At the beginning of the fall term, Drexel President Antonio Merlo introduced a new initiative, Student Office Hours with the President, aimed at enhancing “connection and transparency.” This is the first presidential office-hour opportunity The Triangle could find a record of in nearly a decade and has fostered a direct channel of communication between all university students and the Office of the President.
As of Dec. 4, two sessions have occurred, with a third scheduled for today, Dec. 5. All three require pre-registration via a form sent by email. All three sessions filled to the maximum capacity of 20 or fewer nearly immediately after the email was sent to students.
At the first session on Friday, Oct. 17, a near-equal mix of graduate and undergraduate students posed a range of questions, from international student visa status to the state of Drexel’s dining halls. The most prominent theme of the session was the University’s “tricky” financial situation. Merlo provided a brief overview of Drexel’s revenue streams, specifically the heavy reliance on tuition revenue, along with research grants and external donations — a situation unlike universities with large endowments, such as the University of Pennsylvania.
He noted that the cost side of the university is “high,” further complicated by the delays in visa procurement for many international students. His message to students regarding the issues of finance was clear: every dollar he raised was pledged directly to student support.
When asked about increasing financial support and scholarships in response to rising tuition costs, Merlo acknowledged the unavoidable annual tuition increases, given the University’s current financial constraints. However, he repeatedly emphasized in his response that student retention and the student experience were his office’s top priorities.
Concerns about the stability of federal NIH and NSF funding previously on hold or potentially cancelled were also raised by graduate students throughout the session. Merlo employed a “wait and see” approach to funding before providing further information, acknowledging the uncertainty many research faculty faced.
Students also expressed a variety of concerns about the upcoming curricular changes associated with the Academic Transformation, many of which will start to take effect in 2027. Merlo emphasized the importance of embracing the shift as a positive change for the university, citing his own experiences with New York University and other universities that underwent similar curricular changes.
The 14-week semester schedule is intended to give students “time to breathe” and would better align with study abroad programs and internship schedules that were previously unavailable within the quarter schedule. To ensure that current students are not negatively impacted during the transition, Merlo pledged individualized academic advising for each student’s academic plan. This transformation, he emphasized, is centered around experiential learning, a core tenet of Drexel’s mission. His main point throughout all of this was: “Education doesn’t just have to be good, it has to be good for something.”
Merlo also faced pointed questions about the cancellation of internationally focused programs, including the Global Scholars program, which has been discontinued for the “near future,” according to its website. While Merlo was unaware of this specific program’s cancellation, he reemphasized the university’s precarious financial situation and the lack of a wealthy alumni network, which led to financial difficulties that “bleed into other aspects,” such as the Global Scholars program.
Regarding international student safety and visa status, Merlo emphasized that the university was committed to protecting all students but noted that it could not intervene on the legal side of the visa bans.
The second session, on Nov. 17, consisted of a different student body and a different question pool. A common talking point among students is the lack of a football team at Drexel. To questions about the relationship between this and a lack of school spirit, Merlo emphasized practicality, stating that he did not have a “magic wand.” He urged students to hold him accountable and judge his actions, stating that he was very responsive to student feedback, which is why he renewed the student office hours.
When asked about the current state of co-op offerings at Drexel, Merlo stated his renewed focus on increasing co-op offerings and on connecting with as many employers as possible at nearly every external event he attended.
Further commenting on the university’s financial status, Merlo discussed his approach to attracting students and increasing enrollment, namely ensuring that Drexel’s message resonated with students and improving the yield rate by addressing why accepted students ultimately decided not to enroll at Drexel.
Part of this was potential modifications to aid packages for students. It is important to note that students applying Early Decision for fall 2026 matriculation are now automatically eligible for “a minimum of $20,000 in merit scholarships along with consideration for need-based aid, early access to the housing application, and early access to course registration.” This was not a previous financial aid offering.
Merlo also discussed the renewed emphasis of the university on building a positive relationship with the West Philadelphia community, stating that the current relationship was “overall positive” through the Dornsife Community Center.
So far, Merlo has shown himself committed to fostering an open atmosphere with no topics off-limits, bringing a new level of openness to the president’s office. His communication with students, as well as faculty and staff, during their own office hours, has been refreshing after a decade-long drought.