Saint Mary's Newsroom

The search committee for the vice president for inclusion and human dignity has accomplished much. Its work is progressing, but it is not done.

Our collective desire is to find the right candidate for this critical position. In order to do this well, it is imperative we broaden and expand the pool of candidates.

To this end, we are engaging the search firm of Hand & Associates. They have expertise in finding candidates for this area. As such, they will bring additional breadth and depth beyond our networks and search to date. This does not diminish the good work of the committee. In fact, all of its efforts will be shared with Hand & Associates and will continue to influence the search process.

Further, our current top candidates will be vetted by the search firm, so that all processes are similar for all candidates. In addition, the search firm will identify more candidates that will bring greater diversity as well as a broader pool of candidates for consideration. As has become apparent through the process of the search to date, we are competing with hundreds of organizations who are also seeking leaders in the area of inclusion and diversity. 

We will keep the university advised of the work on this important search.

Today, Tuesday, Jan. 26, U.S. News and World Report announced their Best Online Programs. Saint Mary’s ranked #170 out of 295 participating online MBA programs, and as best in the state of Minnesota.

This recognition joins a strong ranking in December’s Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, which once again ranked Saint Mary’s third in their list of largest MBA programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“Our MBA program stands apart because of its flexible online and onground options, accelerated pathways, and relevant and applicable curriculums,” said Michelle Wieser, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business at Saint Mary’s.

“We have continued to evolve to meet students where they are with an excellent MBA program, taught by committed and real-world-focused faculty. The online program now includes an option for students to customize their MBA experience by stacking one of our 12-credit graduate certificates in disciplines — like finance, human resources, and project management — into their MBA. This sets the Saint Mary’s MBA apart and better prepares students for today’s business environment.”

Saint Mary’s online School of Education programs were also ranked on the national U.S. News list. We are listed as #201 out of 296 in Best Online Master’s Education Programs, which places us fourth on the list of Minnesota schools.

For the 2021 edition, U.S. News and World Report assessed 1,641 online degree programs and ranked online programs using five categories: engagement, expert opinion, faculty credentials and training, student excellence, and student services and technologies.

Our thanks to our program directors, deans, vice provosts, and support teams, especially Kara Wener and Tracy Lehnertz, for gathering a considerable amount of data in order to complete these surveys. This is the first time we’ve participated in the U.S. News online listing for the MBA, primarily because of the tremendous resources needed to collect and package the required data. Because we don’t yet have complete data about graduates’ employment outcomes, we were unable to complete all of the MBA and School of Education survey questions. Given that, appearing as top in the state is both admirable and impressive. We look forward to future rankings based on even more complete data for our programs. Our commitment to participating and improving in these rankings reflects our strategic goal of becoming known for regionally dominant and nationally prominent programs.

The university will be implementing regular COVID-19 testing of undergraduate students on the Winona Campus for spring semester 2021. The goal of this testing is to detect cases of COVID-19 in the Winona Campus community and quickly move individuals who test positive into environments where they can get needed medical attention and prevent the virus from spreading.

All undergraduate students on the Winona Campus are required to be tested for COVID-19 at the university’s mass testing event, offered in partnership with Hy-Vee, on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, in the Gostomski Fieldhouse from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fieldhouse will be closed to all non-athletes that day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The weight room/cardio room will be open to student-athletes only.

To register for the testing event:

• Pre-register online through the Hy-Vee portal — use the exact name on your student ID card and the campus address of 700 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987 (mailbox # not necessary).
• Print your voucher — all residence halls have printers. If you cannot print your voucher, please take a screenshot of it.

On Friday, Jan. 29, 2021:

• Enter through the doors closest to Saint Benilde Hall during your assigned time.
• Walk along the track (closest to the catwalk) to the registration tables.
• Present your voucher to the volunteer at the registration table.
• Walk to an open table where a Hy-Vee pharmacist will explain the process for the collection of your test sample. A YouTube instructional video may also be sent in advance of the testing event.
• Finish the test (shallow nasal swab) and drop it in the designated receptacle.
• Exit around the other side of the track and out the main doors of Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Make sure you save your Hy-Vee portal login information. Test results will be sent back to your Hy-Vee portal. If you are selected to be part of the surveillance testing, you will use that same login to print a new voucher for that testing.

Starting Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, and continuing through at least Monday, March 29, 2021, the university will require weekly COVID-19 testing of a random sample of 10% of all undergraduate students — living on or off campus. The goal of this surveillance testing is to decrease the hidden spread of the virus. Surveillance testing will occur every Friday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in the gymnasium. Students will be contacted via email and/or text when they are selected for the surveillance testing. Please then log back into your Hy-Vee portal and print a voucher for the day you were assigned. When you arrive for your test, present your voucher to the volunteers to receive your test kit. The results will be sent to your Hy-Vee portal.

Certain groups of students are exempted from the mass testing and weekly surveillance testing requirements, including:

1. Students who have tested positive in the past 90 days. To claim this exemption, the student must send a copy of their past positive test result to the Jay Johnson Wellness Center at wellnesscenter@smumn.edu.
2. Student-athletes who are practicing or competing. These students are being tested regularly as part of the testing protocols for student-athletes mandated by the Minnesota Department of Health, the NCAA, and the MIAC.

All undergraduate students on the Winona Campus are required to comply with any assigned testing throughout the entirety of the term. As a condition of returning to campus or participating in any university program, community members must follow policies and guidance issued by the university, including testing protocols.

If a student does not submit to a required testing, the student will be contacted by the Office of Student Affairs to discuss the situation. Students who inform the Office of Student Affairs in advance of a conflict with the testing will be required to test at the next available opportunity. For the health and safety of the community, students that do not comply with testing requirements may be required to quarantine for 14 days. They may also be referred to the Office of Student Affairs for disciplinary action.