March 19, 2020

Dear students,

We hope you are well and staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis represents an unprecedented moment in our nation and has caused dramatic changes in our everyday lives. I want to assure you that we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and health of all students, faculty, and staff.

As you probably have heard by now, spring break has been extended to two weeks (March 23-April 3). During this time, Drexel will be conducting an intensive cleaning of all University facilities. Starting this Friday, March 20th, all Drexel campus facilities will be closed to the public. Only a small number of essential staff will be on-campus during this time. While we may not be in the office, School of Education advisors and faculty are still available to serve you remotely.

Spring quarter will begin on Monday, April 6th. All courses will be taught online and the quarter will last nine weeks instead of the usual ten. Spring classes will end on June 6th and finals will be take place the week of June 8th. For online students, this should not cause any disruptions in your learning. For on-campus students, we want to assure you that you will be receiving the same rigorous coursework that you have come accustomed to, but in an online format. Drexel University first started teaching courses online in 1996. We are a leader in this industry and have numerous awards to show for it. Our faculty are well versed in online instruction and will provide you with same quality education that you expect from Drexel. Obviously, learning online may be new to some students. We encourage you to lean on your advisors, professors, and fellow classmates to help you through any challenges you may have in the upcoming quarter.

I urge you to please stay informed by checking our Drexel email regularly for updates from the University, as well as communications from your advisors, professors, and the School of Education. You can also check for updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic online at drexel.edu/now/coronavirus/response/.

We know that this is a very trying time for our students and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate the challenges associated with this crisis. I am confident that we will get through this together.

Best,

Penny Hammrich, PhD
Dean and Distinguished University Professor
Drexel University School of Education