The Dean of Students Office is here to uphold a safe and respectful learning environment, support your wellbeing, and help you understand college policies and processes. If you have a concern, need guidance, or aren’t sure where to start, we can help you find the right path forward.
Mission Statement
The Dean of Students Office supports a student-centered learning environment that nurtures personal growth, responsible citizenship, and character development.
We contribute to and help lead the Ozarks Tech culture of care by supporting key student support services, including Counseling Services, Victim Advocacy Services, and the Behavioral Intervention Team. Through collaboration with multiple college partners, we help ensure students have timely access to the resources they need to navigate challenges and thrive.
The Dean of Students also serves as the college’s primary student conduct officer, upholding Ozarks Tech’s Standards of Student Conduct with fairness and integrity.
The Office of the Dean of Students: Rights, Supports and Safety
Know your rights as a student, and your responsibilities as a member of our college community.
We’re committed to your safety, wellness, and peace of mind. Whether you’re facing personal challenges or safety concerns, we have resources to assist.
- Counseling and Victim Advocacy Services
- Drug & Alcohol Awareness Prevention
- Suicide Awareness & Prevention
- Title IX
- Safety & Security
Use the OTC Cares online referral form to report a concern. Have a question about an Ozarks Tech policy or who to contact for help? Check here.
The Dean of Students office oversees several additional processes designed to support students navigating unique situations.
The Late Withdrawal
Policy 5.32 provides an option for students who experience a significant, unexpected hardship after the last day to withdraw from a class. It is not used for routine mid-semester withdrawal requests or for medical withdrawals, but rather for rare situations where a student could not meet the published withdrawal deadline due to circumstances beyond their control. A petition and supporting documentation are required, and approval is not guaranteed. For full details and the required form, please visit the policy page.
5.32 – Late Withdrawal – OTC Policies and Procedures
Student Grievance Procedures
Students sometimes have concerns or questions and may be unsure where or how to report them. When this happens, the Dean of Students is available to help. Students can reach out directly, and the Dean of Students will ensure the concern is routed to the appropriate office, addressed under the correct policy, or handled through the general Student Grievance Procedure. Our goal is to make sure every concern is heard and directed to the right place.
Policy 5.17 – Grievance Procedure for Students
Support for Students with Justice-Involved or College Disciplinary Backgrounds
Ozarks Tech is committed to helping all applicants understand their options. As part of the admission application, you will be asked to report any justice-involved or prior college disciplinary history. These questions are required and help us learn about your experiences, discuss any program or enrollment restrictions, clarify expectations, and connect you with support. While some situations may limit a student’s ability to enroll, our goal is to provide clear guidance and help you identify your next steps.
Communicable Disease Notification
OTC is committed to maintaining a healthy learning environment while supporting students who may be affected by a communicable disease. Students who receive a diagnosis or have been advised that they may have a communicable condition are encouraged to notify their instructors and contact the Dean of Students. This helps us provide appropriate support, monitor academic needs, and connect students with resources.
Examples of communicable diseases and the communicable disease procedures are outlined in Policy 4.08. Please note that tuberculosis (TB) is addressed separately in the college’s TB policy.
Policy 4.08 – Communicable Diseases
Policy 5.39 – Tuberculosis Screening & Testing
For additional information or support, please email [email protected]
Meet the Dean of Students
Joyce Doebler
DEAN OF STUDENTS
Meet Joyce Doebler, your Dean of Students at Ozarks Tech. Joyce has been helping students here for nearly 3 decades and is a trusted resource if you ever need support. With a background in mental health counseling, she works closely with Counseling Services, Victim Advocacy, the Behavioral Intervention Team, and many other departments system-wide to help students succeed.
She works with students who may have violated the Standards of Student Conduct, guiding them through the process with fairness and care, while helping them take responsibility for their actions.
If you have a question, need help, or just don’t know where to start—reach out to Dean Doebler!
Contact Dean of Students
Springfield Campus
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Call Us
4174476973 -
Email Us
[email protected]