February 2024

Dean Families,

Often the first few months of the calendar year are viewed as obstacles, as we desire additional sunlight and warmer temperatures. However, there are some moments that can be appreciated for a variety of reasons.

This Sunday marks a cultural phenomenon better known as the Super Bowl. It is typically the most-watched event of the entire year. Why? One reason is it's a decisive winner-take-all format versus a best-of-seven series. More importantly, it has become a time-honored tradition where people will gather to watch the game together, creating a sense of belonging. Many may be enamored by the talents of Mahomes or have collectively grown tired of their success and root for the 49ers; more may pull for the underdog Brock Purdy known as Mr. Irrelevant (term given to the last pick in each year's NFL draft) to win his first title; others are focused solely on the commercials debating which was the most entertaining or influential; and some may wait patiently for Usher to perform an iconic halftime show or to excitedly catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift cheering on Travis Kelce in what has become a dominant segment of this NFL season. Regardless of the scenario, the key is that there is something for everyone.

The college setting can be a microcosm similar to that of the Super Bowl through its offerings of recreational activities, academic programs, and social gatherings. Moments to enjoy each other's company can be overlooked and offer a critical piece of self-fulfillment. We recently held opportunities to join active organizations on campus (pictured below). Dean Hospitality will be offering several theme cuisines in the dining hall for students to gather and break bread. Many cohorts will be formed through athletics, theatre, and dance; the list of on-campus activities and events is endless. Regardless of which team wins or loses on Sunday, watching the game together will be a victory.

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

Office of Residence Life

Plan Ahead!



The residence halls will close on Friday, March 8^th at 6:30 pm for Spring break. 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 – available starting after February 8^th.

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. More information and pricing will be made available in the upcoming newsletter, MyHousing Portal, and your student’s email!

Housing Selection for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:

We are excited to begin the Housing Selection Process for the 2024-2025 Academic Year! 

Housing Selection information for all returning students will be available this month! The information will be posted on Today@Dean Residence Life page and sent to student emails. Returning residents will be eligible for housing selection after completing the following steps 1) the housing application 2) making their deposits 3) clearing any holds that may be on their account with Student Financial Planning and Services. The Housing Application and the Enrollment deposit will be due by March 18^th. Returning resident housing selection for 2024-2025 will begin for rising seniors and juniors the week of March 25^th, with the week of April 1^st for rising sophomores and first years.

Are your students curious about what housing options are available? Encourage your students to visit our program next week: Treats in the Streets on February 16^th from 2-4 PM. During this program, students will be invited to tour upperclassmen residence halls rooms and meet with Residence Life, Dining Services, and/or Financial Planning for any questions! Stay tuned for more information in next month’s newsletter!

If you have additional questions, please reach out to the

Office of Residence Life: 508.541.1838. 

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? Stay tuned to your Residence Life Teams Page to apply, beginning the week of February 12^th! 

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

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

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

Saturday, May 18: 158th Commencement Exercises!

Robbins Family Center for Advising and Career Planning

Fall 2024 Course Registration

It's never too early to start thinking about course selection for the fall! While registration meetings with Success & Career Advisors won't start until early April, here are some things you can encourage your student to do this month:

-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 or if they want to brainstorm ideas!

Boomer chat is Back!

At the beginning of every semester, our chatbot Boomer re-introduces himself to students via text. Boomer checks in on students every few weeks to gauge how they are adjusting to the semester and if they need any additional support or resources. Students can also text Boomer questions 24/7, for example, "What time does the dining center close?" and Boomer will text back the answer!

Please encourage your students to respond and engage with Boomer. If you are receiving the texts instead of your student, please email kefitzgerald@dean.edu with your student's name and correct phone number.

SPRING INVOLVEMENT FAIR

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- Cold and Flu season is here!

Remember to wash your hands and wipe down shared surfaces in your dorm rooms. If you don’t already have supplies in your dorm room, we recommend having: over-the-counter cough/cold medication, thermometer, rapid COVID-19 tests, and Gatorade.

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).  

As a reminder, students should have a plan in place should they become infected with Covid-19. If the student lives within driving distance, the expectation is that they will return home to complete the isolation period. There are no quarantine/isolation rooms available on campus.



Need rapid COVID-19 tests? Please complete the form below to get 4 free rapid COVID-19 tests mailed to you at Dean College via the United States Postal Service: https://special.usps.com/testkits

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

Morton Family Learning Center

Academic Coaching is a specialized fee-based academic support service available through the Learning Center in both individual (one-on-one) or group (2-3 students per coach) formats. Please note that when registering during the semester, the Academic Coaching fee is pro-rated. Students may sign up by using the Academic Coaching Registration forms found under Essential Links on Today@Dean or by calling the Learning Center directly at 508-541-1768. Families may also email learning@dean.edu to register their student and/or gain more information about setting up weekly meetings with an Academic Coach who can help students with note-taking, time management, organization, study strategies, and test preparation.

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:

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 Max Peters 24 Hour Play Festival

On Saturday night, January 27, several Dean College student organizations; Speakeasies Improv Group, The Musical Theatre Troupe, and The Guild, presented the first Max Peters 24-Hour Play Festival, in the Paula M. Rooney Student Center’s Guidrey Center.

Under the direction of Sophomore Hannah Pogemiller and Senior Myles Luongo, five student directors and writers and fourteen young actors were given “theatrical prompts” to create, rehearse, and present within a 24-hour period, five dramatic scenes.

Max Peters, a 2020 graduate from Dean College’s School of the Arts with a BA degree in Theatre, died tragically in December of 2022. Max’s family had the following to say, “For those of you here tonight who knew Max, you know that he loved his time at Dean College. We always knew he had a special place in his heart for Dean, for the friends he made here, and for the very special faculty and staff who also became his friends. Because of that, our family holds a special place in our hearts, for Dean and Max’s many, many friends whom he loved.”

The students have created this festival in his honor with all proceeds going toward the Max Peters Theatre Scholarship. This inaugural event was attended by over 100 audience members, including family, alumni, faculty, staff, and current students, with over $4000 being contributed to the fund.



As a thank you, Max’s family stated in a letter, “So, for the students who gifted their time the past 24 hours, and probably more, we want you to know that if Max were here and was offered the opportunity to do something like this for someone he never met, we know that he would have done it, in a heartbeat. So please keep being the giving people that you are, it will bring you much happiness, live your life to the fullest all the time, and most of all, always remember to be a good person.”

Winter sports will be wrapping up soon so make sure to visit the Pieri Gymnasium (or watch the live stream) to see your favorite Bulldogs in action. Spring sports are readying for game action and are excited for the season ahead. 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 towns!

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.