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Office of Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) is overseen by Dr. Christine Wankiiri-Hale, who serves as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for the School of Dental Medicine. The office assists pre-doctoral dental students, dental hygiene students, international advanced standing students, and residents by providing services such as student orientation, financial aid assistance, and registration.

Students from all programs will graduate as competent health care professionals who treat all patients with respect and compassion, provide care using current best evidence, and will be supported in their learning with state-of-the-art technology.

OSA provides students with an environment that supports the school’s defined strategic goals within a diverse, welcoming, and supportive community.

Programs and Services

Admissions

The School of Dental Medicine maintains rigorous admissions standards based on holistic review, accepting fewer than the top three percent of applicants. The Admissions Committee looks for strong applicants that display an interest in and knowledge of the dental profession by having participated in ongoing observation of dental practices, volunteer work in the medical or dental fields, and participation in scientific research. We invite applicants from varied educational backgrounds. Well-rounded applicants will present a strong foundation in both sciences and humanities.

Student Handbook

The student handbook, which is updated annually by OSA, guides students on the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the school. Each dental student is responsible for reviewing this document to ensure compliance with the policies and procedures of the school that are contained within, and sign and return a completed honor code statement.

Honor Code Statement

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is responsible to the University and the dental profession to ensure that all students maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical behavior. Every student is required to read and sign the Honor Code Statement within the student handbook.

Student Code of Conduct

The School of Dental Medicine, as an academic unit of the University of Pittsburgh, complies with the "Student Code of Conduct" of the University of Pittsburgh.

The University's Student Code of Conduct applies to any undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at the University's Oakland campus. Dental students are thus accountable to ensure that their conduct comports the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct deals with traditional offenses such as those against the University, the University community and other people, its premises, and its operation.