History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 64

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was changed to the Dean of Students Office. The functions and services as
during prior changes within the office remained fairly consistent. The DSO
was responsible for university awards and scholarships, advising the Women’s
Leadership Conference, and myriad other responsibilities. In the early 2000s,
Sorority and Fraternity Affairs moved to Student Activities and Involvement and
the Center for Leadership and Service moved to the Dean of Students Office. In
the mid-2000s, the Dean of Students Office responsibilities included Student
Judicial Affairs, New Student Programs, Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, the
Center for Leadership and Service, Disability Resource Center, Off Campus
Life, Student Legal Services, and medical withdrawals as part of the services
offered. In 2008, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin made
organizational changes and moved the Center for Leadership and Service,
Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, Off Campus Life, and Student Legal Services
to report directly to the Office of the Vice President. That same year, Student
Judicial Affairs became Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution reflecting
a philosophical change focusing on educational sanctioning and the use of
alternative dispute resolution.

To d ay
Today, the Dean of Students Office includes the Care Area, the Disability
Resource Center, New Student & Family Programs, Student Conduct &
Conflict Resolution, and the Collegiate Veterans Success Center. Much of the
expanded programs and services are in response to changing demographics
and significant higher education issues. For example, the Care Area was created
as part of the university-wide U Matter We Care Program which was begun in
response to the 20 student deaths (6 by suicide) that occurred in 2010. U Matter
We Care creates a shared responsibility among all UF community members to
recognize signs of distress and the person or information about the person in
distress to a helping resource. The Care Team was created to work with students
in distress from a social work perspective. The Care Team is whole person
focused, compassionately invasive, and involves families and others in support
of students’ successes. As of 2014, there are four professional staff members in
the Care Area working with students.

H i st o ry o f t h e U F D S A