April 2025

Bulldog Families,

As we enter the final full month of the academic year, students may experience a mix of emotions as they tackle papers, exams, and presentations. This is a great time to check in with your student about their progress and their end-of-year schedule. Students should have a solid grasp on what date they will finish up. The narratives below provide more information on end-of-year procedures, and residence life staff will hold building meetings in a few weeks to review all aspects of the closing process.

We will host a number of activities and events to help students take a breather or enjoy a break with friends. This is highlighted every year by Spring Week and the Spring Carnival coordinated by our Student Activities Board.

For our families of graduates...congratulations! Definitely the favorite day of the year for many on campus celebrating the crowning achievements of our Bulldogs. The article below has an update from the Commencement Committee with details about the day. Prospective graduates have also received information on Senior Celebration Days and that page is now live on the Commencement website. Graduates should begin the process of registering for the event (link is on the website page).

Please remember that all Boomer's Bucks and dining hall swipes will expire at the end of the academic year in May. Students can check their remaining Boomer's Bucks by visiting the cashiers at any of the on-campus eateries.

We will reach out with one final Newsletter as we close out the semester. Thank you for all of your continued support, and we wish you a wonderful April.



Let's Go Bulldogs!

Best,

Dave Drucker, M. Ed.

Associate Vice President, Student Life & Dean of Students

Greetings from the Commencement Committee!

Hello again from the Commencement Committee!  

We are now less than 40 Days away from our 159th Commencement Exercises and are busy getting ready for the many celebrations that happen in April and May each year. Families of our soon-to-be graduates should have already received invitations to both our commencement reception and ceremony.

We hope that many of you will be able to join us. If you aren’t able to be with us on Saturday, May 10, 2025, you can still attend our commencement virtually by viewing our live streaming of the ceremony. The link is already posted on the top of our Commencement webpage. 

Here are three important details for those of you who will be attending Dean's Commencement in person.  

[1] Seating for the ceremony becomes available at 9:00 a.m. Guests should plan to be in their seats by 10:40 a.m. as the processional will begin at 10:45 a.m.  

[2] There will be a bag check for all guests. To enhance the safe and quick entrance for all, only clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags are permitted.  

[3] If you or a family member have accessibility needs, please review what accessibility resources we have. Note: families with requests are asked to email Nancy McIntyre, in the Office of Academic Affairs by April 18. See our Commencement Information for Guests webpage for more information about these and other topics. 

Again, we would have you check in with your soon-to-be-graduate to ask if they’ve done the following: 

• RSVPed to the Senior Celebration Days invitation (the RSVP deadline is April 25). 
• Submitted some pictures for the Senior Slide Show. 
• Taken a moment to appreciate the friends and mentors they’ve made during their time at Dean. 

We are excited to cheer on your graduates as they finish their last semester at Dean and start their next chapter! 

If you have any questions, please visit the commencement webpages and/or contact commencement@dean.edu.

Residence Life

End of Semester Residence Hall Closing

For Non-Graduating Residents

Residence halls will close on Thursday, May 8, at 6:30 PM. Resident Directors will schedule hall meetings before Finals Week to review important closing and check-out procedures.

All residents must vacate their rooms within two to three hours after their last final exam. Before departure, residents must:

Pack and remove all personal belongings for the summer.

Clean their room.

Complete the check-out process with Residence Life.

Check-out includes scheduling a check-out time with a Resident Assistant or Resident Director for a final room inspection and key return.

For Graduating Residents:

Congratulations, Class of 2025! Residence halls will close for graduating residents on Saturday, May 10, at 3:00 PM.

Resident Directors will schedule hall meetings before Finals Week to review closing and check-out procedures. Graduating students participating in Senior Celebration Days and Commencement must RSVP via Microsoft Forms (available on Today@Dean under the Residence Life page and student email).

Graduating commuters who wish to stay on campus may request housing through the RSVP form. All RSVPs are due by April 25. There is no additional fee to live on campus through May 10.

Looking for Summer Storage Solutions?

We understand that moving out and finding storage can be stressful and Storage Squad can help!

Through our exclusive partnership, Storage Squad provides pick-up of your items, climate-controlled storage, and delivery to your Fall housing assignment before move-in.

To reserve storage, visit www.storagesquad.com/dean (QR code pictured above) and sign up by April 30, 2025. Box pick-up will be available at Chapman House starting mid-April.

For questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 508.541.1838.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 508.541.1838.

Robbins Family Center for Advising and Career Planning

Fall 2025 Course Registration

Registration for both Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 are right around the corner! Students received communication from their Success & Career Advisor about registration planning. Summer and Fall courses are now available and the first group of students registers on April 8th. Please encourage your students to connect with their Success & Career Advisor about their plans!

Help Your Student Make the Most of Their Summer!

Summer is the perfect time for students to gain real-world experience and build their professional skills. Encourage your student to explore internships and job opportunities now so they can make the most of their summer break. Career Services offers weekly drop-in hours where students can get help with their resume, practice interviewing, and find opportunities that align with their goals. We are here to support them every step of the way!

Opportunities Fair a Great Success!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Opportunities Fair on March 28! With over 150 students in attendance and more than 35 graduate school and employer representatives on campus, the event was a fantastic success. Our visiting professionals had wonderful things to say about our Dean students and are eager to continue engaging with them. We appreciate your support in encouraging students to take advantage of these valuable opportunities to connect with industry professionals.

Student Activities and Leadership Development

Spring Week

Our Bulldogs are getting ready to catch the bulldog wave! The Dean Activities Board has been busy putting the final touches on our annual Spring Week! Additionally, plenty to enjoy during the month of April.

Dining Services- Is Your Student Utilizing the Everyday App?

Center for Student Financial Planning and Services

2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

The 2025-26 FAFSA application is now open! The earlier you submit the FAFSA the better, as some types of aid are limited and offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please be sure to have your FSA ID username and password with you to complete and sign the FAFSA. The student should begin the FAFSA application and “invite” the appropriate parent(s) to complete their section of the form. If this is your first time completing the FAFSA visit studentaid.gov to learn about the application process and how to set up your FSA ID. 

We are available to help students and families submit the FAFSA. Our final FAFSA workshop will be on 4/16/25. Click to register below:  

April 16th, 3:00pm-5:00pm  

As always, if you have any questions or would like to set up a one-on-one FAFSA appointment, you can contact the Center for Student Financial Planning and Services at sfp@dean.edu or via phone at 508-541-1518. 

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 Berenson Center, which is located on the first floor of the Green Family Library Learning Commons. Students can schedule online by using the My WCOnline link, located for students in the top right-hand corner on Today@Dean. Drop in appointments are also available.

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 > Academic Resources. 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 2024- 2025

Monday, April 21

Patriot's Day, No Classes

Monday, May 5- Thursday, May 8

Finals Week

Saturday, May 10

159th Commencement Exercises

Counseling Services

Stay Proactive with Burnout: 

The end of the semester can be a stressful time for students with a list of obligations, academics, and studying to accomplish. Stress, anxiety, and burnout can increase for students during the last few weeks of the semester. Here are some helpful strategies for our students to beat burnout. 

• Break large tasks into smaller steps. 
• Practice deep breathing techniques. 
• Try guided meditation or mindfulness. 
• Engage in progressive muscle relaxation to release tension. 
• Exercise (walk, stretch, yoga).  
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night; avoid all-nighters.  
• Stay hydrated and limit caffeine intake. 
• Ask for help (professors, tutors, counseling services).  
• Schedule downtime for hobbies and social interactions.  
• Study with friends or join study groups for motivation. 

Planning Ahead: 

With 6 weeks left in the semester we would like to encourage students to plan ahead with their mental health resources and support. As a reminder for current students utilizing the counseling center, scheduling sessions with a counselor will conclude on May 6th. The counseling center will close for the summer break on Friday May 9th after all finals. Any student looking to continue support for their mental health over the summer should start planning (finding a therapist near home, group therapy, etc.). Counselors are available to support students with creating a plan for their mental health over the summer.  

Student Resources

Mental Health resources are located on the student portal for students to access, as well as on the Counseling Center's Instagram Page.

 

If you or someone you know needs to talk to a counselor right away call/text 988 or Chat online 

Mental Health Evaluation 

Community Behavioral Health Centers - Riverside Community Care

Milford Regional Medical Center - Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford, MA 

Dean College 2024-2025

Performing Arts

Hey families, there's still a chance to catch some of our terrific spring performances. Don't miss out on the tremendous talents of our Bulldogs. Tickets are on sale now!

April 2-6, 2025

Freaky Friday

A new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, this is a heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional update on an American classic.

April 24-27, 2025

Dance Company

Award-winning faculty and guest choreographers showcase the impressive talent of our dance majors through a mixed bill of new and restaged dance works, ranging in style from hip-hop to jazz dance, tap to modern, and ballet.

April 29, 2025

Theatre Senior Showcase

Featuring scenes, songs, and monologues, the “Theatre Senior Showcase” is a celebration of the Class of 2025 and the cohort’s formal introduction to the professional theatre community.

May 1-2, 2025

Dance Senior Showcase

Creating a performance from the ground up, Dean’s talented senior dance students share their choreography, performance, and production expertise in this annual collaborative showcase.

Bulldog Athletics

Spring sports are in full swing (pun intended). Following trips down south, the baseball and softball teams continue their respective push toward the GNAC playoffs. Men's volleyball will wrap up their campaign this Saturday at home versus Regis College. Men's lacrosse came up just short to University of Saint Josephs in a hard fought game this past weekend. This was the first loss of the season for the Bulldogs as they currently stand at 7- 1. Women's lacrosse has won three in a row and currently hold a 6- 4 overall record.

Keep up with all your favorite teams, schedules, articles, and more at deanbulldogs.com.