Classes to Remain Remote for Week 2 of Winter Term

This message was sent to all faculty, staff and students on Thursday, December 30, 2021.

Summary

Drexel courses that were remote for the week of January 3 will remain remote for the week of January 10. Lectures and class discussions will be recorded where possible.
Campus return will be staggered/move-in dates will be updated.
On-campus research activities will continue. Current health and safety protocols remain in place.
Get a booster shot before you return to campus and record it in the Drexel Health Checker.
Students in laboratory and clinical settings at the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the School of Education will continue as scheduled.

Dear Drexel Students and Colleagues,

Based on current COVID-19 data, guidance from our public health and medical experts and forecasted pandemic conditions, Drexel has made the decision to add an additional week of remote instruction to the beginning of the winter quarter/spring semester for most students. The Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 are highly contagious and disease transmission is at an all-time high in our region. COVID still poses significant risk for those who are unvaccinated or medically vulnerable, and even our heavily vaccinated community is not free from risk. We expect to return to face-to-face instruction the week of January 17. For more information, see below.

An Extra Week Remote

Courses will continue to be conducted in a remote synchronous format the week of January 10, 2022, and lectures and class discussions will be recorded where possible.

All classes for graduate students at the Kline School of Law will be taught remotely for the first week of the term (January 10). Students participating in Kline Law co-ops and clinics will receive additional information.

Graduate students in semester programs participating in classroom-based activities in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies of the College of Medicine will now be virtual the week of January 10, 2022. In-person educational activities will resume January 18, 2022.

Remote instruction does not apply to students in laboratory and clinical settings at the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the School of Education. These students will resume normal activities as scheduled the week of January 3. Third- and fourth-year medical students will participate in clinical rotations as normal. Classes for first-and second-year medical students will be remote through the week of January 17.

In addition, on-campus research activities and University operations will move forward as of January 3 with current health and safety protocols in place.

Campus Move-in Dates

Campus return and move-in will be staggered on a schedule that will be communicated to students living in University housing. Wherever possible, residential students are strongly encouraged to delay their return to Thursday, January 13, 2022, or later. Students living in Drexel residence halls and Greek properties will be required to test upon return to campus—you will receive instructions on scheduling a testing date. If you test positive for COVID-19 before returning, even if you are vaccinated, you must NOT come to campus. Instead, record your positive test result on the Drexel Health Checker, stay home, and isolate away from others.

Where possible, please refrain from taking part in large indoor social activities over the next few weeks, and always wear a mask whenever you attend any indoor gatherings. We recommend you upgrade your mask at this time. Single layer, cloth masks no longer provide adequate protection. Please closely follow the CDC mask guidance available at this link. To date most COVID infections within our community have occurred at social events outside the classroom. High case numbers and consequent illness and isolation could make in-person instruction and on-campus housing more challenging to offer, leading to additional changes in instructional format. To maintain the on-campus experience for everyone, keep social gatherings small and outside where possible, and always follow safety protocols including mask-wearing.

Get Your Required Booster Shot

Boosters are required at Drexel. All eligible students and employees will be required to receive their COVID-19 booster six (6) months after their last COVID-19 vaccine dose was administered unless they already have a medical or religious vaccine exemption. You must provide documentation of a booster shot through the Drexel Health Checker. If it has been 6 months since your initial vaccination course, and you have not yet received your booster shot, please make an appointment to do so immediately at your local clinic or through Drexel. Please make every effort to receive your booster and record it in the Health Checker before returning to campus. Booster clinics will also be scheduled for those who are unable to obtain them before returning to Drexel.

New Isolation Guidelines

The CDC has provided interim changes in isolation and quarantine guidance through a press release as things are rapidly changing in the United States. We anticipate more information from the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Health Departments over the next week. Guidelines for University settings will be changed but may differ from the broadly issued CDC guidance. We will review data and new guidance provided from state and local health departments before implementing any changes to current protocols at Drexel.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to adjust our beginning-of-term plans to keep you and the rest of our community safer. Please know that we do not make such decisions lightly, as we understand how difficult such changes can be. We will let you know about any additional changes as soon as we are able. We hope you had a happy and restful winter break and expect to see you all very soon.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Sincerely yours,

John Fry
President

Paul E. Jensen
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost
University Professor

Marla J. Gold
Chief Wellness Officer
Senior Vice Provost for Community Health

Subir Sahu
Senior Vice President for Student Success

Megan Weyler
Senior Vice President
Chief Human Resources Officer