Student Affairs
Penn State Student Affairs facilitates holistic student success through purposeful advocacy, education, engagement, and support.
Student Affairs supports and challenges students as they expand learning beyond the classroom, develop their personal and professional understanding and skills, and achieve the success they seek at Penn State and in their lives beyond. These opportunities deeply enrich the Penn State student experience and elevate the value of a Penn State degree. We also encourage a safe and healthy living and learning environment, in which students can explore endless interests, find their niche within the large and diverse Penn State community, and form lasting relationships.
Student Affairs has over 500 full-time employees working in 28 administrative departments. Our facilities include the residence halls, the HUB-Robeson Center, campus recreation buildings, the career center, and student diversity centers. We provide services for students that include new student orientation, health care, psychological counseling, student activities, career counseling, intramural sports and recreation, fraternity and sorority life, student legal services, student conflict response, student care and advocacy and offices for diversity, equity and inclusion.
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Dr. Andrea Dowhower, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs |
Primary Strategic Office Goals
- Facilitate opportunities for engagement, leadership development, and collaboration. We aim to equip students with the tools to be responsible and active citizens in the communities in which they engage.
- Strive to provide students with support and advocacy as they navigate life and the college experience while preparing for careers after graduation, recognizing there are many ways in which students can be marginalized that may require more intensive advocacy and/or support.
- Facilitate the growth of students and staff in the areas of social justice, cultural humility, and communicating productively across differences.
- Promote wellness as a foundational value in support of all we do. Wellness, a multidimensional and holistic approach to life, is an active process through which people become aware of and make choices toward a more successful Penn State experience. Wellness includes the following nine dimensions: physical, social, emotional, spiritual, financial, cultural, environmental, occupational, and intellectual.
New faculty may want to contact Student Affairs to:
- Penn State faculty are often the first to observe worrisome student behaviors or declining academic success. Faculty are encouraged to talk with students about their concerns when appropriate and refer students to Student Affairs offices for further support: https://redfolder.psu.edu/ Links to an external site.
- Learn more about how to address and respond to students who are engaging in misconduct or disrupting a classroom: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/student-accountability/resources-and-faqs/information-faculty-staff Links to an external site.
- Help support students in finding a community here at Penn State. Encourage them to learn about ways to find support: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/community-belonging Links to an external site.
- Links to an external site.Advise an existing student organization or help students to form their own: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/get-involved/student-organizations/advisor-resources Links to an external site.
The Top 5 Items Faculty Should Know about the Student Affairs Office
Relevant New Faculty Programming
Student Affairs Fun Facts
Fun Facts Alt Text
The image shows three fun facts for Student Affairs. 1. The News Readership Program provides free access to several major and local news publications to Penn State students and faculty. Access teaching support materials and explore how to use news in your classroom., 2. Penn State students can join over 1,000 student organizations, 3. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn State employs over 50 clinicians focused on supporting students mental health needs
Additional Resources and Contact Information
Resources
- Learn more about the services and programs of Student Affairs: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/ Links to an external site.
- Faculty can learn more about how they can provide assistance to students: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/explore-who-you-are/university-staff-faculty Links to an external site.
Student Affairs Contact Information
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
210 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0909