The ABCs of Student Life for SWOSU Faculty and Staff

From: Dean of Student’s Cindy Dougherty

A.  ADA,

Americans with Disabilities Act:  Any student with a disability can initiate “reasonable accommodations” by meeting with the Dean of Students, Cindy Dougherty after being accepted to the University. She can be found in Stafford 214 or by calling ext. 3767. All ADA questions related to students should also be addressed to the Dean.

B.  Behavior Issues,

Can always be confidentially referred/reported to the Dean of Students. Faculty members will receive a report from the Dean on each referral.

C.  Career Services and Counseling,

Career Services provides a number of services to assist students in selecting a major, securing internships, part-time positions, summer work opportunities and full-time employment upon graduation. They can be found in Stf. 209.

Counseling - Of all types is available through the Office of the Director, Student Counseling Services, Kim Liebscher, at ext. 3776, located in the Wellness Center 146.

D.  Drugs,

SWOSU is a drug free campus.

E.  Email,

To the entire student body can be sent through the Office of Public Relations via Brian Adler, Admin. 205, ext. 3063.

F.  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),

Is the students’ right to privacy as law. No faculty or staff member should share any student information with any non-university employee. All such requests should be referred to the Dean of Students. This includes external inquiries from parents, potential employers, et. all.  Information shared between university employees is on a “need to know basis.” Students may sign away this legal right by meeting privately with the Dean of Students.

G.  Gender Issues,

Fill our days in the offices of the Dean of Students, Counseling, the Nurse Practitioner, and others.  We care for students dealing with restraining and protective orders, battling HIV/Aids, working through heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual issues, and dealing with transgender issues. As such, referrals to any of these three offices are appropriate.

H.  Harassment,

Is not tolerated at SWOSU. We are a zero tolerance environment. Any student harassment issues, whether the student is the victim or the perpetrator, should be confidentially reported to the Dean of Students.

I.  Intercampus Activities,

Any recognized organization or department can partner with C.A.B. (Collegiate Activities Board) to present campus wide events by calling the CAB director at ext. 7153 or stopping by Stafford 214.

J.  Judicial Officer,

At SWOSU is the Dean of Students for the campuses.

K.  Klubs and Organizations,

97 exist on the SWOSU campus. Lists of them, their sponsors, and presidents are available in the Office of the Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities, Stafford 214.

L.  Laura Smith is our university nurse

Laura Smith is our new campus nurse with office in the Wellness Center, room 158 to help all students with health and wellness. Her extension is 3776.

M.  Medical Excuses From Class,

DO NOT EXIST, but, students’ doctors often do notify the Dean of Students and the Dean notifies the relevant faculty members. It is up to the faculty, whether or not an absence is excused.

N.  New Student Orientation,

NSO offers a variety of programs designed to help new students make a smoother and more successful transition into college life.  Contact Todd Boyd at ext. 3782 or stop by the Admissions Office (STF 207).

O.  Open and Affirming Environment,

Is what we all create, campus wide, without discrimination of any kind.

P.  Policies,

By which students must live at SWOSU are found online under Administration, click on the Dean of Students then to   a.) Student Handbook or   b.) Code of Conduct or   c.) Contemporary Issues

Q.  Questions,

Just ask – we are all here to help.   All Student Life phone numbers are listed under “Z.”

R.  Registrar,

Ours is great and he does all the typical registrar stuff plus he/his office handles all veterans benefits, international student affairs, degree checks, and much more. See Bob Klaassen in Admin. 108 or at ext. 3777.

S.  Suicide,

If suspected or threatened should be reported to the Dean of Students or Chief of Campus Safety , University Nurse or Director of Counseling. We will all be involved in crisis management, so whomever you find first will help.

T.  Testing,

For all ADA students, is available to all faculty members through the Office of the Dean of Students. Teachers and students must arrange test time/date through the office in advance.  Forms are available on the Dean’s page of the SWOSU web site.

U.  Unresolved Student Complaints,

Against faculty are first referred by the Dean of Students back to that faculty member. If not resolved here with faculty and student, they then go to the department chair, then to Dean of the College, then to Associate Provost, then to Provost.

V.  Violence,

If you have experienced a form of interpersonal violence, such as sexual assault, domestic or dating violence/abuse, or stalking, the VIPER program offers free and confidential services for SWOSU students and employees. Contact Wendy Henson at ext. 6037 or stop by STF 346.

W.  Wellness,

Is that for which we strive. The Wellness Center is available to all students and is a big part of this and can be reached at ext. 3047, Nelson Perkins, Director.

X.  Xeroxing,

Can be done by all students free of charge in Stf. 214, Deans’s Office or at the SGA Center. It is located at the corner of College and Broadway. SGA can be reached at 774- 0615 (you must dial the 774.) This year’s SGA President is Greg Franklin.

Y.  Yearly Events,

Coordinated through the Office of the Dean of Students include: Alcohol Awareness Week,  Black History Week , Bulldog Blitz, Constitution Days, Dawg Days, Homecoming, International Student Awareness Week and Bazaar, Martin Luther King Celebration, Native American History Week, SWOSUpalooza, and Women’s Her-story Week. Feel free to volunteer early for the one with which you wish to help.

Z.  Zany Behavior,

Happens with each and every student at some point. Thank you for dealing with them.  Dr. Cindy Foust, Associate Provost, heads the Student Life Team and can be reached in Admin. 208 @ ext 7172. If you want help from Student Life professionals, we can be reached at:

Student Lifers	Here to Help...
Office/Director	Extension
Academic Support & Career Services	3233
Admissions	3782
Assessment/Testing	7084
Associate Provost	7172
Bursar	3018
Campus Safety	3111
Counselor	3776
Dean of Students	3767
Dean of Students--Home	772-0429
Financial Aid	3786
Food Services	3166
New Student Orientation	3233
Nurse Practitioner	3776
Physical Plant	3100
Registrar	3777
Residence Life	3024
Wellness Center	3187
Viper	6037
Wellness Center	3187