The following message was sent to Drexel faculty and staff on April 27.

Dear Colleagues,

Now that we have a course set for the summer term, during which the University will continue to operate remotely, we are moving ahead with an intensive planning effort for the beginning of the new academic year. I’m pleased to announce the members of the task force assembled to explore our approach to teaching, research and service for the fall, and I want to briefly outline their charge.

We continue to see the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with its tragic toll in human life and the sweeping disruption of our economy. In addition, it remains unclear when communities might be able to resume some semblance of their normal routines. And so, we must be extremely flexible with our planning, anticipating a number of different scenarios. To that end, our Fall 2020 Covid-19 Task Force under the leadership of three co-chairs will evaluate several options. They are as follows:

Fall term begins and remains on campus, with social distancing protocols in place.

Fall term continues to operate solely remotely; campuses remain closed.

Fall term runs as a hybrid, with varying elements online and in-person

I asked the task force, at their first meeting on Friday, to identify the dimensions and permutations of each scenario, as well as address any potential questions that may arise. The group will consider how each scenario would impact Drexel in various ways, including: academics, research, facilities, health and safety, student life and more.

Any move to resume on-campus operations will be made only after state and local authorities lift restrictions on business and school openings, and once the University concludes that safeguards can be put in place to minimize health risks from COVID-19 to the entire Drexel community. As the summer progresses, we do hope to open the campuses on a limited basis, possibly involving small groups of students and researchers, additional faculty, professional staff and other personnel necessary to conduct University business. For example, some labs could reopen.

I want to thank the members of the task force for taking on this important challenge, and l look forward to receiving their recommendations in early June. Anna Koulas, from the Drexel Solutions Institute, will staff this group.

Following is the complete membership list.

Fall 2020 Covid-19 Task Force

Chairs:

Norma Bouchard, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Alan Greenberger, Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, Department Head of Architecture Design and Urbanism

Megan Weyler, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Members:

Vince Amoroso, Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management

Eileen Behr, Vice President, Department of Public Safety

Paul Brandt-Rauf, Dean, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Meghan Bucci, Executive Director of Finance, Academy of Natural Sciences

Sean Chung, Vice President of Online Operations

David Collins, Executive Director, Strategic Sourcing and Surplus, Procurement Services

Janet Cruz, Medical Director, Drexel Student Health Department

Lori Doyle, Senior Vice President, University Communications

Brian Ellis, Associate Dean for Academic Programs Administration, LeBow College of Business

Adam Fontecchio, Director, Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning Excellence, College of Engineering

Aroutis Foster, Associate Professor of Learning Technologies, School of Education

Jen Gallagher, Manager, HR Service Center

Theresa Gallo, Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Services, Kline School of Law

Marla Gold, Vice Provost for Community Health Care Innovation

Chuck Haas, Department Head, LD Betz Professor of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering

Jackie Hopkins, Director of Events and Visitor Relations, Enrollment Management

Erin Horvat, Senior Vice Provost, Faculty Advancement and Undergraduate Affairs

Anna Koulas, Vice President, Drexel Solutions Institute

Michele Kutzler, Assistant Dean of Faculty Development, College of Medicine

Don Liberati, Assistant Vice President, Business Services

MacKenzie Luke, Associate Vice President for Student Success

Jake Marini, Vice Provost, Global Engagement

Annette Molyneux, Assistant Vice President, Student Life

Kym Montgomery, Senior Associate Dean for Nursing and Student Affairs, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Bill Mooney, Associate Vice President and Deputy CIO

Donald Moore, Vice President for Real Estate and Facilities

Danuta Nitecki, Dean of Libraries

Mary Quigley, Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Management

Al Riess, Director of Technology, LeBow College of Business

Damian Salas, Assistant Dean, Close School of Entrepreneurship

Maria Schultheis, Vice Provost of Research

Ali Shokoufandeh, Associate Dean of Research, College of Computing and Informatics

Ian Sladen, Vice President for Cooperative Education and Career Development, Steinbright Career Development Center

David Unruh, Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Joyce Vuocolo, Director of Total Rewards

Anne Converse Willkomm, Department Head of Graduate Studies, Goodwin College

Tami Wible , Associate General Counsel and Managing Attorney

David Wilson, Vice President, Government and Community Relations

Eric Zillmer, Director of Athletics and Carl R. Pacifico Professor of Neuropsychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Please feel free to reach out to these colleagues with any questions and suggestions you may have.

Sincerely,

John Fry

President