Comprehensive Program Review
Fall 1997 - Fall 1998

Description of Offices of the Dean of Student Life

A. Overview

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life is one of thirteen departments in the Division of Student Affairs. Student Life provides a myriad of information, programs and services to enhance students’ opportunities to participate fully in university experiences that facilitate responsible life choices and promote awareness of self and community. The Department is divided into service areas supervised by an Associate or Assistant Director. These service areas are located in four different buildings of the campus - Beutel Health Center, Hart Hall, Koldus Building, and YMCA Building.

The service areas include:

• Adult and Graduate Student Services
• Alcohol and Drug Education Programs
• Gender Issues Education Services
• Greek Life
• Off Campus Student Services
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Student Judicial Services
• Student Legal Services
• Student Life Orientation
• Student Mediation Services

B. Mission and Goals

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life serves the ever-changing student population at Texas A&M University. To complement the educational mission of the university, the Offices of the Dean of Student Life exists to enrich academic experiences and to meet the needs of all students and their families. Each of the offices which comprise the Department of Student Life have a specific mission but one common goal: to provide education, outreach and support.

The Student Life staff strives to enhance students’ opportunities to participate fully in university experiences through information, services, and programs that facilitate responsible life choices and promote awareness of self and community. Orientation programs, gender issues education services, mediation services, alcohol and drug education efforts and legal services are provided for the benefit of all students. Specific programs and services are directed toward new students, off-campus students, gay, lesbian and bisexual students, graduate students, fraternity and sorority members, students with non-traditional needs, and students with disabilities.

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life embraces a philosophy of respect, sensitivity and responsiveness. This philosophy encourages equality not sameness. We recognize that for growth and understanding to occur, a supportive environment must exist which allows questioning and open discussion. We promote acceptance and understanding of differences while preserving the uniqueness of each individual.

C. Core Values

The following core values are not in any order of importance.

• INDIVIDUAL

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life believes that staff members should be recognized and respected as individuals. We work hard to stimulate diversity of thought and opinion, as well as diversity in the make-up of our staff. The department recognizes that each staff member is unique in their background, interests, and beliefs, and we encourage staff members to use their true gifts and talents to the benefit of the department.

• RELATIONSHIPS

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life values the opportunity to work with others and the resulting relationships. The department recognizes that professional and personal interactions with individuals inside and outside of the department bring a sense of identity, belonging, support, and community to provide a sound basis from which we achieve our individual and organizational goals.

• INTEGRITY

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life values and encourages individual and organizational integrity. We recognize integrity as including ethical behavior, honesty, and principled responsibility. In serving others, we endeavor to "do the right thing."

• LEARNING

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life values and encourages the concept of lifelong learning and professional development. We encourage staff to recognize and explore opportunities to learn and to develop new skills.

• INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, AND FUN

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life values innovation, creativity, and fun. Staff members are encouraged to think "outside of the box" and look for new and innovative ways to accomplish our goals. The department provides staff members an opportunity to impact their environment and to invest in its success. Our appreciation of fun allows staff to be themselves and encourages people to take risks and enjoy their jobs.

D. Resources

1. Personnel

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life employs approximately 90 total employees. There are 32 professional staff positions with varying responsibilities in providing programs and services to students. Professional staff positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience although a master’s degree and experience in student affairs is preferred. Four of the professional staff members in the department hold terminal degrees. Although the department continues to make concerted efforts to recruit and retain ethnic minority staff, Student Life has not been as successful as the department would like. (See Appendix 4 for more details)

The department refers to its clerical staff as the associate staff. There are 13 associate staff positions in the various offices within the department. These staff members do much more than answering phones and typing. They are an integral part in the delivery of programs and services to students. (See Appendix 5 for more details)

The department employs 8 graduate assistants. Most of the graduate assistants are students in the master’s degree program in student affairs administration. The graduate assistants work a minimum of 20 hours per week in their assistantships. They are actively involved in developing programs for presentation to student groups, producing publications, assisting with advisement of student organizations, and in providing service delivery to students. They are included in all department functions such as committees, retreats and staff meetings. (see Appendix 6 for more details)

Student Life employs approximately 38 student assistants. These student assistants perform clerical and receptionist functions in most offices. In Services for Students with Disabilities, student assistants also deliver and pick up tests from instructors to be administered to students with disabilities and provide assistance to students using the Adaptive Technology Services lab. Student Technicians are also employed to provide hardware maintenance and software support for department computing.

NOTE: The fall semester 1998 began with several staff vacancies. Vacant professional staff positions are being filled by graduate assistants and temporary hires while searches are conducted.

2. Physical Plant and Equipment

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life had eight offices in five different buildings for the first three years of existence. The Central Office and Student Life Orientation were located on the third floor of the YMCA Building along with offices in the Department of Residence Life. Alcohol and Drug Education Programs and department computing services were located on the second floor of the Beutel Health Center. Student Judicial Services, Student Legal Services and Student Mediation Services were located in A-2 Lounge, a modified residence hall lounge. Adult and Graduate Student Services, Off Campus Student Services, and Gender Issues Education Services were located in an office suite in the Koldus Building. Services for Students with Disabilities occupied office space in the Koldus Building while offices for interpreters and Adaptive Technology Services were located in modified residence hall rooms in Hart Hall.

In the Spring of 1998 additional space became available in the YMCA Building. Student Judicial Services, Student Legal Services, Student Mediation Services, Gender Issues Education Services, and department computing services were relocated to the second floor of the YMCA Building. In the summer of 1998, Student Life was called upon to make room again, not only organizationally but physically as well, for the newest member of the team, Greek Life. Some shuffling was done on the second floor of the YMCA Building to provide an office area and Greek Life moved into their new office space on July 1, 1998.

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life continues to seek appropriate space that will bring together the offices in the department. At this time, no relief is seen.

Facility Inventory
As of Fall, 1998

* Adult and Graduate Student Services and Off Campus Student Services are both located in 112 Koldus and total they utilize 1,950 square feet of space

The department’s capital equipment purchases are almost entirely computing resources. From the beginning the department placed an emphasis on providing staff with appropriate computing resources. The department technology plan calls for replacing 25% of the computers and printers each year. Equipment in the Adaptive Technology Services has a separate line item in the budget for replacement and upkeep and is funded from the student computer access fee.

3. Funding

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life is funded primarily from state appropriations and student service fees. One hundred percent of the state appropriations in FY 99 are for salaries and wages. The chart below shows the department sources of funding for FY 99.

Source of Funds

State Appropriations	$   789,778
University Authorized Tuition	$     45,000
Student Service Fees	$   903,060
Computer Access Fee	$     25,000
Foundation Endowment to Benefit
Women’s Programs	$     10,000
New Student Conference Fee (proposed)	$     60,000
Total Budget	$1,832,838
Reserves (Student Service Fees)	$     79,730

See Appendix 7A-7C for department budget sheets

4. Computing Services

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life Computing Services staff provides technical training and support to all department staff members and maintains 3 file servers and 73 workstations. Operating on a Windows NT platform, the servers provide mail and calendar services, web services, print sharing, file sharing, network software applications, SQL databases, and system hardware and software inventories. Department workstations utilize a Windows 95 operating system, with the Microsoft Office 97 suite, virus protection and file compression software. The Offices of the Dean of Student Life operates both department internet and intranet sites. Training for department staff is provided through a variety of methods including class-based training, intranet self-paced training, and weekly e-mail tips. A detailed technology plan is maintained by Computing Services and updated annually.