March 4, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the one-year anniversary of our campus closure due to COVID-19, I want to reiterate how proud and inspired I am by the way you have tackled the many challenges this past year has presented us, coming together as a community to adapt and grow under the hardest of circumstances. I know how hard this last year has been on you and your families. While I am grateful for all you have accomplished to keep Drexel strong and resilient through this pandemic, I am also aware that it has come at a considerable cost. Many of you are feeling the effects of pandemic fatigue along with the ongoing anxieties and uncertainties around when things will get back to "normal."

With vaccinations ramping up, community spread decreasing and temperatures warming, the light at the end of the tunnel appears to be getting closer than ever. To make it to the other side, we must all continue to work together — but we cannot do that if we’re burned out, and if we don’t take the time to care for ourselves first.

In appreciation of your hard work and dedication to Drexel in these trying times, and to provide more time for you to carve out for self-care, we are starting Half-Day Fridays early this year, beginning with the week of March 29 and continuing throughout the summer. All non-student-facing offices may close on these Fridays at 12 p.m.

Due to our commitment to serve our students and patients, and our engagement in sponsored research and scholarly activities, some individuals may not have the opportunity to participate on Friday afternoon. We encourage supervisors to make alternative flextime available to employees who must work during this time. For guidance on how to implement Half-Day Fridays with your team and how to code the time properly for Payroll, please visit the HR website.

In addition to Half-Day Fridays, please continue to take advantage of other opportunities available to help you rest, recharge and connect:

• Employee Assistance Programs: Employees and their spouses, domestic partners and dependents can access free, confidential counseling sessions though Drexel's existing employee assistance program (EAP) by calling 888.628.4824. Effective April 1, Drexel has partnered with CuraLinc to offer an additional, more robust EAP, called SupportLinc, to all eligible employees, graduate students and retirees, as well as their dependents and household members. To help you and your families navigate these challenging times and the demands that come with balancing home and work, SupportLinc offers confidential, professional counseling and expert referrals, with more access to these services remotely, such as tele-therapy and text therapy. Drexel Human Resources will be announcing more details on how you can access these additional services in the coming weeks.
• Ten at 10: Set aside at least 10 minutes a day to engage in a wellness activity (or simple "watercooler" conversation) with your colleagues.
• Dragon Dialogues: Search Career Pathway for details on this series of wellbeing workshops; the next session, "Self-Care During COVID-19," takes place on March 16.
• Paid Time Off: Remember that Drexel has temporarily increased the maximum accrual for vacation time and allowed personal days to roll over. It's important to take a vacation and unplug from work from time to time — even if you aren't traveling.

Thank you for all that you do for Drexel, our students, each other, and our community. I look forward to another successful spring term full of promise and opportunity.

Sincerely,

John Fry
President