Prepare to learn more about local Philadelphia organizations that are currently working to combat some of society’s most pressing public health issues. At the end of this week you will know even more about organizations addressing critical topics such as food shortages, HIV/AIDS prevention, the opioid epidemic, and the importance of registering for the census. You will also have an opportunity to contribute to these organizations through donations and spreading awareness of the valiant efforts that are occurring right now here in Philadelphia. 

Day 1: Food Insecurity During COVID-19  (September 14, 2020)

Today we will have an opportunity to learn more about food insecurity, and a local organization, Philabundance, and the work that they are currently doing to help combat hunger in Philadelphia during the pandemic.

• Learn more about Philabundance: http://www.foodconnectgroup.com/philabundance.html
• Donate: http://www.foodconnectgroup.com/donate.html

Day 2: HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention  (September 15, 2020)

Today we will learn about Philadelphia Fight Community Health Centers and the work that they are doing in regard to HIV primary care and prevention. 

• Learn more about Philadelphia Fight: https://fight.org/about/mission/
• Aids/Prevention Asynchronous Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIk98oMqz5w&feature=emb_title
• Donate: https://fight.org/how-to-help/donate/

Day 3: Battling the Opioid Epidemic (September 16, 2020)

Today we will have an opportunity to learn more about Prevention Point Philadelphia, an organization aimed at promoting health, empowerment and safety for communities affected bty drug use and poverty. You will also be able to learn more about the overdose reversal training, with an opportunity for another training session if you are interested in the near future. 

• Learn more about Prevention Point: https://ppponline.org/about-us/mission-vision-and-values
• Overdose Reversal Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBu4J1pTdss
• Prevention Point Video #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrkXjYJ2uV0
• Prevention Point Video #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSojQeGdY_w
• Prevention Point Video #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYAshnY88U&t=28s
• Donate: https://ppponline.org/donate

Day 4: Census Awareness  (September 17, 2020)

Today we will have an opportunity to learn more about Philly Counts. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of registering for the Census and its implications on society, making sure that you are registered, and also spreading awareness to peers about registering for the census by September 30^th. 

• Learn more about Philly Counts 2020: https://www.phila.gov/programs/philly-counts-2020/  
• Complete the census (if you have not already): https://2020census.gov

Day 5: Thank You Letters to COVID Health  (September 18, 2020)

Today for the final day of service learning, we will have the opportunity to learn about some of the work that essential workers are doing at Thomas Jefferson Hospital. You will also be able to write a thank you letter to an essential worker or a letter of encouragement to a current patient at Thomas Jefferson Hospital as well. 

• Learn more about Thomas Jefferson Hospital: https://thehealthnexus.org/category/covid-19/
• Thank You Letters/Letters of Encouragement: https://drexel.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9SOis8geH84dZyJ
• Donate: https://giving.jefferson.edu/ways-to-give.html

To help decide what you would like to explore this welcome week, here is a list of highlighted events from the graduate student orientation and welcome week events. This includes a mixture of games nights, resource sessions, and Drexel community panels, and more!

Monday

Online Graduate Student Orientation: Session 2

METHOD: SYN (live)
WHEN: Monday, September 14, 2020 from 3:00PM-5:00PM via Brazen
AUDIENCE: All graduate students
DESCRIPTION: Steinbright Career Development Center (SCDC), Center for Learning & Academic Success Services (CLASS), Drexel University Libraries, Office of Global Engagement (OGE) & Education Abroad (formerly Study Abroad), Drexel Public Safety (includes Drexel Police), Student Life: Graduate Housing & Commuter Student Resources

Virtual Septa 101

METHOD: SYN (live) – link sent shortly before event starts
WHEN: Monday, September 14, 2020 from 4:00PM-5:00PM
AUDIENCE: All students
DESCRIPTION: Learn how to take advantage of your city in a safe way! There is so much to explore in Philly, we want to show you the best ways to get around all of your favorite neighborhoods using SEPTA and other easy modes of transportation.

Continue reading →

Student Affairs is excited to announce that the schedule for week 7 of Virtual Orientation has been posted to DASH! The theme of week 7 is: “Welcome Week.”

The full details of each session are included in the schedule. Provided below is a brief overview of featured topics and sessions:

• Welcome Ceremony and Pinning
• Summer Reading Book Circle
• Exploring Philadelphia Q&A
• Color Brave
• and more!

As a reminder, Orientation consists of both live, synchronous Zoom events and self-paced, asynchronous Blackboard Learn modules that are essential to learning about Drexel’s systems and your success. Please review the schedule carefully to determine which sessions you need to attend.

Missed a live session or want to review a recorded session? At the end of each week, recorded sessions will be added to the Blackboard Learn shell for you to review.

We hope that your experience with Virtual Orientation has been successful. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Michelle Quigley.

In addition to Dornsife’s Weekly Orientation Schedule, we would like to share information on the Graduate student orientation schedule and the Drexel’s Welcome Week Schedule to get you ready for this upcoming year.

Events in these schedules will include: 

1. Optional, but highly encouraged high-level University online graduate student orientation and onboarding resource in Blackboard Learn, including information about the REQUIRED Title IX training* for graduate students. Please let the graduate college (graduatecollege@drexel.edu) know if you wish to have access to the orientation in Learn.
2. Series of optional live synchronous virtual welcome and resource fair sessions on Monday, September 14 & Wednesday, September 16 via Brazen technology
3. Opened to all students, Welcome Week Events has a list of events that include open houses for resource offices, club activities and game events, and other helpful resource events

*Title IX Training: Information on the required Title IX training for all new/incoming and current/returning graduate students will be sent out in Blackboard Learn. This training is mandated by the Graduate College and Office of Equality and Diversity (OED) annually. We will also continue to enroll students through fall add/drop. Students must complete the training by October 31.

ACCESSING GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION SESSIONS:

For live synchronous events, you can register using links on the Graduate student orientation website. Registration must be through Brazen.

You can access the graduate orientation by logging into Drexel Connect and clicking on “Drexel Learn.” Click on the “Organizations” tab in the left-hand menu and locate “Graduate College Graduate Student Orientation 2020-2021” under the “Administrative Term.” Please note that it is an “Organization,” not a “Course.”

If you do not see the orientation in your Blackboard Learn account under “Organizations,” please first make sure you have the “Administrative Term” visible. Then, check to make sure you have picked up your Drexel email account. If you have just picked up your account, please contact the Graduate College at graduatecollege@drexel.edu to be added. If you can see but have trouble accessing the orientation or modules, please contact Drexel’s Instructional Technology Group at itg@drexel.edu, or visit the Technical Support page.

ACCESSING WELCOME WEEK EVENTS:

These virtual Welcome Week programs (September 14-18) can be accessed by logging into your DrexelOne portal or DrexelOne app.

Student Affairs is excited to announce that the schedule for week 6 of Virtual Orientation has been posted to DASH! The theme of week 6 is: “Get Involved.”

The full details of each session are included in the schedule. Provided below is a brief overview of featured topics and sessions:

• Health Management and Policy (HMP) Club
• Undergraduate Student Government Organization (USGO)
• Public Health Doctoral Student Advisory Group (PHDSAG)
• and more!

As a reminder, Orientation consists of both live, synchronous Zoom events and self-paced, asynchronous Blackboard Learn modules that are essential to learning about Drexel’s systems and your success. Please review the schedule carefully to determine which sessions you need to attend.

Missed a live session or want to review a recorded session? At the end of each week, recorded sessions will be added to the Blackboard Learn shell for you to review.

We hope that your experience with Virtual Orientation has been successful. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Michelle Quigley.