The University established the then Office of the Dean of Students in February 1998 with five Members of Staff. It evolved from the small Counselling Unit of the University, set up under Dr. Kwasi Ansah Yamoah, a Senior Assistant Registrar when he returned from study leave abroad and operated as a Sub-Unit under the Academic and Students Affairs Unit. The location of the new Unit was the Manciple Organisation’s offices at the Commercial Area.
Rev. Prof. Osei Safo Kantanka was appointed the first Dean of Students with Dr G.O. Lartey as the first Vice-Dean. The other staff who started the Office of the Dean of Students in February 1998 were Mr Samuel Berko, Mrs Joyce Quansah, the late Mr E. D. K Mensah, and Mr Daniel Kumi-Djan, who joined as the first Assistant Registrar. The Counselling SubUnit was brought under the newly created Office of the Dean of Students. The Office of the Dean of Students moved to Academic and Student Affairs at the Central Administration. It then moved again to the Non-Resident Students’ space called “Facility One”, now Ulzen Block behind the Student Club House (popularly known as Club B). Previously, it was in the main Administration block and was a composite unit then referred to as the Academic and Students’ Affairs Unit. The need to have a one-stop-shop for student affairs resulted in the separation of the two. The Directorate is currently housed in J. Harper Building at Commercial Area of the University.
The University Council at its 268th Meeting held on March, 2022 took cognizance of the enhanced roles and responsibilities entrusted to the then Office of the Dean of Students and elevated the Office into a Directorate effective 1st April, 2022 (Recorder No. 518 Vol.57 No. 1). Professor Wilson Agyei Agyare was appointed as the first Director. Professor Dr. Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah was appointed as the first Deputy Director (Conduct and Discipline) but was replaced in January 2023 by Professor Akwasi Acheampong Aning. Professor Marian Asantewah Nkansah, who was appointed as the first Deputy Director (Housing and Welfare) in 2022, has now replaced Professor Wilson Agyei Agyare as the Director since November 2024. Lawyer Lucy Diawuo was appointed as the first Deputy Registrar for the Directorate. She has since been replaced by Dr. Paul Kwadwo Addo as the Deputy Registrar since January 2023. DoSA has a Board as stipulated by Statute 45 Chaired by the Director. The Board provides strategic and policy direction for the general function of the Directorate. DoSA collaborates with several offices and institutions within and outside the university to carry out its mandate.