About OSE

Garnet colored box saying "Swarthmore" with black text under it saying the Office of Student Engagement next to a black, white, and garnet loge reading OSE.

What is OSE?

A part of the Student Life team, within the Division of Student Affairs (DoSA), the Office of Student Engagement serves as a hub for the Swattie experience outside of the classroom. OSE is comprised of Residential Communities and Student Activities and Leadership. We also manage Sharples Commons within the Dining and Community Commons.

The Director of the Office of Student Engagement is Associate Dean Rachel Head. She has been with the institution since 2008 and leads the organization with positivity. Reporting to Dean Head is Rebecca Weintraub-Barth, the Director of Student Activities and Leadership, and Chris Ossont, the Director of Residential Communities. 

What Does OSE Do?

OSE is the first office that incoming first-year students and new transfer students hear from in June and the last office they interact with on move-out day on the morning after Commencement. OSE prides itself on being the office that is with you every step of the way as you progress through Swarthmore College.

OSE spearheads many all-campus traditions each year, including:  New Student Orientation, Welcome Week, Fall Fest, Halloween Weekend, Midnight Breakfast, Winter Formal, Crum Regatta, and Worthstock. Additionally, we serve the 150 student organizations on campus.

The OSE team has fostered partnerships with Environmental Services (EVS), Maintenance and Grounds, Sustainability, Business Office, Communications, General Counsel, Events Management, Public Safety, Advancement, and Athletics to serve as the wayfinders for the greater campus community.

Living on campus is an integral Swarthmore experience! About 96% of students live in College housing each semester. The Residential Communities team administers the College’s First-Gen and Low-Income Storage Program, and coordinates all requests for 365-student and emergency break housing. OSE has a myriad of Resident Assistants and Area Coordinator Professional Staff to create the enriching Residential Communities that our Swatties love!