Counseling Center
The Counseling Center provides counseling services free of charge to full-time undergraduate traditional day, Adult Studies, Accelerated BSN, and graduate students. The center is staffed by four licensed professional counselors and master’s level interns. The counselors offer group and individual counseling designed to help students develop their full potential and overcome obstacles related to their educational or personal growth. Some of the reasons students seek or are referred for counseling include problems relating to adjustment issues, relationship difficulties, concerns about mood, self-esteem and self-concept issues, and drug and alcohol issues. The counselors, upon request, provide outreach programs in the residence halls as well.
In addition to traditional counseling, the center also promotes a wellness lifestyle. Efforts are made to help students understand their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning, and the effects of this functioning on various dimensions of their life (i.e., intellectual, spiritual, physical, nutritional, interpersonal, educational/vocational, recreational, emotional, and social.)
The center’s goals are promoted through outreach programming, faculty/staff and student workshops and training, and other special programming events. Additional services offered by the center include consultation and referral. For more information, call the center at 610.282.1100, ext. 1462 or 1551.
PACE (Peers Advising Counseling Educating)
PACE is a team of trained students who serve as advisors, counselors, and educators to the student body. They are affiliated with the BACCHUS initiative of NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators).
DeSales University recognizes that students often relate better to, or are more comfortable with, their peers when it comes to confiding personal struggles. For this reason, the PACE team is trained to provide confidential, one-on-one peer counseling. Students in need of guidance and/or support can schedule appointments directly with a PACE team member of their choice. Students can schedule an appointment by emailing pace@desales.edu, or calling 610-282-1100, ext. 7223 (PACE).
As educators, PACE hosts programs throughout the year to raise awareness about suicide, substance abuse, body image, bullying, responsible use of social media, identifying abusive relationships, alcohol safety, mental health awareness, nutrition, time management, coping with stress, and more.
Campus Ministry
Through its worship and other spiritual activities, Campus Ministry seeks to form Christian Humanists by helping the traditional student community to be faithful, maturing, and prayerful disciples of Jesus who minister to and lead the Church and society. The life, teachings, and spirituality of St. Francis de Sales are the guiding force in the ministry. Campus Ministry seeks to form students who will value and pursue life-long faith development; be full, conscious, and active participants in Sunday Eucharist and parish life; can discern, develop, and live an attractive personal life of devotion, prayer, and service appropriate to their vocation and state in life; and be able to articulate a working understanding of Salesian spirituality. While DeSales is a proudly Roman Catholic institution in the Salesian tradition, Campus Ministry seeks to serve the needs of the entire student body, including those of other religious and faith traditions and of no particular faith.
Office of Community Service and Advocacy
The Office of Community Service and Advocacy provides volunteer service opportunities for all members of the University community and works to create and foster a vibrant commitment to community service through meaningful outreach activities. A variety of opportunities are available for individuals and groups to put their faith into action. The programs promote genuine human interaction between the members of the University community and our neighbors in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
The Office of Community Service and Advocacy provides various activities to accommodate a broad range of community needs, the diverse skills and interests of the DeSales community, and the different schedules of all involved. Its programs include:
- Ongoing service projects: On a regularly scheduled basis students work at after school programs in both elementary schools and high schools, homeless shelters, and retirement communities. Transportation is provided.
- One time service projects: Several events and activities take place only once per semester or once per year, such as the DeSales Blood Drive, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and a children’s Halloween Party and Holiday Party.
- Students can take part in national and global service experiences over Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks. Some of our previous experiences have been with Habitat for Humanity, Feed the Children, All Hands and Hearts Disaster Response, the American Hiking Society, and the Missionaries of Charity; and, in previous locations: New Orleans, LA; the Appalachian region; Kolkata, India; Johannesburg, South Africa; Natchez State Park, Tennessee; Houston, TX; Costa Rica; etc.
Health Service
The Health Center is dedicated to helping students stay well and directing them toward proper treatment if they become ill.
The center is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Treatment provided by the nursing staff, a nurse practitioner, and registered nurses, is without charge. Student visits to the University physician are covered by the Student Life Fee. If a student is referred for further off-campus diagnostic testing or blood work, every effort is made to access care within the parameters of the student’s personal health insurance carrier. In emergency situations, students are sent to a nearby hospital for a higher level of care.
All new students must complete online Health Forms. For more information contact The Health Center at 610-282-1100, ext.1776 or healthcenter@desales.edu.
Athletics and Recreation/Intramurals
Students participate in a full and active program of intramural and recreational sports housed in Billera Hall. The facility includes four regulation basketball courts, four volleyball courts, a fitness center, and an aerobics studio, which is open to all members of the University community.
Outdoor facilities include an all-weather track and field facility, as well as field hockey, soccer, and softball fields, baseball, tennis, and lacrosse venues. Additionally, the cross-country course, which traverses the campus, is one of the best in the eastern United States.
DeSales University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the Middle Atlantic Conferences (MAC), the Freedom Conference, and the Lehigh Valley Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (LVAIAW). The University sponsors a 16-sport intercollegiate athletic program, offering competition in baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, and golf for men; and in basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball for women.
Character U and Orientation Program
The Orientation program provides personal guidance to first-year students in their transition to the DeSales University community. Students gain valuable information on the different academic, social, and spiritual opportunities on campus and are welcomed into Character U. Information Sessions are held in the summer with the main program occurring three days prior to the first day of school.
Character U strives to guide students through their initial year in the DeSales community by introducing them to groups, organizations, and other opportunities for engagement. It is also, most importantly, a welcoming space during this new chapter of their lives. The program allows first-year students to open doors and meet others, while building character, inspired by St. Francis de Sales through the university’s core values.
The incoming first-year students are divided into eight groups, or pods. Each pod consists of one Captain, five Mentors, and about 60-70 first-year students. The Captains oversee their Mentors, who meet twice per month with their first-year students through May.
Character U is overseen by the Student Engagement and Leadership Office, specifically the Associate Dean of Students for Engagement and Leadership. The office for Character U resides in the SEAL wing of the Dorothy Day Student Union.
Residence Life
The Office of Residence Life and the Office of Housing are committed to providing residence halls that are safe, secure, and conducive to the learning and growth of each resident. In accordance with Salesian spirituality, the residence life staff strives to create a welcoming living environment in which students’ rights and responsibilities are protected, differences are celebrated and appreciated, constructive social interaction is valued and advanced, and students are challenged to be contributing members of the community. The majority of DeSales University students live on campus in one of 9 residential communities: Aviat Hall, Annecy Hall, Chappuis Hall, Conmy Hall, DeChantal Hall, Donahue Hall, Tocik Hall, University Heights, and Finnegan, Guerin, and Harvey Houses (University Village).
The Office of Residence Life oversees the supervision of the residence hall staff and enforcement of residence hall regulations. The Office of Housing coordinates all aspects of housing, including housing assignments. The live-in professional staff members are directly responsible for the general operation of an assigned housing area, supervising the resident advisors (RAs), planning and coordinating residence hall programs, responding appropriately to student concerns, and ensuring compliance with University regulations/residence hall policies. Each residence hall floor/unit has a RA who serves as a resource for the residents, as a leader in building community, and who documents any violations of University/residence hall policy.
University policies and residence hall regulations are designed to ensure a high quality of daily life and to prevent behavior that is an infringement on the rights of others, detrimental to personal growth and the common good, or in basic discord with the mission of the University.
For additional information, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 610.282.1100, ext. 1442 or the Office of Housing at 610.282.1100, ext. 1193.
Student Engagement and Leadership
The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership’s mission is to provide students with intellectual development through campus engagement and leadership.
The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) consists of the following entities:
- Student activities events, and trips sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB)
- DeSales Student Organizations (DSOs) registered with SEAL
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- An online management system for student involvement, BARK, which also has a mobile app called Campus Groups
- The international Spring break and end of semester trips to Europe
- Supervision of the Dorothy Day Student Union building
- Character U and Orientation
- Leadership programs such as the National Society for Leadership and Success and First-Year Leadership Summit
- Transfer Student Orientation
- Professional development opportunities via national conferences, internships, work study positions, and DSU Yearbook
Office Student Engagement and Leadership Philosophy
- We believe that all office initiatives are mission-driven and support the student life philosophy and commitment.
- We believe in an open-door policy for all students and their ideas.
- We believe that all programs executed will be fair and will demonstrate the highest quality standards.
- We believe that the office environment should be friendly, helpful, and positive toward all students.
- We believe in the importance of a healthy work/life balance for students in and out of the classroom.
- We believe that the office exists to help students understand the meaning of Salesian leadership and to help them incorporate it into their everyday lives.
- We believe that it is important to be organized and to have a strong strategic plan so that students can utilize resources to their fullest potential and find satisfaction in all of their experiences.
Office Student Engagement and Leadership Commitment
- We are committed to engaging all students on campus and helping them to become competent leaders in order to build a stronger community.
- We are committed to communicating to students the many opportunities for involvement on campus.
- We are committed to creating a vibrant student life experience through various activities, which will be student-driven and implemented by the staff.
- We are committed to offering opportunities for students’ personal growth as leaders through various student programs.
- We are committed to providing an experience and culture of student engagement not just in the office, but throughout campus by breaking down silos and cultivating teamwork.
- We are committed to sending consistent messages to students regarding information distributed by our office.
- We are committed to challenging students to expand their minds by partaking in new events and programs.
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center assists students in four key domains:
- Exploration of majors and careers
- Acquisition of relevant experiences through experiential learning opportunities
- Guidance with professional communications and the job search process
- Preparation for graduate or professional school
Our programs and resources support students in defining career goals, expanding their knowledge of potential career pathways, effective decision making, and goal-setting skills. The Career Development Center also supports DeSales University alumni in need of assistance with career transition advice, coaching, and networking. Coaching and support are based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ eight career readiness competencies.
The Career Development Center also engages students in meaningful career-related experiences and building a strong strategy for career and graduate school success. Experiential learning opportunities bridge classroom theory with practical application and skill development, cultivating students’ personal development and professional growth.
In support of these goals, the center embraces opportunities to collaborate with employers, graduate and professional schools, faculty and staff members, student organizations, parents, and alumni. Each experiential learning opportunity, for example, relies upon an effective partnership between the student, faculty supervisor, and employer, facilitated by the Career Development Center.
Through these and other programs, resources, and partnerships, we seek to assist students and alumni on their journeys through three phases:
Explore - Majors and Careers
Experience - Real-life learning opportunities and marketable career success strategies
Achieve - Successful outcomes for employment, or for graduate or professional school
Student Conduct
The University expects its students to conduct their lives in a responsible manner. Students who exhibit behavior, which is inconsistent with the stated mission and goals of the University and the regulations, which flow from them, are subject to formal disciplinary procedures.
Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs at DeSales University celebrates the various backgrounds, identities, and cultures that make up our community. Guided by the Catholic Salesian values of kindness, humility, and inclusion, we are committed to creating a welcoming campus where everyone feels valued and supported.
We work to build a welcoming environment for our students through engaging programs, helpful resources, and strong student support. Our goal is to foster understanding and connection among students while building a more inclusive future in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.
Cultural programs include:
- Monthly activities and educational programs that uplift and celebrate the contributions of various cultures represented by student groups on campus; Black History, Hispanic Heritage, Jewish American Heritage, Arab American Heritage, Women’s History, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, Differently Abled Individuals, LGBTQ+ History, and Middle Eastern Heritage.
- Collaborative efforts with faculty, staff, students, DeSales parents, and alumni to provide cultural programming to students for residence halls, First-Year Experience classes, First Generation students, campus student leaders, and local middle schools.
International Learning
At DeSales University, our global engagement programs open doors to transformative global experiences that prepare students to thrive in a connected world. Rooted in our mission of holistic learning and cultural exchange, these programs foster personal growth, academic enrichment, and global understanding.
Study Abroad Opportunities
DeSales offers a wide range of study abroad options, including semester-long programs, short-term trips, and summer courses. Students can immerse themselves in diverse cultures, develop language skills, and gain international perspectives while earning credits toward their degree. Popular destinations include Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
Exchange Programs
Our exchange partnerships with universities worldwide allow students to study at top institutions while experiencing life in another country. Exchange programs provide a cost-effective way to gain international exposure and build lasting global connections.
Global Internships
DeSales’ international internship opportunities enable students to gain professional experience in a global context. Internships in business, healthcare, the arts, and more are available, providing students with invaluable skills and a competitive edge in today’s job market.
Faculty-Led Programs
Our faculty-led programs combine academic coursework with guided travel, offering a rich, hands-on approach to learning. These programs are ideal for students looking for a focused, immersive experience in a specific region or subject area.
Support for International Students
DeSales warmly welcomes students from around the world. Our International Student Services team provides personalized support, including visa assistance, orientation programs, and cultural adjustment resources, ensuring a smooth transition and a rewarding academic journey.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
DeSales is committed to making international education accessible. We offer scholarships and financial aid to support students pursuing global learning opportunities, ensuring cost is not a barrier to transformative experiences.
Veterans and Military Services
The Veterans and Military Services Center at DeSales University provides comprehensive support to veterans, service members, and military-connected students, including spouses and dependents. The Center offers academic, career, and wellness services in keeping with the University’s Salesian tradition, which emphasizes the dignity of every individual. Through fostering community and encouraging active participation, the University empowers these students to succeed academically, professionally, and personally. The Center’s professional staff assists students in navigating their academic journey, accessing earned benefits, and connecting with resources that promote holistic well-being and a strong sense of belonging within the DeSales community and beyond.
DeSales University complies with 38 U.S.C. § 3679(e) by allowing any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits-including Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty, Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E), Chapter 35 Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), and Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve-as well as Department of Defense Federal Tuition Assistance (TA), Pennsylvania Army or Air National Guard Education Assistance Program (EAP), and the Military Family Education Program (MFEAP) to attend and participate in courses without assessing late fees, requiring alternative or additional funding, or denying access to University resources, even if tuition and fees have not yet been paid by the VA or the service branch.
Students using VA or military benefits, or applying for the DeSales University Veterans and Military Discount Program, must submit the following: a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA or a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) from their service branch; a DD Form 214 (Member 4 copy preferred) for prior service members; the DeSales Enrollment Certification Request Form (available from the Veterans and Military Services Center); and any additional documentation required for specific benefits or scholarships. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about VA education benefits is available at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
DeSales offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities for military-affiliated students. The Veterans Endowed Scholarship provides need-based aid to support veteran students in reaching academic and career goals. The Veterans and Military Tuition Discount offers a 25 percent tuition reduction on select degree programs for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependents who have exhausted VA education benefits. Through the Military Tuition Assistance Match Program, the University matches Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) dollar-for-dollar, up to the maximum cap allowed annually by the student’s branch of service or the Pennsylvania National Guard, for select degree programs. DeSales is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program; for the 2025-26 academic year, the University’s Yellow Ribbon award is up to $28,000. Room and board merit aid scholarships may be available to Valley Forge Military College Early Commissioning Program (ECP) Cadets who transfer to DeSales as commissioned second lieutenants, as well as to Minuteman and Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship recipients, potentially covering remaining room and board costs and reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket expenses.
The University recognizes that military service obligations, including deployments or mobilizations, may occur with little notice, making it difficult or impossible for students to continue their studies during that time. DeSales has adopted a Military Deployment Policy designed to be flexible and supportive of students, their spouses, and dependents. Students may obtain a copy of this policy or request deployment accommodation by contacting the Veterans and Military Services Center.
The Veterans and Military Services Center is located in Dooling Hall, Room 215. For more information, contact Wendy Badman, Director and School Certifying Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 2075, or Wendy.Badman@desales.edu. Additional information is available online at www.desales.edu/veterans.
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