Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
R.I.S.E. Wellness Bingo continues with week two; you can still join!
R.I.S.E. challenges YOU to Four Week Wellness Bingo week two! Didn’t do week one? That’s okay! Join in the fun and health now! 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 health care 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 R.I.S.E. in Vlazny 106.
Challenge your friends, and let’s take a step toward health, Cardinals! Together, we are Saint Mary’s!
Take survey about research, writing and get $20 gift card
We are conducting a study on Saint Mary’s students’ research and writing practices, and we would like to hear about your experiences. The study consists of a 30-60 minute interview over Zoom. In exchange for your time, you will receive a $20 gift card for Saint Mary’s Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
To participate, please complete this brief screening questionnaire. After you complete the screening questionnaire, we will contact you to arrange the interview at a time that is convenient for you.
We hope that you will be willing to share your experience with us.
Sincerely,
Dr. Stacy Nall Dean,
Director of Writing Services
Rachel McGee
Associate director of Library Services
Cardinal athletics week in review: March 15
It’s Monday morning, 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 men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball, and fastpitch softball.
Remaining steadfast and resilient despite COVID-19
A year ago this Monday, life at Saint Mary’s changed abruptly, dramatically, and unexpectedly as we closed campuses and sent Winona Campus students home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last spring, courses were moved online as the world evolved to what would include mask wearing, social distancing, and frequent hand washing. Although the pandemic has presented students with many challenges, they have done their best to not only persevere, but to do so with character and strength.
As the pandemic continued in 2020, undergraduate students were excited to return to the Winona Campus in the fall, even though things looked and felt considerably different because of safety protocols.
Bridgette Hegarty, a junior elementary education major, said looking back on this past year has caused her to reflect on how much we take for granted. “Life since last spring has been a constant opportunity to develop my adaptability and flexibility,” she said. “I had to accept that, for the time being, things will be different.”
Flexibility and resiliency have been key themes as Saint Mary’s discovered that, together, we can accomplish some pretty amazing things.
Ben Pauli, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, recalls how much work there was last spring to abruptly transition on-ground classes to purely online experiences.
“Despite the difficulties, our students were really understanding, even when things didn’t go smoothly,” he said.
Saint Mary’s School of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) also transitioned to offering the majority of its courses online in spring of 2020, and continued these offerings in the fall. The decision to continue with online courses was made to avoid potential disruptions to the learning experience in the wake of COVID-19, and to promote safety and well-being of our more than 5,200 non-residential adult learners.
Building on its longstanding tradition of personalized online learning, Saint Mary’s continues to support and enhance the online learning experience by offering a newly developed faculty online instructor certification series. This four-week course provides faculty with online teaching skills and prepares them to deliver an enhanced student experience informed by best practices in online education. Faculty are also encouraged to continue to develop their classes using the Cardinal Flex model.
In addition to online training opportunities and a flexible teaching model, surveys and discussion groups were created in the wake of the pandemic to gain input from students, largely on the Winona Campus. Through this feedback, Saint Mary’s was further able to adapt and improve on communication, protocols, and more.
Ann Merchlewitz, J.D., senior vice president and general counsel, said she is proud of how the community has been able to minimize and contain the spread of COVID-19, and she largely credits the students.
“Our students feel a strong sense of connection to each other, their faculty, and staff,” she said. “I think they wanted to stay in person to foster and rely on those connections in a time of great upheaval and uncertainty. They have also been great advocates for the protocols among themselves, meaning they are holding each other accountable. Again, I think that speaks to our students’ dedication to the community that is Saint Mary’s.”
While much has changed during this pandemic, there’s comfort in knowing the important things have not.
“Lots of things haven’t changed,” Pauli said. “Saint Mary’s is still a place with a strong community, where people look out for one another. The faculty at Saint Mary’s are still committed to providing the highest quality education to our students as possible. We still get to teach, learn, and work on a campus set in a truly beautiful landscape. We are still Saint Mary’s.”
“The thought, care, and dedication of my professors haven’t changed,” Hegarty added, “It has only increased. My professors have gone above and beyond to ensure we still receive the quality of education they intended to provide pre-pandemic.”
Everyone looks forward to something slightly different when the fears of this pandemic have passed. Merchlewitz can’t wait to greet students with handshakes or hugs, and both she and Hegarty can’t wait to see all the smiles.
“Despite living through a pandemic, Saint Mary’s is a place that still makes me smile every day, even if it’s behind a mask for the time being,” Hegarty said.
Updated events for De La Salle Week
Monday, March 15, 8 to 11 a.m., Coffee & Prizes in the Plaza — Come enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate on us, then spin for prizes in celebration of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.
Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m., Reconciliation Service — Experience the healing power of confession in the Saint Thomas More Chapel.
Wednesday, March 17, 7 p.m., Theology on Tap, Common Room – Of-age students are welcome to come enjoy a free drink, socialize, and hear a talk from one of our very own Lasallian Brothers, Brother Larry Schatz, FSC!
Thursday, March 18, 7 p.m., Holy Words Squares, SLC Auditorium — Students are invited to compete for the grand prize in Lasallian trivia with our “celebrity” panel.
Friday, March 19, 7 p.m., Stations of the Cross, Life Night — Spend an evening reflecting on our Lord’s Passion, then stick around for a testimony, praise and worship, confessions, and adoration in the Saint Thomas More Chapel.
March Student Central Update
This edition of the Student Central Update includes information about the new FAFSA application and tuition reimbursement.
Spring 2021 tuition reimbursement letter
Students who need a tuition or grade verification letter completed for the spring semester are asked to make their request as soon as possible.
To simplify the process, Student Central has an online form for students whose employers require a grade verification and/or tuition reimbursement payment receipt before a student can be reimbursed. Students can request a letter (and must be logged into their Saint Mary’s email account to access this form) indicating which class was taken, how their tuition was paid, and the grade they received.
Notice regarding 2021-22 FAFSA
The 2021-22 FAFSA is available on the FAFSA website. Please keep in mind, this is for the academic year beginning in fall 2021. If you’d like to apply for financial aid for the 2020-2021 academic year, please complete the 2020-21 FAFSA.
Student Central
Temporary hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DBA students present at Southwest Academy of Management meeting
DBA students and faculty presented at the Southwest Academy of Management (SWAM) annual meeting, held virtually March 2-5. SWAM is the regional affiliate of the Academy of Management and promotes the advancement of teaching, research, and practice in the field of management.
The following Saint Mary’s refereed work was presented at the meeting:
- Abisola Femi-Jegede, paper presentation, Using Geographic information system (GIS) technology to identify homeless shelters in Midwestern States, its effectiveness and appropriateness: Reducing any negative impact on residents.
- Abisola Femi-Jegede and Anne Swearingen poster session, Conducting a Biographical Research Project – Interviewing a Virtuous and Selfless Contributor!
- Abisola Femi-Jegede, Jennifer L. Schultz, Ph.D., and Matthew J. Nowakowski, Ed.D., IGNITE! session Mind the Gap, Use an App! Engaging Student Learning with Mobile Applications.
Chartwells presentation on dining hall renovations
You are invited to attend the Student Senate meeting on Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m.!
Abel Valencia from Chartwells will be presenting on the exciting renovations that will be occurring in our dining hall this summer.
For those interested in joining the meeting, contact Marisa Naryka, Ed.D., assistant vice president for Student Life, at mnaryka@smumn.edu, or any Student Senate member for the Zoom link.
Housing reminders
The priority housing application deadline for residential students is quickly approaching. Please complete your housing application in the eRezLife system and submit your $250 housing deposit through your student portal. Students seeking housing accommodations are to have their requests in by Monday, March 15, to the Office of Residence Life. Please contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@smumn.edu with any housing related questions.
For those interested in participating in our new discernment house, we have extended the deadline for application until 4 p.m. on Monday, March 15. Please reach out to Student Affairs at studentaffairs@smumn.edu for an application.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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