History of Drexel University

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History of Drexel University

Contents 1 Founding: 1891 2 Expansion and University status: 1959 to 1984 3 Decline and financial crisis: 1984 to 1995 4 1997 to present 5 References

[edit] Founding: 1891

Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry was founded in 1891, by Anthony J. Drexel, with the main building dedicated on December 17th of that year. The convocation was attended by such figures as Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison, as well as the governor of Pennsylvania and the vice president of the United States, Levi Morton. Bishop Henry Potter officiated the convocation, and The Honorable Chauncey Depew gave an address praising the new institution for its goal of preparing students for jobs in science and industry, as opposed to training lawyers and academics in abstract fields.^[1]

From 1895 to 1898, renowned American Impressionist painter Colin Campbell Cooper taught courses in watercolor.

Drexel became the Drexel Institute of Technology in 1936.

[edit] Expansion and University status: 1959 to 1984

During the administration of Drexel University presidents W. W. Hagerty and James Creese, after which the University City campus Library is named, Drexel underwent a period of rapid expansion constructing new classroom buildings or dormitories each year. The buildings constructed include Kelly, Myers, Calhoun, and Towers halls, as well as most of the buildings surrounding the Quad, including Matheson, Korman, Disque, and Nesbitt. During this time President Hagerty led Drexel, which was just a college at the time, to full University status in 1970.

[edit] Decline and financial crisis: 1984 to 1995

After Hagerty's departure from the university admissions, enrollment, and the university's financial situation went into substantial decline. The majority of problems occurred during and after the recession of the early 90s. Drexel was struggling to remain solvent, and began to use endowment funds to pay operating expenses. President Breslin was not able to react to difficulties coming from lower admissions. He reacted with severe cuts, some of which were very peculiar, such as the reduction of the working days from 5 to 4 during the summer quarter so that the university saves in A/C costs. There was even discussion of the schools merger into the next-door University of Pennsylvania, until the selection of president Constantine Papadakis.^[2]

[edit] 1997 to present

In 1997 with the renovation of Van Renselaer Hall, Drexel University began a period of expansion led by president Constantine Papadakis to enlarge the university, its student population, and its alumni funding base. Since 1997, Drexel has completed three new dormitories with plans for at least two more, expanded the research infrastructure with the construction of the Bossone Research Center, renovated various campus buildings and the main quad, and acquired the Queen Lane campus and Hahnemann University Hospital from MCP Hahnemann University. Papadakis has also added a School of Law, and secured millions of dollars worth of alumni grants, including several grants of more than $10 million. With a tighter administration and without the financial worries of the past all aspects of the university improved. The following increases occurred from 1996 to 2005

• Total revenue +331% to $612M
• Research funds +535% to $83M
• Endowment +471% to $540M
• Total enrollment +102% to 18,466

but also

• Undergraduate tuition +68% to $23,250/year^[3]

Master plans for further construction projects were announced on October 16, 2006 during Drexel University's Founders Day and Convocation Celebration. The plan involves significant changes to the campus and buildings over at least a five-year period. According to President Constantine Papadakis the changes are estimated at around $350 million dollars.

Some of the anticipated changes include:

• Addition of a new biomedical center
• Addition of a skyscraper
• Construct a new building to replace Stratton Hall.
• Construct a new building to replace Matheson Hall.
• Construct a new residence hall.
• Expansion to the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
• Landscape behind the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
• An addition of a west wing to the Rush building.
• An addition of a new wing to the Academic building.
• Refurbishing of the old Armory building into a basketball arena.
• Demolition of Myers Hall and the closing of Race Street between 33rd and 34th streets for more green space.

[edit] References

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