Student Success and Experience - About
The Office of the Dean of Students is changing its name to Student Success and Experience (SSE) as of August 1, 2025.
What is Student Success and Experience?
Student Success and Experience (formerly Office of the Dean of Students) holds student support at the heart of everything we do. We provide services focused on student well-being and flourishing both in the classroom and beyond.
We offer a wide range of services, including career guidance, health and wellness resources, academic support, and assistance for students facing unexpected challenges or personal difficulties.
We also work closely with faculty and staff across campus to ensure students receive coordinated support when they need it most.
How is it different from the Student Service Centre?
The Student Service Centre (SSC) provides information and access to services. The centre supports prospective and current students with questions about transcripts, course registration, university application updates, financial support and other topics. Students can connect with a Student Service Centre advisor in person, by phone, by live chat or through the Student Service Portal.
If you are a student looking for a service but don’t know where to start, reach out to the Student Service Centre. They will be able to connect you with relevant resources and services within the university.
What is the role of the Vice-Provost and Dean of Students?
The Vice-Provost and Dean of Students is a senior leader responsible for ensuring that students have the support they need to thrive at the university. The Dean works to shape university policies that directly impact the student experience while overseeing essential student services.
This role encompasses leadership over key areas, including health and wellness services, academic and accessibility support services, and student conduct and care.
The Dean serves as a vital bridge between students and the university's senior administration, ensuring that student voices are heard and considered in major decisions. This advocacy role helps connect student perspectives and institutional priorities. The Dean’s work also involves collaborating with colleagues across the university to address student needs and foster an inclusive environment that supports both academic and personal success.
What is the role of the Associate Vice-President, Student Experience?
The Associate Vice-President (AVP), Student Experience, oversees strategic initiatives to enhance the overall student experience at the university. The AVP is also responsible for leading the development of the Student Experience Action Plan, which is the university’s strategic roadmap to enhance student experiences.
The AVP oversees several key areas that directly impact student life, including: the Student Experience Action Plan, the Career Centre, First Peoples' House, Orientation and Transition Services, and Undergraduate Research Initiative and portfolio operations.
The AVP works with the Vice-Provost and Dean of Students as part of a collaborative dyad leadership team. Together, they focus on the university's goals for student support and engagement, ensuring that students have access to services that address both academic and personal aspects of university life.
How do these leadership roles work together?
Student Success and Experience operates through a dyad leadership model, where two senior leaders work in close partnership to advance student success and well-being. This collaborative approach combines complementary expertise and perspectives, allowing for more comprehensive support of the diverse needs of our student community. The dyad model ensures that strategic decision-making benefits from multiple viewpoints while maintaining unified leadership in addressing both immediate student concerns and long-term institutional goals.