Office of the Provost
Info For:

Feasibility Phase Kicks Off for UAC Recommendations

November 16, 2023

This message was shared with all faculty and staff on November 16, 2023. 

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the start of the feasibility phase to assess the recommendations put forth by the University Advisory Committee (UAC) on Academic Structure in their June 2023 report. This important effort kicked off this week with the formation of four feasibility teams and the inaugural meetings of the team co-chairs. The roster of team members is provided below.

I am grateful to all who actively engaged in the nomination process and extend a special thank you to those who have graciously accepted the call to contribute their time and expertise on these teams.

Each team is tasked with evaluating the feasibility of the proposed recommendations in alignment with the overarching objectives outlined by the UAC. Additionally, they are tasked with assessing the viability of goals unique to each recommendation, along with determining the necessary timeline and resources required for implementation. Each group will collaborate with relevant internal and external experts and stakeholders to inform the process and final reports. Huron Consulting Group will provide support through research, analysis, and project management to further bolster the teams’ efforts.

This feasibility phase is expected to conclude in early 2024, at which time University leadership will determine which recommendations move from feasibility into design and implementation.

Calendar Feasibility Team

This team will assess the feasibility of transitioning the academic calendar from quarters to semesters.

  • Rosalind Remer, PhD, Senior Vice Provost for University Collections and Exhibitions and Executive Director, Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships, Co-Chair
  • Ian Sladen, Vice President, Steinbright Career Development Center, Co-Chair
  • Seema Baranwal, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Medicine, College of Medicine
  • John DiNardo, PhD, Professor of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Tom Gutman, Interim Vice President for Enrollment, Enrollment Management & Student Success
  • Jodie Haak, PhD, Chair of Health Sciences, Nutrition Sciences, Food and Hospitality Mgmt. and Associate Teaching Professor, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Karin Kelly, MFA, Department Head, Cinema and Television, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Kathryn Matuch, Associate Vice President, Core Enterprise Systems, Information Technology
  • Giuseppe Salomone, PhD, Assistant Vice President and University Registrar, Office of the University Registrar
  • Ludo Scheffer, PhD, Teaching Professor in Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Rebecca Signore, PhD, Executive Director, University Academic Support
  • Michael Waring, PhD, Department Head of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering

Core Competencies Feasibility Team

This team will define, and evaluate Drexel's ability to adopt, a new set of core competencies in the traditional undergraduate curriculum to support greater curricular alignment and flexibility and provide differentiating skills that define a Drexel education.

  • Steve Weber, PhD, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Curriculum and Education, Co-Chair
  • Mira Olson, PhD, Associate Professor in Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Co-Chair
  • Joe Hawk, Executive Director of Assessment and Accreditation, Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation
  • Carrie Hutnick, PhD, Director of Community-Engaged Learning and Scholarship, Lindy Center for Civic Engagement
  • Roger Kurtz, PhD, Professor and Department Head of English and Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Barrie Litzky, PhD, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, Close School of Entrepreneurship
  • Rajiv Nag, PhD, Clinical Professor in Management, LeBow College of Business
  • Debra Ruben, Academic Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Interior Design, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Dario Salvucci, PhD, Professor in Computer Science, College of Computing & Informatics
  • Jason Silverman, PhD, Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Research Professor, School of Education; Co-Director, CASTLE
  • Raj Suri, PhD, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Industry Partnerships
  • Catherine von Reyn, PhD, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems

Consistency Feasibility Team

This team will identify and address existing variation in policies, processes, systems, cultural norms, and general operations to achieve greater alignment.

  • Aleister Saunders, PhD, Executive Vice Provost, Research & Innovation, Co-Chair
  • Kristy Kelly, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor, School of Education, Co-Chair
  • Denise Agosto, PhD, Professor and Director of the MSI in Library & Information Science, College of Computing & Informatics
  • Michelle Bradsher-McHugh, Assistant Teaching Professor and Program Director of Television & Media Management, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Theresa Fay-Hillier, DrPH, Associate Clinical Professor of Undergraduate Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Kim Gholston, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
  • Erin McNamara Horvat, PhD, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement
  • Jacqueline McCurdy, Senior Director, Undergraduate Student Services, Lebow College of Business
  • Reneé Moore, PhD, Research Professor, Director of the Biostatistics Scientific Collaboration Center and Associate Dean for DEIB, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Lindsay Norlen, Director of Organizational Effectiveness, Program Management and Organizational Effectiveness
  • Matthew Reindorp, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor and Department Head of Decision Sciences & MIS, LeBow College of Business

Cluster Feasibility Team

This team will help Drexel prepare to pilot an academic clustering concept meant to incentivize collaborative, flexible academic experiences and provide clearer pathways for undecided and continuing education students while achieving greater operational effectiveness. The team will specifically assess an academic grouping of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Richard C. Goodwin College of Professional Studies and the School of Education.

  • Dan Filler, JD, Dean and Professor of Law, Kline School of Law, Co-Chair
  • Amy Weaver, Vice Provost for Strategic Communications & Marketing, Co-Chair
  • Eric Brewe, PhD, Associate Professor of Physics and Science Education, College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education
  • Anna Chrulkiewicz, Senior Vice Provost for Finance & Administration
  • Ann Gerondelis, Department Head of Design, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Marna Mozeff, Director of Student Services, Goodwin College of Professional Studies
  • Dimitrios Papadopoulos, EdD, Associate Teaching Professor of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Melissa Pennestri, Dean, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Kristin Risi, MBA, Associate Dean, Corporate, Executive Education and Innovation, LeBow College of Business
  • Thersa Sweet, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo, EdD, Clinical Professor in Teaching and Learning, School of Education

Cluster Advisory Committee

In addition to the Cluster Feasibility Team, an Advisory Committee comprising members of the three academic units will play a vital role in guiding and shaping the pilot initiative.

School of Education:

  • Aroutis Foster, PhD, Interim Dean
  • James E. Connell, Jr., PhD, Associate Professor
  • Jemina Williams, Director of Student Services

Goodwin College of Professional Studies:

  • Brian Ellis, PhD, Executive Director
  • Tina Marie Coolidge, Director, Goodwin Programming and Recruitment
  • Kena Sears, Director, CPE & Workforce Initiatives

College of Arts and Sciences:

  • David Brown, Dean
  • Darius Graziani, Executive Director, Finance and Administration
  • Doug Wright, PhD, Department Head and Professor, Mathematics

Thank you again to all who have participated in this process and to those who have agreed to lead these feasibility assessments. I look forward to the collaborative efforts that will undoubtedly shape the future of our academic structure, and I thank you all for your dedication to this important effort.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Jensen
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost