Other Student Services and Policies

The Office of the Dean of Students is committed to assisting and advocating for the needs of our students. Some of our most requested information and services are listed below, including an Emergency Loan Program, Hospitalization / Family Emergency Notification, Dean's Certifications for Graduate School and Transfer Applications, Event Registration, and various other Univeristy and College policies.

We encourage you to contact our office if you have any questions about student life or services, and if needed we can refer you to the appropriate offices for the requested service.

Emergency Loan Program

The Office of the Dean of Students administrates an Emergency Loan Program, which provides assistance to students for unexpected expenses.  Undergraduate students may borrow up to $150, and graduate students may borrow up to $300. The loan is immediately placed on the student's term bill. Unless under certain circumstances, the loan cannot be used to pay off other University debts.

To receive a loan, come to the Office of the Dean of Students in 510 Wilson Commons between 10am and 2pm. You will be asked to complete a very brief loan application. You must have your student ID with you, and you must be enrolled for the current semester. Other restrictions and Bursar's regulations may apply.

Hospitalization / Family Emergency Notification

The Office of the Dean of Students, along with the Center for Academic Support, will assist with notification to professors of student hospitalization or family emergencies that require a long absence from academic work. Should the situation arise, students or parents/guardians may contact our office at 275-4085. We also encourage students to, if possible, contact their faculty members and advisors as well.

Dean's Certification for Graduate School
and Transfer Applications

When transferring to another school, or continuing onto graduate studies, many program applications have a section that requests a Dean's Certification and/or a Disciplinary Clearance. In coordination with the Center for Academic Support, our office will complete and mail out the form for you. You may drop off the form, along with an addressed and stamped envelope for each school, to:

Office of the Dean of Students
510 Wilson Commons
Rochester, NY, 14627-0443

Please allow 5-7 days for processing, and make sure the sections you are to fill out are complete on the application form.

Event Registration

PDF Event Registration Process Flowchart
PDF 12 Responsibilities of the Social Host

The Dean of Students Office encourages registration of all events, including those without alcohol. Events with alcohol must be registered.

  1. Minimum 4 weeks before event: Meet with Advisor and/or Dean of Students Office to find out event requirements (facility, food, etc.). Some facilities have additional requirements for events, and those sheets are posted below.
  2. Reserve facility.
  3. Minimum 2 weeks before event: Schedule a Social Host Training through UHS Health Promotions Office, 273-5775. All Social Hosts approved before the 2005-2006 academic year must be retrained. Social Host training is good for two years.
  4. Choose one of your Social Hosts to be the Event Manager. The Event Manager serves as the lead contact for the event, and is encouraged to be someone with prior event experience.
  5. Recommended one week before (72 hours minimum): Register your event with the Dean of Students Office. Pick up armbands, wristbands, and attendance counters. The Dean of Students Office will be able to tell you what additional requirements for your facility are, and provide you with a checklist for that area, if you have no received a copy yet when you registered the facility.
  6. At least one week before event: Contact UR Security Services to find out security requirements, especially for large events.
  7. Finalize party details, including food, alternative beverages, water, music, DJ, theme, etc.
  8. Hold Event.
  9. Return armbands and attendance counters to the Dean of Students Office. Lost armbands and counters will result in charges and/or restrictions on future registrations.
  10. Evaluate the event with your Advisor.

Additional Rules for a Specific Areas/Houses:
Specific areas/houses of campus sometimes have additional rules, such as deposits, that are required for use of their area. Student Organizations and individuals using these areas/houses for their events are encouraged to contact the Facilities Manager or President of the area/house before registration of the event. The rules are provided below:
PDF Community Learning Center
PDF Wilson Commons

See Area Facilities or Building Manager for:
Drama House
The Meliora
Douglass Dining Center

Helpful Links:
Wilson Commons Student Activities Event Support
Wilson Commons Student Activities Reservations
University Sanitarian's Office

Social Networking Sites

The University does not monitor the internet for content.  When we have knowledge of an allegation that the law or a University policy may be violated, our practice changes, and we carefully monitor in the most unobtrusive way possible in order to ensure that such violations either have not occurred or will not occur again.  Students, therefore, are fully responsible for the consequences of their internet use.

Facebook.com and other similar sites present unique circumstances for their users, but do not necessitate a deviation from the policies and practices that guide the University community’s use of the internet.  These sites are open to an international market.  Students are advised to be aware that the information they post on these sites may be seen by their relatives, their faculty, their future employers, etc.  Just as the University does not monitor students’ facebook.com postings for content, it makes no effort (and, in fact, can make no effort) to control access to any student’s information or postings on facebook.com.

For more information, please see the brochure, PDF Your Face on Facebook: Thinking Carefully; Posting Conscientiously.

Other University and College Policies

The Registrar's Office maintains a list of other University and College policies, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, information for students with disabilities, the policy on classroom assignment for disabled students, the policy on observance of religious holidays, immunization requirements, and email policy. Please view their website for the policy information, or contact (585) 275-8131.