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Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Success as a process, not an outcome
Being a student is one of the most fulfilling and frustrating life experiences. It’s a role where there is so much to gain, yet every new experience can feel draining. A reservoir of patience and contentedness are key to seeing this journey through, and even enjoying the ride along the way.
I recently decided to step back into the role of student and am finding out, as many of you might be as well, having patience while learning is easier said than practiced. Soon after I started, I was confronted by old habits and desires for a schedule or flow – some force to subconsciously propel me while I glided along. Combined with pressures of work and home life, it didn’t take long for stress to set in and leave me feeling as though I was struggling to stay above the proverbial water. Add in the uncertainty of our current global crisis, and excelling as a student can feel impossible.
When I began thinking about how I should approach this article, I sought out wisdom and advice to reaffirm students who find themselves in this position, myself included. Thankfully, such affirmation was not hard to find.
John Wooden knew quite a bit about success. His ten National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball championships for the University of California, Los Angeles are not so much a testament to his technique, but his values and beliefs lived out. In a TED Talk, Wooden (2001) presented his own definition of success as, “peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you’re capable.” (Wooden, 2001) Wooden goes on to say with this mindset, winning, or the results of one’s efforts, are the byproduct.
In some ways Wooden’s thoughts confirmed something I already knew: success is not equal to perfection. In general, people understand perfection is not realistic and that others will not expect them to be perfect. Yet, it is difficult to set this notion aside in favor of trusting in one’s abilities and affording oneself some patience.
The instant satisfaction of “getting it right” or receiving a grade is tempting, but not sustainable. Shifting one’s thinking of success as something external to be won, to something internal to be grown over time entirely changes the meaning of it. When success becomes a state in which one is satisfied with his or her effort, the means by which success is achieved is patience.
This aspect of success can be a truly challenging one. Through the process of learning, failure, having to reconsider one’s point of view, and having to start all over are inevitable. It takes patience to grant oneself time and forgiveness to move past such things and glean what value can be found from them.
The outcome of learning is satisfying, and with a fresh view on success and ample patience, the journey of learning can be equally as fulfilling.
Wooden, John (2001, February). The difference between winning and succeeding. [Video]. TED
Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/john_wooden_the_difference_between_winning_and_suceeding?language=en
Career Services upcoming events
Upcoming events:
MN Private Nonprofit and Government Jobs Fair – Friday, Oct. 30, delivered virtually, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you are interested in a career in Public Service, this fair is for you! Visit with representatives of government agencies and non-profit organizations, all from the convenience of your room.
For more information about the fair including the registered vendors, go to: http://www.togpartners.com/govnonprofitfair.
The event is free and open to all Saint Mary’s students and alumni, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email, which will include a log-in link specific to you and further instructions.
Internships-An Overview workshop – Tuesday, Nov. 3, delivered virtually, 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.
The meeting is free, but you must register in advance to attend.
Are you thinking about registering for an internship for credit next semester? Come join this brief but informative meeting to learn the ins and outs of registering for an internship, INCLUDING THE NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS AND FORMAT.
An internship might be the most important thing you do to prepare for your career while in college. In most cases, students who graduate with an internship get hired more quickly and get paid more than their classmates who do not participate in an internship.
Participants in this workshop will discuss how to find and secure internships and learn the procedures in securing the internships for academic credit.
Disability Virtual Career Fair – Tuesday, Nov. 10, online, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you’re an individual with a disability looking for employment or internships, register now for this free fair. 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 Bryttany Wener, a senior Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement major, who shares about her experiences at the Pierce County Jail.
Major Responsibilities: Supervising daily activities of inmates, maintaining safety and security, investigating incidents including disturbances, assaults, and escapes, enforcing the rules and regulations of the jail, booking in new inmates, sending out and replying to emails, writing reports and incidents, working as a team with my coworkers by communicating with each other, learning how to communicate with inmates and using problem solving skills to solve issues around the jail.
How did I find out about this internship? Most of my family is in law enforcement, and I have known the sheriff of Pierce County for a few years. Sheriff Nancy is a very good friend of my family and was very generous in giving me this opportunity to get my foot in the door and see if I could potentially see myself working in a jail.
Favorite part of the internship? One of my favorite parts about working at the jail is being able to interact with the inmates. I think it is really important because communication in this field is a huge part of the job! Many of my coworkers have mentioned that we are here to make it easier for them, not more difficult ,and that includes just listening to them and talking with them.
Most challenging part? I think one of the most challenging parts about working at the jail is being confident. Sometimes it can be hard to be sure of what you are doing without questioning yourself first. I was told “if you don’t know what you’re doing, act like you do.” I found it important to ask a lot of questions throughout my training process to gain the confidence that is needed in this job.
Biggest lesson learned at internship? The biggest lesson I learned was to work with your coworkers as a team. In law enforcement it is very important to work together and have each other’s backs. Asking them questions is really important as is discussing what you think should be done in certain situations, instead of jumping right into things.
Advice for others considering an internship: I think, going into this internship, I was very nervous and wasn’t really sure what to expect ,but I’ve gained so much experience and it’s helped me realize what I really want to do with my future. My advice is to just go for it because you never know what you will learn along the way, and it may help you determine whether you want to continue working in this profession or change your career.
Coming up in Campus Ministry
MASK-QUERADE
Saturday | Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. | Gostomski Fieldhouse
Come learn socially distanced line dances, decorate masks, and enjoy some treats in celebration of All Hallows’ Eve!
SET APART
Saturday | Nov.14 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Join Campus Ministry and Deprecor in Page Theater for an unforgettable day retreat, featuring speakers from the Christian Brothers, Campus Ministry, and the student body. All are welcome! Sign up with the Office of Campus Ministry.
BE A PEN PAL WITH A SENIOR CITIZEN!
Do you have 10 minutes to spare? Project pen pal is a collaborative initiative with Character and Virtue Education and Campus Ministry. If interested, contact eve@smumn.edu.
The election is coming! The USCCB offers a resource to prepare your conscience.
SAC events: Oct. 28-31
The Student Activities Committee (SAC) invites all community members to the following events. As a reminder, SAC hosts free events for EVERYONE on campus, and all students are encouraged to attend.
Halloween Bingo
Thursday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., via Zoom
Want to win some SPOOOKY prizes? Play some virtual trivia with SAC to get into the Halloween spirit! Sign up via the link above to participate. Can’t make the whole event? No worries, you can come and go as needed.
Halloween Movie Marathon
Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Gostomski Field House
it is time to get in your fix of Halloween movies with SAC! SAC will be showing two Halloween classic movies that everyone knows, and will be hosting a costume contest in between. Due to COVID-19, the costume contest will be for individual costumes only; no group costumes are permitted. The categories are funniest costume, creative costume, and scariest costume. All winners will receive a bucket of candy, second place will receive a SAC T-shirt, and first place will receive a SAC sweatshirt. Costumes are not necessary to attend, but are welcome. Light refreshments will be provide;, please bring your own blankets and pillows.
Dias Di Los Muertos Display
Saturday, Oct. 31 – Friday, Nov. 6, first floor, Saint Mary’s Hall
Looking ahead…
Thursday, Nov. 5: Jackbox Game Night (Sign up here)
Friday, Nov. 6: Marvel Trivia
Saturday, Nov. 7: Rocket League Tournament (Sign up here)
Sunday, Nov. 8: Build a Bonfire Workshop
Interested in joining the Student Activities Committee?
Email president Sarah Fowler at safowl17@smumn.edu.
Student Senate Minutes, Oct. 27
Student Senate – Oct. 27, 2020
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by President Kendall Archer.
A prayer was said by Collin van Waardenburg.
Members present: Cece Abel, Kendall Archer, Samantha Carlson, Larkin Clem, Sarah Fowler, Mary Furlong, Gabriel Graves, Noah Kimel, Megan Kowalis, Jonathon Krull, Abby Lang, Tom Magnavite (proxy Andrew Frose), Allison Moysis, Nicole Noreen, Lyanna Novak, Enitan Onayiga, Sophia O’Neil, Angel Sacta Espinoza, Joseph Schauf, Collin van Waardenburg, Destiny Walker, and Ryan Stoynich
Members absent: Jake Emeott, and Lily Klein
Members excused: Tom Magnavite (proxy Andrew Frose), Tara Nikolich, and Marcos Pedroza
Discussion items
- Executive Board Updates
- Kendall Archer, president
- Reaching out to Minnesota college student senate presidents to form a group to discuss adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
- Disrespect reported towards librarians; please be nice to them and remember to wear your mask
- If you are leaving campus, fill out the travel notification form.
- Marcos Pedroza, vice president of Media and Communications
- No updates
- Angel Sacta Espinosa, vice president for Campus Affairs
- No updates
- Nicole Noreen, vice president for Financial Affairs
- The first budget request was received, will be brought up to full senate next week
- Destiny Walker, vice president for Multicultural Affairs
- Holding a conversation with Winona mayoral candidate Jovy Rocky
- Email her for the Zoom link to attend
- Holding a conversation with Winona mayoral candidate Jovy Rocky
- Mary Furlong, vice president for Academic Affairs
- Keep an eye out for registration information coming in the next week.
- Elijah Williams, vice president for Student Life
- Contact him to join a committee regarding Chartwells
- Specifically focusing on time constraints
- Meeting set up with Kat Freihammer, counselor, and Christina Uribe Nitti, director of Health Services, Wellness Center, to discuss student mental health
- Look at the flyers for the upcoming Ted Talks
- Door decorating contest will be voted on this week; watch your emails for more information
- Contact him to join a committee regarding Chartwells
- Megan Kowalis, vice president for Public Affairs
- Prepping for election
- Jonathon Krull, executive assistant
- Looking for ethics committee members
- Will be addressing attendance issues for senators
- Looking for ethics committee members
- Sarah Fowler, SAC president
- Thursday will be virtual Halloween bingo
- Friday will be Halloween movies
- Marisa Quinn, adviser
- No reports
- Kendall Archer, president
- Class officer reports
- Freshman: No reports
- Sophomore: No reports
- Junior: No reports
- Senior: No reports
- Senator concerns
- None
- Motion to adjourn
- Time: 7:18 p.m.
Meet with a peer learning assistant today
Peer learning assistants are staffing Room 19 of the Hendrickson Center and also meeting online. Schedule a meeting using the peer learning assistant calendar and make an academic plan for the remainder of this semester.
It’s not too late to sign up for tutoring
Sign up for tutoring at smumn.joinknack.com using your SMUMN student account.
If you have any questions about working with these tutors, please email Joe Dulak. If you experience any technical difficulties with Knack, please email support@joinknack.com.
Need help with writing papers? Contact the Saint Mary’s Writing Center.
Leaders of opposite parties stand united
Jonathon Krull, president of the College Republicans, and Clare Bath, president of the College Democrats, stand on opposite sides of many national issues yet stand united on two fronts: empowering students to vote and the need to model civil discourse, particularly during this divisive national election.
Despite their differences, both students share similar backgrounds and goals, as well as a sincere love of the democratic process.
Krull is a sophomore majoring in political science; Bath is a senior double majoring in political science and history. Whereas Bath is interested in international issues — focusing on the Middle East and North Africa — Krull hopes one day to run for political office. Both see politics as a way to help people and to make a positive difference locally and globally.
Both grew up immersed in politics. Krull’s father is an alderman in his hometown of Seymour, Wis. The Krull family always watched the news, and politics was a frequent topic of discussion in his household. Bath’s father is a political science professor at Concordia Moorehead; likewise her family openly and frequently discussed political matters.
Both college political leaders believe it’s critical that their peers vote, regardless of how they are voting. In a joint project with the President’s Office, the Student Senate, and the College Republicans and Democrats, Bath and Krull assisted with hosting a voter registration drive, included voting information in newsletters and on social media, put up flyers with informational QR codes; passed out “I will vote” stickers; and spoke to classes. Bath alone spoke to 30 classes about how to register to vote, and the various voting options.
And both Bath and Krull believe our nation’s leaders, representing both major parties, can and should do better. They’re tired of what they call hyperpartisanship, increased fear mongering, and name calling. And both found it too difficult to watch the entire first presidential debate because it was too painful.
“It was very unbecoming of the office. Political offices are esteemed offices,” Krull said. “And people should be civil when in office; I’d like to see it return to that. We can respectfully disagree with one another. It’s important to see where the other person is coming from and how they got there. Instead of accusing and name calling, we should be coming up with well-founded arguments and having a civil discussion.”
Bath agrees. “Showing civil discourse is very important,” she said. “In my mind, there are two benefits. By listening to others’ points of view, you can reemphasize and legitimize your own point of view. You can also appreciate another person’s point of view and think about how it relates to or shapes your own political philosophies. It shouldn’t be ‘We have different views so I’m not going to listen.’ It should be ‘I’m going to hear your point of view because you may have different experiences than I may have had.’ ”
Bath and Krull believe the country has grown increasingly and alarmingly divisive, particularly since 2016.
“I think politics in the last eight years has been partisan to the extreme and that’s really frustrating,” Bath said. She believes civil discourse must first be modeled by the current administration. “In the last four or so years, hate speech found a safe place in America,” she said. “Commonly coined terms have been used to brush off mainstream media. We’ve delegitmize other people’s voices and struggles in America. These perspectives, rooted in hatred, have really blossomed.
Krull believes social media has played a significant role in creating a bigger rift between the two parties. He’s currently researching its role in hyperpartisanship. “It’s an echo chamber,” he said. People sound out their own views and don’t want to read or believe anything that differs from their own viewpoint. There’s a confirmation bias; they only seek articles that support their viewpoint. People are more entrenched in their own views than ever before.”
Both are nervous for the post-election fallout, regardless of who wins.
Bath is more worried about riots and violence in larger cities. “We’re a small enough campus that people are aware who believes what. I believe there are very few instances of disrespect. I give Saint Mary’s students a lot of credit for being Minnesota nice. In terms of the nation, it’s worrisome coming from either perspective, especially in light of social justice issues. It’s absolutely terrifying, no matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on. It’s so frustrating that we’ve gone from ‘our rights’ to ‘my rights.’ ”
Krull believes emotions will run high this Nov. 3. “Regardless of which side wins, the other side will feel it’s the end of the world,” he said. “All the hyperpartisanship and fear mongering the candidates like to throw out doesn’t help with trying to slow that down. On campus, students want to listen to the other viewpoint and have that civil discussion, that’s something the rest of the nation can learn from. Regardless, we’ve reached a point where we need to try to turn back and fix our problems.”
So how do we begin to turn things around? Bath and Krull believe it’ll take all of us showing character and virtue with open mindedness, patience, civility, honesty, compassion, and justice.
Krull references the close relationship democratic Vice President Joe Biden had with republican presidential candidate the late John McCain. And he recalls how the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia were on opposite ends of the political spectrum but remained close friends. “I’d like (national politicians) to take the viewpoint that although politics is their life, the greater good of the country comes first. It’s country first, politics or party second, and I think that’s the mindset they have to get back to. The constituents are the focus, not your own party.”
For Bath it’s about sticking to politics and not letting it degrade into pettiness. “It’s a shift in culture,” she said. “It has potential to happen with new leadership, but it’s going to take everyone holding ourselves and our neighbors accountable.”
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota engages K16 Solutions and Canvas as new innovative technology providers
K16 Solutions’ revolutionary LMS migration technology helps launch Saint Mary’s strategic initiatives on embracing innovation and global online learning with a move to Canvas
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — K16 Solutions and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota announced a strategic partnership today that involves using K16 Solutions’ ground-breaking LMS migration technology, Scaffold, to migrate Saint Mary’s online courses onto their new LMS platform, Canvas.
Following months of extensive evaluation and community engagement, these new partnerships bring to life key aspects of the university’s new strategic plan to foster innovation, excel through excellence and relevance, and steward resources. Through the technology engagements with both Canvas and K16 Solutions, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota continues to innovate and modernize the online teaching and learning experience. “Moving from two learning management systems onto the mobile friendly and intuitive Canvas interface will provide a superior online learning experience,” said Andrea Carroll-Glover, vice provost for Online Strategy and Programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. “By leveraging the innovative K16 Scaffold solution, we are further optimizing our resources while saving valuable time typically necessary to migrate courses into a new LMS. Collectively, this work will lay the foundation for extending access across our Lasallian community at Saint Mary’s University and beyond.”
Using a phased migration approach, Saint Mary’s will leverage the K16 Scaffold solution to move at the speed of business vs. the glacial pace traditionally associated with higher education to migrate existing Blackboard and Engage/Moodle courses in a fraction of the time. Through the K16 partnership, Saint Mary’s expects to cut down on the overall migration timeframe and minimize the clean-up work typically associated with such migrations. The university is piloting the first migrated courses in Canvas in Spanish for the fall of 2020 with the full implementation to be completed within the year.
K16 Solutions, the industry leader in EdTech for LMS migration and course design, has now successfully migrated over 100,000 courses and is on pace to do thousands more by the year’s end. The courses their team has successfully migrated thus far represent a diverse range of institutions: small, large, public, private, international, and domestic. To name a few, K16 Solutions has completed LMS course migrations with Northeastern University, Wake Forest University, Rutgers University, Mohawk College, Ottawa College, and the University of South Alabama.
Dr. Thomas Waite, CEO, and president of K16 Solutions said about the partnership “We are excited to work with Saint Mary’s on such an important initiative. When two innovative organizations come together to do something strategic and transformative, great things happen.”
About K16 Solutions:
Founded by experienced higher education leaders, faculty, and academic entrepreneurs, K16 Solutions solves the biggest LMS challenges facing institutions today. Scaffold technology, powered by K16 Solutions, allows schools to easily and seamlessly migrate LMS platforms, build better courses, and archive outdated online courses. To learn more, visit www.k16solutions.com
About Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. At Saint Mary’s, students find in every classroom — whether in person or online — a relationship-driven, person-centered education. Through intense inquiry, students discover the truths in the world and the character within. Founded in 1912 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota enrolls 5,600 students at its residential undergraduate college in Winona and its Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs, based in Minneapolis with programs offered in Rochester, other locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin and fully online. As a Lasallian Catholic university welcoming all students, Saint Mary’s offers respected and affordable programs in a variety of areas leading to bachelor’s, bachelor’s completion, master’s, certificate, specialist, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates. Learn more at smumn.edu.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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