The WSSU Office of the Dean of Students staff is here for you. We work as a liaison between students, parents and families, faculty, university staff, and administrators. We are here to help all students have a safe, healthy, and successful experience at WSSU.
Hurricane Helene Emergency Assistance and Information
The North Carolina General Assembly allocated funds to the UNC Board of Governors to assist students impacted by Hurricane Helene. Funding may be provided to eligible students and may be used to cover any expenses that support a student’s continued enrollment, including costs related to transportation, textbooks, tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Funding Eligibility Criteria:To be eligible to apply for the funding students emergency scholarship grants must meet all of the following criteria:
- The student has a financial need related to the impact of Hurricane Helene.
- The student meets one of the following criteria at the time of the application:
- Is enrolled in an affected institution of higher education.
- Resides, temporarily or permanently, in the affected area. (impacted counties are as follows: impacted county: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey)
Students can apply here for the Hurricane Helene Emergency Scholarship Grants. Funding is limited for Winston-Salem State University students and once the available funding is depleted, financial assistance cannot be guaranteed. After the time of application, a student may be contacted for additional information.
Additional Information about Assistance Pertaining to Hurricane Helene Relief:
Dear Winston-Salem State University Students:
I am very pleased to welcome you to the 2024-2025 academic year at Winston-Salem State University; new students are starting their first semester while returning students are back to campus for another exciting fall semester! The Office of the Dean of Students includes many functional areas that collectively aim to support students as they grow and develop during their time at WSSU. Please reach out and take full advantage of all the support, resources, and enrichment offered by our offices, to include the following: University Recreation, Student Health Services, Counseling Services, Pharmacy, Housing & Residence Life, Community Standards & Civility, Interpersonal Violence Prevention. We are all part of an amazing university family at WSSU!
A primary goal of the Office of the Dean of Students is to support and facilitate a safe campus environment and higher education experience for our students, faculty, and staff. We encourage you to cultivate and maintain high standards of civility and conduct that are consistent with academic, social, and professional success. I urge everyone on campus to stay aware of any unusual circumstances and to immediately notify campus police and public safety about any security concerns.
Don’t forget Rave Guardian, the official safety app used by WSSU. Rave Guardian puts safety directly into the hands of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. You can download the Rave Guardian app for free from your Apple or Android device. You can connect directly with campus police with the touch of a button. It is everyone’s responsibility to help keep our campus safe, if you see something, say something. As a student, you are responsible for your interactions with WSSU, and the Student Handbook serves as a guide to these interactions. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the information contained within this Handbook. Please contact us with questions, concerns, or just to chat. You may contact me at any time by email at kapelljd@wssu.edu or by stopping by my office at Thompson Center, suite 303.
We look forward to working with you during your WSSU journey!
Jon Kapell, Ed.D.
Interim Dean of Students
We can connect you with resources to help you:
- Achieve your goals
- Stay in school
- Maintain and improve your mental and physical health
- Create and nurture strong friendships and relationships
- Make ethical decisions and understand how to resolve conflict
- Prepare for your future
The Office of the Dean of Students staff can also help you with issues related to:
- Student conduct and civility through the Students' Code of Conduct
- Housing and Residence Life policies and procedures found within the Guide to Living On Campus
- Learning more about and understanding the WSSU
- Personal medical emergencies and crises
- Social, emotional, and mental health concerns
- Adjusting to life on campus
- Case management services and mentoring
We work in partnership with areas across the university to respond to issues that can affect students’ physical and emotional health, access to resources, relationship issues, and more.
Please reach out to us by calling 336-750-3356 or visit us in the Thompson Center.
Emergency Dean on Call
The Emergency Dean-on-Call supports students who are experiencing HEALTH OR SAFETY-RELATED EMERGENCIES in which an immediate university response is needed and cannot wait until the next business day. Emergencies are life-threatening in nature, pertain to suicide ideation of yourself or for your friends, hospitalizations, physical injuries, etc.
Non-emergencies pertain to academic issues, roommate conflicts, or other issues that are not health or safety-related which pose an immediate risk of harm to self or others. In these situations, please email us at deanofstudents@wssu.edu and we will contact you as soon as possible.
The Emergency Dean-on-Call is not a substitute for trained emergency personnel such as 911, police, or fire professionals. The Emergency Dean-on-Call is not to be used for non-health and non-safety related emergencies.
The Emergency Dean-on-Call is available from Monday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m.-8:30 a.m.,
Friday at 5:00 p.m. through Monday at 8:30 a.m. and all University holidays.
The Emergency Dean-on-Call can be reached by calling and/or texting 336-750-3390.
Class Attendance and Absences Policy
Students should contact their instructors first whenever they will experience an absence from class. Notification of a class absence does not excuse students from classes and/or course requirements. It is a means through which information can be shared regarding emergent and extenuating circumstances. The Office of the Dean of Students does not grant excused absences on behalf of students.
It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructors and determine a mutually agreed upon arrangement for missed work. This communication should include details and/or documentation about the absence and a plan for making up any missed classwork. We highly encourage students to reach out to faculty within a timely manner before and/or after the absence. The ultimate decision regarding absences and the resulting influence those absences have on grades or course progression, is at the discretion of the instructor in consideration of policies outlined via course syllabi and the Class Attendance and Absences Policy.
Faculty, we encourage you to provide students with direct answers whether you will permit them to make up missed work or exams. Our goal is to support both students and faculty throughout this process.
The Office of the Dean of Students may provide documentation on behalf of students solely for official university-related matters. Examples of such instances include Study Away programs, Athletic Events, University Sponsored Trips, and similar university-sanctioned activities.
Get Inclusive Title IX Training
Each incoming student is required to complete the Get Inclusive Title IX Training to learn about how to ensure a safer campus and community for all our Rams. Click this link to complete your required training by visiting the WSSU Get Inclusive website.
Emergency Grants and Loans
Student Resource Center
Report A Concerning Behavior
Community Standards and Civility
