OVERVIEW OF SERVICE
Novelution is Drexel University’s institutionally supported electronic research administration (eRA) system designed to streamline and support research administration processes across the University. The platform provides faculty, staff, and administrators with centralized tools for managing research-related activities, including proposal development, protocol submissions, compliance workflows, approvals, and other administrative functions.
The Novelution Helpdesk provides support for system access, troubleshooting, navigation assistance, and guidance on using Novelution’s various modules and features. The service is intended to enhance operational efficiency, improve user experience, and support compliance with University and sponsor requirements.
Use of Novelution and related support services is governed by applicable Drexel University policies, including the Acceptable Use Policy (IT-01), data security requirements, and research compliance standards. Users are responsible for ensuring that all information entered into the system is accurate, appropriate, and compliant with institutional and regulatory guidelines.
Description & Features
- Centralized electronic research administration platform supporting research and compliance workflows across Drexel University.
- Assistance with system access, login issues, and DrexelConnect single sign-on (SSO) authentication.
- Support for navigation, workflow questions, submissions, approvals, and general system functionality.
- Ticket-based helpdesk support for troubleshooting technical issues and responding to user inquiries.
- Streamlined management of research administration activities, reducing reliance on manual or paper-based processes.
- Secure institutional environment designed to support compliance, data integrity, and operational efficiency.
- Ongoing updates and enhancements to improve functionality and user experience across Novelution modules.
Who Can Use This Service
The Novelution platform and Helpdesk Service are available for use by authorized members of the Drexel University research community, including:
- Drexel-paid Faculty
- Drexel-paid Staff
- Drexel student researchers
- Approved research administrators and compliance personnel
- Other authorized users with assigned system access permissions
Access is granted based on role and business need within the University’s research administration environment. If you require access to Novelution, please submit the appropriate access request or contact the Helpdesk for guidance.
Please note that if your Drexel affiliation ends, your access to Novelution and associated services may also be removed in accordance with University policies and access management procedures.
Rates
Novelution access and Helpdesk support are provided to authorized Drexel University users at no additional cost.
Getting Started
- Log in to Novelution using your Drexel credentials through DrexelConnect single sign-on (SSO).
- Review available training materials, user guides, and support documentation before beginning submissions or workflow activities.
- Submit a Helpdesk ticket for assistance with:
- Account access or permissions
- System navigation questions
- Workflow or submission issues
- Technical troubleshooting
Attend training sessions or informational webinars as they become available to learn best practices and new system functionality.
Please be aware: Access to Drexel University’s Novelution system is removed when a user separates from the University and is no longer eligible for Drexel IT services.
Guidelines & Security Considerations
Prior to using Novelution, please be advised:
- Novelution should be used only for official Drexel University research administration, compliance, and business purposes.
- Users are responsible for ensuring that all submissions, records, and uploaded materials comply with University policies, sponsor requirements, and applicable regulations.
- Do not upload or share sensitive information unless it is specifically required and permitted within approved University workflows and security standards.
- Users should safeguard confidential, proprietary, and regulated information in accordance with Drexel data protection and research compliance requirements.
- All University-related activities within Novelution must be conducted using Drexel-issued credentials through DrexelConnect authentication.
- Users should report technical issues, suspected security concerns, or unauthorized access immediately through the Novelution Helpdesk process.
Help & Support
Drexel University Information Technology and the Novelution support team provide assistance for a variety of system, workflow, and technical needs. Common support requests include user access, workflow troubleshooting, sponsor setup, reporting assistance, approval routing support, and system-related issues. Support is available for:
- System access, authentication, and user account issues
- Functional and training support for Novelution workflows and modules
- Approval routing and workflow troubleshooting
- Sponsor, budget, and project setup questions
- Vendor or software-related technical issues
- Reporting assistance and data access questions
- S2S and integration-related support
- Forwarded end-user issues and escalated requests
- Service availability, maintenance notifications, and outage support
For guidance related to research administration processes, compliance workflows, or institutional policies, users should consult:
Additional Resources