Frequently Asked Questions
for Current Undergraduate Students

Yes! Everyone who works in a lab is required to take the on-line safety training offered by the University's Safety & Health department. Go to www.drexelsafetyandhealth.com and select the "Training" tab at the top, and then select the "general lab/chemical training" tab. You will need to enter your Drexel Student ID # to proceed (that way there's a record of you having taken the training, and periodically the department receives a report of who has taken the training...and therefore we also know who hasn't!), and from there onwards it's self-paced...just read the text and answer the questions.

 If you have specific safety-related questions not addressed by the above then go find Dr. Richard Knight (LeBow 335, x1844, knightr@coe.drexel.edu) and he will try to answer them, or will find out the answer and get back to you.
 

There's certainly a degree of overlap between Materials and Chemical engineering...and in fact between Materials and just about all other engineering disciplines. Materials is endemic to all other engineering fields...everything has to made of a material of some kind. Chemical engineers study things like heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics and kinetics as they apply to the production of materials...such as may be used in an oil refinery, or in a chemical plant used to produce polymers (plastics) like polyethylene or polypropylene in tonnage amounts. Materials engineers, on the other hand, study the relationships between the structure (from the atomic level upwards), properties (strength, hardness, modulus, electrical and/or thermal conductivity, density, dielectric and optical properties and so on) and processing (how materials are formed and processed to give them the properties needed for the applications in which they'll be used). The relationship between structure, properties and processing ultimately determine how the materials will perform...absolutely crucial for the functionality of just about everything!

Materials engineering is therefore an "enabling" discipline...understanding all these things enables the right materials to be selected and things to be designed and built...often by other types of engineers.

With materials, anything is possible!


 

Yes, you should notify Drexel Public Safety (X2222).  If it needs stitches  then Public Safety will provide an escort to the Emergency Room.  You may also have to fill out some paperwork for insurance purposes, so carry your health insurance card or information with you at all times.  You can also get in touch with Dr. Richard Knight (215.895.1844 or knightr@coe.drexel.edu or LeBow 335), if it is not an emergency.

Good question. If you've been properly trained, have permission to use the equipment and have followed all guidelines and instructions, then you're in the clear.  Things certainly do break during normal use and we understand that. If, however, you've broken something through inappropriate use, doing something you've been told NOT to do, or through carelessness, then there will be consequences...temporary suspension of your user privileges, possibly even a monetary fine. If in doubt please stop and ask first!

The best thing to do is to contact Dr. Zhorro Nikolov (znikolov@drexel.edu or 215.895.1293), Dee Breger (deebre@coe.drexel.edu or 215.895.1371), or Dr. Richard Knight (knightr@coe.drexel.edu or 215.895.1844) before trying to fix any equipment yourself. Be sure to report it too...the worst thing you can do is just walk away and say nothing...that's unprofessional and not acceptable.
 

If you are a faculty member, post-doctoral research associate, graduate student, or administrative staff person, paychecks are issued the last working day of every month.  If you have never worked at Drexel University before, you must go to Human Resources (4th floor at 3201 Arch Street) to fill out new hire paperwork.  Unless you fill out paperwork to have your check deposited directly to your bank account, the check can be picked up at the Cashier’s Office on the first floor of the Main Building.  If you do sign up for direct deposit, it will most likely not go into effect until the second month of your employment so your first check should be picked up at the Cashier’s Office.  Support staff, student employees, and work study students are paid every other Friday.  The Friday before a pay day is the end of a pay period and you must go on line to Drexel One and submit your hours.  Anyone signed up for direct deposit will not get a paper deposit slip, but must go online to Drexel One to check their deposit information, https://one.drexel.edu/cp/home/displaylogin. 

Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art and do the "Rocky" thing on the steps!

Walk along "boathouse row"

Stroll down South Street

Try a "Philly Cheesesteak" at Pat's or Geno's on Passyunk Avenue in South Philly

Take a trip "downashore"...which means visit Atlantic City (Lannic City)

Stop by Reading Terminal Market

Go see the eagle and listen to an organ concert at Macy's (formerly Wanamaker's Department Store)

Visit Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center

"People watch" in Rittenhouse Square

Check out the waterfront at Penn's Landing

Have a picnic in Fairmount Park (or a wintertime hike!)

Take a tour of the city's murals with the Mural Arts Program

Try a Vietnamese hoagie (Banh Mi)
 

Bicycle!

PhillyCarShare - http://www.phillycarshare.com/

SEPTA - http://www.septa.org/service.html will show you routes and schedules for Bus, Trolley, Subway and Regional Rail Lines.

Walking - Philadelphia is a very walkable city. Walk!Philadelphia

Taxis - The best way to get a taxi is just stepping outside and hailing one. If you need to secure a ride in advance, try any of these cab companies: Olde City Taxi (215-338-0838); Capital Dispatch (215-235-2200); Liberty Cab Co. (215-389-8000)

This can be a rather daunting task, mainly because there are so many choices. Philadelphia and the surrounding area have many options for rental accommodations. The first thing to do is decide whether you wish to live close to campus or out in the suburbs. If it's the former then you have further choices to make...whether to live in the immediate campus area (i.e. University City, which includes Powelton Village and the U. Penn areas) or elsewhere, like the Art Museum (Fairmount), Center City (east of the Schuylkill River) or other areas (South Street, Graduate Hospital etc.). If you choose to live in the suburbs then think about how you're going to get in to campus each day, and, more importantly, get home at night, maybe after an evening class that went on until 9:00 pm...not so bad in summer, but what about on a cold, windy, snowy night in January? Does SEPTA (the local train and bus transit authority) run buses or trains to where you need to go, when you need to go? You can certainly drive too...then you may have to travel the Schuylkill Expressway each day...generally considered to be one of life's less pleasant experiences!

Then it's a case of deciding what you want...studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom or whatever size apartment, often based on how much you can afford.

Sources of information on available rental accommodation include the Triangle (the Drexel student newspaper), the Daily Pennsylvanian (the U. Penn. student newspaper), free papers like the City Pages of the Philadelphia Weekly or the Citypaper. You can also visit U. Penn's Off Campus Housing office http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/offcampusliving/ and see what they have to offer. Most apartments require a "security deposit" which can vary but is typically 1-month's rent, usually paid in advance of move in. For anyone living in a rented apartment, it's a good idea to purchase "Renter's Insurance" to cover your property...some apartment rental companies actually require tenants to have Renter's Insurance coverage. Some apartments include utilities (heat, air-conditioning, water, electricity) as part of the rent...check to see if this is the case...if it isn't then those are going to be extra monthly expenses you will need $ for.

Another option is International House, an independent, non-profit organization housing nearly 400 students, scholars and interns from over 65 countries.  It can be very competitive to get in there, however.

If you have a car or motorcyle then think about parking. What's available? Is it on-street, in a garage or what? Is it free or will it cost extra?

Do you have a pet? Some apartment do not allow pets. Others do, but may limit it to "cats only, no dogs" and may also require you to pay an additional "pet deposit."

Students who are already here are one of your best resources...they've already been there, done that, and can advise on what areas of the city are good and what are perhaps not so good...very important information. In the end the decision comes down to you...so trust your instincts - if you don't feel comfortable living in a certain area then don't select an apartment there - the chances are you'll regret it later. Choose somewhere you feel safe and comfortable and remember that everyone's comfort level is different! If you're considering an apartment in a certain area then, visit the area at different times of the day. South Street or Old City are relatively quiet during the day, but really come to life in the evenings and at night, especially at weekends - can you handle the noise?

Philly is full of great places to eat and explore.  Here are a few places to start your "foodie" quest:

• Chinatown
• Italian Market
• Old City
• Reading Terminal Market
• Also, check out GoPhila.com's Dining and Nightlife Guide
• and http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/
• For information on area Farmers Markets, visit http://farmtocity.org/
  
• Are you hungry but less than ambitious to travel far for a meal? Check out Campus Food
• AroundPhilly.com's Dining Guide

Philadelphia is a great city for entertainment and dining out...music of all kinds - orchestra, opera, ballet, jazz, major rock tours and smaller shows at places like the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, the Trocadero in Chinatown, the TLA/Fillmore on South Street, and World Cafe Live right next to campus on Walnut Street.

If it's food your after then there are even more choices...great steak houses (Mortons, Ruth's Chris and others), world class restaurants like Le Bec Fin, plus loads of very reasonably priced restaurants and bars in University City (New Deck Tavern, Mad 4 Mex, White Dog Cafe), near the Philadelphia Museum of Art (London Grill, Jack's Firehouse, Rembrandts, Rose Tattoo) and in Center City (The Bards, Irish Pub, Roosevelts, Dickens Inn, Marathon Grill and a whole host of others...American, Asian, Mediterranean, Fusion and other ethnic cuisines...too many to list here. 

Nightlife: If you're up for a night on the town, check out the following links for the best places to party all night long.

http://www.philly2night.com/

http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do/211/Dining_and_Nightlife/223.html

http://phillymag.com/best_of/category/nightlife_bars/

http://www.twoonefivemagazine.com
 

Music: If you're in the mood for a sweet sound to your ears, visit the following sites to find the music hot spots around the city. If you don't think that a small city like Philadelphia has much to offer in night life, think again!

http://www.citypaper.net/music

http://www.phillymusic.com/index.php

http://www.campusphilly.com/entertainment/

Want to tune in but you're short on cash? There are free Friday night concerts at Penn's Landing all summer long!
 

 
Theater: 

http://www.philadelphialiving.com/theater/index.html

http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/42ndStreet.php

Free:  http://www.foundationarts.org/events.html

If you want to be in the know about all things cool around Philly, visit this site: http://www.uwishunu.com/

And another good site:  http://www.phillyfunguide.com/

For things in and around University City:  http://www.ucityphila.org/ 

The Community Education Center offers classes and events year-round.   

 To obtain an account on the MSE domain, send the following information to Andrew Marx (amarx@coe.drexel.edu)

1. Full name
2. Email address
3. Advisor
   
4. Status (Undergrad/MS/PhD/Post-doc...)
5. Preferred user name (all user names are based on the user's real name)
• Real name: John Dorian
• Possible user names: JD, JDorian, JohnD, JohnDorian, Bambi, etc.

You will then receive an email with your username and password, along with instructions for accessing your secure network file share.

ALL LEVELS OF EMPLOYEES:  When you complete your New Hire paperwork with Human Resources (located in 3201 Arch St.), you will be advised about Direct Deposit.  If you decide to sign up for direct deposit at a later date, go to http://www.drexel.edu/hr/employees/forms.html