Page 265 - Keys to College Success

A dean of students. The dean of students and his or her staff oversee the nonaca-
demic part of your college experience—programs pertaining to diversity, wellness, liv-
ing arrangements, commuting, and any other student life issues. Call on the dean of
students for help with legal and judicial services, emergencies, conflict resolution, help
with particular needs (working students, students with families, transfers, and so on),
support for students with disabilities, safety issues, and any other concern.

Academic deans. These deans oversee everything pertaining to your academic life.
There may be one dean of the college with a supporting staff of associate or assistant
deans, or there may be deans of different divisions of the school. Your academic dean
may be assigned to you according to your major or the person who acts as your advi-
sor. Consult your academic dean for issues related to courses, majors (selecting, chang-
ing, or designing), instructors, internships, study abroad, graduate programs, or
anything else academic.
You will also interact with the registrar’s office and the bursar’s office. The regis-
trar’s office is the part of your school’s administration that handles course registra-
tion, sends grade reports, and compiles your official transcript (a comprehensive
record of your courses, grades, and status). Graduate school admissions offices require
a copy of your transcript, as do many prospective employers. The bursar’s office is the
home of the college’s accounting system, issuing bills for tuition and room and board
and collecting payments from students and financial aid sources.
Finally, schools with students who live on campus have an office of residence
life. The people who work there address needs that arise with students living in cam-
pus housing, from key requests and laundry questions to conflicts with roommates,
suitemates, or hallmates. Residence life supervises the RAs (resident assistants) who
live in campus housing with students and provide the most immediate and accessible
support.

Student Health

Your college has a student health office that provides medical services. Most colleges
offer a health insurance plan to students. Although students are not obligated to sign
up for the college-sponsored health plan, most colleges require students to have some
sort of insurance. Therefore, you can either come in with existing insurance (your own
or your parents’, since students can now stay on their parents’ insurance policy until
age 26) or purchase the student health plan.
Whether you have private insurance or use your school’s insurance plan, you can
receive care at the student health center. Centers generally offer a combination of both
preventative and diagnostic care, as well as emergency services and opportunities to
receive immunizations such as the meningococcal meningitis vaccine. You will need to
make and keep your own appointments and manage your own medications and other
therapies as needed. Many student health centers are linked to the school’s counseling
centers, which is helpful if your medical needs have a psychological component. In
addition, if you need specialized care not available at your student health center, some-
one will refer you to a care provider in the area.

Counseling

College counseling services can help you address academic problems, stress, and psy-
chological problems. As stated by the American College Counseling Association,
“counseling services are designed to assist students with addressing the difficulties that
they encounter during these years and to promote greater overall wellness within the
student population.” 2
9 Counseling is confidential, focused on your particular needs, and directed toward
CHAPTER 228 helping you handle what is bothering you. Whatever type of personal problem you
encounter in college, a counselor can help you get through it. In most cases, your