The dean of students is responsible for promoting diversity on campus. According to the Muhlenberg website, he is responsible for creating an environment where diversity thrives, and where students learn to respect people's differences, and to take responsibility for their own words and actions. This includes enforcing rules that prohibit exclusion, violence or epithets based on race, creed, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
In both the grade school and the post-secondary level, the dean of students helps develop the policies that students will follow as a member of that student body. According to the Dimanregional website, the dean of students must prepare to make recommendations regarding the revision of policies governing student behavior where appropriate.
This is usually true of the dean of students at the college level. The Muhlenberg website says that the dean is responsible for the development and interpretation of policies pertaining to student life, especially when it comes to the use of drugs and alcohol in a campus setting.
In all cases the position requires that the dean of sudents is able to build rapport with the police department. In both a college and a grade school setting, especially in middle and high school, students do break the law. Violent crimes, thefts and incidents involving drugs and alcohol take place, just as in the real world. The dean must be in a position to address such incidents.
The Dimanregional website states that the dean must stay abreast of the laws governing juvenile proceedings, and the laws in place governing students in the age group under the school's jurisdiction. He also must see to it that school personnel make him aware of the students under his jurisdiction who have entered the legal system for whatever reason.
He must also be involved with police, and be ready to inform them if any student under the school's jurisdiction has broken any municipal, state or federal laws.
In both the grade school and college settings, the dean of students has a responsibility to promote and be present, when needed, at extracurricular activities. According to the Dimanregional website, she is to provide assistance with the implementation and supervision of such programs. The Muhlenberg College website says that the dean is to work with student groups, student affairs staff and others to develop extracurricular activities for students.