Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
10 Days of Giving food drive begins today in Winona
Saint Mary’s University is proud to be participating in the 32nd annual 10 Days of Giving food drive this year, coordinated by Merchants Bank of Winona. The 10 Days of Giving benefits Winona Volunteer Services and works to make sure no one in Winona County goes hungry each winter. Normally, our Winona Campus puts out a collection barrel this time of year, but with the shift to online learning, we are encouraging you to support the drive in other ways between Dec. 1-10. With increased use during this pandemic, the food shelf needs our support more than ever.
We hope you’ll consider contributing, as you are able, by:
- Making a donation directly to Winona Volunteer Services online at https://www.winonavs.org/.
- Attending one of the 10 Days of Giving special events; including a Carry-Out Only Fish Fry Dinner, Kick Off Carry-Out Lunch, and Pack the Bus. Find more details about these events.
Last Cardinal Update nearing
With the Winona Campus classes complete next week, and semesters on all our campuses coming to a close, Dec. 15, will be the last Cardinal Update until mid January. If you have timely news that needs to be shared during this time period, please let Marketing and Communication know via our newsletter submission form.
National Influenza Vaccination Week: Dec. 6-12
Band Together Against the Flu
- It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine. Flu “season” typically peaks between December and February but can continue as late as May!
- Help prevent further overwhelm of our healthcare system.
- Keep your family and your community healthy.
Supplemental funding from the CDC has made influenza vaccination free at many sites across the state. For information on where and how you can get your free or low-cost flu vaccine see the Vaccination Clinic Web Map. Check out more information about why this vaccination is important.
“No matter who you are or what your style is, it’s more important than ever this year to band together against the flu with a flu shot. One arm at a time. One bandage at a time. Let’s band together to control this year’s flu – for all of us.” — Minnesota Department of Health
In the news
Matt Bubala, a Saint Mary’s alumnus and member of the Kabara Institute Advisory Board, welcomed guest Christine Beech, director of the institute, to his show on WGN Radio in Chicago. Beech spoke with him about the new innovation and entrepreneurship certificate.
Saint Mary’s partners with State of Minnesota in encouraging use of COVIDaware MN exposure app
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is working with the State of Minnesota to encourage use of the COVIDaware MN app, a free and anonymous app that will help our state slow down the spread of this virus.
Imagine that you test positive for COVID-19. You would tell your friends and family that you may have been in contact with, but how do you inform people that you don’t know, like people who were nearby at the grocery store or while you rode the bus? Minnesota’s free exposure notification app, COVIDaware MN, does exactly that.
The app was made available by the State of Minnesota, in partnership with PathCheck Foundation. It uses your phone’s Bluetooth signal and exposure notification technology developed by Apple and Google. COVIDaware MN will notify you if you’ve been near someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and has the app. Or, if you test positive, you can use the app to anonymously notify anyone you’ve been near. It doesn’t collect any personal information or track your location. Your privacy is always protected. No information that identifies you will ever leave your phone.
Saint Mary’s University stresses the importance that Minnesotans and visitors to our state download COVIDaware MN, so we can all stay safe and make informed decisions about our health.
“We’re highly encouraging our faculty, staff, and students to use this safe and secure app,” said Ann Merchlewitz, general counsel for the university. “We know how quickly this virus can spread, and being able to more quickly identify those who have been exposed, means we can control the spread quicker, and keep our university community and our wider community safe.”
Learn more about COVIDaware MN online, and download it from the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Thank-you gift bags distributed to students
We are so proud of the majority of our students who worked hard all semester to observe our COVID-19 protocols. We are also proud of the leadership demonstrated by the Student Senate, the Student Activities Committee, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. These groups partnered with us and wholeheartedly supported our students during these difficult times. As a small token of our appreciation, gift bags were delivered to all student rooms on Thursday, Nov. 19. Thanks to the staff from a variety of areas who helped stuff and deliver the bags. This was a partnership with Chartwells, which generously donated snacks, water, and caffeinated drinks.
Cardinal Update Live recording available
In case you weren’t able to attend the Cardinal Update Live Zoom meeting on Nov. 19, a recording is available. You can catch up on important Saint Mary’s updates, when you are able.
The next two Cardinal Update Live meetings are scheduled for 2021: Thursday, Feb. 11, and Thursday, April 15.
No Cardinal Update until Dec. 1
As a reminder, because of the Thanksgiving break, there will be no Cardinal Update Newsletter until Tuesday, Dec. 1. We wish all of you a wonderful and safe holiday.
Power out in chapel tomorrow
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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