader scales, the Drexel website offers data on inequities at the individual (racial/ethnic disparities), neighborhood (using zip code and social vulnerability measures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and city (characteristics such as overcrowding, health infrastructure, etc.) levels on COVID-19 outcomes including vaccination rates.

Last term, Drexel University faculty were recognized for their scholarly research and professional contributions and recognitions.

Following a national search, Drexel University has named Maisha Kelly, a seasoned collegiate athletics administrator with deep Philadelphia roots, as the University’s new director of Athletics. Kelly, currently serving as Bucknell University’s senior associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator, will start at Drexel in mid-July and will succeed Eric Zillmer, PsyD, director of Athletics, who decided to step down in the spring after more than two decades of incredible service.

On June 11, the University returned to the Citizens Bank Park to honor the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates with an in-person ceremony that was livestreamed.

Before the University-wide ceremony at Citizen’s Bank Park on June 11, commencement for Drexel’s colleges, schools and students of the African diaspora were held virtually though celebrated wholeheartedly.

The top three designs from the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 showed the Philly skyline, the future’s possibilities and recognizing achievements of the past.

A message was sent to faculty and professional staff about vaccination requirements and the lifting of some University-wide COVID-19 precautions.

Drexel University faculty, staff, students and community partners, along with Sunray Pharmacy, have come together to put on weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships in Powelton Village.

Read about Vice President for Public Safety and Drexel University Police Department Chief Eileen Behr’s pledge to work with the Drexel community to re-envision public safety, the accomplishments of Drexel EMS’ graduating class, and how to stay safe during your summer travels.

A June 3 communication from the Return Oversight Committee conveys further guidance concerning the COVID-19 immunization requirement for Drexel students.

The renowned urban ethnographer who has focused much of his work in Philadelphia shared in this Q&A a preview of his June 11 commencement speech, career advice and his favorite local memories and eatery.