Student Affairs
Student Affairs supports students throughout their academic careers and serves as their advocate. The Dean of Students is available to speak with students about all aspects of their experience at CIIS and assist them in resolving any conflict or concern that may arise. Any student with an unresolved complaint may contact Student Affairs staff including the Dean of Students.
In addition, the office of Student Affairs produces the Student Handbook; conducts New Student Orientations; coordinates information about campus safety, housing, and health and wellness; offers services and support to international students and students with disabilities; works closely with the Student Alliance and other student groups; offers career development services and community engagement opportunities; administers the annual Student Satisfaction Survey; and plans and conducts the annual commencement ceremony.
Many useful documents and forms from Student Affairs are available on the MyCIIS website (my.ciis.edu) under the Student Affairs tab.
Student Affairs Staff
FRAYLANIE AGLIPAY
Dean of Students
Pronouns: she/her/hers
For Student Affairs information, please visit the Student Life tab on MyCIIS.
Fraylanie Aglipay serves as the Interim Dean of Students and oversees Accessibility Services, Wellness Center Services, Career Services, International Student Services, Grievances/Complaints Process, and Student Union.
At UC Berkeley and the University of San Francisco, Fraylanie championed several initiatives: Intervention Plans for High-Medium-Low Risk Online Students, Best Practices in Teaching Online Collaborative Platform for Faculty, Retention Programs, and Career Panels.
As an immigrant woman of color, she centers the humanity of individuals in order to cultivate the soil for reflection, dialogue, and action. She believes in collaborative thinking as a way to create intentional and holistic opportunities for students to maximize their academic experience.
Fraylanie is earning her doctorate in Organization and Leadership from USF. She holds a BA in Economics from UC San Diego and an MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from USF.
Fraylanie is an avid runner and completed over 30 marathons.
SHMEE GIARRATANA
Director of Success
Pronouns: they/them
Shmee Giarratana (they/them) supports the CIIS community as the Director of Student Success, positioned in Student Affairs. Shmee builds upon students’ rich academic experience through extra-curricular programs that connect student interest with key resources to thrive. In partnership with the Dean of Students, Shmee focuses on services for veterans and international students, career services, and basic needs programming to cultivate an academic environment focused on student success. Additionally, Shmee is the creator and adjunct professor of Creative Explorations of Self. They developed this course to guide student exploration of the phenomenology of self and social position through art-based inquiry. The course partners theoretical and empirical research with creative projects to help students examine unconscious assumptions and beliefs while integrating new perspectives and understandings.
Shmee is a mentor, educator, and intermedia artist whose work is driven by a commitment to creative emergence and accountable transformative practice. Shmee offers art-based programs grounded in mindfulness, embodiment, ritual, and creative play for self-inquiry, story weaving and community building. Their passion for storytelling spans from personal narrative to multi-cultural mythology, fostering a connection to the myriad of tales of our time and honoring story as a path into relationship. Shmee holds a BA in Film Studies from University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and a MA in Depth Psychology from Sonoma State University where they developed a place-based method of self-inquiry through narrative cartography. As a teaching artist & performer, The Art of Shmee has been seen at Bioneers, SF Fringe Festival, The Study of Dreams, Visionary Congress, Cucalores Film Festival, and Figment Arts, among others. Shmee is a company performer with Crescent Moon Theater Productions.
WELLNESS CENTER - COUNSELING SERVICES
For Wellness Center – Counseling Services information, please visit the Welnness Counseling Services tab on MyCIIS.
STUDENT UNION
studentunion@ciis.edu
Room 305, Mission Street Campus
For Student Union information, please visit the Student Union section on MyCIIS.
Open Door Policy
Student Affairs welcomes all suggestions on how CIIS can better serve its student community. Find us in rooms 301, 302 or 305 of the Mission Street building or at our personal or studentaffairs@ciis.edu email addresses.
Student Handbook
This Student Handbook contains information that concerns students, including both Undergraduate and Graduate students. Because of the flexibility that institutions of higher education must have to respond to external changes, the environment, tuition, student fees, courses and course contents, curricular requirements, and other matters referenced or set forth in this document or otherwise related to students, all policies are subject to change at the discretion of CIIS at any time, during or after registration, and with or without notice or written confirmation.
Download the Student Handbook.
Student Cash Advance
CIIS offers a Student Cash Advance for enrolled students to receive their financial aid disbursement up to $1,000.00 in advance of the regular financial aid disbursement date. Students are eligible for the advance if they receive financial aid which exceeds their tuition bill. Incoming students may not be eligible for a cash advance until the add/drop period has ended. Students can apply for a cash advance once per semester, and may only have one outstanding advance at a time. Cash advances are available one month prior to the first day of classes. In order to be eligible for a cash advance, students must be confirmed financial aid recipients with full time student status. Please visit the online cash advance form in the Financial Aid section of MyCIIS. Veterans needing a cash advance should contact the Dean of Students directly.
Student Complaint Process
CIIS is an academic community committed to fostering intellectual inquiry in a climate of academic freedom and integrity. Its community members are expected to uphold these principles and exhibit tolerance and respect for others. Thus, the Institute works to promote tolerance, dignity and respect. Any student who believes that they have a valid complaint regarding a decision by or on behalf of the Institute has access to the General Student Complaint Procedure.
Please review the Student Complaint Procedures and Student Complaint Form for more information.
Students residing in the U.S. are also welcome to contact their local state agency. Find details and contact information of your local state agency.
Fraylanie Aglipay, Dean of Students, faglipay@ciis.edu and Deon Ridgell, Associate Dean of Students, dridgell@ciis.edu are available for consultation on this process.
Sexual Misconduct Policy
In order to foster and maintain a community free from all forms of sexual misconduct, the CIIS administration has created a sexual misconduct policy. This policy supports the new federal Title IX legislation that is aimed to protect the safety of its students.
We ask that you take a few minutes to review the sexual misconduct policy. Please do not hesitate to contact CIIS's Title IX Officers with any questions.
Title IX Officers:
Fraylanie Aglipay, Dean of Students
Deon Ridgell, Associate Dean of Students
Orientation for New Students
For full information, please visit the CIIS Connect Student Affairs New Student Orientation.
Questions? Email studentaffairs@ciis.edu.
Commencement
There is one commencement ceremony each academic year. All students who have successfully completed their degree requirements by the end of the spring semester are invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Students graduating in Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 are eligible to participate in the: CIIS 55TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
May 14, 2023
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Sydney Goldstein Theater, 75 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Find more information about the 2023 Commencement Ceremony.
The ceremony is administered by the Office of Student Affairs, who emails information about commencement to all students who have filed the graduation application with the office of the Registrar, or who have already had their degree conferred in the current school year. This email is sent out early in the spring semester and contains information about the commencement ceremony, including the date, time, and location; and about ordering invitations, caps, gowns, and hoods.
Students who are anticipating participation in the ceremony should ensure that their contact information on file with the Registrar's Office is correct and up-to-date. For more information on taking steps to register and participate in the Commencement Ceremony, please see the CIIS Graduation Guidebook.
Veterans’ Services
The University's academic programs of study are approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board's State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code. If you qualify for these benefits, you may use them toward your tuition. The V.A. Certifying Official at CIIS is the Registrar and V.A. Benefits Liason is in our Financial Aid Office.
Veterans and their Families
Veteran Services and Resources at CIIS (MyCIIS - student login required)
