The ABCs of Student Life for SWOSU Faculty and Staff

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 - The Burton House 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. Visit them in the Burton House or contact them at ext. 3233.

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

Are legally distributed through the Office of the Nurse Practitioner, Becky McBride, at the Wellness Center 158, ext. 3776.

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 Heather Leach at ext. 7153 or stopping by Stafford 214.

J.  Judicial Officer

At SWOSU is the Dean of Students for the campuses. For housing issues it is the Director of Residence Life, Cindi Groth (at Neff 103, ext. 3024), the Council of Hall Directors and J-Board.

K.  Klubs and Organizations

92 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.  Learning (as in Service Learning)

1. is great for the student, SWOSU, and the community
2. is part of our accreditation standards (see criterion 5) and can be facilitated through the Office of the Dean of Students
3. can get you published

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 them at ext. 3233 or stop by the Burton House.

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

1. Student Handbook or
2. Code of Conduct or
3. 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 , Nurse Practitioner 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.  Vans

Belonging to SWOSU are available for student, staff, and faculty related activities by calling Rick Skinner, Director of the Physical Plant at ext. 3788. The physical plant also manages all maintenance issues. He and his team are why the campus always looks so great.

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 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 Power Breakfast, 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