Message from the Office of The Vice President and Dean of Students in the University

January 2007

Dear University of Chicago Student:

We want to wish you a rewarding and successful academic year at the University of Chicago.  The University has recently completed its search for a new Vice President and Dean of Students and she will be starting in July. In the interim, the functions of this position are fulfilled by Bill Michel, Assistant Vice President for Student Life, Cheryl Gutman, Deputy Dean of Students for Housing and Dining Services, Roberta Cohen, Deputy Dean of Students for Administration and Planning, and Martina Munsters, Deputy Dean of Students for Student Affairs.

The staff of the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students in the University and your area Dean of Students are here to support your success as a member of this community of scholars.  To that end, we want to ensure that you know how to locate the wide variety of resources available to you and that you are aware of, and have easy access to, the policies and regulations that pertain to you as a student.

At the beginning of each academic year, we send all the students an email with information regarding policies and reports on topics ranging from campus safety to equity in athletics to information regarding different offices which you may need or want to contact.

Chicago is a vibrant and exciting city that you will want to take full advantage of during your University career.  As a world-class city, Chicago also presents all of the typical challenges of a complex modern urban society. While the University takes measures to ensure a safe campus environment, it is important to keep in mind that a level of responsibility also rests with each individual.

• The University's campus safety report, Common Sense, is designed to help equip you to navigate the city successfully and offers information about the University offices that provide services related to security and safety. You can find this important report on the web at http://commonsense.uchicago.edu/

Common Sense includes such information as:

Common Sense is published annually and a hard copy is available upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 5555 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, (773-702-8190); and from the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students in the University, 5801 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, (773-702-7770).

•  If you are a US citizen, you can register to vote through the following website: http://www.elections.state.il.us.  Once at the site, on the left hand side of the page is a box titled Voting Information.  Click on it, on the top of the next page is a link to the voter registration form.  
  
  
•  As a student there are many University policies and regulations of which you should be aware.  They can be found in the Student Manual of University Policies and Regulations, which is on the web at http://www.uchicago.edu/docs/studentmanual/. We wish to highlight several policies in particular and encourage you to review the Student Manual to acquaint yourself with all the information.
  
  
•  Policy on Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment.  The University of Chicago is a community of scholars dedicated to research, academic excellence, and the pursuit and cultivation of learning. Members of the University community cannot thrive unless each is accepted as an autonomous individual and is treated without regard to characteristics irrelevant to participation in the life of the University. Freedom of expression is vital to our shared goal of the pursuit of knowledge and should not be restricted by a multitude of rules. At the same time, unlawful discrimination, including harassment, compromises the integrity of the University. It is the intention of the University to take necessary action to prevent, correct, and, where indicated, discipline unlawful harassment.  The full statement can be found in the Student Manual.  For more information on related resources, visit http://civility.uchicago.edu. 
  
  
•  Privacy and Student Records. You should be aware of your rights as a student with respect to records maintained by the University.  The University's policy and procedures concerning privacy and the release of student records in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is published in the University's Student Manual of University Policies and Regulations.
  
  
•  Accommodation for Students with Disabilities. The University is committed to working with disabled students to help them become full participants in the life of the University. The accommodation process is described in the Student Manual. 
  
  
•  The University of Chicago provides information technology for educational, research, and administrative applications by its students, faculty, and staff. Students are expected to be familiar with the Eligibility and Acceptable Use Policy as well as information on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and should be aware that violation of the policy may result in disciplinary action.
  
  
•  Please be considerate of others and only lock or secure your bicycle to bicycle racks to assure the free ingress/egress of any building, stairway or pathways. Bicycles secured to any other object may be removed by Facilities Services.

Hard copies of the Student Manual of University Policies and Regulations are available upon request from the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students in the University, 5801 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637.

•  Recording of classes and lectures.  In recent years, technology has advanced rapidly and many small and powerful recording devices are readily available.  Recording of classes and lectures (including public lectures) may be done only with the permission of the instructor or speaker. It is important to recognize that permissible recordings are exclusively for personal use to assist you in your studies.
  
  
•  The University of Chicago Department of Physical Education and Athletics' report for the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act is available, upon request, from the Department at 5530 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 (773-702-7684).
  
  
• You may be interested in knowing student graduation rates, tuition and loan refunds, and withdrawals, as well as course offerings and administrative policies.  The information is on the web at http://registrar.uchicago.edu.
  
  
•  For information on financial aid programs, contact the following offices:

•  Information on the University's accreditation may be obtained from the Office of the Provost, 5801 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, (773-702-8806).

•  The catalogs are a great resource as they describe the different degree programs, requirements, and the faculty, as well as a sampling of courses for the different Graduate Divisions, Professional Schools and Undergraduate College. The catalogs are available online at http://catalogs.uchicago.edu.

The Office of the Vice-President and Dean of Students in the University is comprised of several central offices that provide a variety of programs and services for all students. For information about the programs and services provided by the office, please see the website at http://dos.uchicago.edu/.

During your time as a student at the University, you will meet other administrators within your division or school who are known as Deans of Students. Your area Dean of Students will provide everything from admissions to registration and financial aid, to answering all your questions about navigating the University.  You should get to know them and their staff as they are among the most important people you will meet during your time here.  

Contact information for the area Dean of Students offices is:

The College 1116 E. 59th Harper 280 Chicago, IL 60637 702-8615 http://college.uchicago.edu	Division of the Humanities 1115 E. 58th St. Walker Museum, Ste. 111 Chicago, IL 60637 702-1552 http://humanities.uchicago.edu
Social Sciences Division 1130 E. 59th St. Foster Hall 108 Chicago, IL 60637 702-8415 http://social-sciences.uchicago.edu	Biological Sciences Division Office of Graduate Affairs 924 E. 57th St., Suite 104 Chicago, IL 60637 702-1939 http://www.bsd.uchicago.edu
Physical Sciences Division 5747 S. Ellis Ave. Jones Hall 116 Chicago, IL 60637 702-8789 http://physical-sciences.uchicago.edu	Graduate School of Business 5807 S. Woodlawn Ave., Suite 122 Chicago , IL 60637 702-8197 http://chicagogsb.edu
Law School Laird Bell Quadrangle 1111 E. 60th St. Chicago, IL 60637 702-9484 http://www.law.uchicago.edu/	The Pritzker School of Medicine 924 E. 57th St., Suite 104 Chicago, IL 60637 702-1939 http://pritzker.bsd.uchicago.edu
Divinity School 1025 E. 58th St. Swift Hall Chicago, IL 60637 702-8217 http://divinity.uchicago.edu/	School of Social Service Administration 969 E. 60th St. Chicago, IL 60637 702-1126 http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu
The Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy Studies 1155 E. 60th St. Chicago, IL 60637 702-8401 http://www.harrisschool.uchicago.edu	School of Social Service Administration 969 E. 60th St. Chicago, IL 60637 702-1126 http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu

Wishing you a wonderful year,

Bill Michel, Assistant Vice President for Student Life in the University

Martina Munsters, Deputy Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs

© 2008 The University of Chicago · The Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students
Administration Bldg · 5801 S. Ellis Room 219 · Chicago IL 60637
Ph: 773-702-7770 · Fax: 773-834-5881