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We sat down with the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Rick Gatteau, to share more insight on how the Division of Student Affairs (DOSA) can help your student succeed and how it can help support you too!
The Division of Student Affairs is an extensive team. How do we serve our Seawolves?
Gatteau: The Division of Student Affairs is a student-centered team of more than 270 professional staff. Collectively, we focus on the success of each student by providing programs and services that enrich their Seawolf experience. Most students are in classes for about 18 hours a week, so we play a critical role during the time students are not in class, helping them engage with their peers, develop their identity, gain experience, and define and achieve their goals. That is the heart of what we do in Student Affairs.
Stony Brook University announced its new university brand this summer as “Dare to Be.” What does that phrase mean for DOSA, our Seawolves, and our families?
“Dare to Be” reflects the exciting momentum happening at Stony Brook. It feels big. It’s inspirational. It’s about setting a goal and working to achieve that goal. Each day, we ask students, “Who do you want to be?” Our job is to help students find their passion, encourage their curiosity and creativity, and become their best selves.
We understand this year may come with challenges. How will DOSA act as a resource for our Seawolf Supporters in addition to our students?
Our Seawolf families are partners because they care and want to support their student’s growth, development, and success. We will continue to communicate important information to parents and families, and we encourage families to maintain communication with their students. Ask questions, ask how they’re doing, and recommend they utilize campus resources. At the end of the day, we want to help our students become more self-sufficient and their own best advocates, and coaching and communication are important to help achieve those goals.
We know there will be challenges on many college campuses this fall because we live in a world with a lot of challenges and conflicts. At Stony Brook, we value civility and respect. We embrace differences in our community, including differences of opinion, and we want our diverse student body to be engaged and think critically about issues. That’s an integral part of the college experience.
It’s also important that we respect the rights of others, even when we may disagree with their views. We expect students to follow the rules and policies that are in place to ensure our community is a safe environment for all. We encourage parents and families to engage with their students around these values and expectations.
To learn more about the resources the Division of Student Affairs offers, click here. For more information about Family Services and Support, click here.
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