The Triangle

Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Adrian Jimenez-The Triangle The student with the winning suggestion recieves a $1,000 prize. Past winning submissions include the student SEPTA discount, the "I am Drexel" school spirit campaign and the idea for senior exit surveys.

In 1996, Drexel University began annually implementing the best undergraduate and graduate student suggestion to improve Drexel, a suggestion that now earns students $1,000.

The prize was implemented under the tenure of President Constantine Papadakis, beginning upon his arrival at the University; in 1996, the prize money only consisted of $500.

"I initiated a similar program as dean of the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering [before I got to Drexel]," Papadakis wrote in an e-mail. "When I joined Drexel, I implemented the program as a way to receive feedback from students about what can be improved on campus and to get their creative juices flowing."

While other universities may have similar programs, Papadakis said the Drexel program differs in that there is a monetary reward for the top suggestion.

Last year's winning student idea was a 10 percent SEPTA discount for Drexel students and faculty. Stacey Rose, a senior majoring in Marketing, made the SEPTA discount suggestion. Rose is also the Drexel Commuter representative and student life assembly chair of the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA).

Rose said she believes the prize money is "a good aid for" the suggestion program. The process is beneficial because many students have a "vested interest" in Drexel, she said.

"The prize money is a bonus," said Rose.

The prize for the top suggestion was doubled in 2008 "to increase participation in the program. I want to receive more and more suggestions from students each year," Papadakis wrote. "The most rewarding part of the program is that students take an active role in improving their University."

In addition to getting more student suggestions, Papadakis said he hopes to increase student input in the University in other ways.

Papadakis cited a Gallup survey issued by the University as another way Drexel is attempting to increase students' say in running of the University.

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