The Dean of Students Office (DOS) supports students throughout their college career to best help them achieve academic, personal and professional goals. DOS staff serve as the primary resource for managing student issues, providing intervention and crisis prevention, not solving students' problems, but helping them to identify issues and resources, and working collaboratively with them to develop individualized action plans. The goal is to increase students' confidence in their abilities to think critically, problem solve and create solutions to move forward and navigate life.

When students experience a challenge through times of transition, balancing academic rigor and personal well-being as well as managing external stressors that interfere with their success, it may be time to enlist the help of the Dean of Students staff to provide consultation, assessment, referral and education. The team can help:

  • Identify the source of the problem, type of assistance and resources a student needs to overcome barriers to success.
  • Coordinate with other departments and offices to facilitate communication.
  • Assist students in connecting with services on and off campus.
  • Bring concerning situations to the appropriate group.
  • Increase confidence to advocate for what they need to be successful at UAH.

Additionally, the team is a resource to faculty, staff, families, and students to troubleshoot challenging situations and provide guidance for dealing with the situation.

No issue is too big or too small and the ultimate goal is to see students succeed personally and professionally. To speak to a team member, contact the Dean of Students Office at 256-824-6700 or via email dos@uah.edu.

Processes for Assistance

At UAH we have created several process to assist students during difficult times and to help refer students to campus resources. These processes are:

Students of Concern Referral

Referrals regarding students of concern can be made to the Dean of Students office. Referrals of students of concern can be made:

  • If you have concerns about classroom behavior that does not warrant a Student Conduct meeting.
  • If you are concerned about the welfare of a student, yourself, and / or other students.
  • If a student asks for help in dealing with personal issues that are outside your role as a faculty or staff member.
  • If you have referred the student for assistance in the past and there seems to be no improvement or things seem to be worsening.

Student Code of Conduct Incident Referral

Faculty, staff, or students can submit a referral for alleged misconduct by a student related to the UAH Student Code of Conduct. Please note, the accused student will receive a copy of the complaint as part of the process to resolve the matter.

Should you wish to make an anonymous report pertaining to sexual violence, discrimination, harassment, or hazing, please contact the UAH Hotline at 256-824-STOP (7867).

Request for an Absence Verification

At times students may have to miss multiple classes due to an extenuating circumstance such as illness, death of a family member, etc. At such times, students can request for a letter from the Dean of Students documenting the reason for the class absences and that information will be sent to the student's faculty members. Please note this process should not be used for individual (one time) absences and the request does not imply that the absence will be excused by the faculty member. We encourage students to contact their faculty members directly about their absence.

Students can complete a Request for an Absence Verification upon their return to class and include appropriate documentation and submit it online to the Dean of Students Office. Documentation can also be dropped off to Charger Union 223.

Students are responsible for working with their faculty members to make up any work that may have been missed.

Retroactive Schedule Adjustment Request

Undergraduate students may at times experience extraordinary challenges during an academic semester such as the death of an immediate family member or a severe medical crisis. Within two years of having completed such a semester, a student may petition the Dean of Students Office to consider a Retroactive Schedule Adjustment from ALL classes taken during that semester. A Retroactive Schedule Adjustment is granted only under exceptional circumstances, such as extraordinary medical or personal problems. Request for a Retroactive Schedule Adjustment will not be considered until after final grades have been posted. To apply for a Retroactive Schedule Adjustment, complete the Retroactive Schedule Adjustment Request and include clear and documented evidence whenever possible.

The Dean of Students Office reviews the request to ensure appropriate documentation is included and if the petition meets the threshold for consideration.  Petitions for Retroactive Schedule Adjustments are considered after final grades are posted. Students should be aware that Retroactive Schedule Adjustments may have an impact on their financial aid and timely completion of their degrees.