Sometimes, the monikers that adorn different offices across campus are misleading or unclear.

The Dean of Students Office (DSO), for example, offers many essential services for student life at Iowa State.

Fourteen departments make up the DSO. Each department works in an intentional-collaborative way, said Keith Robinder, associate dean of students and interim dean of students.

Robinder said the departments all promote student success and retention, wellness, social justice and inclusion.

“What we really want to is have all of our areas work together to ensure that students’ experiences at Iowa State are positive and are contributing to their achievement of their goals and that they are getting to graduation,” Robinder said. “We all support students in that way.”

Here are seven of the departments:

Academic Success Center

Located in the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, the Academic Success Center (ASC) provides students with programs and resources to help them reach their academic potential. Educational enhancement can be provided through academic resources, academic coaching, academic intervention, supplemental instruction, tutoring services and more.

Hixson Opportunity Awards

Eligible high school seniors who think they have what it takes to receive a half-tuition grant for demonstrating the potential to succeed can apply for the Hixson Opportunity Award. One hundred seniors from each county of the state are chosen each year to receive the award. Applications for the 2016 Hixson scholars are currently in review, said Debra Sanborn, program director for the Hixson Opportunity Awards and National Student Exchange.

National Student Exchange

Iowa State University is one of many places to get an education, considering its ever-expanding enrollment rate and its abundance of lucrative majors offered. The National Student Exchange (NSE) gives students the opportunity to spend a semester, or a full academic year experiencing another academic institution across the nation.

The top three states that ISU students visit are Hawaii, Alaska and New Mexico, Sanborn said. She also said students from all over the nation come to Iowa State.

“We’ll see students that come to our school from similar academic programs,” Sanborn said.  

Parents’ Association

Each fall, the families of ISU students are welcomed to spend a weekend with their Cyclone, thanks to the ISU Parents’ Association (ISUPA). ISUPA sponsors Cyclone Family Weekend and several other campus programs and events intended to make the ISU experience better for students and their families. A volunteer board composed of ISU parent volunteers runs ISUPA.

Student Assistance and Outreach

Are you ever just in need of some help with a current roommate problem, someone to talk with about the loss of a family member or concerned about your safety and security on campus? Student Assistance and Outreach Services provides numerous resources tailored to those with personal crisis/community distress, academic difficulty, mental health issues and judicial/academic misconduct.

The Office of Student Conduct

Located in the Student Services Building, the Office of Student Conduct is available to inform students on their rights and responsibilities as members of the university community. The office also coordinates the student disciplinary process.

Robinder said any kind of academic misconduct is handled by a partnership between the faculty and Office of Student Conduct, which teaches students how to be successful while living within the standards of the ISU community.

Writing and Media Center

Those looking to sharpen their writing skills and graduate students looking for feedback on their thesis have probably visited the Writing and Media Center. The center aims to help with a number of different communication outlets ranging from written, oral, visual and electronic communication.

Students can meet with consultants to improve their citation, proofreading and evaluation skills all in an effort to increase the effectiveness of their work. The Writing and Media Center is located in 300 Carver Hall.

The other seven departments housed under the Dean of Students office are:

• Greek Affairs
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services
• Margaret Sloss Women’s Center
• Multicultural Student Affairs
• Recreation Services
• Student Disability Resources
• Student Legal Services

For more information on any of these departments or the Dean of Students Office, visit the Dean of Students Office website.