Saint Mary's Newsroom

Thank you to all who participated in last week’s election for the Student Senate Executive Board. We are excited to announce the following winners:

• Vice President of Academic Affairs: Mary Furlong
• Vice President of Financial Affairs: Joseph Schauf
• Vice President of Public Affairs: Jonathon Krull
• Vice President of Campus Affairs: Angel Sacta Espinoza
• Vice President of Student Life: Lyanna Novak
• Vice President of Media and Communications: Riley Hall
• Vice President of Multicultural Affairs: Destiny Walker

Congratulations to the candidates! We look forward to a successful transition to next year’s Student Senate.

Kendall Archer
Student Senate President

• Call to order
• Prayer/reflection
• Roll call
• Tri Beta (BBB) academic request
• BSA budget
• Habitat for Humanity budget
• FCA budget
• Deprecor budget
• USITT budget
• Chemistry/Physics Club budget
• E-board reports
• Class officer reports
• Senator concerns
• Adjournment

It’s Tuesday, and before we start looking ahead to all the Cardinal action this week, here’s a quick look back at last week, which included action in baseball, fast-pitch softball, volleyball, and track and field.

The university has summer jobs available for undergraduate students on the Winona Campus. The number of positions is limited because of COVID-19. The job includes housing but will not include food service, because the Chartwells food preparation and dining area will be remodeled this summer. If you are interested in a summer position, please go to Handshake to see available positions and apply.

R.I.S.E. challenges YOU to Wellness Bingo week four. You can still join if you haven’t started yet. Check out the Google form for the new challenges.

Here’s how to play: Each week, complete the challenge for an area and cross it off (for example, physical, spiritual, or nutritional). Some challenges are for five days per week; some are one a week. Once you connect three areas, you’ve got a bingo. You can get more than one bingo by connecting different combinations of three areas. Each bingo gets your name in a drawing for a grand prize.

Blackout bingo: Complete the entire board to get a blackout bingo, and you will get 10 entries for the grand prize drawing. At the end of challenge, R.I.S.E. will collect your bingo sheets OR you can fill out your results in the Google form, which you can edit it as you go.

For everyone: Want to participate but feeling anxious? If you need an accommodation, please reach out at RISE@smumn.edu. If you have any concerns about your participation at any point, you should consult your healthcare provider. R.I.S.E. hopes you take the challenge wherever you are at. (See the Google form for alternative options.)

Prizes to pick from will include an exercise ball, a yoga mat, an essential oil diffuser, and more!

To fill out your bingo card and for more info, check out the Google form or stop by the R.I.S.E. Office in Vlazny 106.

Challenge your friends, and let’s take a step toward health, Cardinals. Together, we are Saint Mary’s!

Based on recommendations from the Educational Standards Committee at the College and the Academic Policy Committee at the SGPP, and in consultation with the deans and academic administrative teams, I am pleased to announce that the total number of required credits to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will be 120 credits, effective fall 2021. This change will apply to all Saint Mary’s bachelor’s programs, including on-ground, online, and bachelor’s completion programs.

In addition, the total number of “in residence” requirements for the B.A. will be 30 credits (the equivalent of one average academic year or two average semesters). The number of maximum allowed transfer credits for B.S. completion will be 84 credits.

Current students will be allowed to shift to the 120-credit requirement without changing the catalog for their degree requirements. This change will also not affect the core number of credits required for a major.

For more information, students should contact their faculty adviser or department chair.

Background and context

This proposal stems from ongoing conversations regarding review of transfer credit policies across the College and Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP).

Rationale

1. At the College: Graduation requirements to complete a major and general education program, with minimum GPA and upper level credit requirements and restrictions on number of elective credits earned in performing arts, sufficiently ensure the academic integrity of the degree, even if the total number of credits is decreased by two and the number of credit hours earned in residence is reduced.
2. Saint Mary’s increased the B.A. total credit count to 122 when physical education was made credit-bearing, but the credits were not subsequently reduced when PE became non-credit-bearing. The change was made for B.S. completion programs in Minneapolis to ensure consistency.
3. This change will bring Saint Mary’s into alignment with credit requirements at other schools in the area.
4. Lowering total credits, including lowering “in residence” credit requirements, will help recruit transfer students.
5. 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree aligns with Minnesota Academic Program Standards (as dictated by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education) and by Saint Mary’s accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission.