• Dean of Students Office
• About

About

The Dean of Students Office supports the mission of the College by promoting an environment that is challenging, supportive, and conducive to learning in all aspects of student life. The office is open to students, faculty, staff, and parents who have questions for which there may not be an obvious answer or an office to address the issue. The services and practices in the Dean of Students Office are broadly characterized as advocacy, support, and administration.

Advocacy

These administrators interact with all members of the Occidental community. They consistently strive to keep students and their issues and concerns at the forefront of their practice. The deans encourage students to share their thoughts and opinions, and be invested partners in addressing these concerns in constructive ways. These professionals seek out student feedback in areas such as policy development, program implementation, and general comments about the institution by way of formal committee meetings or informal conversations.

Support

The Dean of Students Office is a key source of support for students who are going through a difficult time either personally or academically. Selected members of the office receive reports about students of concern from parents, faculty, staff, and their peers. These professionals respond directly to the student with support and guidance as appropriate through efforts coordinated by the Student Success Team. In all of their practices, the Student Success Team strives to balance the rights of individual students with the need to maintain a safe campus community.

At times, students may encounter unwelcome sexual advances that could take the form of sexual harassment. The Dean of Students Office administrators provide support for students who are survivors of such sensitive incidents. The office encourages students who have been assaulted to care for their personal health and safety first and foremost. When these needs have been attended to, students have the option of seeking support from resources such as a Dean of Students Office administrator, Emmons Health Center counselor, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life staff member, or another trusted source. Please see the Project Safe website and sexual misconduct policy for more information about self-care, reporting options, and more.

For students who need academic support, the Dean of Students Office staff members are available to discuss academic techniques such as time management or study skills. The office also provides guidance to students who are on academic probation by meeting with an administrator, who helps them to develop an academic success plan and connect to appropriate resources.

Academic and personal support may take the form of accommodations for students who have disabilities. Those students who decide to disclose their disability to Disability Services within the Dean of Students Office may qualify for accommodations in and/or outside of the classroom. The office also supports students with disabilities by offering suggestions on how to work with their disability, explaining policies and proceedures, and facilitating the grievance process.

The Dean of Students Office team members assist students with larger issues arising from illness and missing classes for an extended period of time. In cases of an emergency or crisis, Dean of Students Office personnel coordinate partnerships among students, their families, faculty, and staff and help to process academic actions (leave of absence, withdrawals, etc.) as appropriate.

Administration

The Dean of Students Office is attentive to persistent or emerging concerns that present obstacles to academic success and the quality of campus life. These individuals develop and implement policy through practices that enhance the student experience and maintain a healthy, safe, and respectful learning community. The Dean of Students Office aims to meet this goal through the enforcement of the Student Conduct Code, which is facilitated by the Office of Student Conduct.