Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterCOVID-19 planning and August events
Saint Mary’s faculty and staff,
We thank you for your flexibility, patience, and support as the university readies for the academic year and plans and adapts as needed. As we have stated throughout the pandemic and in our most recent communications, we continue to closely follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), as well as transmission levels in the communities in which our campuses are located. As fluctuations occur quickly, we appreciate your responsiveness and adaptability.
We will communicate any updates in a timely manner and direct you to our Steadfast and Resilient webpage, which is the best source of up-to-date information. There, we have resumed our COVID-19 tracking dashboard and have added a question-and-answer section that we are updating as new questions arise. We will also be restarting the COVID-19 newsletter Wednesday, Aug. 18, for faculty, staff, students, and undergraduate parents.
One of the questions we have received is about events later this month. We are still planning the picnics on the Twin Cities and Winona campuses, and all attendees will be asked to follow our latest COVID-19 protocols, including wearing a mask indoors or outdoors when physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible.
We also will hold Convocation and are still adjusting plans, which we will communicate. We are planning for a hybrid model meaning limited travel to Winona for those in the Twin Cities, live seating in two locations with capacity guidelines in place and livestreaming available.
The ribbon cutting and blessing of the newly renovated HABC on Tuesday, Aug. 24, will continue as planned. The event will be held outdoors, and attendees are asked to be masked and follow our social distancing guidelines. We will be sending out an RSVP to get an accurate count of attendees to plan accordingly.
The University Faculty Workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 25, will be held hybrid or virtually with more details to come.
Again, updates on these events and other COVID-19 information will be communicated in the Aug. 18 COVID-19 newsletter or, if needed because of urgency, stand-alone notes like this one.
We know it is difficult to return to masking, but we appreciate everyone remembering that masks are required on all our campuses when inside buildings and outside when social distancing is not possible. When you are alone in your office or workspace, mask wearing is encouraged but not required. Please also remember to stay socially distanced (6 feet apart) and wash your hands frequently.
We can hope that as transmission levels decline, we will be able to lift some of our current protocols. It’s important to note that the MDH has asked these measures not be changed until two weeks after transmission rates move to “moderate.”
“Together and by association” we will support each other as we prepare for the fall term. Thank you for remaining steadfast and resilient in the coming weeks and beyond.
Ann Merchlewitz
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Ben Murray
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
In the news
Michelle Wieser, Ph.D., dean of business and technology, was featured in the Twin Cities Business Notable Leaders in Higher Education 2021 list.
Saint Mary’s University, along with Winona’s two other higher ed institutions, has been given the opportunity to run a piece every three weeks in the Winona Daily News. This first piece is a spotlight on our new nursing program with an overview from Sister Agnes Mary Graves, RSM, DNP, director and inaugural Jack and Mary Ann Remick Chair of Nursing.
Expansion of badges in the School of Education
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota loves teachers! Their words and actions help our children appreciate the value of their own uniqueness as well as the unique character of the people and world around them. We are proud to support them in all they do. This is why we are especially excited to announce the expansion of the badging and micro-credentialing initiative through the Saint Mary’s School of Education.
At the start of the summer, Saint Mary’s partnered with Credly, an industry leader in digital credentials, to provide students with 20 industry-specific micro-credentials tied to in-demand skills in culturally responsive teaching, mental health in education, critical, creative and design thinking and teaching, and training and leading with technology. These credentials have become valuable additions to our students’ professional portfolios. In fact, over 175 credentials have been accepted and shared throughout professional and social media networks in the School of Education so far!
“I was just given a badge from Saint Mary’s. My work of two years has led me to a possible enhancement in mental health awareness for K-12 students. I’m proud of being aware of childhood health and how we can improve upon it for our students. We all want our students to be successful and happy. The better we can understand, the more we can create beautiful relationships as teacher to student.” —Tiffany Alequin M’21
Building on the success of this initial offering, the School of Education is proud to announce the launch of an additional five distinct micros-credentials beginning in summer term 2, tied to graduate courses in Saint Mary’s specialization in curriculum and instruction:
- EDMA 612: Learning Environments
- EDMA 614: Communication and Collaboration
- EDMA 620: Curriculum Design
- EDMA 622: Assessment and Evaluation
- EDMA 624: Effective Instruction
Badges will be automatically issued to students who have successfully completed badged courses beginning in fall 2020 up to the present summer term 2.
View the complete list of our badge offerings
Students who have successfully completed a badged course prior to fall 2020 that would like to receive the corresponding badge(s) can submit a request.
Once again, we are thrilled by the energy and enthusiasm you have shown regarding badges and micro-credentials. We look forward to continuing the work to identify and recognize skills-based achievement across the university, helping to ensure that our students are among the most well-prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
To learn more about digital badges and micro-credentials at Saint Mary’s, visit smumn.edu/badges.
Dixon featured in local news, inclusion website launches
The Winona Post featured Leon Dixon, Saint Mary’s first vice president for inclusion and human dignity, in a recent article. Brian Schmisek, provost and dean of faculties, and Elijah Williams, student senate president, were also featured.
“I’m a big proponent of collaboration … There’s something to be said for experience/wisdom, and there’s something to be said for passion and expectation. So when we can put those two together, I’m pretty sure we can come up with something that really matters and is unique to us,” Dixon said.
Read more from the Winona Post
Additionally, Saint Mary’s has launched a new inclusion and human dignity website which can be found at inclusion.smumn.edu. Visit the site for updates on past efforts, resources, news, and more.
Meet our new faculty: Michaela Rinkel, social work
This is the first in a series as we introduce our new faculty members.
Michaela Rinkel, Ph.D., LCSW, joined Saint Mary’s University as an associate professor in the Master of Social Work program on July 5.
Rinkel has extensive teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her most recent role was at Hawai‘i Pacific University in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she served as social work program director and associate professor.
Her scholarship is mainly focused on three areas: spirituality and social work practice, sustainability in social work practice, and the use of simulation in social work education and training. With years of clinical experience, she has also published many research findings, including a three volume workbook series published by the International Federation of Social Workers which examines different aspects of social work and environmental justice — a project Rinkel said she is most proud of.
“My passion right now involves preparing social workers to work on the sustainability movement,” she said. “Our profession is right in the middle of the climate crisis, but for many reasons is often not at the table working toward changing the social systems that are contributing to the problems. I can help by preparing social work educators to help this next generation of social workers be engaged on environmental issues.
Many see social work as working just with social systems and that the physical environment is somehow separate. But we work with the consequences of the systems that degrade both our natural and social environments such as oppression, racism, separation of humans from their cousins, and exploitation that has become synonymous with the brand of capitalism in the U.S.”
A member of the National Association of Social Workers Council on Social Work Education, Rinkel has delivered numerous presentations, particularly on ethics in social work, and even received an oral presentation award for the paper “Sitting in the Grey: How Social Work Practice Influences Spiritual Development” at the International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in Singapore.
Rinkel received a Ph.D. in social work and a MSW from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a BSW from the College of St. Catherine. The Minnesota native said she was drawn to Saint Mary’s because it brought her home after 10 years in Hawaii, and because the Saint Mary’s MSW program is in an exciting phase.
“It is new and innovative, growing, has competent compassionate faculty, and is delivering a high quality online education in social work. That is a challenge,” she exclaimed. “And I’m excited to be a part!”
Get ready for Saint Mary’s new recruiting and hiring platform
As mentioned previously in the Cardinal Update, the target go live date for iCIMS, our new applicant recruiting and hiring platform, is Monday, Sept. 20. With iCIMS, hiring managers will be able to digitally request new positions, obtain approval signatures, and create job posting text. Hiring managers and their search committees will be able to organize and review applicant pools, select finalists, and onboard new hires — all electronically. The system is completely digital and eliminates the need to print paper forms, obtain ink approval signatures, or track paper document flow between departments.
As a reminder, hiring managers should continue to use Applicant Tracker to post new positions and close all current open positions through Friday, Sept.17. Beginning Monday, Sept. 20, all new positions will be requested and approved through iCIMS.
Learn more about iCIMS using the links from their online training library below. These resources and more are also posted on inside.smumn.edu/hr (log in using your Saint Mary’s username and password):
- Article: Getting Started for Hiring Managers
- Learning Video: Applicant Tracking System for Hiring Managers (51 minutes)
- Learning Clip: Creating a Job (3 minutes)
- Learning Clip: What is a Person Profile? (6 minutes)
- Learning Clip: What is a Job Profile? (4 minutes)
- Article: Introduction to the Recruiting Workflow Profile
- Learning Clip: What is a Recruiting Workflow Profile? (6 minutes)
If you have questions or want further information, please contact Abbie Henningson, talent acquisition manager at Ext. 7113 or ahenning@smumn.edu or Dave Miliotis, vice president for Human Resources at Ext. 1421 or dmilioti@smumn.edu.
Get vaccinated, get $100
Gov. Tim Walz has announced that Minnesotans 12 years of age and older who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since July 30, 2021, can submit a request for a $100 Visa gift card by visiting mn.gov/covid19/100. The form will remain open for submissions for Minnesotans who get their first dose until Sunday, Aug. 15.
MCA offers dance placement auditions
WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) invites all dancers ages 7 and older to participate in a placement class Aug. 16-19 at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. 10th St. These new, low-key classes will help ensure students get placed in the right level to help them grow.
Due to interruptions in dance instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, MCA envisions reorganizing some levels slightly. All students will be placed in a class no matter their experience level. This is an opportunity for new students to give dance a try or for dancers who have taken some time off.
Registration is not required, and there is no cost to participate in the placement auditions. Auditioning dancers should follow MCA’s dress code for the dance class they are taking (listed on mca.smumn.edu). Dancers in need of borrowing gently used dance clothing can contact the MCA office at mca@smumn.edu or 507-453-5500 to make arrangements.
If you are unable to attend but interested in dancing through MCA in the fall, please contact the office prior to Monday, Aug. 16. Read the descriptions below carefully to determine which audition is best for you or your dancer. If you have questions, email mca@smumn.edu or call 507-453-5500.
Monday, Aug. 16 — Contemporary/Modern/Jazz Placement Day
- 5+ years of Jazz or Modern, 3 to 4:15 p.m.
- Beginner to 2 years of Jazz or Modern (8+ years old), 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.
- 2-4 years of Jazz or Modern, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 17 — Tap Placement Day
- 5+ years of Tap, 3 to 4:15 p.m.
- Beginner to 2 years of Tap, 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.
- 2-4 years of Tap, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 18 — Ballet Placement Day
- 5+ years of Ballet, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
- Beginner to 2 years of Ballet (7+ years old), 4:45 to 5:30 p.m.
- 2-4 years of Ballet, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 19 — Hip Hop Placement Day
- 3+ years of Hip Hop, 4 to 5:15 p.m.
- Beginner to 3 years of Hip Hop (7+ years old), 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
About MCA
The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA), an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, is a nonprofit community arts school offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information about MCA or Galleria Valéncia, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.
Practicum segways into new career path
Tara Dicus M’20 always knew she wanted to get her master’s degree. She was just waiting for the right time. When her son turned 4 and her daughter was in second grade, she found it.
In 2018, Dicus was working as a marketing liaison for North Shore Healthcare, based out of Rochester, when she began investigating programs and universities. Knowing that she wanted to stay at home with her son, she sought out online programs that would help her advance in her career.
After searching the website of the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators, Dicus discovered the ideal way to achieve an academic pathway that would be flexible enough for her homelife situation: the Master of Arts in Health and Human Services Administration (HHSA) online program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
By the fall of 2019, she was beginning a six-month practicum as an administrative intern at what is now her current employer, Green Prairie Rehabilitation and Assisted Living in Plainview, Minn. Though she didn’t know it at the time, she was shadowing her soon-to-be predecessor.
In 2020, she earned her degree and passed licensure tests for being an assisted living director and a nursing home director. Soon after, she was hired as a campus administrator at Green Prairie — in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Every week for 12 months, give or take, everything changed,” Dicus said about being a part of the center’s leadership team and adjusting to state and national guidelines. “You never knew what was going to happen. You just knew that you had to be prepared for the challenges and changes that came with it.”
Dicus has always been drawn to the culture and relationships that exist within senior care and assisted living centers. And she’s always been drawn to helping people. After she graduated high school in her hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin, she became a certified nursing aide before continuing her career in various sectors of the healthcare industry.
“The most rewarding part of my job is the connections that I get to make with the residents, their families, and our staff,” she said of the approximate 90 residents and 120 staff members who comprise the Green Prairie community.
Dicus said that she appreciated all of the instructors and faculty members at Saint Mary’s she worked with and highlighted the efforts of her practicum instructor, Dan Strittmater, and the support and guidance he provided to help her establish the practicum that would segway into the next chapter of her career.
“I feel like I had a really good experience due to wanting to be successful,” she said. “It is a give and take. They set me up for success, but I also needed to put in my time and my effort as well to make it a joint effort.”
Dicus strongly encourages those in a similar situation that she was in three years ago to look into the HHSA program. Furthermore, she advises students to learn from classmates who may not necessarily be on the same career path.
“You’re all in healthcare,” she said. “You all have a different purpose, but you can also apply what you are learning to other avenues of the healthcare industry.”
Featured image: Tara Dicus M’20 poses with her husband and two children.
Story by Stephen Schmidt.
COVID-19 fall protocols updated
Saint Mary’s community,
We want to share two important announcements. First, Saint Mary’s University will require all students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approves COVID-19 vaccinations. This decision is based on the most current information we have about the increase in cases, hospitalization rates and transmission statistics, including that those individuals already vaccinated can spread the COVID-19 variant.
Please be aware that this decision may change as conditions change. We will continue to closely monitor the latest news and guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). We will also continue to monitor other universities and track current case levels in and around our surrounding campus communities. As was the case last year, we continue to plan but will adjust those plans as needed given the evolving situation.
We continue to encourage all members of our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect yourself and others, particularly children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine and those with certain medical conditions. As Pope Francis said earlier this year, “I believe that morally everyone must take the vaccine. It is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others.” At the same time, as a Catholic university, we recognize the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops that “we affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good” while also affirming the moral acceptability of certain vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) over others.
Our second announcement is about our most current campus COVID-19 protocols, effective tomorrow and until further notice, include:
- Masks must be worn by all (vaccinated AND unvaccinated) when indoors, and at all times, and outside when physical distancing is not possible given that Winona, Olmsted, and Hennepin Counties now have a ‘substantial’ level of COVID-19 transmission. This protocol is consistent with the new CDC guidance on masking.
- Physical distancing of 6 feet should be observed.
- Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
- Self-screen for symptoms on a daily basis.
- Show respect and kindness for one another.
As for events scheduled in the coming weeks, we will ensure all current protocols are followed. We will look ahead several weeks and adjust plans as needed based on the current information. Additional communication on upcoming events including Convocation and the University Faculty Workshop will be shared in the near future.
Your best source of information is the COVID-19 planning webpage, Steadfast and Resilient, which will be updated regularly, including the dashboard. Once FDA approves a vaccine(s) and the requirement begins, individuals will also be able to file a medical exemption or a non-medical exemption from this COVID-19 vaccination requirement. This is everyone’s right and there will be no reprisal.
We have been enormously proud of the strength of character our students, faculty, and staff have shown throughout this time at Saint Mary’s University. Our community is being called upon once again to care for one another. We have tremendous confidence that our community will continue to inspire us. We thank you for your continued support and your commitment to one another and will communicate regularly. We remain steadfast and resilient.
Ann Merchlewitz
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Ben Murray
Executive Vice President and CFO
Upcoming photoshoots for directory headshots
New faculty and staff or anyone looking to update their existing photo will have upcoming opportunities to have a professional headshot taken to be used in the Saint Mary’s directory.
Winona Campus
Stop by Room 115 in Saint Mary’s Hall to have your photo taken:
- Monday, Sept. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., or
- Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Twin Cities Campus
Stop by Room 202 in La Salle Hall to have your photo taken:
- Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., or
- Wednesday, Sept. 22, from noon to 1:30 pm.
Annual employee picnics
Saint Mary’s annual employee picnics will occur the week of Aug. 15. One picnic will be held on the Winona Campus and the other on the Twin Cities Campus. We welcome all staff and faculty to attend one or both picnics. We take this moment to appreciate all that has been and all that is to come as we anticipate a successful year ahead. The picnics will be:
- Monday, Aug. 16, at noon at the University Center Lawn on the Twin Cities Campus
- Wednesday, Aug. 25, at noon at the plaza on the Winona Campus
RSVP by Wednesday, Aug. 4, to ensure accurate attendee counts. This enables us to be good stewards of our resources. Thank you for your work and dedication to our Lasallian Catholic mission.
DBA faculty published in Journal of Human Resources Education
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) faculty Dr. Jennifer L. Schultz and Dr. Antar Salim have published the following article: Schultz, J. L., Salim, A., & Comer, D. R. (2021). Ante up: Using custom playing cards to teach employment law history. Journal of Human Resources Education, 15, 19-29.
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