1. Molly Corey Pennsylvania State University
Greetings! When given the task to research an institution at the beginning of the semester, I wanted to pick a school that I have heard about, but didn’t know detailed information, other than its name. The institution I picked is Drexel University. I decided it would be a great idea to pick an institution that is competitive to the school I work for. I also wanted to pick a private institution to examine the cost of tuition and how that effects the institution and it’s funding. Reviewing information on Drexel will give me more insight the next time I speak with a student who is looking to apply to my institution, as well as Drexel.
Figure 1. Drexel University. This figure illustrates the logo of Drexel University.
Molly Corey Pennsylvania State University

2. Institutional Reflection
History
Defining moments
Institution categorization
Organizational chart
Revenue
Expenditures
Throughout this semester, I have been able to reflect on many areas within Drexel University. These areas include how the institution formed and its defining moments, how the institution is categorized to the public, the flow of the organizational chart, as well as how the institution spends and makes its money.

3. History Anthony Drexel Drexel and Company and Drexel Morgan Company
Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry, 1891
Drexel Institute, 1936
Drexel University, 1970
Drexel University was formed by a Philadelphia native named Anthony Drexel. Prior to opening the institution, Anthony’s career was in financial investments. He had taken over his father’s investment company after he had passed away, and then later formed a financial investment business with JP Morgan, called Drexel Morgan Company (History.com Staff, 2009). While the company was successful, Anthony decided he wanted to start an institution for men and women who were interested in being innovative in the industrial field. With this idea, Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry was born in 1891 (History of Drexel, n.d.).
The institution did not originally offer any degrees to students. Starting in 1911, the first Bachelor of Science degree was awarded and from there, the institution blossomed into 18 departments in 4 schools, and started offering Master’s and Doctorate programs (History of Drexel, n.d.).
In 1936, the institution became Drexel Institute of Technology and was later named in 1970 to what it is known as today, Drexel University (History of Drexel, n.d.)
Figure 2. Anthony Drexel. This figure illustrates a photo of Anthony Drexel.

4. Defining Moments Technology Fully wireless Big step in health sciences
Cooperative Education
Quarter courses
There are a few defining moments for Drexel University that have made the institution who it is today. These defining moments all link together with technology being the key component.
Technology was the foundation of forming Drexel University and has stayed that way since. With technology, Drexel became the first institution to have a fully wireless campus and was able to advance in technology when it purchased a health institution in the heart of Philadelphia. This purchase formed the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and a School of Public Health (History of Drexel, n.d.).
Other defining moments include offering cooperative education and having courses in quarters instead of semesters. Having cooperative education for all students played a big part in getting hands-on experience, which is still active today for students (Cooperative Education, n.d.). This helps students gain real-life experience and polish their professional skills while still attending the institution. Some students have participated in cooperative education at companies like NBC Universal, Amazon, Boeing, and Johnson and Johnson.
Classes being offered in quarters instead of semesters formed while the Baby-Boomers attended college. This makes the institution more distinct and has become a major tradition. (Erickson, 2013).
Figure 3. NBC Universal. This figure illustrates the logo of NBC Universal.
Figure 4. Amazon. This figure illustrates the logo of Amazon.
Figure 5. Boeing. This figure illustrates the logo of Boeing.
Figure 6. Johnson and Johnson. This figure illustrates the logo of Johnson and Johnson.

5. Institution Categorized
Carnegie Classification
Large private, non-profit, residential
Doctoral institution, high in research
Over 25,000 full-time students
U.S. News Higher Education Rankings
#99 in National Universities
Offer full range of undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs
All of those defining moments have helped categorize the institution.
To learn specifically how institutions are categorized, it is best to view Carnegie Classification and U.S. News Higher Education Rankings. The Carnegie Classification gives institutional information, whereas U.S. News Higher Education Rankings gives information on the basics of the institution, like student life, application process, financial aid, etc.
Based on the 2015 Carnegie Classification, Drexel University is considered a large private, non-profit, four year or more, residential institution. It is a doctoral institution that is high in research with over 25,000 full-time students; most of them being undergraduate (Carnegie Classification, 2015). With the cooperative education base for undergraduate students, programs are more focused on professions, whereas graduate level focuses more on comprehensive and research doctoral programs (Carnegie Classification, 2015).
According to the 2016 U.S. News Higher Education Rankings, Drexel University is considered #99 in National Universities. To be considered in the ranking for National Universities, institutions must offer a full range of undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs (U.S. News Rankings, 2016). Indicators of this ranking typically include graduation rate, alumni giving, retention rates, student selectivity, and faculty resources (U.S. News Rankings, 2016).

6. Organizational Chart Board of Trustees President
Senior Vice President, President of Drexel University Online
Executive Vice President, Provost
Department Executive and Senior Vice Presidents
To keep Drexel University as a successful national university, the institution consists of a large organizational chart. Institutions have similar breakdowns of leadership, but Drexel’s is a little bit different. There is a President of Drexel University and then there is a President of Drexel University Online (President’s Cabinet, n.d.). Normally, institutions only have one President with a Provost and then a breakdown of Vice Presidents in different departments.
There are 30 areas in the organizational chart, which is helpful for the institution to focus deeply in each department and allow it to run smoothly (President’s Cabinet, n.d.). Offering cooperative education makes the organizational chart more understanding. There is more of a hands-on approach from the top that trickles down from the President to each department and academic program.

7. Review of Revenue Tuition and fees Government grants
Private gifts and grants
Investment returns
Having an organizational chart also helps with defining revenue and expenditures of the institution.
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, also known as IPEDS, provides a breakdown of institution revenue and expenditures (IPEDS, n.d.). Tuition and fees, government grants, private gifts and grants, and investment returns contribute to revenue (IPEDS, n.d.).

8. Core Revenues
Private schools, like Drexel University, are typically tuition driven. This is clear after reviewing the IPEDS diagram that shows tuition and fees as the major source of revenue (IPEDS, n.d.). After reviewing the diagram, it was staggering to see that the percentage of private gifts and grants contributed to revenue was so low. Also, having a large alumni base, it was assumed that the percentage of investment return would be higher.
Figure 7. IPEDS Data Center. This figure illustrates the revenue breakdown of Drexel University in 2014.

9. Expenditures Instruction Research Public service Academic support
Institutional support
Student services
For expenditures of an institution, those include instruction, research, public service, academic support, institutional support, and student services (IPEDS, n.d.).

10. Core Expenditures
As you can see, the majority of expenses goes towards instruction. This is important since education is the main reason why institutions are still in business. To have a strong education, there needs to be strong faculty in place. This also makes sense as to why academic support and research are high in cost. As a doctoral institution, it is important to keep faculty up-to-date while researching for their department. Offering academic support is also important since that is what will help students stay at the institution and be successful when finding a job after graduation.
Figure 8. IPEDS Data Center. This figure illustrates the expenditure breakdown of Drexel University in 2014.

11. Future of Drexel University
Technology – major influence
Carnegie Classification – assist in planning the future of the university
Organization chart –focus on cooperative education
Finance – to be successful, the institution must spend money on good faculty
After reviewing the history, defining moments, categorization, organizational chart, and finances of Drexel University, it is clear that technology is and will stay as a major influence to the institution. The original vision of the institution has definitely stayed in place, which is in part due to the advanced technology that Drexel offers.
This advancement will help the institution be categorized in the Carnegie Classification and improve its ranking in U.S. News Higher Education Rankings. Being placed in rankings will help the institution plan for the future and better itself in specific areas within the institution.
The organizational chart that Drexel offers, allows more focus on cooperative education, which is a core aspect to in a student’s education. This chart will help each academic department offer a stronger, hands-on learning experience for its students.
Finally, to see the breakdown of finances within the institution is helpful when understanding why private institutions have such a high cost of tuition. The way the institution spends its money, mostly on academics, shows that it is financially stable. For an institution to pay more on instruction, academic support, and research, it is clear that the institution understands that in order for it to continue in its success, they must spend money to have good faculty educating its students.

12. I look forward to learning more about this institution as the semester progresses. By the end of the semester, I hope to be able to understand the ins and outs of how this organization runs and what it fully offers its students.
Thank you!

13. References
Cooperative Education. (n.d.) Retrieved from Drexel University (2015). The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Retrieved from Drexel University. (2016). U.S. News Higher Education Rankings. Retrieved from Erickson, Matt. (September 23, 2013) Drexel keeping quarter-based calendar. Retrieved from

14. References
History.com Staff. (2009) Retrieved from
History of Drexel University. (n.d.) Retrieved from
President’s Cabinet – Office of the President. (n.d.) Retrieved from

15. References
Figure 1. & 2. Drexel University. (n.d.). Retrieved from Figure 3. NBC Universal. (n.d.) Retrieved from Figure 4. Amazon. (n.d.). Retrieved from Figure 5. Boeing. (n.d.). Retrieved from Figure 6. Johnson and Johnson. (n.d.). Retrieved from Figure 7 & 8. IPEDS. (n.d.). Retrieved from