Nicole Morsfield

Dean of Students Michael Wadsworth.

Many Oakland University students have a common misconception that the Dean of Students office is akin to a high school principal’s office – one only goes there when they are in trouble. This line of thinking is faulty, the Dean of Students office is much more than a disciplinary office. The Dean of Students office provides a wide range of support services to OU students.

Staff at the Dean of Students office serve as advocates for students. Four ways the Dean of Students office provides support is through the Student Emergency Relief Fund, the medical withdrawal process, student bereavement policies and hospitalized student notifications.

“The [Dean of Students] office is the place to go when you need help,” Michael Wadsworth, the Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity said in an email communication with The Oakland Post. “We are here to help and we are connected with all areas of campus so that we can get students to the right place for the assistance they need.”

Student Emergency Relief Fund

The Student Emergency Relief Fund provides a source of financial assistance for OU students experiencing financial hardship due to an emergency or unforeseen situation. Students interested in applying for relief funds must first meet with a member of the Student Financial Services team. 

If a student is deemed eligible for emergency funding, they may apply for assistance through the Dean of Students office. Students may be awarded up to $500 of emergency relief funding per calendar year. 

Medical Withdrawal Process

Sometimes, students find themselves unable to complete the semester due to a medical issue. Students experiencing personal health difficulties may reach out to the Dean of Students office to discuss the possibility of a medical withdrawal.

The medical withdrawal process provides students the opportunity to withdraw from classes even after the withdrawal deadline has passed. This process is designed to make it easier for students to return to their post-secondary studies if they choose to do so.

Student Bereavement Policies

Students sometimes miss school due to a death in the family. The Dean of Students office supports students experiencing grief and loss through the university’s bereavement leave policy. Once a student is deemed qualified to be excused for bereavement, the Dean of Students office is able to notify the student’s professors.

Red Douglas, a doctoral student at OU, is currently researching student bereavement policies at post-secondary institutions. Douglas found that OU was one of 44 universities nationally that have student bereavement policies.

Hospitalized Student Notifications

In cases where students find themselves hospitalized, the Dean of Students office can be a crucial support. In these situations, the Dean of Students office can assist students with notifying their professors of the hospitalization.

Although the Dean of Students office cannot require professors to do anything in these situations, the hospitalized student notifications are helpful in legitimizing the medical issues that students may experience throughout their college careers.

To learn more about OU’s Dean of Students office and the resources it offers to students, please visit the office’s webpage. To directly contact the Dean of Students office, one may send an email to [email protected] or they may call the office using the number (248) 370-3352.