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Recognizing Dr. Constantine Papadakis President of Drexel University from 1996 Until his Death on April 5, 2009, for his Outstanding Service to the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis's arrival at Drexel in 1995 ushered in an era of unprecedented growth and excellence for the University. Under his leadership, total enrollment at the University grew by more than 130 percent, from 9,000 to 21,000 with full-time undergraduate enrollment increasing by 144 percent to more than 11,000; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis doubled the size of Drexel's faculty and grew the University's total employment to 7,300 making Drexel the seventh largest private employer in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, the University trustees signed a landmark agreement to manage the bankrupt Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, followed by a 2002 acquisition creating the Drexel University College of Medicine. This step, undertaken at Dr. Papadakis's urging, saved 13,000 jobs and the education of 3,000 medical and nursing students, kept intact a key academic medical resource for Philadelphia and preserved the traditions of two of the cities most historic institutions—Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (founded in 1850 as the world's first medical school for women) and Hahnemann Medical College (a pioneer in homeopathic medicine founded in 1848); and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis brought national attention to the City through high-profile events, including a visit to Drexel in 1997 by Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China; the 2008 National Democratic presidential candidates debate; and the Olympic Trials in Table Tennis; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis and Drexel have brought national recognition to Philadelphia through ground-breaking initiatives including in year 2000, becoming the first major university to operate a fully wireless campus and in year 2002, becoming the first to offer a wireless Web portal service for students and introducing the first student-run record label; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis's stewardship has lead to the development of Drexel's new Law School, the first new law school by a doctoral university in more than 25 years; the University's MathForum, a leading center for mathematics and mathematics education on the Internet; and the University's rankings in the category of Best National Universities in America's Best Colleges by U.S.News & World Report. The University ranked 89th overall in the 2009 rankings, advancing 19 places from 2008 and for the first time, Drexel reached the top 100. Drexel also ranked second among national private universities in the U.S. News list of Schools to Watch, ranking the nation's top up-and-coming schools that have demonstrated the most promising and innovative changes; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis enhanced Drexel's relationship with Philadelphia and the surrounding community by involving students with the City through initiatives such as the Cultural Passport Program that provides free admission to cultural institutions for new students; the University's service learning program that places Drexel freshmen in 105 Philadelphia public schools to teach more than 45,000 students; participating in community clean-ups; establishing what has become the City's largest annual toy drive that collects more than 4,000 toys for West and North Philadelphia children; and opening the 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel to provide healthcare to thousands of medically underserved residents of North Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis served on the boards of various Philadelphia institutions and personally contributed to retaining college graduates in Philadelphia and attracting international students to the City by helping to recruit international students to Philadelphia colleges and universities. He led delegations to foreign countries to increase Southeastern Pennsylvania's profile as a center of excellence among students wishing to study in the United States. Through Drexel's cooperative education program, the University maintains ties with local employers and places students in co-op jobs each year; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis enhanced the West Philadelphia skyline by adding buildings to the University's campus by renowned architects, such as I.M. Pei, Philip Johnson and Michael Graves. Drexel's campus enhancements included construction of a new building or restoration of an existing structure each year; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Papadakis established Drexel as a collaborative national research University growing its research expenditures sevenfold and fostering partnerships between researchers locally and nationally. In 2005, Drexel unveiled a new research hub for the City, the Edmund D. Bossone Research Enterprise Center; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, Recognizes the Outstanding Service Dr. Papadakis provided to Philadelphia During his Tenure as President of Drexel University.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be Presented as a Sincere Expression of City Council's Recognition and Appreciation.
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