Engagement Outside the Classroom
ENGAGEMENT OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM Research shows that college students who are more engaged in their education, both inside and outside the classroom, tend to have more positive educational outcomes. When students invest time and effort in educationally purposeful activities, they are more likely to be satisfied with their educational experience, develop skills that will help with their career, and make progress toward graduation. Engaging student activities include internships, community service, club involvement, leadership programs, study abroad, cultural programs, and learning communities. Hofstra invests a great amount of time and resources in getting students engaged in University life from the minute they set foot on campus. Students can go to museums or on walking tours of NYC neighborhoods through our Explore Next Door (END) program, join a club at the Club Fair during Welcome Week, and attend cultural events related to our six Heritage Month celebrations throughout the course of the year. While some students and parents think it’s best for students to wait a semester or two before getting involved in campus life, it’s actually beneficial for students to get involved during their first semester. Engaged students tend to manage their time better and are able to make connections with other students, as well as with staff and faculty who can serve as resources and sources of support as students navigate their college experience. Equally important, juniors and seniors should not feel like it’s too late for them to get involved in campus life – it’s never too late to take advantage of everything the University has to offer. All it takes is the initiative to do so. While all academic departments and campus offices work toward this goal of student engagement, the offices detailed in this section are focused particularly on getting students engaged in the co-curricular fabric of Hofstra. The next time your student tells you there is nothing to do, please point them toward the events and programs of Student Leadership and Engagement.
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Dean of Students To help students reach their academic, professional, and personal goals, the Dean of Students Office directly supports the staff members who direct the following offices: • Campus Recreation • Community Standards • Commuting Student Services and Community Outreach (which includes Community Service) • Fraternity and Sorority Life • HofstraCard Services • Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion • Interfaith Center • Orientation and New Student Programs • Residence Life • Student Advocacy and Prevention Awareness • Student Leadership and Engagement The Office of the Dean of Students fosters an inclusive environment that encourages holistic student engagement, development, and success inside and outside the classroom for each undergraduate and graduate student (professional students in the Deane School of Law and Zucker School of Medicine have their own student support administrative offices). We develop and provide programs and services that assist in creating a strong campus community in which people from all cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives feel welcome and celebrated, and we encourage students to become active citizens of Hofstra, the local community, and the world. The Dean of Students Office promotes responsible and ethical decision-making that demonstrates integrity and respect for self and others. The office assists current students in managing their time at Hofstra and understanding the expectations and community standards they are required to uphold as they navigate their educational pathway. The Dean of Students Office advocates for students and is an administrative ally to students as they explore social, academic, and extracurricular engagement on campus. The Dean of Students Office is located in Room 243 Mack Student Center, North Campus, and can be reached at 516-463-6913.
Community Standards The Office of Community Standards is responsible for the development and oversight of Hofstra’s Code of Community Standards, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of all student members of the Hofstra community. The Community Standards staff works with students who have violated University policy to encourage and support better decision-making skills and personal choices. The staff also provides guidance to students who report a violation of their student rights. Students are expected to take an active role in encouraging all members of the community to maintain Hofstra’s behavioral standards. Residential students, in particular, are expected to take a shared responsibility in developing
