May 2024

Dean Families,

The days are getting longer and the New England temperatures are a tad warmer (it's never quite warm enough for me) which signifies the closing of another academic year. These next few weeks will feature a range of emotions: trepidation of finals, relief of a class conquered, excitement for a respite during the summer months, sadness over the parting of friends, and for our graduates all of the above as they walk across the stage and proverbially into the next phase of their lives.

When asked about the industry I chose for my career, the reasons mentioned above are why, plus supporting and challenging students to ascend to new heights, where they often surprise themselves. At a recent award ceremony, student after student took to the podium to accept an award and relished in the friends they had made at Dean and the fact that they never imagined having the strength and courage to speak in front of large gatherings. Additionally, they referenced faculty and staff who had assisted at one time or another, demonstrating the critical connections made along the way. These paths to the podium were not without their bumps and hiccups, which is why it becomes such a powerful moment. It reminds me of the discussion at New Student Orientation where I ask families to let them fall occasionally because of how important getting back up can be. The world of texting and constant communication has made it more of a challenge in today's society; a ceremony showcases proof that everyone in these students' circles has created room for error and a recipe for success.

To the Class of '24, we are so proud of you and can't wait to hear about your future triumphs. At a lacrosse game a few weeks ago, I was surrounded by recent alums who were so prideful of their respective young careers and reminiscing about their days on Awpie Way. We know that following our upcoming Commencement you will begin to carve out your own story and that the confidence you have gained throughout your tenure as Bulldogs has prepared you for the road ahead. Congratulations students and families!

Remember to click on the banners below as many will take you to websites with additional information.

Families, here's a reminder to view the Commencement webpage (and the article below) for all of the information connected to our 158th Commencement Exercises.

Enjoy all of the great information below and as always, you will find contact information for offices across campus at the close of the Newsletter.

Have a great summer and Let's Go Bulldogs!

Best,

Dave Drucker, M. Ed.

Associate Vice President, Student Life & Dean of Students

Greetings from the Commencement Committee!

In a short three weeks, Dean College’s 158^th Commencement Exercises will be held on Saturday, May 18. We are so looking forward to welcoming you back to our campus as we celebrate your student’s accomplishments and their graduation!

If you or members of your family can’t join us in person, remember they can still attend our commencement virtually by viewing our livestream of the ceremony. The link is posted on the top of our Commencement webpage.

Here are a few important tips for those of you who will be with us in person:

·      Between 9:30 and 10:10am, all graduates need to check in at the Guidrey Center to robe and prepare for the ceremony. Only graduating students will be allowed in the Guidrey Center and they should leave all personal belongings such as purses, bags, keys, etc. with friends and family.

·      Walking through the Arch leading to Dean Hall is reserved for our graduates and the commencement processional on Saturday. All guests will be directed to the entrance by the corner of Main Street and Emmons Street.

·      There are three entry points to the Quad which is the entire area in front of Dean Hall. So, there will also be three bag check areas for our guests. Signage and Dean employees will be directing you to these spots. Please remember that seating for the ceremony is available starting at 9:00am and you must be seated by 10:40 prior to the start of the processional.

We encourage you to review our Commencement web pages for even more information and details. If you would like to donate to Dean in honor of your soon-to-be graduate, please click on this link www.dean.edu/2024gives.

Again, we look forward to celebrating with you and your graduate at Commencement!

Office of Residence Life: 

The Office of Residence Life experienced an incredible Spring Semester hosting over 700 attendees at our residence hall programs and events. From fun social gatherings to educational workshops, we strive to create an environment where your students are excited to live and learn together. Our last event, Late Night Breakfast, will be hosted on May 7th beginning at 10:00pm during Finals Week – all students are welcome!  

End of Semester Residence Hall Closing:  

For all non-graduating residents - the residence halls

will close on Friday, May 10th at 6:30pm. All residents are required

to vacate their residence hall room three hours after their last final exam.

All residents must pack and remove all personal belongings from their residence

hall room for the summer, clean, and complete check-out procedures with the

Office of Residence Life. Check-out procedures include scheduling a check-out

time with a Community Advisor or Resident Director where a final inspection of

the room will be completed, and students will turn in their residence hall

key.   

For all graduating residents – Congratulations!

Graduates are invited and welcome to live on campus in their current housing

assignment through Commencement. The residence halls will close on Sunday, May 19 at 12pm. Graduating students participating in Senior Week and

Commencement are asked to RSVP using a Microsoft Form located on Today@Dean,

their student email, and/or Residence Hall Teams pages. Graduating commuters

may also request to live on campus for the week in Woodward using the RSVP

form! 

All residents received calendar invites to mandatory end-of-semester hall meetings in their residence halls to review this closing information the week of April 22. For questions, we encourage students to review the closing information sent to their Dean email or contact their Resident Director.  

We hope everyone has a fun, relaxing Summer Break! 

If you have additional questions, please reach out to the 

Office of Residence Life: 508.541.1838

Robbins Family Center for Advising and Career Planning

Summer and Fall Courses

Students interested in taking summer courses should contact their Success & Career Advisor, or email advising@dean.edu for more information. Summer session begins May 20!

Any student who did not register for fall classes, or needs additional help registering for fall courses should contact their Success & Career Advisor, or advising@dean.edu. 

Registration for both Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 is here! Students received communications from their Success & Career Advisor about registration planning. Summer and Fall courses became available on April 1st, and the first group of students registered on April 9th. Please check with your student to confirm he or she has completed their course registrations and if not, ask them to connect with their Success & Career Advisor about their plans!

Summer Internships!

With spring course registration here, it is also time to think about a summer internship. Students can complete their internship in the summer months. The deadline to have an approved experience and enroll in DCA 300 is June 7th. Questions? Reach out to Thea Cerio: tcerio@dean.edu

Student Activities and Leadership Development

"Greetings" from SALD! As we wrap up the academic year, we wanted to provide you all with highlights from the year to showcase how students have been getting involved on campus.

From Bulldog Beginnings in August to the Dean Activities Board's Spring Week in May, students have been involved in a variety of events, including giving back to the local community through community service. Students attended conferences, speaker series, and performances which enabled them to apply their classroom knowledge, develop as leaders at the College, and network and participate in social events that provided connections with their peers and built community.

We are very proud of all the hard work student organization leaders have put into planning and implementing their respective events and cannot wait to support them next academic year when they return to campus. We are so excited to see some of you at Commencement and to congratulate the students who are graduating this year. We hope you all have a great summer!

Morton Family Learning Center

The Morton Family Learning Center offers a wide variety of academic supports to help students prepare for final exams, presentations, and projects. Writing, math, and subject area tutoring, presentation practice as well as group and individual study spaces are offered through the Theodore and Cynthia Berenson Center for Writing, Mathematics and Presentation Excellence which is located on the first floor of the Green Family Library Learning Commons. Students may schedule free tutoring appointments online via the My WCOnline link located in the top right-hand corner on Today@Dean or drop in for appointments.

For additional information about our services, please contact the Morton Family Learning Center at 508-541-1768 or email us at learning@dean.edu.

2024 Resident Student Parking

Any resident student wishing to bring a vehicle to campus for the Fall 2024 semester, must fill out a student vehicle application. (Note: It is best to fill out the application before the May 1st deadline and then decide later that you won't have a vehicle than to wait and fill it out too late.)

Parking availability is first come, first serve and will fill up quickly! Only 4th year resident students (currently 3rd year students) are guaranteed a parking space.

Students can find the application link on Today@Dean- Departments- Campus Safety.

Opening of the 'Zen Den'

The College recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open a relaxation room on campus which will be referred to as the 'Zen Den'. As we move into the month of May, it is an opportune time to expand on wellness initiatives as this also coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month. Students will be able to take advantage of various areas in the room where they can listen to calming sounds and music, meditative apps, or play quiet games with friends.

A majority of the funding for the project was provided by the KyleCares Foundation (Jim and Sue Johnson, KyleCares founders are pictured above with President Ken Elmore and Syra Pandey, Active Minds President), a local family organization that focuses on mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. The Active Minds student organization spearheaded the idea for the space and was highly involved in the selection of furniture and design of the room. We are excited for students to utilize the space as we move into finals and hope that it will continue to serve our Bulldogs for years to come.

Calendar Planning

When seeking information about Dean College calendar dates, please use the Official Academic Calendar that is listed on the Dean College website under the heading Academics. Please do not use Google or other internet search engines for the calendar as it is likely to produce outdated and incorrect information.

Key Dates for the Spring Semester 2024:

Tuesday, May 7- Friday, May 10: Finals Week

Monday, May 13- Friday, May 17: Senior Week

Saturday, May 18: 158th Commencement Exercises!

Dance Composition Visits Jacob's Pillow

Dance Composition III students traveled with Visiting Professor Constance Dinapoli to Jacob’s Pillow in Lee, MA, on April 19, 2024, for an informative day in the woods. Norton Owen, Director of Preservation, and Patsy Gay, Associate Archivist, arranged and delivered a historical tour of the grounds, a luncheon in the original farmhouse, and time in the Blake Barn archives. For individual research, Sumi Matsumoto, a Digital Archivist, guided us through all the resources, including the benefits of Dean College being a member of the College Partnership program, and the students had an opportunity to explore their interests. The students reflected that the field trip was inspiring, honorable, and connected. It was a blast! 

Photo: The group on the rock (the pillow) behind the farmhouse.

Student Financial Planning and Services

Maximize your Financial Aid

If you haven’t submitted the 2024-2025 FAFSA, log in to studentaid.gov to complete your application. The earlier you submit the FAFSA the better as some aid is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are a Massachusetts resident, the deadline for those eligible for state funding is May 1st.

Due to the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the FAFSA has changed. Before you start your application familiarize yourself with the new form. Scan the QR code for more information.



As always, if you need help filling out the FAFSA or have any questions you can contact the Center for Student Financial Planning and Services at sfp@dean.edu or via phone at (508)-541-1518.

Men's lacrosse earned a comeback victory in the GNAC quarterfinals over St. Joseph's (Maine) on Saturday, 4/24/24 at Grant Field. They will next take on Rivier in the semifinals on Wednesday, May 1st in Nashua, NH.

The Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society recently announced all of its 2024 student-athlete inductees at a ceremony held at the College. Congratulations to all who received this honor. As spring sports wrap up this week, continue to follow all live streams, statistics, and game recaps at Bulldogs Athletics.

Let's Go Bulldogs!