Q&A: Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office is one of ten featured on The Signal’s 10 Most Fascinating People of UHCL of 2019 list.
Read The Signal’s Q&A with Dean of Students David Rachita below and see the complete list here.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the Dean of Students office and how it helps students?
A: Our main purpose is to advocate for students as best we can. This doesn’t always mean we can solve all problems or dilemmas, but we can certainly help tell the students’ stories to assist administrators and decision makers in understanding some of the challenges our students encounter. We challenge and support students as we help them become self-advocates, enabling them to speak up for causes they believe in and in learning how to seek resources helpful in their academic pursuits. We are also charged with maintaining a safe and welcoming educational environment by administrating the student code of conduct and academic honesty policy. In everything we do, we hope to instill within the whole community the values of Honor, Character, and Excellence.
Q: The food pantry is one of the latest initiatives to come out of the Dean of Students office. How has this initiative impacted the UHCL community?
A: Though it was always a goal, the creation of the food pantry was an after-thought as we helped students recover from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. With leftover food items, we decided to develop a full-time pantry. ‘If you build it, they will come’ was so true. Before the pantry, we never really had many requests for such a resource. But now that it is open, we have a hard time keeping items on the shelf. Different agencies report that anywhere between 20% – 41% (some even higher) of four-year university students experience food insecurities. Regardless, we see a steady stream of students in need and we are happy to help as best we can. Students can’t be academically successful if they are worrying about today’s meal.
Q: What are some achievements or challenges the Dean of Students office has had this year
A: Achievement – With the help of University Advancement, the DOS Office received a $10,000 grant to help develop the food pantry program. Current plans are for industrial-strength shelving, enabling us to stock more items and in a more efficient and safe manner, develop a marketing campaign, and potentially hire some student assistance to maintain the program.
Challenge – We all continue to hear how stress and anxiety continues to increase across all segments of our society. A college campus is no different and our office continues to see more and more students that are facing many personal challenges both at home and in school. We try to help as best we can. But it doesn’t take long for caseloads to become full and the solutions complicated. But UHCL is a community that cares and we are not in want for partners across campus that assist us in so many ways as we attempt to be as helpful as possible. It’s truly a team effort!
Q: What are some goals the Dean of Students team has for 2020?
A: We soon will be unveiling a new web presence that will be easier to navigate and have more useful information. We have also been working hard to assist the new Department of Student Housing and Residential Life as they kick off their first year as a stand-alone unit and program.
Q: Is there anything you would like our readers to know?
A: Bow ties are cool.
Message to students – Our pictures are on our web site. Take a look at them and when you see us around campus, stop and say hello and let us know how things are going. We want to get to know you and we want to know if we can be of any assistance!
