January 2024

Dean Families,

Happy New Year! Hope all of our students and families have enjoyed some downtime as we get ready for a great spring semester.

Turning the page to a new calendar year, always offers a great opportunity to reset and define new personal and academic goals. This could be a change in behavior with emphasis on punctuality or decreasing procrastination, following through on opportunities for tutoring, mentorship or networking, auditioning for a role or setting new heights on the court or playing field or a larger scale decision such as studying away; all of these can be an impactful part of growth and maturation in a student's college experience. The key to all goals is that they must be realistic and measurable! As always continue to encourage these changes from home. The maturation process of a college student is ongoing and every day and week is a new opportunity for empowerment and success.

For our new students and families, we look forward to welcoming you and showing all that there is to accomplish and achieve in Bulldog Nation. New students should check their Dean College email for information regarding New Students Orientation. For our Bulldogs in their final semester, absorb every minute as there is simply nothing that mirrors the college days.

Read on for important information and events as we kick off the spring semester. Click on the banner below to reach the Residence Life section for check-in and move-in information. Make sure to follow our social media channels to stay connected to the college throughout the year. At the close of this newsletter, you will find contact information for offices across campus.

I look forward to connecting with you throughout the spring. Go Bulldogs!

Best,

Dave Drucker, M. Ed.

Associate Vice President, Student Life & Dean of Students

Office of Residence Life

The Office of Residence Life looks forward to welcoming all residents back to campus on January 21st! New residents can view their housing assignment and roommate information via the MyHousing Portal Home Page, located on Today@Dean, under “Essential Links”. For move-in day information for new and returning residents, please visit https://www.dean.edu/student-life/living-on-campus/check-in-for-residents-commuters/ or click on the banner above. Any questions, please contact our office at 581-541-1838.  

Spring Break:

Please be aware that the residence halls will be closed for Spring Break starting from Friday, March 8th at 6:30pm and will reopen on Sunday, March 17th at 12:00pm, noon. If a student needs to request a late departure or stay on campus over break, they should submit their request via the Spring Break Request Form located on their Residence Hall Teams page. The form will be available to access beginning February 8th.

Plan Ahead!

Thinking about your summer plans? The residence halls close to all non-graduating students on 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 back in for the semester. More information and pricing will be made available in upcoming newsletters, the MyHousing Portal, and your student’s email!

Get Involved!

The following involvement opportunities will be shared with your students:

Living on campus is an essential part of the college experience and we want to hear from you! The Resident Student Association is looking for members to participate in their student organization, serve as hall representatives, plan programs, and create a place that feels like home. To get involved: email Courtney Holden, the Resident Student Association Advisor at cholden@dean.edu. Also, the Office of Residence Life will be hiring Community Advisors (student staff) for the 2024-2025 academic year beginning in February. Interested in becoming a Community Advisor and making a difference in your residential community? Check your Residence Life Teams Page for more information on the hiring process!

Stay tuned for information about the 2024-2025 Housing Selection Process, Coming Soon!

If you have additional questions, please reach out to the

Office of Residence Life: 508.541.1838. 

Resident students with vehicles on campus: The winter months can provide many challenges, so don't forget to add a shovel to your packing list. It is hugely beneficial when digging out a car following a storm. Also, when winter weather is in the forecast, students need to check their email and the student portal for information as to when and where to move their vehicles, as we clear the parking lots.

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:

Sunday, January 21: Residence Halls Re-open

Monday, January 22: Spring Semester Day and

SCS Classes Begin

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

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

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

Saturday, May 18: 158th Commencement Exercises!

Study Away Opportunities

A great way for your student to create an amazing resume is to participate in Dean College’s Study Away Program. Studies have shown that studying away has a positive impact on developing top-notch 21st-century career skills and expands career possibilities not only immediately after graduation but throughout one’s career. In fact, a recent Dean participant stated that studying in London for a semester was the reason she was hired for a competitive summer internship in her field. And, it’s fun! 

Dean College’s Study Away Program includes three options to meet a variety of interests and needs in the U.S. and over 50 countries around the world: (1) Dean College courses that include a short, 7-10-day trip abroad or in the U.S. -Spring 2024, the course offering will be a trip to Italy during spring break; (2) 2-week to 6-week experiences in the U.S. or abroad in January or during the summer; and (3) full-semester or academic year opportunities in the U.S. or abroad.

Students generally study away anytime between the second semester of their sophomore year to the first semester of their senior year and need to have a 3.000 cumulative GPA. Students must first complete the internal pre-approval application, and then they will need to complete the external study away application. The internal application deadline to study away for summer 2024 or fall 2024 is February 1, 2024. 

Interested students should meet with Melissa Read, Director of the Study Away Program. Melissa holds office hours on Tuesdays, from 3-5pm, in Dean Hall, Room 203.

For more information, students can speak with their Success & Career Advisor and with Melissa Read, Director of the Study Away Program at mread@dean.edu. 

Student Financial Planning- FAFSA is now live

The FAFSA is now live…..

The US Department of Education has officially released the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Remember to apply online at studentaid.gov.

Contact the office for Student Financial Planning and Services with any questions about the changes and process at 508.541.1518.



Health Services

It is common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, Flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), especially during the winter months. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others.

Handwashing with soap removes most germs, including respiratory viruses, from your hands. If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can kill these germs. Using household cleaners that contain soap or detergent will remove germs and dirt on surfaces.

Their effectiveness against different viruses varies, but generally masks can help reduce the amount of germs you breathe in. You can also use masks to help protect others if you have a respiratory virus. 

While we do not have a supply of rapid COVID-19 tests at the health center, a COVID PCR test can be administered (following a consultation with the Nurse Practitioner) and sent to a lab where the student's insurance can be billed. 

Consider having your student bring masks and/or rapid COVID-19 tests when they return to campus if they desire.

Note: Dean College Health Services offers COVID PCR, Flu, and RSV testing. We will collect one swab for all three tests which will then be sent to Milford Regional Medical Center. The lab will bill your insurance for any tests performed. Please direct any health-related questions to our Health Services team at 508.541.1600.

Morton Family Learning Center

The Theodore and Cynthia Berenson Center for Writing, Mathematics and Presentation Excellence is conveniently located on the first floor of the Green Family Library Learning Commons. Students may access tutoring schedules online by going to the top right-hand corner of Today@Dean to schedule appointments. Berenson support services are available to all Dean students at no additional fee. These include:

Berenson Math Center: Peer and faculty tutoring support is available for students who need assistance with math concepts or analytics.

Berenson Presentation Center: Students or groups may schedule time in the Berenson Presentation Center to run through their speeches or presentations and receive tutor feedback as requested.

Berenson Writing Center: Students can schedule appointments in person or virtually with a peer, professional, or faculty tutor at any phase of their writing process.

Group Study Rooms: Spaces are available for students to meet with a group/team members to work on presentations, assignments, or hold meetings.

Peer Tutoring: A wide variety of content-based tutoring is available to help students level up in their classes.

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

School of the Arts

Lights, Camera, Action! 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:

She Loves Me - Main Stage

February 28- March 3

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

The basketball programs are now focused on conference play with an eye on postseason play. Men's volleyball is getting ready to serve up great highlights in the next month. Congratulations to AJ Weston on surpassing 1,000 points in his collegiate career in a recent 77- 64 triumph over New England College.

Before we know it, the spring sports will be on deck. Catch live game action, statistics, and game recaps all season long at Bulldogs Athletics.

Let's Go Bulldogs!

Free Shuttle for Students- GATRA GO- Five surrounding towns!

Bulldogs, reminder that you can download the Gatra Go United app for a free rideshare service available to them Monday thru Friday 7am-6pm and Saturday from 9am-6pm. We will provide directions on the student portal as there is a special Dean College code 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.