Office of the Provost
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Working Groups Launch for Academic Transformation

December 18, 2024

This message was shared with all faculty and staff on December 17, 2024.

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that an initial set of working groups has been formed to lead the design and implementation of Drexel’s Academic Transformation. The membership of these groups was selected in collaboration with the Faculty Senate and is listed below in the postscript.

Communicating Progress

An Academic Transformation SharePoint site will launch early in the new year to provide updates on the progress of the working groups to all faculty and staff. Additional working groups will be formed and members added as this work progresses; interested faculty and professional staff are welcome to continue to self-nominate to serve on a working group using this form.

Entering the Design Phase

The design phase of Drexel’s Academic Transformation will continue through June 2025 and will focus on designing the foundational elements of the calendar, core competencies and curriculum work; designing the process for integrating academic units; and identifying/prioritizing policy and guideline changes to enable greater flexibility, collaboration and effectiveness. The Academic Transformation is expected to conclude in August 2027 with the official switch to semesters. Project timelines for all work will be available on the SharePoint site in the new year.

Additionally, we would like to thank all who have provided their feedback and thoughtful questions over the past months, particularly related to the integration of academic units. Your feedback has been instrumental in fostering a transparent dialogue and informing how we move forward in this next phase.

More Opportunities to Engage

We are grateful to all who nominated themselves to support the Academic Transformation, and to those who accepted the invitation to serve on the working groups. This is a far-reaching and long-term effort, and there will be many opportunities to engage. These opportunities will be shared as they arise.

Please continue to share ideas and submit questions about Drexel’s Academic Transformation to the central transformation team using the linked form.

Sincerely,

Amy Weaver
Vice Provost for Academic Strategy & Communications
Academic Transformation Project Lead

Kevin Owens, PhD
Chair, Faculty Senate
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Academic Transformation Co-Sponsor

Paul E. Jensen, PhD
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost
Academic Transformation Co-Sponsor

The following are the current memberships of the Academic Transformation working groups.

Calendar

The Calendar working group is tasked with developing the structural/technical foundations of the semester calendar at Drexel.

  • N. John DiNardo, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences, Co-Lead
  • Steve Weber, PhD, Office of the Provost, Co-Lead
  • Rachel Ditoro, EdD, Salus at Drexel University
  • Erin Durkin, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Jodie Haak, PhD, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Lynne Hickle, Steinbright Career Development Center
  • Don McEachron, PhD, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
  • Ros Remer, PhD, Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships and University Collections and Exhibitions
  • Guiseppe Salomone, PhD, Office of the University Registrar
  • Michael Wagner, PhD, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Michael Waring, PhD, College of Engineering

Core Competencies

The Core Competencies working group is tasked with defining Drexel core competencies and designing their implementation through various instructional strategies.

  • Monica Ilies, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences, Co-Lead
  • Steve Weber, PhD, Office of the Provost, Co-Lead
  • Dave Ambrose, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Kevin Egan, PhD, Pennoni Honors College
  • Johanna Inman, EdD, Teaching and Learning Center
  • Youngmoo Kim, PhD, Office of the Provost
  • Michelle Bradsher-McHugh, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Mira Olson, PhD, College of Engineering
  • Trish Shewokis, PhD, College of Nursing and Health Professions and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
  • Scott Warnock, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences

Curriculum

The Curriculum working group is tasked with recommending structural changes to meet the curricular goals outlined by the UAC on Academic Structure, including greater consistency and flexibility in the student experience, enabling the development of interdisciplinary courses/programs, easing student ability to transfer or enter Drexel undeclared, and ensuring student achievement of Drexel Core Competencies.

  • Rena Cumby, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Co-Lead
  • Steve Weber, PhD, Office of the Provost, Co-Lead
  • Charleen Baselice, University Catalog
  • Mesha Hunte‐Brown, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Stacy Kline, Bennet S. LeBow College of Business
  • Aaron Laskey, University Advising
  • Jackie Murphy, EdD, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Michelle L. Rogers, PhD, College of Computing & Informatics
  • Joseph Sarver, PhD, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
  • Jonathan Seitz, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
  • J. Douglas Wright, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences

Academic Unit Integration/Alignment

The Academic Unit Integration/Alignment working group is tasked with designing the process for integrating college/school units, including the process for defining new, consistent administrative and academic structures, as well as how to support and engage stakeholder groups through this transformational change.

  • Kim Gholston, Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture, Co-Lead
  • Jason Schupbach, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Co-Lead
  • Sarah Ulrich, EdD, School of Education, Co-Lead
  • Caitlin Brady, Bennet S. LeBow College of Business
  • James M. Caldwell, OD, EdD, Salus at Drexel University
  • Anna Chrulkiewicz, Office of the Provost
  • Brian Daly, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo, EdD, School of Education
  • Dana C. Kemery, EdD, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Mary Mawritz, PhD, Bennet S. LeBow College of Business
  • Sarah Saxton, Office of Research & Innovation
  • Michelle Spina, University Advising
  • Maureen Tang, PhD, College of Engineering
  • Jake Williams, PhD, College of Computing & Informatics

Consistency

The Consistency working group is tasked with developing consistent policies and processes to support equitability, collaboration, flexibility and efficiency for all students, faculty, and professional staff.

  • Erin McNamara Horvat, PhD, Office of Faculty Advancement, Co-Lead
  • Jennifer Kolker, MPH, Dornsife School of Public Health, Co-Lead
  • Bernetta McCall-Millonde, Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship, Co-Lead
  • Leslie Ashburn-Nardo, PhD, Office of the Provost
  • Jason Gersh, PhD, Office of the Provost
  • Nathan Hanna, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Brea Heidelberg, PhD, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Kristy Kelly, PhD, School of Education
  • MacKenzie Luke, PhD, Student Life
  • Adelaida Alban Medlock, PhD, College of Computing & Informatics
  • Cassie Meyers, Office of Research & Innovation
  • Ramesh Raghupathi, PhD, College of Medicine