Recent Accolades and Updates on Academic Initiatives, Policies

This message was shared with all faculty and staff on December 5, 2023.

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the end of the fall term, I’m pleased to share some updates on strategic academic initiatives and other news happening across the University. Representing an incredible amount of dedication and collaboration among faculty, professional staff and students, this is only a fraction of the work happening each day to move the University forward, and I’m sincerely grateful to all for these efforts.

Academic Strategic Initiatives

A Nov. 16 message shared the rosters of the four feasibility teams that will evaluate the recommendations of the University Advisory Committee (UAC) on Academic Structure, marking the start of the Feasibility Phase of this work.
Two expert teams within the Areas of Excellence and Opportunity have been formed, and AEO pilot activities continue: Teams presented their project ideas for The Environmental Collaboratory’s Climate Hubs Grant program, and the Office of Research & Innovation is partnering with Spark Therapeutics to host a Gene Therapy Symposium on December 7.
A Curricular Analytics initiative is underway to map the complexity of undergraduate program requirements and inform our ongoing efforts toward curricular improvement.
The membership of the previously announced Responsibility Center Management (RCM) Advisory Committee has been finalized and will begin meeting in December.

Policies and Procedures

The Initial Course Participation pilot process will continue with winter quarter courses. Instructors of credit-bearing, winter quarter courses will receive follow-up reminders to facilitate the process.
Updates were made to the faculty Sabbatical Leave Policy and the Learning Management System Policy, while the Academic Integrity Policy Pertaining to Artificial Intelligence was officially approved as an interim policy.
Additionally, two new policies were approved outlining procedures governing full-time Non-Tenure-Track faculty.

Faculty Professional Development

The Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program welcomed its 2023-2024 cohort of faculty Fellows from 34 institutions across the U.S. and Canada. This national leadership development program, administered by the College of Engineering and the LeBow College of Business, counts current deans and university presidents among its alumni.
The Teaching and Learning Center is working with four teams — in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, the School of Education, the Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages, and the Department of Arts and Entertainment Enterprise — to create or revise a peer review of teaching process within their units. The TLC also launched a pilot faculty cohort of its Certificate in College Teaching, for college instructors of all levels who are interested in further developing their teaching craft with a community of peers.

Recent News & Accolades

Thanks to a multi-organization partnership led by the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, students are creating mock livers and kidneys to train surgeons and other health care providers on preserving these organs prior to transplantation.
The Dornsife School of Public Health, in recognition of its expertise in and commitment to community-engaged public health work, was awarded a $20 million award from the National Institutes of Health to study health equity solutions and serve as a national coordinating center for community-led health equity research.
Drexel’s music industry program was named to Billboard’s list of 2023 Top Music Business Schools.
Drexel Athletics is celebrating Drexel’s faculty and staff by offering them free admission to the Women’s Basketball game on December 17 and the Men’s Basketball game on December 18. Call the ticket office or bring your faculty/staff ID to the game for free admittance. Go Dragons!

I am excited to be “on the road” again at college/school town halls, meeting with colleagues to talk about critical University priorities. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming town halls and wish you all the best for a smooth end to the term.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Jensen
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost