April 2024

Dean Families,

As we race into the final full month of the academic calendar the timing (puns intended) of the Boston Marathon and the close of our semester is one of my favorites. The parallels of goal setting training, skill, tenacity, resilience, exhaustion, and triumph all wrapped into one make both experiences unique.

Often our families ask how they can support the students from afar. Just as those thousands of spectators that line the marathon course provide the will and spirit to runners searching for what's left in the tank, you can provide similar positive reinforcement. Frequently, we can psych ourselves out of believing we have enough left, or in the fear of what lies ahead. In a sense, we can be our own worst enemy. Your continued encouragement in all phases of their college life, whether tackling a difficult class or simply not sweating the small stuff and expending unnecessary energy can all be factors that lead to success. Your role will be based on your student. Some lead the pace and seemingly never break a sweat while others will need to take a break along the way. Regardless, all students seek the same goal. Have that proverbial cup of water at each checkpoint and help them view Heartbreak Hill as a speed bump rather than a mountain. We are excited every day to witness the feats of our students, and you are a large part of their recipe for success!

Remember to click on the banners below as many will take you to websites and additional information. The Commencement website is live and will continue to be updated throughout the semester. We also have the terrific addition of Senior Week this year for our graduates to enjoy a bevy of activities with their friends before the big day. 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.

Let's Go Bulldogs!

Best,

Dave Drucker, M. Ed.

Associate Vice President, Student Life & Dean of Students

Hello again from the Commencement Committee!

We are now less than 50 Days away from our 158th 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 18, 2024, 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 19. 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 Week invitation (the RSVP deadline is Monday, April 15).

· 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!

End of Semester Residence Hall Closing: 

For all non-graduating residents - the residence halls will close on Friday, May 10th at 6:30 pm. Hall meetings to review important closing and check-out information will be scheduled by the Resident Directors before Finals Week. 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 19th at 12pm, noon for all graduating residents. Hall meetings to review important closing and check-out information will be scheduled by the Resident Directors before Finals Week. 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. 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!

Thinking about your summer plans?  

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 deliver items to the resident’s Fall housing assignment 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 beginning the week of April 22! 

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 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.

Robbins Family Center for Advising and Career Planning

Course Registration

Registration for both Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 are right around the corner! Students received communication from their Success & Career Advisor about registration planning. Summer and Fall courses are available beginning April 1st and the first group of students registers on April 9th. Please encourage your students to connect with their Success & Career Advisor about their plans!

Exciting New Tool

Dean College is excited to share the implementation of a tool inside Canvas that helps identify academically “at-risk” students. This robust tool will be used by advisors, academic coaches, and athletic coaches to help increase student success.

The program scans Canvas and reviews grades, missing assignments, and other factors within Canvas that may indicate a student is at risk.

A dashboard is updated each night with updated data and applies an algorithm to display a risk index that draws attention to at-risk students.

We are looking forward to real-time assessments of student’s progress and the proactive ability to outreach to develop strategies and approaches to success.

Summer Internships!

With spring course registration around the corner, 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: [email protected]

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, 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!

Introducing The Iron Skillet!

After reviewing our student feedback, we learned students are craving a more traditional station with made-to-order comfort food favorites. For this reason, we have converted the True Balance Station to The Iron Skillet. The Iron Skillet will feature weekly menus of made-to-order and build-your-own Taco and Burrito Bowls, Stir-fry Bowls, Pasta Bowls, Korean Rice Bowls, and more! Customization at The Iron Skillet allows students to select which ingredients are used for their order.

Students with dietary restrictions can select and omit ingredients as needed at most of our stations including The Iron Skillet, Create Kitchen, Savory Stack Deli, Ignite Grill, and Greens & Grains Salad Bar. Students with food allergies should contact our campus dietitian, Barbara Rose at [email protected] to review available options. Barbara can offer information on how to best navigate the offerings in Smith Dining Center and will guide students to menu selections available based on their needs. All students deserve a positive dining experience where they look forward to their next meal.

Welcome Sam Miller, Director of Counseling Services

We are excited to welcome Samantha Miller as our next Director of Counseling Services. Sam arrives at Dean College having most recently served as the Clinical Supervisor at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester, MA. She brings extensive experience working in a clinical setting with young adults as well as a solid supervisory background. In her previous work, Sam developed a mental health curriculum within a school setting which provided support for teachers and administrators. 

Sam leads a talented team of clinicians with offices located in Chapman House. As Sam settles into her role she has shared a few thoughts about joining our community and supporting our Bulldogs.

"I am eager to help college-age students know the importance of their mental health and how to balance this with their academics, activities, and sports. Counseling empowers students to overcome obstacles, build resilience, and increase personal growth beyond college. I am excited to bring my knowledge and experience from the mental health field to Dean College to foster a culture enriched in wellness."

Update on COVID- 19 Management and infectious diseases

Dean College continues to update management policies for COVID-19 in accordance with state and federal agencies. COVID-19 will be treated as other respiratory viruses within the college community. Guidelines and recommendations are made in consultation with medical professionals from the Health Services Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The following information is meant for the full academic year and will be placed on the Health Services website.

The COVID-19 Vaccine, including the booster, is highly recommend but not required.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Dean College recommends students be prepared by doing the following:

· Come with rapid tests for COVID-19. (Health Services will administer COVID PCR testing when medically indicated.)

· Bring masks.

· Bring cleaning supplies like bleach wipes to wipe down high-touch areas in your living areas.

· Bring a health kit which includes a thermometer and over-the-counter medications for pain/fever, cough/congestion, sore throat, etc.

· Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.

STUDENTS WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

For students who test positive for COVID-19, Dean College will advise students to do the following:

Contact Health Services (508-541-1600) for advisement and to determine the need for any medical care.

You may begin to resume normal activities with precautions if:



1. You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines; AND

2. Your other symptoms are improving.

Please note: You may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better.

For at least the first 5 days after you resume normal activities, take these extra precautions:

· Avoid crowded indoor spaces. Wear a mask anytime you are indoors around other people.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

· Avoid spending time with people who are at increased risk for severe diseases.

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 [email protected] or via phone at (508)-541-1518.

Professor Daniel Kozar moving on from Dean College after over 20 years

Bulldog Nation, especially the School of the Arts and the Palladino School of Dance, will be shedding tears at the end of the semester when beloved Professor Daniel Kozar moves on from Dean to other adventures after over 20 years of service to the college.

Professor Kozar came to Dean as the Costume Designer in 2002, quickly took over as Costume Shop Manager, and became an instructor in 2006. In 2008, he was named Program Director of Theatre, and then Assistant Professor of Theatre in 2012.

While at Dean he has costume designed 107 shows as well as directed many productions. His keen eye, developed while working in the fashion industry before moving into higher education, has helped create an amazing array of beautiful costumes and set decorations. He also has become Dean’s “go-to” decorator for holiday parties, events, and Commencement.

In the classroom, Professor Kozar brings a wealth of knowledge and a bit of humor to all his lectures and presentations. The classroom is certainly never dull when Professor Kozar is at the helm! Students have described him as devoted, compassionate, goofy, empathetic, trustworthy, and “the heart and humor of the theatre department.” The students feel like his children and know they can come to him with anything, big or small, and he will listen and advise, with no judgment. He genuinely wants the best for them. His longtime colleague and friend Jim Beauregard continues these accolades by saying, “He is a champion for his students and a compassionate educator who bleeds the Dean colors.” Tracy Lane, Assistant to the Deans and Producer for both the School of the Arts and The Palladino School of Dance describes Professor Kozar as, “…not only a colleague but a dear and cherished friend and member of my family.” Dean alum and current Assistant Director of Admissions Joe Zumbo sums it up best, by saying, “Daniel Kozar is a guiding light for current and former students and is a dynamic educator, mentor and friend to the entire Dean College community. Daniel’s presence has touched the lives of all who have had the privilege of knowing him. His quick wit, dry humor, and kind heart will surely be missed. There was and never will be another member of the community like Daniel; someone with grace, dedication, and loyalty to the School of the Arts and the college.”

We will all miss having him here to educate, laugh with, and at times cry with, and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors back home in Pennsylvania. Ms. Lane assures everyone that she will keep everyone up to date with Professor Kozar’s next set of adventures, saying she, “…looks forward to our weekly conversations once he has left Dean and Franklin to catch up and keep him apprised of all things Dean-related.”



“Many people walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” Professor Kozar, thank you for leaving “paw prints” in ours.

School of the Arts

It's Showtime! Remember 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:

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

As we enter the final full month of the academic year, spring sports will all be focused on a GNAC playoff berth. Men's volleyball will be wrapping its campaign up next week while baseball, softball, and both men's and women's lacrosse will battle conference foes for the better part of April. Catch live games, statistics, articles, and game recaps all season long at Bulldogs Athletics.

Let's Go Bulldogs!