The Division of Student Affairs is committed to supporting and serving all Elms students. Our work focuses on the student experience and intentionally developing students to be engaged learners, leaders and contributing members of the Elms community. We partner with academic affairs and other campus colleagues to promote student success. Members of the division of student affairs serve as a resource for parents and family members.

The Dean of Students Office has a commitment to fostering an open, inclusive environment in support of student development and student success. The Dean of Students Office is the place to go if you lose your ID, don’t know where to go, have a problem that no one seems to be able to help you solve, or you want to find ways to get involved on campus.

Elms Mercantile, Career Closet and Scrub Shop, image of clothing
Elms Mercantile, Career Closet and Scrub Shop

Elms Mercantile, Career Closet and Scrub Shop
The Mercantile is a place where students can obtain some of the everyday supplies needed to be a student from paper, pens, post it notes, to household items such as toothpaste, laundry detergent and soap. All Elms students can access the Mercantile. We ask that students take what they need so that others can also get what they need. The Mercantile is located in the Dooley Center across from the Dean of Students Office. Supplies will be available Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. If the Mercantile is not open, stop by the Student Affairs/Dean of Students office for assistance.

The Career Closet is located in the lower level of Mary Dooley College Center and provides interview clothing free of charge for juniors and seniors seeking jobs and internships. The Career Closet also now includes the Scrub Shop! The Scrub Shop contains Elms College Clinical scrubs and various regular scrubs as well.

All items are free for students!

Donations are accepted year round for the Mercantile, Career Closet and Scrub Shop. All items should be dropped off at the Student Affairs/Dean of Students Office.

Visit our Amazon Wish List for donation ideas

Bias Incident Reports
The Elms College Bias Response and Education Team (BRET) is a working group made up of faculty, staff and administrators under the umbrella of the Institutional Diversity Committee.  The team regularly monitors and reports bias incidents impacting campus climate, and helps to coordinate a response to these incidents through support systems and educational strategies.

CARE Team
The Student Affairs office leads the CARE team. The CARE team is comprised of staff from the center of student success and student affairs to provide coordinated support for students who may be in distress or facing challenging issues and responds to concerns about student behavior, academic progress, and personal issues. 

Food Committee
The Dean of Students office convenes the Food Committee comprised of commuter and resident students who work with our provider to continuously improve service, which dining services supports programs for commuter students.

ID Cards and Replacement ID Cards 
The Dean of Students office provides ID cards for students and employees. 

If you have lost or misplaced  your ID, the Dean of Students can give you a replacement.  A fee of $20 may be charged to your student account.   

New Student Orientation 
Student Affairs works in conjunction with multiple offices across campus to plan New Student Orientation in the summer, fall and January.  This event allows new incoming and transfer students to meet with other new students, learn about the college and acclimate to the culture. 

Commencement
The Dean of Students and the Vice President of Academic Affairs co-chair the commencement committee which plans the annual May commencement for all graduating students. The commencement website is updated regularly to provide the most comprehensive and updated information for students.  

Review Glossary for First Generation Students here.

Traditions
Elms College has a number of traditions stemming back over 50 years! 

100 Days and 50 Days Celebrations
100 and 50 days until commencement is a long-standing tradition celebrating the 100 and the 50 days left until graduation. The seniors count back from the graduation date 100 days and 50 days to determine the celebration dates! The class typically plans an event together on these dates. Student Government Association (SGA) also assists with the celebration. Classmates, friends, fellow athletes, staff, and faculty make posters for their seniors and those are posted on the large marble wall of the dining hall in the Mary Dooley College Center. The posters include memories of their time at Elms College marked by pictures and moments to remember! 

Elms Night, Elms College, students

Elms Night
A longstanding tradition to welcome first year students and celebrates the beginning of the seniors’ last academic year. Elms Night takes place the day before the first day of classes during the traditional fall semester. Commuters and residents are all encouraged to attend along with the entire Elms Community. Elms Night traditionally begins with dinner in the dining hall and then takes place in the Berchmans Hall Rotunda with each class year gathered along the appropriate staircase, the first-year students at the Rotunda Star and the seniors at the top of the rotunda. Each class sings a song that they have selected. Once all the classes have shared their song together the seniors drop down an Elms branded gift to the first-year students welcoming them to the Elms community!

Late Night Breakfast
The Late Night Breakfast is held the week before Fall semester finals begin.   Faculty and Staff prepare and serve pancakes and other breakfast items to students.   It is a yearly tradition that brings the Elms Community together to take a break from studying and celebrate with each other before departing home for the holidays and winter break. 

Wellness at Elms
At Elms College, we believe the ability to thrive is rooted in an active commitment and holistic approach to health and wellness. Our aim is to support students by promoting health and wellness so our Blazers can be successful at Elms and beyond.

Student Handbook
The Dean of Students and and all relevant departments annually reviews and updates the Student Handbook. This is where students can find all information about being a student at Elms College. Students are responsible for reviewing the policies in the handbook before the start of their classes.

Code of Conduct
The Dean of Students office enforces the Student Code of Conduct.   The Code of Conduct applies to all students, including part-time, undergraduate, graduate, fulltime, on the Elms main campus or enrolled in any Elms off-campus programs as well as online courses and programs. The Code of Conduct applies to conduct that occurs on campus and to student behavior that occurs off-campus on property either owned or leased by Elms College.  The full Student Code of Conduct can be found on page 73 of the Student Handbook. 

Annual Awards Program 
Each spring the office gives out awards through Student Affairs. The award recipients are nominated based on the criteria of each award and voted on by the Division of Student Affairs Staff. 

Cheryl R. Condon Leadership Award:  Awarded at Honors Convocation. This award is presented to a female student in her Junior or Senior year who has demonstrated leadership on and off Elms College Campus. The award was established by an anonymous donor in honor of Cheryl Condon a current Elms employe and softball coach.

The Cartier Family Award: The award is given to a deserving student from the Chicopee/Holyoke area. It was established at the time of death of Orphir Cartier, father of three Elms College alumni 

The Mary Connors Viamari Award: The award is presented to a student from the Holyoke area in memory of a dedicated alumna and Holyoke teacher, Mary Connors Viamari, class of 1950. The award was established by Mary’s husband, Robert J. Viamari, and Violette Cartier Sweeney, her friend and classmate.