Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Students inducted into Psi Chi
Several Saint Mary’s students were inducted virtually into Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology for psychology students. As stated in its constitution, Psi Chi’s purpose is “to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology.” This is the 50th anniversary of Psi Chi at Saint Mary’s University.
These Saint Mary’s psychology majors or minors must be second-semester sophomores, juniors, or seniors, who have completed at least nine semester hours of psychology courses at Saint Mary’s, at least one of which is PY305, PY335 or PY341. They must also have a psychology GPA of at least 3.2 and have an overall GPA that is in the top 35% of their class.
Congratulations to this year’s inductees: Adrianna Baab, Samantha Chaffee, Elizabeth Ciukaj, Carol Dao, Tabitha Fabin, Sarah Hardy, Danielle Harris, La ‘Caisha James, Dara Kaiser, Solomon Liebl, Isabelle Lindahl, Isaiah Lippert, Holland Lutgen, McKenna Messling, Colby Peterson, Denise Quizhpi, Michele Remer, Brandi Remold, Yohanan Urbina, Magen Vlaminck, and Delaney Wolf.
Chartwells helps prepare 223 Easter dinners for Winonans in need
In years past, Winona Volunteer Services hosted a free community dinner on Easter Sunday at the Eagles Club. Previously, Chartwells Dining Services at Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University donated and cooked the food, while volunteers served the eat-in guests and prepared the take-outs and deliveries to go.
This year, a dining adjustment was needed in light of COVID-19. Thankfully, Curt Coshenet, director of dining services, and his team at Saint Mary’s kept the tradition alive by cooking and packaging the food for delivery on Saint Mary’s Winona Campus. Winona Volunteer Services recruited 13 volunteer teams to deliver the meals.
Thanks to the generosity of others, 223 ham dinners, with a side salad and dessert, made it to the homes of area residents on Easter Sunday.
Student Life and wellness updates
Student Wellness Club sleep challenge starts tomorrow
Create a healthy sleep routine while in quarantine and get a chance at a prize by joining the Student Wellness Club sleep challenge! Download the free app, Sleep Cycle, to track the quantity and quality of your sleep for two weeks and fill out this short Google form daily with your sleep results.
Have a question? Reach out to Molly Cary at mgcary17@smunmn.edu. Happy sleeping! Check out the new Student Wellness Club Instagram.
Intramural tournaments: Fortnite and Words with Friends
Fortnite: Sign up to take part in our Fortnite tournament! To participate, send your name and Fortnite in-game name to intramurals@smumn.edu by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, April 17. Your name will get added to the bracket, and the bracket will be sent to all participants by 9 a.m. CST Monday, April 20. The bracket will need to be completed by Sunday, April 26.
Words With Friends: Sign up to take part in our Intramural Words with Friends virtual tournament! To participate, send your Words with Friends username to intramurals@smumn.edu by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, April 24. Your name will get added to the bracket, and the bracket will be sent out to all participants by 9 a.m. CST on Saturday, April 25.
Apply to work in the Admission Office
Interested in working with prospective students who are looking for their college home? Apply to work in the Admission Office. We’re now accepting applications.
Use this form, upload your resume, and complete the reference section. All applications must be received no later than Wednesday, April 22.
If you have questions, email Nicole Gerdes at ngerdes@smumn.edu. We look forward to meeting you!
Now hiring!
If you are looking for a summer job, internship, or a full-time position after graduation, check out this list of companies in Minnesota who are currently hiring. This list is generated and maintained by WCCO.
Grading option for spring 2020
The spring 2020 academic semester has experienced an appreciable and unforeseen disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota made the significant shift to deliver all spring 2020 coursework remotely.
Saint Mary’s has now made the decision to offer an expanded pass/no credit option for the spring 2020 semester for all schools and all programs. You 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 your 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.
A moment of humanity
Times of uncertainty often bring innovation and creativity. The COVID-19 outbreak is no different as students across the world find ways to come together while apart. A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights the ways students from across the world are recreating campus life from home.
Weeks ago, a group of Japanese elementary-school students organized a graduation ceremony for themselves with the video game Minecraft. Now, American college students are taking it a step further, not only hosting virtual commencements in the game but also recreating their entire campuses on-screen.
They’re committed to accuracy, too: One Boston University student snapped photos of the emergency-evacuation plans in each building on his campus to use as blueprints, while students building the University of Washington campus have adopted standard road widths.
But the virtual campuses are more than a pandemic pastime: They’re helping seniors cope with the abrupt end of their college years. Pearse Anderson, a senior at Oberlin College, has more at The Verge.
Spiritual offering
Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry continues to share spiritual offerings to provide much-needed perspective and a focus on faith in this time of uncertainty.
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
Visit Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry on Facebook.
MSW faculty present at Minnesota Social Service Association Conference
Five members of the Saint Mary’s University Master of Social Work (MSW) community presented at the 127th annual Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) Conference, “Shaping our Future Together,” March 11-13 in Minneapolis.
Sylvester Lamin, Ph.D., core associate professor in the MSW program, presented on three topics:
- “Law Enforcement-Mental Health Collaborations,” joined by Shelly Statz, field education director and core faculty member in the MSW program, and Consoler Teboh, Ph.D., course-contracted assistant professor in the MSW program
- “Social Workers as Administrators and Leaders: Educational and Practice Implications,” joined by Statz and Michael Lee, Ph.D., course-contracted assistant professor
- “Africans Aging in the Diaspora: Narratives About Social Isolation and the Roles of Social Workers”
Suzanne Shatila, MSW program director, was a panelist on “Getting Your Master’s Degree in Social Work: When, Why and How?”
Saint Mary’s was represented by a booth supported by School of Health and Human Services staff with the help of the Alumni Relations team and connected with many current, future, and past students of various disciplines.
MSSA’s Annual Training Conference & Expo is the largest, most comprehensive health and human service conference in the Midwest. The conference brings together almost 3,400 health and human service professionals from all parts of Minnesota and the surrounding states. MSSA remains committed to improving Minnesota’s health and human service system through education and advocacy. Its mission is to unite diverse professions and passionate people through education and legislative advocacy to enrich lives.
Photo caption: Farhiya Farah, Ph.D., Master of Public Health program director, stands with Sylvester Lamin, Ph.D., core associate professor in the Master of Social Work program.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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