Spring Break
Papadakis' business branding benefits U.
By: Noah Cohen
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:52 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:51 AM EST
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:52 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:51 AM EST
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The August 10 editorial by The Triangle Editorial Board raises important and thoughtful questions about the sorry state of customer service at Drexel University. Unfortunately the points raised are overshadowed by the inflammatory and counter productive calls for President Papadakis's resignation.
It would be hard to avoid hearing the story of Taki and Caneris saving the University from certain doom. It has become Drexel folklore, told over and over by Administrators under "StudentsFirst" banners. But tell that to a student who is being charged a credit card "convenience fee".
The "StudentsFirst" initiative is clearly not speaking to the students who have been robbed - or the juveniles attacking them.
StudentsFirst is probably falling on deaf ears when speaking to the part time professor who is "kinda sorta" working on their Ph. D. and lists Drexel along with Trader Joe's as one of their four places of employment.
The Editorial Board explains that branding is being placed above substance and in the areas above this is a disgraceful fact our administrators must be held accountable for.
What the Aug 10 editorial fails to understand is that the Drexel degree is also a brand - a brand that due largely to Papadakis is gaining strength and prestige.
By opening satellite campuses and operating like a "Fortune 500 corporation" Papadakis is working to rebrand Drexel as an innovative leader in higher education.
When I tell people I go to Drexel's College of Arts and Sciences I get perplexed looks. Why? Because Drexel has for too long been branded as an engineering school.
A medical school, a law school, international co-op and now a possible "Drexel West" - this is a University that is growing rapidly. This Drexel "brand" is being redefined to mean innovation and forward thinking - both refreshing concepts in Academia.
That brand brings increased prestige when an employer meets a Drexel graduate.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Philadelphia Mayoral primary winner Michael Nutter are two government leaders who have backgrounds in business. New York's Mayor even reconfigured City Hall offices to look more like the trading floor.
It would be hard to avoid hearing the story of Taki and Caneris saving the University from certain doom. It has become Drexel folklore, told over and over by Administrators under "StudentsFirst" banners. But tell that to a student who is being charged a credit card "convenience fee".
The "StudentsFirst" initiative is clearly not speaking to the students who have been robbed - or the juveniles attacking them.
StudentsFirst is probably falling on deaf ears when speaking to the part time professor who is "kinda sorta" working on their Ph. D. and lists Drexel along with Trader Joe's as one of their four places of employment.
The Editorial Board explains that branding is being placed above substance and in the areas above this is a disgraceful fact our administrators must be held accountable for.
What the Aug 10 editorial fails to understand is that the Drexel degree is also a brand - a brand that due largely to Papadakis is gaining strength and prestige.
By opening satellite campuses and operating like a "Fortune 500 corporation" Papadakis is working to rebrand Drexel as an innovative leader in higher education.
When I tell people I go to Drexel's College of Arts and Sciences I get perplexed looks. Why? Because Drexel has for too long been branded as an engineering school.
A medical school, a law school, international co-op and now a possible "Drexel West" - this is a University that is growing rapidly. This Drexel "brand" is being redefined to mean innovation and forward thinking - both refreshing concepts in Academia.
That brand brings increased prestige when an employer meets a Drexel graduate.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Philadelphia Mayoral primary winner Michael Nutter are two government leaders who have backgrounds in business. New York's Mayor even reconfigured City Hall offices to look more like the trading floor.
