Dean of Students Frequently Asked Questions

Please use this page to review the frequently asked questions to the Dean of Students office.

General Questions

• I want to bring recreational marijuana to my campus residence hall because it’s now legal in Minnesota. Is that OK?

  No, Federal law continues to classify the use of cannabis products as illegal, and Minnesota State colleges and universities are required to prohibit its use as a condition of receiving federal assistance. Moorhead’s policies and practices related to cannabis will not change. Therefore, it is not permitted on campus and a violation of this policy may result in student discipline.

• What services does the Dean of Students Office provide?
  • Manage Moorhead Care Team to receive referrals about students of concern.
  • Notify faculty of extended absences from class, as outlined in Student Bereavement Policy or the Student Absence Policy.
  • Coordinate Student Basic Needs (Dragon Pantry, Emergency Assistance Funds, Swipe Out Hunger, etc.)
  • Prevention efforts and support for students who have experienced sexual harassment/violence, through our Title IX responsibilities.
  • Address violations of community standards and Student Code of Conduct.
• Do I need to schedule an appointment?

  Walk in appointments are welcome but are subject to availability of our staff. Appointments can be scheduled using our Bookings links found with our staff directory at the Contact Us link.

Student Questions

• I need to miss class. How can the Dean of Students Office help?

  Based on the Student Absence Policy the Dean of Students Office can help for absences of 3 or more days related to long-term illnesses, family/personal emergencies, absences deemed necessary by the doctor’s medical provider, and Jury Duty. Students can request time away in advance by selecting the “Ask for Help” link at the top of the Dean of Students Office website. Please provide information and appropriate documentation, as prompted on the webform.

• I want/need to withdraw from Minnesota State Moorhead. What do I do?

  The best information for students considering withdrawing from Moorhead can be found through the Academic Success Center. Their staff can meet with you individually and have also created a helpful resource about Withdrawing from Minnesota State Moorhead.

• I am having an issue with one of my professors/classes. Who should I talk to about this?

  If your concerns regarding the professor/class are related to: unable to communicate with professor, grades are not posted in timely manner, do not understand assignments, etc.; here are the appropriate steps for students to take to address a concern about their course:

  1. Students should always seek to resolve classroom issues by speaking first to the faculty member.
  2. If you have attempted to resolve the situation by speaking directly with the faculty and now need to pursue further options, you should contact the respective Department Chair.
  3. If the Department Chair is unable to help you, you can contact the Dean of the Academic College related to that course.

  If your concerns relate to our Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination policy (you believe you were treated differently due to your sex, race, ability status, or other protected class), you should reach out to Human Resources to make a complaint. You could reach out to HR to get more information by emailing: hr@mnstate.edu.

  If you think this is a bias-related concern, you could also complete a Bias Incident Report Form at this website: www.mnstate.edu/bias-response. You can read more about bias related incidents on this website that also has a link to the form.

• I want to leave Moorhead during the current semester. What do I need to do?

  The best information for students considering withdrawing from Moorhead can be found through the Academic Success Center. Their staff can meet with you individually and have also created a helpful resource about Withdrawing from Minnesota State Moorhead.

• I have a friend who has experienced sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, or stalking. Can the Dean of Students Office help?

  Yes! Any Moorhead student who is experiencing (or has experienced) sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, or stalking is encouraged to come to the Dean of Students office for immediate support. Our Dean of Students also serves as the Title IX Coordinator and can talk with a student about any questions they may have, whether they wish to file a report or not. Our conversation will focus around the following concerns:

  1. Do you currently feel safe? If not, we will discuss how we can help you feel safe.
  2. Do you need medical support? If so, we will help you get connected to a provider.
  3. Would you like to meet with a trauma-informed counselor? We have counselors on campus and within the community who may be able to help you.
  4. Other supportive measures may be offered (No Contact Order, re-location to a different on-campus residence, change of course schedule, and other measures).
  5. If you wish to file a police report, we will help you get connected with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
  6. If you wish to file a complaint on campus, we will walk you through what that process would look like.

  Please know that you can access these support measures whether or not you choose to file a complaint and you will not be pressured into a filing a complaint. More information can be found at our Title IX website.

• My friend is having a hard time and I’ve noticed some changes in their behavior (mood, eating habits, personal hygiene, sleep habits, not attending class, etc.). I’m really worried about them and want to help. What should I do?

  We would first recommend that you speak with your friend about your concerns. Let them know what you have observed, that you are worried about their well-being, and that you care about them. This can help you determine which of the following options might be best for you and your friend:

  • Minnesota State Moorhead Counseling Services are available for all students. We provide a safe, supportive, confidential environment for students to meet with a counselor, either in person or through Zoom.
  • If your friend is resistant to contacting Counseling Services, please refer them to the Care Team. Once we receive your referral, we will reach out to offer them care and support.
  • If you believe that your friend is an immediate threat to themself or others, call 911.
• I am struggling with food and/or housing insecurity or other financial challenges. Can someone in the Dean of Student Office help me?

  Yes! Any students who are experiencing challenges meeting their basic needs (food, housing, childcare, transportation, or other financial needs) are encouraged to schedule an appointment with our Case Manager. In this meeting, you will explore possible eligibility for campus and community resources that may help you in both the short-term and the long-term while attending Moorhead.

• I need to provide information related to my disciplinary record to another college or agency. How can I request this?

  Student can authorize the release of information such as a disciplinary record through the Dean of Students Office by completing this online form.

Family Questions

• I am worried about my student (academics, social, emotional, etc.) and am unsure what to do. How can your office help?

  If you are worried about your student and would like our office to reach out to them to offer support and resources, you can submit a Care Team referral. We would highly encourage you to talk with your student about why you are submitting this referral so that we are able to have the most transparent conversation possible.

  If you believe your student is a threat to themself or others, please call Minnesota State Moorhead Public Safety at 218.477.2449 to perform a welfare check if they live on campus. Public Safety is available 24/7. If your student lives off-campus, Public Safety may be able to help connect to the local law enforcement agency to perform the welfare check.

• My student is having issues with their roommate(s). Who should they talk to?

  If your student lives on campus, they should contact their RA and/or Area Director to discuss their options for resolution.

• I received a call from your office asking for an update on my student. Why did this happen?

  Your student was likely referred to our office through the Minnesota State Moorhead Care Team. Care Team is a referral program that allows anyone to inform us of a concern they might have for a student. We attempt to call and email the student several times after receiving a referral. If we are unable to reach them and are concerned about their well-being, then we may call their emergency contact(s) to ensure that they are safe. We will encourage you to inform your student that the Dean of Students Office is trying to reach them and that they should contact us as soon as possible.

• I received a call from your office stating that you are concerned about my student. Why did this happen?

  If we inform you of our concern for your student, that means that we have information related to their well-being. We ask that you partner with us and offer support to your student when this happens, listen to our concerns, and help us gather relevant information. We only make the call to parents/guardians if we are becoming increasingly worried about your student.

• My student is struggling academically. What should I advise them to do?

  Minnesota State Moorhead has many resources that you can talk with your student about! We would first recommend that you encourage your student to speak directly with their professor to talk about the class and how to best improve. There are also offices on campus that might be beneficial to their academic progress. The Academic Success Center offers tutoring services, academic coaching, and some academic advisement for students.

  You can also refer your student to the Moorhead Care Team and we can assist them in getting connected to these resources.

  If your student had an IEP or 504 plan in high school, you can refer them to our Accessibility Resources Office. Students who have a condition that impacts their academic progress may qualify for accommodations that will be fully discussed with your student by our staff. Accommodations may include additional time on exams, deadline extensions, completing exams in a distraction reduced environment, absence leniency, and many more.

• I am trying to find information about my students’ grades and how they are doing in classes. Can you talk to me about this?

  No. Due to the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), your student’s educational records are private, unless they have signed a Release of Information Form (ROSI) through the Registrar’s Office.

  If your student has not signed a ROSI to grant you access to information about their academic grades, we would still be happy to talk with you about resources that could help your student if they are struggling academically.

  We recommend that you have an honest conversation with your student about your expectations around grades, sharing grades with you honestly and transparently on a regular basis, and talking about other struggles related to their time in college.

• My student is in the hospital and cannot communicate with their professors. What should they do?

  Students who are experiencing injury, hospitalization, or extraordinary circumstances resulting in an extended absence from class may contact the Dean of Students office and a notification will be sent to their professors on their behalf. Our experience is that faculty are willing to work with students upon their return to campus to determine an appropriate timeline to complete missing work. The Dean of Students Office may require documentation to verify the reason for the extended absence.

  Please note, if the absence is due to hospitalization and treatment following a mental health challenge, students are to meet with the Dean of Students Office upon their return to campus and before they resume attending classes. This meeting, as outlined on the Dean of Students Office website are intended to provide an opportunity to discuss campus supports available to students, to review the student’s plan of care as outlined with their provider, and to discuss options for academic adjustments if needed.

Faculty Questions

• I am concerned for a student’s well-being. Can I refer them to your office?

  Yes! We would first recommend that you talk with the student about your concerns in a one-on-one setting, inform them that you are worried for them and want to help them. Next, you can let them know that you will be making a referral to the Care Team and that someone from the Dean of Students Office will be in touch with them to discuss other support and resource options.

• I submitted a Care Team referral but haven’t received an update. Can I contact you?

  Yes! Email us at CareTeam@mnstate.edu. We would be happy to give you an update and provide any information that we are able to. Please note that during certain times of the semester it can take us several business days to get in touch with a student. Students can also choose not to respond to our outreach.

  If you have additional information since submitting the Care Team referral, you are also encouraged to email us to share that information. Often, faculty have more direct contact with students and may receive new information that can help us in our approach to reaching out to the student.

• I believe that a student has cheated in my class (plagiarized a paper, used resources while taking an exam that were not permitted, etc.). What should I do?

  MSUM’s Academic Honesty Policy provides faculty with information about the options available to them in addressing possible policy violations. Instructors who believe that the seriousness of the offense warrants additional action can report this to Student Conduct through the Dean of Students Office.

• One of my students is asking that I convert my class online due to them needing to return home. My class is in person and is not currently an online class.

  We would recommend you discuss this with your Department Chair or Academic Dean. Students often ask us about this option for their classes. We instruct them to talk to their professors about what their options are for completing the course remotely but if their class is listed as in person then that is how it is going to stay, regardless of their situation. You can decide to work with the student to create a remote option or not.

• A student missed my class today. Do I need to send them to your office to have the absence excused?

  No. Minnesota State Moorhead’s Student Absence Policy clearly outlines the types of absences for which the Dean of Students Office can excuse a student – as well as other offices that can approve absences for a variety of reasons. The policy also states that ‘other absences, such as short-term illnesses or personal or family reasons that are not covered above, are left to the discretion of the individual course instructor to decide whether they are to be considered excused or not.’

  We highly recommend faculty to have clear language in their course syllabus outlining how they will address absences that do not meet the policy guidelines.