March 2024

Dean Families,

The midpoint in the semester is upon us which signals both the anxiety of midterms and the excitement of spring break fast approaching. I often share with students that aside from the summer months (I am not one for the cold), my favorite day of the year is next weekend when we spring ahead. You can often feel moods brighten with every additional minute and hour of sunlight. I hope that whatever our Bulldogs are doing for spring break, they get a chance to relax, take a deep breath, and prepare for the home stretch run. There will be many items on the other side of the break such as housing selection, fall registration, and important deadlines coming up for the Class of 2024.

Click on the banners below as many will take you to websites and additional information. The Commencement website is now live and will be updated throughout the semester. At the close of this newsletter, you will find contact information for offices across campus.

Let's Go Bulldogs!

Best,

Dave Drucker, M. Ed.

Associate Vice President, Student Life & Dean of Students

Greetings from the Commencement Committee!

Our countdown to Commencement continues, with Monday, March 4^th marking 75 Days to Commencement. Families of our soon-to-be-graduates should start planning to be with us on Saturday, May 18^th. We will be posting a list of hotels and restaurants families may want to consider as they are making their plans. We encourage you to explore our Commencement web pages for information and details.

Here are two details you should know about Dean's Commencement. The ceremony is held outside in front of Dean Hall, rain or shine. So, you need to be prepared for all weather possibilities. And, the ceremony is also live-streamed, offering family members and guests who aren't able to be in Franklin an opportunity to watch the ceremony. 

We would ask you to check in with your soon-to-be-graduate to see if they’ve done the following:



·      RSVPed to their invitation to the 58 Days to Commencement events (the RSVP deadline is Monday, March 18).

·      Completed their Graduation Application

·      Ordered their cap and gown (the deadline for this order is Friday, March 22).

·      Take a breath and celebrate what they’ve accomplished so far.

If you would like to donate to Dean in honor of your soon-to-be graduates, please click on this link www.dean.edu/2024gives.

We look forward to celebrating with you and your graduate in May!

Spring Break

The residence halls will close on Friday, March 8^th at 6:30 pm for Spring Break. Hall meetings to review important break and closing information are scheduled for this week. The residence halls will reopen on March 17^th at 12:00 pm, noon. Need to request a late departure or stay on campus over break? Students must submit their break request via the Spring Break Request Microsoft Form located on their Residence Hall Teams page – For students submitting requests after March 4^th, please contact RD Austin Decouta, at adecouta@dean.edu. 

Housing Selection for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

We are thrilled to announce that the Returning Student Housing Application is now live! The Housing Selection Guide and the Step-by-Step Guide are available to students via their Dean email and on Today@Dean -- Residence Life page.

Returning students will be eligible for Housing Selection after completing the following steps 1) the Housing Application on the MyHousing Portal 2) making their Enrollment Deposits 3) clearing any holds that may be on their account with Student Financial Planning and Services.

The Housing Application and the Enrollment Deposit are due by March 18th. Once students complete the Housing Application, they are eligible to request roommates under the ‘Roommate Selection” tab on the MyHousing Portal. Housing selection times will begin for rising Seniors and Juniors the week of March 25th, with the week of April 1st for rising Sophomores.



Questions? The Office of Residence Life is here for your students! We are offering multiple opportunities to speak with our staff. Visit Today@Dean for the schedule of Housing Selection Information Sessions. For additional questions, students can contact their Resident Director or visit us in Chapman House.

Thinking about your summer plans?

The residence halls close to all non-graduating students, May 10^th at 6:30 PM. We know moving out of the residence hall and considering storage solutions over the summer can be stressful – we have a solution for you! We have an exclusive partnership with Storage Squad. Storage Squad will pick up, place items in climate-controlled storage, and re-deliver items into the student's residences before they move in. Reserving your students’ space is simple: go to www.storagesquad.com/dean  and sign up by April 30, 2024. Box pick-up will be available in Chapman House – stay tuned for details!

If you have additional questions, please reach out to the

Office of Residence Life: 508.541.1838. 

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 prior to 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.

Please look for the application link on Today@Dean- Departments- Campus Safety on Friday, March 29th!

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:

Monday, March 11- Friday, March 15: Spring Break

Monday, April 15- Patriots' Day- No Classes

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

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

Saturday, May 18: 158th Commencement Exercises!

Robbins Family Center for Advising and Career Planning

Quarter 4 Classes

Quarter 4 classes start, on March 18th, right after Spring Break! Quarter classes can be a great opportunity to catch up or get ahead, depending on a student's existing spring course load. Interested students should connect with their Success & Career Advisors to determine if adding a quarter 4 class is a good fit for them!

Fall 2024 Course Registration

Some conversations to have with your student over break regarding fall registration:

-Check their degree progress in Student Planning.

-Research internship opportunities in Handshake.

-Think about if they are interested in adding anything that would impact their degree progression, for example, adding a minor, studying away, etc.

Students can always reach out to their Success & Career Advisor if they need a refresher on the Student Planning System!

The Opportunities Fair is just around the corner! On March 22nd, we will welcome employers to campus showcasing part-time, full-time, internship, study away, and military opportunities for our students. Encourage your student to attend!

Spring break is a great time to check the closet to be sure your student has professional attire to wear to the event. If they do not, the Robbins Family Center for Advising & Career Planning has a closet of donated items for student use, so send them in!

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.

Fall 2024 Enrollment Deposit!

Returning to Dean in Fall 2024? The enrollment deposit of $250 is due by March 18th. It is required for both Fall 2024 course pre-registration and housing selection. It can be paid online using this link or QR code.

If there is a credit available on the student account, the student can email sfp@dean.edu from their Dean email to request the credit be used towards the deposit.

Health Services- Protect against Norovirus

The Commonwealth has seen a recent rise in the norovirus (stomach bug) which can be quite contagious. Students are encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water frequently and wipe down shared surfaces in your dorm rooms. 

The CDC has proposed new guidelines with respect to COVID-19 as of March 1, 2024. The recommendations suggest that in the absence of a fever, no isolation period will be necessary. A five-day mask-wearing period is still encouraged to protect those around you, especially in large communal living areas such as colleges and universities. The full article can be read here.

Health Services is located in Chapman House and is open Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM. We are here to help triage and treat illnesses. We are currently offering send-out COVID-19/influenza/RSV PCR testing (billed through the student’s insurance).  

Please direct any health-related questions to our Health Services team at 508.541.1600.

Morton Family Learning Center

The Morton Family Learning Center offers a wide variety of academic supports that will help students during midterms and throughout the semester. Study labs, workshops, and tutoring through our Theodore & Cynthia Berenson Center for Writing, Mathematics and Presentation Excellence are among the many complimentary services offered. We encourage students to stop by the Learning Center or email us at learning@dean.edu for more information.

School of the Arts

It's Showtime! Reminder to visit the Dean College Box Office on the front of the Dean College website to purchase your tickets for the upcoming performances.

Performance Schedule:

Choreographers’ Concert - Main Stage

March 22- 23

Pocatello - Spring Drama - Main Stage

April 3- 7

Dance Senior Showcase - Main Stage

April 12- 13

Theatre Senior Showcase - Main Stage

April 19- 20

Dance Company - Main Stage

April 25- 28

March is National Athletic Training Month

National Athletic Training Month (NATM) is held every March to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers. Amanda Donahue and Rebecca Marszalek in the Performing Arts Athletic Training Clinic do phenomenal work – from head to toe – with our Dance and Theatre students. They are at the cutting edge of current practice, represent us among national and international professional organizations, and are key to our tremendous partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital. At last check, Dean is still one of only 12 institutions in the United States with a dedicated athletic trainer for dance and the performing arts, not to mention our powerhouse team and our dedicated clinic!

National Athletic Training Month | NATA

Spring sports are underway! Men's lacrosse picked up their first victory of the season this past weekend in Maine, and women's lacrosse faces off against Rhode Island College this week. Baseball and softball will be spending their respective spring breaks in Myrtle Beach with each team playing several games. Men's volleyball continues its season on the other side of the break. Congratulations to men's basketball for qualifying for the GNAC playoffs. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs fell to Regis College in the first round.

Catch live games, statistics, and game recaps all season long at Bulldogs Athletics.

Let's Go Bulldogs!

Free Shuttle for Students- GATRA GO- Five surrounding t

Bulldogs, here's a reminder to download the Gatra Go United app for a free rideshare service available Monday through Friday 7am-6pm and Saturday from 9am-6pm. Gatra GO directions are provided on the student portal as there is a special Dean College code to input for our community.

There is a three-passenger maximum for each trip. Students can use the service for Franklin and the neighboring towns of Foxboro, Wrentham, Norfolk, and Bellingham. Students have the opportunity to visit grocery stores, retail shopping centers, restaurants, and movie theatres. This includes Wrentham Outlets (Wrentham) and Patriot Place (Foxboro).

Students who choose to leave and return to campus before and after the hours provided by Gatra Go must obtain their own transportation (friend, rideshare, etc.). Campus Police and Safety cannot leave campus for non-emergent transportation needs.