As we begin our new academic year, which promises to be an exciting one for Drexel, I would like to welcome all new and returning students, faculty and staff to our campuses.

Everything we do at the University is geared toward fostering excellence. We continue to increase selectivity, attract a highly talented student body, recruit strong faculty members in every field, enhance our reputation for great teaching and build upon our research enterprise. We are now prepared to make certain our physical campus is commensurate with all the academic advances we are making.

The construction phase of our five-year plan has already begun, but more innovative projects and renovations are yet to come. During this academic year, we will break ground for three new facilities. A new 500-bed residence hall will be built on 34th Street, and a new 84,000-square-foot Recreation Center will be built next to the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Market Street. Also planned for groundbreaking this year is the state-of-the-art, 155,000-square-foot Integrated Sciences Building across from the Newman Center, which will be the first University structure in the country to include a Bio Wall for energy efficiency. The Bio Wall, first introduced in Canada by Diamond & Schmitt Architects, is a living wall using plants’ natural respiratory properties to cool the indoor air in the summer and function like a humidifier in the winter.

The University will also continue to move forward online. This year we’re planning to Webcast Drexel Dragons men’s and women’s home basketball games. This is a great opportunity to strengthen our national sports presence as well as bolster team spirit on the home court.

On a much larger scale, we are investigating the opportunity to export the Drexel brand to California. Our management team and Board of Trustees are conducting a study to determine the feasibility of opening a campus 17 miles northeast of Sacramento.

As you can see, there is much to look forward to at Drexel. As we continue to fulfill our academic mission and address our strategic plan, I invite employees and students to e-mail me suggestions at papadakis@drexel.edu on how to continue improving our University.

I wish you great success and a productive and enjoyable academic year.

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President