Campus Life Website
At DWU, college life is about more than taking tests and reading books; the development of the whole person is an essential part of a college education.  Student activities, or cocurricular activities, give students the chance to learn important life skills outside of the classroom.  Through a variety of activities, individuals can explore their interests, make new friends and learn more about themselves.  Cocurricular activities are important in developing a student’s full potential in college.  Students develop and apply leadership skills, such as the ability to analyze, organize and communicate, in activities outside the classroom.  These experiences are also important in career preparation, as future employers often check on student involvement during college.

Under the direction of the director of student life, all programs and services are offered as a cooperative venture by students, faculty and staff.  Student participation is encouraged in planning and evaluating programs and services in the Student Association Senate and through student participation in faculty/administrative committees. 

Opportunities for involvement include:

• Student Association Senate;
• residence hall leadership;
• Student Ministry Council;
• Student Activities Board;
• intercollegiate athletics;
• intramural athletics;
• Multicultural Committee; and
• other organizations.

See www.dwu.edu/studentsenate/organizations.htm for a complete list.

There are many support systems at DWU to assist students throughout their college careers.  They range from personal to academic, including:

• health services;
• campus ministry;
• The Career and Talent Development Center;
• counseling services; and
• international students and multicultural affairs.

• Respect: Information delivered by public address announcers at Dakota Wesleyan events is neutral and information based, and a Champions of Character announcement is read at the beginning of each contest.
• Responsibility: DWU reports graduation rates from an IPEDs Report and lists at least two objectives to increase the university’s graduation rate.
• Integrity: A Coaches Code and Code of Ethics are presented and signed by all athletic staff and administrators. All DWU student-athletes receive, read and sign a Champions of Character pledge. They are asked to uphold the code.
• Servant Leadership: Student-athletes are asked to participate in at least one community service activity.
• Sportsmanship: A policy of no profanity in practice and game competition is established.

Gallup StrengthsFinder®
Individuals are always stronger when they have their successes and strengths clearly in mind. To help students achieve success and an understanding of their personal talents and strengths, Dakota Wesleyan University has students complete the Gallup StrengthsFinder® inventory. Staff and faculty will work with students to help them use the results of the inventory. The insights gained from the StrengthsFinder® inventory may help students choose a career path, select extracurricular activities and develop strategies to deal with the challenges of daily life.

Campus Ministry
Campus ministry at Dakota Wesleyan University supports the university’s mission and serves as a link to the United Methodist Church.

Campus ministry is open to all members of the campus community. The office, historically served by a United Methodist pastor of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church, seeks to offer an ecumenical ministry by affirming the diversity of faith experiences, understandings and backgrounds while maintaining a grounding in the biblical witness and heritage of the Christian faith. The office provides ministry opportunities for the university, often in partnership with Student Ministry Council and other aspects of campus life. The campus pastor oversees the SMC; is available to the DWU community for spiritual leadership, guidance and care; and regularly teaches courses in the religion department.

TRiO Student Support Services (SSS)
The program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education. The goal of TRiO Student Support Services is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants and help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next. This Student Support Services Project is 100 percent federally funded at $253,927 annually.

Funded through a federal TRiO grant, SSS provides eligible baccalaureate degree-seeking students with tutoring, mentoring, counseling, disability services, multicultural activities, educational workshops, financial literacy training, career and graduate school planning, and other resources designed to enhance students’ education and enable them to achieve a baccalaureate degree.

Developed for the express purpose of giving students the best possible chance to succeed in college, SSS incorporates professional mentoring which includes advice and assistance in course selection, registration and four-year graduation plans, connection to appropriate support resources, and midterm and final grade reviews to encourage good academic standing.

Tutoring services are available in most disciplines through group or individual sessions with certified tutors. For writing assistance, professionals and tutors in the TRiO Writing Center are available to assist students in all stages of the writing process.

Our peer-to-peer mentoring program offers freshmen the opportunity to be matched with a successful junior or senior student. Peer mentors help new college students acclimate to the DWU campus by providing social opportunities and educational workshops throughout the year.  Peer mentors foster healthy peer relationships and create a positive learning community.

Counseling is available for short-term needs.  Individual and group counseling services provided by the campus counselor include support in coping with the pressures and problems of college life, group educational sessions and individual counseling.

Specialized assistance is provided for students with physical, psychiatric, and/or learning disabilities through facilitation of appropriate resources. Documentation of the disability is required to initiate services.
Multicultural activities support education and celebration of diverse backgrounds.  Adapting to a new community or environment can be a struggle, so we offer activities and programs that encourage respect, understanding and support of cultural diversity.

Academic and career advising is available to assist with goal setting and exploration.  Students use career assessments and other diagnostic and learning tools to understand their strengths, motivation and abilities.  Students may explore career options and research graduate school possibilities.

The resource loan program provides active participants access to a limited supply of general education text books, student development books and laptop computers.

Direct financial assistance though the TRiO Student Support grant scholarship may be available to currently active SSS participants who are federal Pell grant recipients and meet all requirements.

Eligibility is based on first-generation status (neither parent graduated from college with a baccalaureate degree), income level determined through federally stated guidelines, and/or a documented disability.  Staff members determine eligibility through an application process.  Students who are not eligible to receive services through the federal TRiO program may receive support through the Student Life Academic Achievement Assistance (AAA) program.

Student Discipline
The university aims to provide an educational environment that allows each student to develop his/her abilities to the fullest.  Discipline in an educational setting is not meant to be punitive, but part of the educational process.

In cases where action by a student or group of students prevents other members of the campus community from realizing their objectives, it is the duty of the community to respond in an appropriate manner.  Due process is established and followed in all cases.  Students should know the policies and procedures outlined in the DWU Student Handbook.

With respect to particular personal matters, students electing to attend DWU must assume specific responsibility.  In any connection with the university, the student is expected to refrain from illegal use of alcoholic beverages or drugs, gambling or any other behavior adverse to the atmosphere of the university.