This is the first in a seven-part series about the people and departments who work behind the scenes to make Boston University function.
The Dean’s Host programs at Boston University are an inherent part of each school, serving as a direct liaison between prospective students and the administration.
These positions are filled by current university students who, according to College of Communication sophomore Bobby Ciletti, help make the college decision process easier for students who are interested in BU.
“I really think Dean’s Hosts are very helpful in the college selection process,” he said. “BU is so big. Prospective students need to see students who are excited about their school – they’re in their particular college for a reason.”
College of General Studies sophomore Caroline Cristal said Dean’s Hosts can also help make students feel more comfortable when they visit BU’s campus.
“When someone comes to visit a school, not all of their questions apply to the administration,” she said. “Prospective students can talk to the Dean’s Hosts, people on their level with real insight into the school. When they ask questions, they get real answers.”
CAS Dean Jeffrey Henderson said the Dean’s Host program is necessary for such a large and complex school.
“Students need to be knowledgeable when answering questions [about CAS],” he said. “In addition, parents, prospective students and other visitors to a college prefer to hear from students enrolled in that college.”
Many of the Dean’s Hosts are initially attracted to the position because they want to give back to the school, COM senior Laurie Shulman said.
“I genuinely enjoyed my experience at COM,” she said. “I felt that if I could share my story with prospective students and their families, I may be able to influence them toward making the decision to come to BU.”
Other students, including School of Education sophomore Allison Lavey, said they became Dean’s Hosts to share their knowledge about the school’s programs.
“I am very involved in SED and the SED Student Government and I am pretty knowledgeable about the education program and school as a whole,” she said. “I wanted to pass all of that information on to incoming students.”
CGS sophomore Vanessa Porter said she joined the program to learn more about her school.
“I wanted to get more involved with CGS,” she said, “but I also wanted to learn more about CGS. Dean’s Hosts have to know everything about the school.”
Dean’s Hosts can have a lasting impression on prospective students, CAS sophomore Catherine Todd said, even inspiring them to join the program after they decide to come to BU.
“I came to BU for the Admitted Students Day in April when I was a senior in high school,” she said. “The Dean’s Host I talked to was so helpful and really nice, and it helped me make my decision to go to BU, so I wanted to do that for other people.”
Although all Dean’s Hosts are required to participate in their particular college’s open houses, their job varies from school to school. Dean’s Host’s activities range from leading Question and Answer Forums to planning boat cruises for the incoming class.
“Dean’s Hosts play a necessary and vital role at COM,” COM Dean John Schulz said. “They are responsible for welcoming prospective students and their families and for giving tours of COM. [They] also help out with special events at the college, such as open houses, which are a critical recruitment tool that ensures we bring in the best possible students at the undergraduate and graduate level.”
Todd said the most important job of CAS’s Dean’s Hosts is to attend the Admitted Student Fridays in April.
“We talk to the admitted students and their parents, sit down and have lunch with them and tell them how great BU is so that they can see if it’s the right choice for them,” she said.
Dean’s Hosts said there are some disadvantages to being a part of the program, such as leading awkward tours with uninterested students, waking up early for open houses and having to deal with overly inquisitive parents. However, they said building a sense of community spirit within the college and meeting new students makes it worth it.
“My favorite part of the job is when I see it all click,” Shulman said. “I would say about 95 percent of the time the student will tell me that BU is now their first choice after seeing all the facilities and hearing my spiel. That’s very rewarding to me.”
