Our mission
The Office of the Dean of the College, under the leadership of Dean of the College Erika J. Smith, helps students take ownership of their education, define areas of personal interest and navigate educational opportunities available on and off campus. We provide advising and resources to help you follow your passions, engage in a fulfilling course of study and reflect on your experiences in a way that prepares you for a meaningful career after graduation.
Get to know us
Our office should be the first point of contact for questions you have about academic support, advising, Connections, career preparation, study away, fellowships and more. The Class Deans also serve as liaisons to other resources on campus, including financial aid, student life, health and counseling services and community learning.
Dr. Erika J. Smith joined Connecticut College as Dean of the College in August 2021. She was immediately drawn by Connections, which she sees as the perfect way for all students to have their own expression of success, driving their lives, aspirations and goals further than they knew to aspire. With oversight of the Class Deans, the Academic Resource Center, the Hale Center for Career Development, Study Away, and jointly supporting Fellowships and Scholarships in partnership with the Walter Commons, Dean Smith supports the realization of an integrated and engaged student experience.
Prior to joining Connecticut College, Dean Smith completed nearly 21 years of service at Brandeis University, most recently having served as Dean of Academic Services from 2016 to 2021. Dr. Smith earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University, where she matriculated as a Posse Scholar, a master of education in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a master’s and Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis’ Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Student Success
Study Away
When you study away, you examine global issues from a local perspective. Working with offices across the College, the staff in Study Away provide pre-departure programming to prepare students for their experience abroad as well as opportunities to debrief when they return.
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Fellowships
Post-graduate fellowships and scholarships provide life-changing opportunities through generous financial support for study and research. At Connecticut College there is a strong network of supportive faculty and staff who are willing to assist high-achieving students as they explore fellowship and scholarship opportunities.
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Academic Honors
Each semester, the Dean of the College and Class Deans, along with the support of the Registrar, review students’ grades. Dean's Honors and Dean's High Honors are calculated by the Registrar's Office based on a system of GPA thresholds that varies slightly from year to year.
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