Office of the Provost

Closing 2025 With Gratitude

December 18, 2025

This message was shared with faculty and professional staff on December 17, 2025.

Dear Colleagues,

As 2025 draws to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your extraordinary efforts, collaboration and contributions throughout this transformative year. Together, we have taken bold steps to reimagine Drexel’s academic future while continuing to deliver excellence every day.

Academic Transformation: What We Accomplished in 2025

This year, we brought vision to life with detail and action. Among our most significant milestones:

  • Design Phase Successes: Completed more than 30 sprint reports through the sustained dedication of many faculty and professional staff, providing a clear roadmap for implementation.
  • Strategic Integrations: Advanced academic unit integrations to strengthen collaboration and broaden opportunities for students and faculty — already leading to expanded course access and new programs that position Drexel at the forefront of emerging fields.
  • New Academic Directions: Formalized distinctive aspects of the Drexel experience, including core competencies and an experiential learning requirement that will begin with the incoming class of fall 2027.
  • Semester Calendar Transition: Charted the path to move from quarters to semesters in August 2027 with defined dates, fostering deeper learning and flexibility for students.
  • Moving Forward, Together: Built strong partnerships with faculty, professional staff and student leaders to ensure shared ownership of change and a co-created future Drexel.

Looking Ahead

As we enter 2026, our focus continues with implementation:

  • Finalizing program-level curriculum revisions, with rolling deadlines through spring
  • Continuing student support and technology enhancements
  • Advancing shared services and sustainable program management

For more details and resources, visit the Academic Transformation SharePoint and submit questions through the AT Questions form.

Thank You

Our collective accomplishments from this year are a testament to your dedication to the Drexel student experience and to our contributions as an institution of higher education. Your efforts ensure that Drexel remains a leader in experiential education and academic innovation; those efforts are deeply appreciated. I hope you all find space to rest, recharge and enjoy time with loved ones over the winter break.

Warm wishes for a joyful holiday season and a bright new year.

Paul E. Jensen, PhD
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost