Dean of Students Office Changes Name to Office of Student Assistance and Support

Office of Student Assistance and Support stands in front of painting.

Office of Student Assistance and Support, a trusted team who help students find answers and get support.

UW–Madison’s Dean of Students Office (DoSO) is now the Office of Student Assistance and Support (OSAS).  The new name was selected to reflect the office’s mission and scope of services, which have always been focused on supporting student success through a wide variety of challenges and milestones.  The Office of Student Assistance and Support is a primary resource for students navigating personal, academic, and health issues to get the help they need, whether that be on campus or in the community. The office also serves as a central location for reporting bias and student-related concerns.  “The change is intended to better clarify services and be more intuitive to students seeking help on campus,” Dean of Students Christina Olstad explains. “While the office name has changed, the team’s services and staff resources remain the same.”   The department will remain under the leadership of Dean of Students Christina Olstad and will continue to be directed by Associate Dean of Students Kathy Kruse.  “When students are lost, have questions, or don’t know where to go, we are a trusted source to help them find answers and get support,” Kruse shares. “We want our students to know they have teams of people who are here for them and ready to support their success at UW.”  The office has been socializing the new name with first-year students at campus orientations throughout the summer and will debut OSAS more broadly in August 2024, prior to fall-semester move-in, and in conjunction with updates to the office’s website. For more information on OSAS and its scope of services, please visit the office’s website at https://osas.wisc.edu.