Dean of Students
Message from the Dean of Students
Aloha BYU–Hawaii students!
The Dean of Students Office is here to support you on your journey of learning, growth, and discipleship. Our goal is to help you navigate university policies and processes with clarity and confidence, ensuring you have the resources and guidance needed to succeed. We strive to foster an environment where you can develop spiritually, academically, and personally, in harmony with BYU–Hawaii’s mission to prepare you for a lifetime of service and leadership.
Your well-being—mental, emotional, and spiritual—is our priority, and we are committed to helping you find balance and fulfillment during your time here. If you need support, direction, or simply someone to listen or to talk to, our office doors are open.
I look forward to meeting you!
T. James Faustino
Dean of Students
It is recommended to first seek assistance from the appropriate department related to your concern before requesting a meeting with the dean. For instance, for financial issues, it would be best to consult the financial aid department, and for academic concerns, the academic advising office would be a good place to start. This will ensure that your case is addressed by the right team with the necessary expertise.
Make sure that you have already talked to these departments according to your needs before meeting with the dean:
- International Student Services
- Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Academic Advising
- Residential Living
- Leave of absence. If you have an unexpected emergency and need to take a leave of absence, the dean can provide guidance and assistance.
- Appeals. If you have received a decision that you wish to appeal, such as a disciplinary action or financial aid decision, the dean can help you with the appeals process.
- Hardship funding. If you are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance, the dean can provide information on available funding and resources.
- It is recommended to contact the dean of your major for academic appeals, as they are the primary resource for assistance in this matter. Please note that the dean of students may not be directly responsible for handling academic appeals.
We understand that traumatic events such as sudden deaths can be difficult to cope with and can have a significant impact on individuals. In an effort to provide support for our students during such trying times, we have put together a resource document on common responses to traumatic stress and ways to cope with them. This document includes information on physical and emotional reactions, productivity, and steps to take to manage personal distress. We encourage our students to be tolerant of their reactions and to seek help if necessary. We hope that this resource will be a valuable tool for our students in their journey toward healing and recovery.
Please refer to this document:
Common Responses to and Ways to Cope with Traumatic Stress
Get to Know your Dean of Students!
Meet With Dean Faustino
Please note that the dean of students is responsible for student affairs and non-academic issues on campus. If you have an academic appeal or inquiry, please direct your concerns to the appropriate dean of your major.
