Student Support & Critical Incident Response

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Need help?

The Dean of Students Office (DOS) is a great place to start. DOS is a central place for students, parents, faculty, and staff to seek assistance in navigating the complex issues of campus life.  Our team provides direct support to students or student groups experiencing situations impacting their Michigan experience, identifies available resources, and coordinates the appropriate response.  Our goal is to promote a safe, respectful, healthy, and inclusive campus community for all students at the University of Michigan.

We can help you address:

  • Crisis/Emergency Situations
  • Off-Campus Housing Concerns
  • Academic Difficulties
  • Financial Hardship
  • Concern for the Wellbeing of Others
  • Physical Illness/Injury
  • Food Insecurity & Basic Needs
  • Campus Climate Concerns
  • Navigating Pregnancy or Parenting as a Student

Experiencing something not listed here?

Reach out anyway. We will work with students, faculty, staff, and parents/families to find the best resources and services to support student success and wellbeing.

How to Request Support from the Dean of Students Office

  • By Phone - Call the Dean of Students Office at 734-764-7420 to request support during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). If it is after business hours, leave a message and a staff member will get back with you by the next business day.
  • By Email - Email the Dean of Students Office at [email protected] to request support during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). If it is after hours, your email will be answered when the office is open again.
  • By Drop-In - You can walk into the office during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm) for a drop-in appointment with an on-call staff member.
  • Online - Submit a “Student Support Request” form online using this link. Please do not use this form to report emergencies or time-sensitive requests. Submissions are reviewed when University offices are open, and will be responded to within one business day.

Concern for Personal Well-being

Many students experience difficult situations and personal concerns while in college.  The number of students seeking assistance for mental health concerns has increased significantly in recent years.  College can be a stressful time. Balancing all of life’s demands such as coursework, social connections, and family can be overwhelming. The University of Michigan has resources available to assist and support students who are experiencing mental health distress.

Academic Concerns

Academics are typically a top priority for students and life can present many obstacles, making it difficult to focus on academic responsibilities. The Dean of Students Offices (DOS) is here to support you and connect you to resources to help you be successful. We can help you navigate the complexities of your situation to determine the best path moving forward.

Students who are Pregnant or Parenting

The Dean of Students Office is committed to ensuring that students who are parenting have the support and resources to successfully navigate their experience at the University of Michigan.

Student Emergency Funds

Students may experience an emergency situation or one-time, unusual, unforeseen expense while in school. The University offers several types of assistance for students in such special circumstances.

Support for Physical and Mental Health Conditions

Dean of Students staff members often assist students who are coping with physical illness or injury and mental health conditions that may impact all aspects of student life, academics, housing, relationships, campus activities, and disability needs. Dean of Students staff partner with students to assist them with accepting, accessing, and managing their health care situation.

Mental Health Assistance

Many college students experience mental health distress or illness while away from family support. The Dean of Students staff members are able to guide students, parents, spouses, faculty, and staff to a number of supportive options on and off campus.

Death of a Student

When a student dies, the Dean of Students Office is involved in a variety of functions in response to the tragedy. Our responsibility extends to the parents/spouse/domestic partner/roommate(s)/close friends of the deceased and to the campus communities impacted by the student’s death. The immediate family directs much of this process with the support of Dean of Students staff.

Please contact our office with information regarding any student death.

Missing Students

The Dean of Students office regularly receives reports of students who have stopped participating in some aspect of campus life or communicating with others. This may be the first indication that the student is coping with a challenging situation that is impacting their university experience or it may mean that the student has chosen to withdraw from campus life or communication for personal reasons.