Saint Mary's Newsroom

News about COVID-19 cases and outbreaks can cause anxiety and stress. If this is the case for you, please know you are not alone. It’s important to try to find ways to relax and recharge while taking the time to monitor your own physical and mental health.

The Minnesota Department of Health offers helpful tips.

Students on our Winona Campus can access counseling at the Jay Johnson Wellness Center.

Employees can access our Life Assistance Program through Cigna.

Stay safe and be well.

Celebrate Constitution Day on Thursday, Sept. 17, by learning about our nation’s Constitution! Paul Kotz, Ph.D., core associate professor in the Ed.D. in Leadership program, will deliver a virtual presentation from noon to 12:45 p.m. CST. All are welcome to attend. More details to come. Use this link to add the event to your Google Calendar.

The MIAC announced on Monday, Aug. 31, that all athletic competitions have been postponed until January 2021. Read more.

Hey, Cardinal nation: Welcome back to campus!

As we try to navigate the 2020-21 school year, know there is a one-stop way to keep up with all the Saint Mary’s sports action — including previews, recaps, and all Cardinal athletics news.

Simply sign up to receive all the latest Cardinal news by visiting saintmaryssports.com/subscribe.aspx or emailing dnadeau@smumn.edu with “Sign Me Up” in the subject line.

Subscribing is the only way for you to receive Cardinal athletic news. So make sure to hop on the bandwagon and stay up to date on all the 2020-21 Cardinal athletic action!!

Signed up but not receiving your daily emails? Check your spam folder for emails from saintmaryssports@collegiateathleticnews.com, and add this sender as a trusted email source. If you are still not seeing anything, email dnadeau@smumn.edu.

Whether you subscribe or not, Cardinal fans can always visit saintmaryssports.com to catch up on all the action.

Make sure to also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Dear Students,

Minnesota’s COVID-19 case counts have been climbing since June, especially in the 18- to 24-year-old age group. Around 1,000 cases a week have been reported in this age group. These COVID-19 cases have occurred as a result of people gathering without social distancing at bars, restaurants, and house parties.

Today, the New York Times reports more than 6,600 COVID-19 cases have been linked to U.S. colleges and universities. We have also seen reports in the news media about several colleges and universities that have re-opened and experienced significant numbers of COVID-19 cases. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill closed its campus one week after it had reopened. The University of Notre Dame has moved to online instruction for two weeks due to cases moving from 33 at the start of the school year to 471 cases as of Aug. 24. The number of positive cases at Auburn University multiplied by more than five times in one week, moving from 41 to 208 cases. These schools have attributed the spread of COVID-19 to large off-campus parties and students at bars.

We understand the temptation you may be feeling, particularly because you haven’t seen one another for a long period of time. But, if we are to keep Saint Mary’s learning on ground — and keep everyone safe — our expectation is that students, staff, and faculty will not put themselves in situations where social distancing and mask wearing are not being observed.

It is everyone’s responsibility to help reverse the trend. If case counts continue to increase, you are jeopardizing our ability to offer fall academic courses in-person. So, we ask you to adhere to the following:

• When getting together in a social setting, whether indoor or outdoor:
  • Keep group sizes small (10 or fewer people) – the smaller the better!
  • Ensure at least 6 feet of social distancing between you and your friends.
  • Meet outside whenever possible.
• Limit the number of people in small or common spaces.
• Avoid crowded bars, restaurants, or other gathering spots.
• If you do go to a bar or restaurant:
  • Don’t stay if tables aren’t spread out. COVID-19 spreads quickly when there is crowding and clustering.
  • Sit outside. We see less transmission of COVID-19 when people are outside.
  • Instead of standing at a bar, sit at a table with space between you and others. It is too easy to get close to each other when you are standing.
  • When sitting with your friends, try to give yourself as much space as possible.
  • Wear a face covering when you are not eating or drinking. In Minnesota, masks are mandatory inside buildings with the exception of when you are eating or drinking.

Saint Mary’s has partnered with you to support in-person learning this fall. It is now your responsibility to ensure that we are able to move forward with these plans. The longer people follow these guidelines, the longer we will be able to keep classes on campus. We want you to be on campus through Nov. 24. Help us achieve that goal. Do the right thing by wearing a mask, spreading out, and avoiding places where this isn’t possible.

Ann Merchlewitz, J.D.
Chair, Pandemic Assessment and Coordinating Team

Resources:

• Help Protect Yourself and Others from COVID-19
• Slow the Spread of COVID-19
• Saint Mary’s University COVID-19 Planning
• Wellness Center: Call 507-457-1492
• COVID-19 questions: Email COVID@smumn.edu or call 507-457-1614

Cardinals,

Each day it is wonderful to see all of you back on campus. I have been very impressed with how many of you are following our Saint Mary’s COVID-19 guidelines. You are being great partners with us in keeping our classroom learning in person all semester. I have confidence we can keep our campus open because of your willingness to follow our guidelines. Keep it up!

Together, we can make it through November. Let’s be the school who can do it. The university has faith in you as a student body, now let’s make it happen.

COVID-19 updates

• This continues to be a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. We strive to keep you updated on a weekly basis, but some items are subject to change as we learn and tweak our procedures.
• Commuter students may pick up their welcome back gift bags at the Office of Campus Safety, first floor of the Toner Student Center.
• To fill up your hand sanitizer spray bottles (found in your welcome back gift bags), bring your bottle to the Office of Campus Safety for a refill.
• Saint Mary’s is working with the other two local institutions of higher education, the city of Winona, Winona Police Department, and the Winona Chamber of Commerce to ensure all businesses are adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. When you leave campus, your responsibilities to keep yourself and others safe do not stop at the edge of campus.
• Campus Safety escorts will continue. If needed, call 507-457-1703 and they will pick you up individually in a van or golf cart. Please wear a mask the entire time. We will also start offering walking escorts if appropriate.
• Because of the high demand for classroom space, the President’s Room has now been allocated as a classroom and is no longer a space for eating meals.
• The Access Services Office has clear masks available for faculty and others who might need them. If you have any questions or suggestions for the use of clear masks, email covid@smumn.edu.
• Wash your masks following this guidance.
• Review the letter from Ann Merchlewitz, J.D., chair of the Pandemic Assessment and Coordinating Team, regarding expectations for behavior at school.

Masks outside on campus

You need to wear a mask when outside and unable to social distance from others. For example, if you are going to pass individuals in the Plaza or on the sidewalk, you need to have your mask on. If you are sitting in Saint Mary’s Park by yourself, you do not need to have your mask on, but have it available in case a friend comes by. If ever wondering, the default is to always wear your mask.

Not feeling well? Contact the Wellness Center

If you are not feeling well or have COVID-19 like symptoms, please quarantine yourself and contact the Jay Johnson Wellness Center immediately at 507-457-1492 for further guidance.

Quarantine info

Read more about what happens if you’re asked to quarantine, including where you might go, what you’ll need to bring, how you will get food, and more.

Food Service updates

• Feel free to take what you will eat, however, seconds are not allowed to ensure all students can get through the lines in a timely manner.
• We are working on the venting situation of the Cardinal Club and hope it will be rectified shortly.
• Thank you for not moving the tables and chairs in the student dining room or other locations on campus, as they are set with social distancing in mind.
• The game room, Toner Student Center Lounge, gym lobby, and Plaza are available for additional seating. Remember to use the sanitation product when and if needed.
• The university appreciates your flexibility and patience in the student dining hall. Each day, we are learning and tweaking our procedures. If you do not have class before or after common hour, please visit the dining hall at that time as we know we have a number of students who need to get their food and return to class in a specific amount of time.
• Thank you for considering others at this time.

Tim Gossen, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

Students will be asked to quarantine if they:

• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test (typically this will occur in one’s own sleeping room).
• Have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Saint Mary’s will not quarantine students who:

• Do not live on campus.
• Have not been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (i.e., My roommate was with a friend who tested positive for COVID-19, but I was not … My roommate is quarantined, but I am not, but I will watch for symptoms and notify the Jay Johnson Wellness Center if I have a symptom).

If you are asked to quarantine, going home is the first preference if at all possible. Students may also be quarantined at the Alverna Center, which includes single rooms and private bathrooms. Students are strongly encouraged to drive themselves and meet staff at the Alverna Center. Street parking is available. If a student does not have a vehicle, the university will transport the student while following mask and social distancing protocols. Students should bring items they will need for 14 days, including academic materials. Linens, bedding, and towels will be provided; laundry services are available. Students may also be asked to quarantine in their sleeping rooms on campus if applicable.

In the event of quarantine, Student Affairs will:

• Connect with food service to ensure three meals (two warm) are delivered to the student’s room daily. Dietary restrictions should be shared with covid@smumn.edu as soon as students are told to quarantine.
• Connect with the Student Success Center to ensure the student’s faculty are notified. Students will be copied on the email to faculty, receive additional information from their faculty, and are responsible for keeping up with their academics. Students do not need to contact the faculty prior to the Student Success Center contacting the faculty.

While in quarantine, students must:

• Follow directives from the Jay Johnson Wellness Center
• Answer their room phone in the Alverna Center and cell phone
• Stay within their room unless during scheduled recreation or laundry times (or use bathroom and shower facilities if applicable)
• Not have guests for any reason
• Not order outside food deliveries

When students are released from quarantine (once test results are negative and the student has no symptoms):

• The Jay Johnson Wellness Center will provide clear instruction on what the student should and can do. The Wellness Center will also contact Student Success Center and Student Affairs.
• On the next full day after being released from quarantine, the student will be able to attend class and use food service.

Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health about quarantine:

• When to Quarantine
• What to Do if You Are Sick
• What to do if you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19
• If You Are Sick
• Tracing COVID-19
• When Can I Return to Work if Someone Living With Me is Sick?
• When Can I Return to Work After Being Sick with COVID-19?

Hey Cardinals,

I hope you are all settling back into campus life in Winona! I know it may be hard to adjust to the new safety guidelines, but I want to personally thank each of you for your help in keeping each other and our campus safe. This really is a team effort, and I am grateful to be on this team. I truly believe that with your help, we will be here until November learning, living, and eating on campus together. This may not be going away anytime soon, on our campus or across our country, but if we continue to make decisions that help our community at large, we can spend our entire semester together, which is a goal we can all strive for.

Thank you again.

Kendall Archer
Student Senate President

Forget to sign up for your meal plan? Want to upgrade to the All Access Plan?

The meal plan selection forms will reopen Monday, Aug. 31, to Friday, Sept. 4, for you to change your plan.

Here is more information to help you make the right choice for you:

• Plan information
• Meal plan survey

To change your plan

New students use this form to upgrade to the All Access Plan or change to the Essential 19.

Returning students use this form to change your plan.

The meal plan switch period will end at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4.

Add flex dollars

Need more lattes? Want to try out the new Life Bowl? Craving a midnight pizza snack?
Add more flex dollars to your meal plan account by contacting Curt Coshenet at 507-497-1678 or ccoshene@smumn.edu.

Commuter students

It’s not too late to sign up for a meal plan. Complete this form to join the meal plan. The deadline to sign up is Friday, Sept. 4, at 4 p.m.