The Dean of Students Office manages processes that contribute to the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community. Here you can access general information about some of our policies and protocols.
Policies & Protocols Important Links
This page describes Stanford's Student Alcohol and Other Drug Policy and the processes that students may need to engage in following an incident of concern with regard to alcohol or other drugs.
Need an official certification from Stanford? You’ve come to the right place. On this page you’ll find instructions for requesting your Dean’s Certification — a document often required by law schools, licensing boards, or graduate-level programs. Submit the form with your Stanford ID and recipient information, and we’ll handle the rest. Certifications are usually processed within 10 business days and sent directly to the institution.
The death of a student is a tragedy that has a significant impact on the Stanford community. The University is committed to responding to these situations with compassion for the student and their family; care for friends, staff, and faculty who may be impacted; and timeliness in managing sensitive logistics and administrative processes during a difficult period. This page describes some of the universities processes that often follow a student death.
All members of the Stanford community can play a role in preventing harassment and discrimination, and the university is committed to taking action to prevent and remedy these acts. To do this, the university needs to be made aware of them if they occur. This website is a primary means for the university to learn of these actions.
Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) have a duty to report certain crimes and prohibited sexual conduct. This page provides general information for CSAs on how to complete their reporting obligations under the Clery Act and the California Education Code.
Explore Incident Reporting for Residential Staff and Student Leaders
Some students may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. In such circumstances, students may consider requesting a leave of absence. Requiring a student to take a leave of absence (i.e., an Involuntary Leave of Absence) is rare - this page provides more information about the policy and its process for implementation.
Student records and information provided about students to the Dean of Students Office are protected by the educational privacy law known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974). This page describes how the Dean of Students Office upholds student privacy in its processes, and provides an avenue for students to sign a FERPA waiver if they would like for our office to communicate openly with a third-party.
James W. Lyons Award
The James W. Lyons Award for Service was established in 1981 and named in honor of the late Jim Lyons who served as Stanford's dean of student affairs from 1972-1990.
