Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Canvas migration infographic created
As part of the ongoing process to keep the Saint Mary’s community aware of the migration from Blackboard and Engage to Canvas, the LMS task force has created an infographic to help summarize where the university has been, is currently, and will be in the months and terms to come. In addition to the outline, there is a hyperlink at the bottom of the infographic that will provide our staff, faculty, and students with program- and department-specific information on migration (as well as additional information on the various migration steps).
This document and additional migration details are housed on the CELT website at celt.smumn.edu/canvas and we encourage you to check the site regularly for updates, trainings and more!
GeoSpatial Services awarded new projects
GSS was recently awarded new work from their partners and clients in multiple areas of the country. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wetlands mapping group of GSS recently bid on and won numerous projects in both Alaska and the lower 48 states. The group will take on additional project work in Idaho and five new project areas in Alaska. This is in addition to the current mapping work going on in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Alaska. The BLM group within GSS currently has five full-time staff members and 17 students engaged in landscape-level wetland mapping under the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Another group within GSS, also working with the USFWS on NWI wetland mapping in North Dakota, has recently been awarded contracts to complete mapping across 14 additional counties in central North Dakota. The GSS North Dakota group will work toward the completion of this project over the next 18 months. After its completion, the GSS mapping teams will have completed mapping across most of the state. The North Dakota project engages 14 Saint Mary’s students and three full-time GSS staff members. To see maps of some of the new project areas, visit the GSS website: http://www.geospatialservices.org/news/2020/10/21/geospatial-services-awarded-new-projects.
Caption: Andy Robertson (left) studies an Alaska wetland with a project partner.
Canvas essentials trainings
The LMS TaskForce is proud to announce the next set of Canvas training! In this Saint Mary’s-led Canvas training, you will learn some of the basics around Canvas including: creating an announcement, how to create assignments, how to grade assignments, and more. Attendees will participate in a live Canvas course designed to have them learn among their peers. The course will contain common course materials used across the university, and the common course template that will be used in all courses will be showcased.
Please go to the CELT website to RSVP for the training. The training is offered three different times: Tuesday, Nov. 17, at noon; Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. Please RSVP for the time that best suits your schedule.
Career Services news
Upcoming Events:
Disability Virtual Career Fair – Tuesday, Nov. 10, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., online, free
If you’re an individual with a disability looking for employment or internships, register now. Early registration will give employers access to your résumé as soon as they register for this event. You can chat online with employers across the county who are ready to hire you!
Spotlight on Intern:
Our intern this week is Erin Marti, a junior psychology major, who shares about her experiences at Epiphany Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Major Responsibilities: Some of my major responsibilities include creating a resource library for people to learn about topics that include resilience, trauma, values, and more.
How did I find out about this internship?: I found out about this internship from a family member. I was not quite sure I would get it, but I am glad I applied.
Favorite part of the internship?: My favorite part of the internship is learning from the team.
Most challenging part?: The most challenging part of the internship is creating the socials which are designed to help guide people to the resource library. It was the most challenging because there was not much guidance on what to do. It was also one of my favorite parts because I could use more creativity and had to trust myself and my ability to create, which helped me learn and grow throughout the internship.
Biggest lesson learned at internship?: The biggest lesson I learned in this internship was to learn from the people around you because everyone has different experiences and skills, so it is important to get feedback and advice from an outsiders view to grow and improve.
Advice for others considering an internship: My advice to others is to consider an internship, because it is a good way to have a trial run for a job or major that you are thinking about. It is a good way to see if your major is the right one for you or if you want to change it.
SAC event update (with changes due to COVID-19 precautions)
The Student Activities Committee wants the entire Cardinal Community to remain healthy and safe. This is why we have adjusted some of our remaining events to better fit within the new COVID-19 guidelines. Please see below for an updated list of all SAC events for the remainder of the semester.
Thursday, Nov. 12
Thank You Cards for Faculty and Staff
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., outside Cardinal Coffee
Come write a thank-you note to your favorite faculty or staff member. SAC will mail all cards to these faculty or staff members, so all you have to do is write out the card. Please make sure you know the first and last name of the faculty or staff member you wish to thank. For safety, students will receive their own pens and will have the ability to take the cards elsewhere to fill them out and bring them back.
Thursday, Nov. 12
Wing Eating Contest with Chartwells – CANCELED
This event has been canceled due to new COVID-19 safety restrictions. Please watch for updates next semester.
Saturday, Nov. 14
Virtual De-Stress and Wellness Bingo
7 p.m. Sign up here.
Are you stressed out? This is the Bingo event for you. All prizes are meant to reduce stress and promote wellness on campus. This event is virtual to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus.
CARDINAL WEEK 2020 – Nov. 16-21
In place of Cardinal Fest, SAC is hosting Cardinal Week for 2020. All Cardinal Week events are free to the entire Cardinal Community. Per policy, no guests are allowed on campus, so only students, faculty, and staff are welcome. The first 30 people at each event or to pick up supplies will receive a Cardinal Week T-shirt.
Monday, Nov. 16
Toner Takeover – Vikings vs. Bears Game CANCELED
This event has been canceled due to new COVID-19 safety restrictions. Please watch for updates next semester.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Tie Dye Kits
5 p.m., pick up materials in plaza
Instead of tie dying shirts in-person, like originally planned, SAC will be putting together kits for students to take and make on their own. If you would like a tie dye kit, please pick one up in the plaza starting at 5 p.m. While supplies last.
Please remember not to tie dye in your room or on concrete as it will stain. The best place to tie dye is in the dirt or grass, or on top of a plastic garbage bag. All supplies needed will be included in the kits.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Virtual Cardinal Paint Night
5 p.m. – Pick up supplies in front of Cardinal Coffee
7 p.m. – Virtual painting tutorial
Instead of painting cardinals together in-person, we will be painting cardinals together via Zoom. If you would like to participate and paint your own cardinal, please pick up supplies between 5 and 6:30 p.m. outside of Cardinal Coffee. We will be using an 11×14 stretched canvas and acrylic paint; we will also supply paint brushes (and the Zoom link). Then at 7 p.m., you will join a Zoom tutorial on how to paint a winter cardinal. While supplies last.
Thursday, Nov. 19
Virtual Farewell Bingo
6 p.m. Sign up here.
This virtual Bingo event will help prepare you for the long break with your favorite Cardinal gear! Sweatshirts, pants, water bottles — you name it, and we probably are giving it away! Stock up on Cardinal pride before we say farewell to the semester!
Friday, Nov. 20
Clubs and Orgs Friendsgiving – CANCELED
This event has been canceled due to new COVID-19 safety restrictions. Please watch for updates next semester.
Saturday, Nov. 21
Disc Golf Tournament
1 p.m. – Sign up here and meet at hole #1.
Test your hand at disc golf in the cold. The winner of the tourney will receive a FREE SAC sweatshirt.
If you are interested in joining SAC, please email president Sarah Fowler at safowl17@smumn.edu.
Saint Mary’s Bookstore rental return information
This is a friendly reminder that your rentals are due on or before Friday, Dec. 4. You have two options to return your rental books:
Option #1: IN STORE
No longer need your rental textbooks? Return them to the bookstore on or before Friday, Dec. 4.
Store hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Tuesday, Nov. 24. Special hours on Wednesday, Nov. 25, are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the bookstore will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 29. Please visit our website or look us up on Google for updated hours of operation.
Option #2: BY MAIL
If you are unable to return your rental textbooks before leaving campus, you can ship them back to us via UPS before the due date of Dec. 4. Find step-by-step instructions to print your shipping label on our website.
Questions? Email w-bookstore@smumn.edu or call us at 507-457-1569.
Student Senate agenda, Nov. 10
Student Senate agenda for Nov. 10:
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Call to order
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Prayer/reflection
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Roll call
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Introduction of Dr. Susan Cosby Ronnenberg, dean of the College
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Faculty council discussion
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Capstone 499 Food Pantry presentation
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Chair of Ethics Committee vote
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E-Board reports
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Class officer reports
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Senator concerns
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Adjournment
As always, if you are interested in attending, please email Kendall Archer, Student Senate president, at kxarch16@smumn.edu for the Zoom link.
Grading option for fall 2020
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pass/no credit option made available for the summer and the spring 2020 semester is being extended for the fall 2020 semester for all schools and all programs.
Students may exercise this option on a course-by-course basis after informing individual faculty members; however, the decision to move to pass/no credit should not be made lightly and only after consultation with the adviser.
Often standard letter grades are required for those pursuing licensure, certification, or admission to graduate and professional programs. Standard letter grades are often also required by employers who reimburse the cost of tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information about the pass/no credit option, visit the FAQ page.
Moving forward after this election
As club leaders for our political organizations on campus, we ask that each and every one of you come together to eliminate hatred from politics and to support one another as we move forward from this election. It is time for us to put country over party and respectfully engage in civil discourse. Change is a slow process, but if each and every one of us participates, we can effectively make a difference in the world. Let’s continue to be activists for change!
Please consider contacting representatives, volunteering, and participating in campus events and civil discourse. We encourage you to reach out to either one of us with any questions or concerns. We are happy to talk with you and/or connect you with individuals or organizations that support the social and political issues that you are passionate about!
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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