Dean of Students Office
Knight Hall, Room 128
Phone: 307-766-3296
Email: dos@uwyo.edu
Website: www.uwyo.edu/dos
The Dean of Students office (DOS) seeks to assist students experiencing difficult circumstances or hardships to discover strategies for managing distress and navigating personal challenges as well as connect them with campus and community resources that can support their personal and educational goals. DOS staff work to help students to succeed academically and become contributing members of our campus and community.
Our services may be supportive in times of personal distress, facilitative in times of conflict, educational in times of development, or remedial in times of difficulty or accountability. Our team members are well-versed in behavioral intervention, campus safety, educational outcomes, and University and community resources to help students thrive. We recognize life at UW goes way beyond the classroom and seek to empower students.
Student Code of Conduct and Community Standards
The University of Wyoming (UW) is an academic community dedicated to teaching, scholarship, research, service,inclusion, and the holistic development of students. As an academic community, the University is interested in the safety, welfare, success, and education of its members and in fostering an environment consistent with its educational mission, purpose, and processes. The primary purpose of the Student Code of Conduct and Community Standards is to establish standards and procedures necessary to maintain a community conducive to learning and to advance the educational objectives of the University of Wyoming. Acknowledging that learning occurs in a multitude of places, UW believes a set of community standards develops professionalism and decision-making in all students.
Choosing to join the UW community as a student obligates each member to a code of responsible behavior; when students voluntarily enter the University they assume obligations of performance and behavior relevant to the University’s mission, processes, and functions, including the academic and professional standards of academic units. The University encourages exemplary conduct by balancing the rights of the individual student with the responsibility to the larger community
The Student Code of Conduct is a key component of the Dean of Students Office efforts to reduce and prevent behavior that undermines academic success and detracts from the educational mission of the University; ensure the health and safety of students and the community; provide timely support and resources for students; and prevent violence in and around the University community. The Student Conduct Code defines University intervention, resolution options, and possible action related to the behavior of both individual students and student organizations.
Student Records and FERPA Release
The 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law (20 USC 1232g) that protects the privacy of a student’s educational records. FERPA applies to all educational institutions receiving funds from the United States Department of Education, from kindergarten through university level. Under FERPA, the Dean of Students Office may not share the contents of a student’s education record with anyone other than the student unless the student provides written consent to do so, or under a recognized exception.
Exceptions under FERPA include, but are not limited to, a health or safety emergency or an educational need to know.
A student who is working with the DOS office and is wishing to release some or all of their DOS educational record to another person, or a student wishing to allow DOS to communicate with another person regarding that student’s interactions with DOS and/or that student’s academics, must sign a release with DOS. Please email dos@uwyo.edu to request the FEPRA release form.
Excused (Authorized) Absences
On occasion an unanticipated class absence occurs. If it falls within the following guidelines (in accordance with the UW Standard Administrative Policy and Procedure-Student Absence Policy) of an excused absence, the Dean of Students can provide an excused absence letter to a student, allowing them to make up missed work for the class. Apart from active military duty and certain pregnant student support, excused absences for any given situation cannot be longer than 5 consecutive weekdays. For example, a five-day absence might be Monday through Friday OR Thursday through Wednesday. Any class attendance points, assignments, or tests falling outside of the excused absence would be at the discretion of your faculty. Refer to class syllabi for class attendance and absence policies. The Dean of Students does not have authority over instructor attendance or grading policies.
Students wishing to request an excused absence must meet one of the below criteria as noted in the Student Attendance Policy. The request and all necessary documentation must be received by our office within two weeks of the first day of absence.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Requests submitted without the appropriate documentation will be denied. A new request with proper documentation can be submitted within the approval timeframe.
- Students with chronic medical conditions or a documented concussion may qualify for additional support and accommodations with Disability Support Services.
- Weather-related absences: Students work directly with their instructors if unable to attend class due to inclement weather or road closure.
- When the University is officially closed by the President, absences are automatically excused. No excused absence request is needed.
- Absence requests are carefully reviewed. Any false or misleading information is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may result in conduct proceedings.
All School Withdrawal
All-school withdrawals may impact access to student services and resources. Students with questions about whether or not withdrawing for the semester will limit their access to specific services and resources should contact those offices PRIOR to completing the all-school withdrawal process. All-school withdrawals refer to a student removing all of their currently enrolled courses from their registration. Students who wish to reduce their overall enrollment, but remain in one or more classes, can withdraw individually from courses by logging into their student account via WyoWeb. If a student is enrolled in only one course, an all-school withdrawal is needed to remove that one course. Steps include:
- Student Financial Aid
- Housing
- Dean of Students
- Registrar for Finalization
Note: The process must be completed prior to the semester deadline in order to withdraw.
UW CARES
Any concerned individual can refer a student who may be experiencing academic, personal or emotional challenges or who may be demonstrating concerning, distressed, or disruptive behavior to the UW CARES Team by submitting a referral form. Submitting a referral simply means you have a concern about a student’s well-being. Receipt of this form initiates the outreach process (typically by a Care Coordinator).
The UWCARES Team is designed to enable the University of Wyoming to be compliant with The Campus Security Enhancement Act of 2008 (Public Act 095-0881, §110 ILCS 12 - 20) and the implementing regulations (29 Ill. Adm. Code § 305). The team is comprised of:
- Dean of Students
- Assistant Dean, Care and Outreach
- Assistant Dean of Students/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
- Associate Director, Residence Life
- UW Chief of Police
- Director of Counseling Center
- Director of Student Health Services
- Director of Disability Support Services
- ACES Representative
- Title IX Coordinator
- Assistant Athletic Director/SWA
- Laramie Police-Assistant Chief
The UW CARES team also consults with internal and external partners, including Veterans Services, Financial Aid, International Students and Scholars, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Albany County Sheriff, UW Army and Air Force ROTC, and other UW staff and administrators.
Your referral may be the activating event that helps a student get connected to resources, or you may be providing supplemental information about a student that assists in our ability to more appropriately them.
A UW CARES referral should NOT be used for emergency situations.
Sexual Misconduct, Interpersonal Violence and Title IX
Bureau of Mines Bldg., Room 320
Phone: 307-766-5200
Email: report-it@uwyo.edu
The Dean of Students Office provides academic and supportive measures to students who have experienced sexual or interpersonal violence. Meeting with a staff member does not require you to file a complaint or speak with law enforcement. The University of Wyoming strives to provide a safe environment free from the detrimental effects of discrimination or sexual misconduct, which includes sexual harassment and sexual assault. The information on this page is designed to provide resources to assist students, staff, guests, or visitors who may have experienced such behavior regardless of where the misconduct took place.
Students have the right to file a complaint and request an investigation into student or employee behavior that may violate UW’s Student Code of Conduct and non-discrimination policies.
Additionally, students who have experienced sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, or harassment can receive free and confidential advocacy support from SAFE Project.