You Can Come In

     

Warren Student Services Building

    When student's often hear "The Dean of Students," their minds instantly go to trouble. At Bloomsburg University, that's not the case.  As you enter the Warren Student Services building, the Dean of Students is horizontal on the right side from the Student Success Center room 150.  Immediately after you open the door, the mood changes from feeling anxious to feeling calm. You step into the office, and you're instantly greeted by a sweet girl with a big, bright smile and she asks everyone who walks in two questions, "May you please sign in?" She waits a few moments before asking the following question "Who are you here to see?" She then offered the student a seat in the waiting area.  The waiting area has bright lights but isn't overwhelming, two chairs, a couch, and a small table in the middle that had pamphlets sitting on top. 

"Oh, hey, Jen. How was your lunch?"  - Receptionist exclaimed. 

"It was good," Jen replied walking into the office with a fountain soda in her hand.

"There's a student here to see you. I was just about to put it in the chat," - Receptionist stated.

"Yes, at 1:00 I have a meeting" - Jen confirmed.

Jen, the Dean of Students, mentions to the student, "You can come in whenever you are ready."

    Entering Jen's office, the room is a shorter, rectangular shape. The first thing you see is the Darth Vader holding a name plate right in front of her desk. Students have the option between sitting on a couch with two pillows and a neatly folded Bloomsburg blanket laying on the top, or a leather chair next to a table with mints. Two plants are sitting behind the chair, and with the window blinds pulled up. Additionally, the lighting isn't too bright. The desk is L-shaped and is on the left side of the office.   

Front of the Dean of Students Office

    Jen, a middle-aged woman, wearing blue jeans, a dark green top with pink and white flowers on it, and a green cardigan, has been the Dean of Students for quite some time now. She started off in residents life and once she saw a position open she immediately took the chance. Jen starts her day off by checking her email and voicemail for any referrals she may have received. The Dean of Students does not deal with code of conduct at Bloomsburg. There is a separate office called the Office of Student Conduct, where students would go when they violate the code of conduct to receive their consequences. As soon as Jen receives a referral through the student concern process, she reads through it carefully to look at what's on the form exactly. After Jen was done reviewing the referral, she started outreaching to the other departments as well as the student. That was just the beginning of the day. She allows appointments for anyone who have concerns as well as walk-ins, and phone calls. I did not witness this, but she has care team meetings as well as staff meetings every week to maintain the good communication and collaboration. 

"The moments where students start to feel safe in sharing in pieces of their life that's so hard to share and feel vulnerable. I feel that when students trust me in that way, I should carry it with safety and compassion," Jen reflected. 

    When Jen is working with a student with a concern, she gives them space to talk, and she doesn't interrupt the student once. After the student is done talking, Jen starts to ask a few questions, and then she starts to talk about the resources available on campus. Jen mentions she will make referrals to the departments. She is capable of sending an email on the student's behalf, copying them on the email so they can start connecting that way. The Dean of Students truly knows the ins and outs about campus so she can help navigate students in the right direction when they make a request for specific resources. 

    Advice Jen would want to tell every college student, "Make sure you spend time using the resources you are paying for. Health and wellness fees, tutoring fees, technology fees, never had counseling give it a try you pay for it, maximize what you are paying for. It's good life skills to show up for an appointment without a parent." The resources are there for everyone, you might as well use them to your full benefit now while you have them here. The Dean of Students has nothing to do with consequences; it's the complete opposite. It's an open door to be your support system, and help develop your support system, along with navigating the resources that are available to you on campus. You can always find Jen's contact information around campus or on the Bloomsburg University website. She wants to help you succeed throughout your big chapter of your life. Dean of Student's Website