Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterConcerts on the plaza this weekend
Bring a picnic and celebrate the end of the semester with live music this weekend: Concert Band, noon, Saturday, May 1, and Jazz groups, 3 p.m., Sunday, May 2.
All faculty, staff, and students are invited to both of these performances. Please wear masks and stay socially distanced or in your pods.
Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men
Saint Mary’s University is one of five recipients of the Minnesota Private College Fund’s Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men for the 2021-2023 cohort.
Students must meet the following criteria:
- Be an African-American male
- Have sophomore status as of spring 2021/junior status as of fall 2021 — confirmed by registrar via transcript
- Demonstrate financial need by either qualifying for Minnesota State Grant or Pell Grant
- Have a GPA range of 2.0 to 2.9 (exceptions can be made) — must confirm GPA prior to selection
- Be on track for a four-year graduation — must be confirmed by registrar
- Be available to participate in ALL required program activities — including the entire summer course (12 weeks, once a week starting June 2, 2021, at the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis campus)
- Be motivated to succeed
If you meet the criteria and are interested in the opportunity, please contact Alisa Macksey at amacksey@smumn.edu to set up a meeting.
MBA student using coursework in director’s role with Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office
By Tom Brandes
One of the reasons Shane Sheets sought Saint Mary’s University’s accelerated MBA program is because his personal and professional life can also be described as accelerated.
In addition to juggling a family, being engaged, completing his degree in August, and serving his second term serving on the Green Isle (Minnesota) City Council, he has a busy work schedule, and was recently promoted.
Sheets serves as the director of the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office in Ramsey, Minn., which conducts death investigations in 29 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin and is responsible for performing autopsies to determine the cause, manner, and circumstances surrounding the death of an individual. The office operates under Anoka County.
“My job is to provide strategic management to a team of forensic pathologists, forensic technicians, medicolegal death investigators, and other medical professionals who work as a team to honor those who have died by providing scientific, consistent, and compassionate investigation into the circumstance of death,” says Sheets. “I also manage the business functions for our agency, including contract negotiations.”
The job is unique in terms of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions. His role involves customer relations, disaster planning, project planning, dealing with highly confidential information, and leading a team in multiple locations across the state.
Being an effective communicator is also a critical skill because Sheets’ job requires interaction with the public, appointed and elected officials, medical personnel, funeral home staff, and members of law enforcement on a daily basis. Sheets appreciates that each day is unique and when his phone rings, he never knows what it will bring.
“My undergraduate degree is in criminal justice, and I have various certificates in medicolegal death investigation, supervision of police personnel, and supervision and management credentials from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension,” adds Sheets. “I chose Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota due to its nationally recognized MBA program, affordability, and catered courses that coincide with my professional goals and busy work schedule.”
Sheets strongly believes that education is one of the greatest investments a person can make in their future. He credits his studies at Saint Mary’s University for helping him gain a competitive edge with advanced business knowledge at a time when the workforce is extremely competitive.
As he begins his last semester in the accelerated MBA program that he began just over a year ago, Sheets enjoys the networking abilities and like-minded professionals he’s met through his coursework. Despite the fact that the coursework is primarily online due to the pandemic, he appreciates how Saint Mary’s has designed the program to mirror in-person learning in terms of connecting with peers and building relationships.
“I’ve learned critical skills in each of my courses, but Employment Law, Project Management, Executive Communication, and Quantitative Decision Making stand out as the courses where I will use the most material in the workforce,” says Sheets. “Saint Mary’s has helped me gain a well-rounded business education that will help me improve operations in the office.”
Sheets is putting his newly learned skills to work in an office that performs more than 1,000 autopsies annually and has had to deal with increased overdose and mental health calls since the start of the pandemic a year ago. Despite wanting to be an astronaut while growing up, Sheets says this is the next best job for him.
“We are the voice of the deceased, and each staff member here plays a key part using their skills, hard work, respect and due diligence to provide answers to the families and loved ones of those who cannot speak,” adds Sheets. “It’s an honor to be a part of this extraordinary organization.”
No change to mask policy
You may have seen that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put out updated guidance on the use of masks in outdoor spaces. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is currently reviewing this new information. However, university policy regarding masking and social distancing has not changed. Due to our highly residential setting on the Winona Campus, masks and social distancing continues to be required of all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their vaccination status. The university is erring on the side of caution to ensure the safety of our community, especially as we look forward to commencement.
Our strong community remains — an invitation to share your experiences
All of us here at Saint Mary’s University would like to thank you and offer a huge congratulations for making it through this past year. The COVID-19 pandemic changed many aspects of your living and learning experience, yet you remained steadfast and resilient in your efforts to maintain normalcy.
Students should be proud of all the hard work you’ve put into your coursework and in following the everchanging COVID-19 guidelines that have been set forth. Faculty and staff should be proud of the hard work you’ve put into adapting to all that COVID-19 has brought to your work. When new challenges arose, you met them with great enthusiasm and creativity.
Here are a few examples of how each and every one of you persisted:
- You diligently wore your mask as you worked and studied on campus and beyond..
- At the College, you participated in regular COVID-19 testing to ensure safety for yourself and your teammates.
- At the College, you sacrificed visiting friends and family on the weekends to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
- At the College, you participated in and helped host the more than 350 events that took place this year, including tie-dye nights, movie nights, hikes, bonfires, and TedTalks, to name a few.
- At the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs, you adapted to the rigors of online learning while juggling work and taking care of your families..
Although there were a few setbacks, we applaud your efforts and ability to make this a memorable year.
To commemorate, we’d like to invite you to share your experiences of the past year so we can accumulate various voices and create a collection of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Saint Mary’s community.
As I reflect on the year, I am reminded of comments from Kris Shepard, our Outstanding Male Senior Student, at the luncheon for the finalists for the Outstanding Senior awards last week on the Winona Campus. He spoke about the “silver linings” we have all experienced throughout this year. For me personally, one silver lining has been you, our students, who persevered and persisted amidst the many trials and tribulations of this pandemic, doing so with evident care, compassion, and empathy for each other. I also count all the employees of the university as my other silver lining. Faculty and staff alike worked countless hours to ensure that you, our students, could have a successful experience. You are all my inspiration and my cause for hope.
THANK YOU again for all your hard work this year. We are proud of each and every one of you and grateful that you’re part of the Saint Mary’s community.
Together, we are Saint Mary’s.
Lasallian Catholic formation and educational opportunities, summer 2021
Greetings colleagues,
While many of the Lasallian Catholic Mission Formation Programs have been postponed due to COVID-19, two such programs will be offered virtually this summer:
The Lasallian Social Justice Institute
You can find information on this year’s program at lasallian.info/programs-events/lsji.
The following current Saint Mary’s folks have participated in this program: Erin Mae Clark, Rachel McGee, Paul Christensen, Larry Price, Karen Sorvaag, Joseph Tadie, and Mary Louise Wise. I am sure these colleagues would be happy to have a conversation about their experience with the LSJI.
We can sponsor 2-4 participants for this program this summer.
Collegium: A Colloquy on Faith and the Intellectual Life
You can read more about it at collegium.org/annual-colloquy. There, you will find a brief description and overview of the program, as well as other specifics under the tab “2021 Colloquy.”
In the past few years, Saint Mary’s participants included Matt Nowakowski, Mark Barber, Jimmy Bickerstaff, Pat Calton, Derek Jackson, Tycho DeBoer, and Joseph Tadie. I am sure they would be happy to chat with you about their experience of the Colloquy.
We can have two participants for this program this year; ideally, someone from the Winona Campus and a person from Twin Cities or Rochester campuses.
I invite all full-time staff and faculty to consider applying to participate in one of these programs.
I want to make the application process as simple as possible by using this form. Please fill it out and return to me via email at rsmith@smumn.edu. Consideration for participation in these programs will include such things as years of service at Saint Mary’s, contributions to and anticipated “takeaways” from the program, representation across the university and its various units, and so on.
Please return your application to me no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Feel free to email me at rsmith@smumn.edu for further information, clarification, or amplification of any of the above.
All the best.
Brother Robert Smith, FSC, Ph.D.
Senior vice president for university initiatives and special advisor to the president
In the news
Here are some of the ways Saint Mary’s has been featured “in the news.”
John Tschida’s return as the women’s fastpitch coach garnered some attention including: the Star Tribune, WKBT TV, the Pioneer Press, and the Winona Daily News. (We’ve alerted them to the typo in his name.) A number of national softball Facebook pages also picked up the story.
The Winona Daily News also shared our story about alumnus Jake Mencacci working for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Our upper division Music Industry faculty member, Brett Huus, is credited as the Master Audio and Mixing Engineer on this project, featured on “No More Pipeline Blues (On this Land Where We Belong) featuring Bonnie Raitt and the Indigo Girls. Read more in Rollingstone.
The Winona Daily News featured Saint Mary’s and Winona State collaborating to clean up the downtown.
9th annual International Symposium on Lasallian Research
Saint Mary’s University is looking forward to hosting the 9th annual International Symposium on Lasallian Research on its Twin Cities Campus. Given the fact that it was necessary to cancel the symposium last year, there is a strong desire to gather in person this year. All who can safely attend the 2021 symposium at Saint Mary’s on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 1-3, are welcome!
For those who cannot attend this year, we encourage you to engage with other Lasallian educators in your region as you are able to do so. We are requesting that each region prepare a recorded video presentation providing an update about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the schools in your region and what your current circumstances may suggest regarding research needs and possibilities. We plan to post these on the symposium website. More details and consultation about this process will be available to you via the contacts below. We already look forward to the 10th symposium in 2022 at which time we hope to be able to host a truly international gathering.
The theme for the 2021 symposium is adopted from the recent Declaration following the 45th General Chapter:
The Lasallian Education Mission: Challenges, Convictions, and Hopes
Like the Declaration itself, it is our hope that this theme will “motivate and guide our educational work toward the future in response to the needs and challenges of today’s world.” We note our dedication to this mission. This symposium should highlight the contributions that Lasallian higher education is making toward these goals. With this gathering, we also recognize and celebrate our commitment to association and acknowledge how challenging this has been during a pandemic. Please consider joining us even if you are not submitting a proposal.
The call for proposals for the 2021 symposium is now open. Submissions can be focused on theoretical research and/or practice. Proposals may fall under the broad theme of the symposium or more specifically, the following categories:
- Leadership and character
- Inclusion and human dignity
- Science, health, and sustainability
- Lasallian education and pedagogy
Proposals should include a description of the paper of approximately 250 words. In addition to your name and contact information, the proposal should also include your institutional affiliation. Proposals should be sent as soon as possible; the deadline for submission is Tuesday, June 15. Notifications of acceptance will be sent no later than Thursday, July 15.
Proposals, as well as any questions regarding the call for proposals, should be directed to Jack McClure, Ph.D., and Michael Hahn, Ph.D., at ISLR@smumn.edu. Student presentations are encouraged, but we suggest that students work with a faculty facilitator/mentor.
The registration fee structure for the 2021 is as follows, which includes meals during the symposium:
- $300 for individuals at institutions in the U.S.
- $200 for individuals at institutions outside of the U.S.
- $150 for students (undergraduate and graduate)
Lodging is not included in the registration fee. Symposium participants are encouraged to book directly with Minneapolis Marriott City Center.
The aim of the 2021 symposium is to bring together Lasallian educators from around the world as well as a range of disciplines to celebrate community, share research, and explore questions of importance. We particularly welcome proposals from teachers and other practitioners.
The 2021 symposium is planned as an in-person event. We will continue to follow safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic and follow guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Visit International Symposium on Lasallian Research for more information.
Wrapping up the spring 2021 term in Blackboard
By LMS Task Force
Blackboard will be going away for faculty, staff, and student use on June 1, 2021. That means you will no longer have access to your prior course materials, feedback, and resources. Saint Mary’s will maintain archival access for a short period of time to meet certain obligations, but access to it will limited to Blackboard administrators.
Please read through the recommendations for incomplete and in progress grades for spring 2021 courses in Blackboard. This information is also posted on Blackboard and hosted via celt.smumn.edu.
Preparing for the end of Blackboard access
Prior to the end of the term (SGPP – April 25, 2021; College – May 6, 2021), for any students in a Blackboard course who will need additional time to complete coursework that would normally be done in Blackboard, please consider the following:
Communications
If at all possible, communicate with your students to help them complete their Blackboard work before Monday, May 31, 2021:
- Identify students in this situation so you can reach out to them to ensure they will be able to turn in work.
- Consider establishing an agreement of time so that these are completed in a timely manner.
- Inform students that after May 31, they will no longer be able to access Blackboard so it is in their best interest to complete any work and submit it to you in time for you to assess the work in Blackboard.
- Consider setting a last date for them to submit in Blackboard so that you have time to review it before submitting them a final grade.
Coursework completion options
If it is not possible for your students to complete their Blackboard-involved work before May 31, you will need to take additional steps before May 31:
Completed and submitted prior to May 31:
- No change in how you would review their submitted work
- No change in how you will grade it and give feedback
- No change in how you will enter in final grades via CAMS
Completed and submitted after May 31:
- Gradebook: You need to download the gradebook prior to May 31. This will be downloaded as an Excel document.
- Assignments:
- Recommend your students email or share via Google Drive the completed assignment(s) to you.
- If the assignment is a Flipgrid, Padlet, or a third party tool, the student will need to send the link of their submission to you via email or a shared Google Doc.
- You review the assignment(s) and send any feedback (if applicable) to the student via email or Google Drive.
- You will need to update the downloaded gradebook, and then submit final grades via CAMS (the faculty portal).
Discussion board
- Your student(s) will need to copy and paste the discussion board prompt and any necessary information into a Word document or Google Doc.
- Your student(s) will then email or share via Google Drive the completed aspects of the discussion prompts.
- You will review the submitted reply(ies) and send any feedback (if applicable) to the student via email or Google Drive.
- You will need to update the downloaded gradebook, and then submit final grades via CAMS (the faculty portal).
Quizzes/tests
- This is the hardest aspect to do once access to Blackboard is gone.
- If there is a student who has to take a test after June 1, please work with the HelpDesk to export the test to a PDF.
- You will need to share the PDF with the student — likely via Google Drive or email — keeping in mind that the PDF could be shared with other/future students.
- Your student will need to submit a document with his or her answers to the quiz/test.
- You will need to review the submitted document, provide feedback (if applicable) to your student via email or Google Drive.
- You will need to update the downloaded gradebook and submit the final grade CAMS (the faculty portal).
Support
If you have any questions or need assistance not covered in this document, please contact the HelpDesk at helpdesk@smumn.edu. They will help coordinate a consultation with the Registrar’s Office or Instructional Technology.
An update about SGPP commencement plans
In previous years, the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) held annual campus commencement ceremonies in the University Center in January, June, and October. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these ceremonies were virtual, and October’s event was combined with January’s. SGGP’s June 5, 2021 ceremony will be virtual. There will be no October 2021 ceremony. Previously, SGPP students in programs administered in Winona participated in the May in-person ceremony. Moving forward, SGPP students will participate only in the Minneapolis ceremonies.
Beginning in 2022, we will have only two days of in-person ceremonies to celebrate our SGPP graduates. One commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022 (previously scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022). The other will be in June 2022 (precise date to be determined). We will hold only one ceremony per day. The January ceremony will recognize SGPP students who graduate in the summer and fall, and the June ceremony will recognize those who graduate in the spring. The official date of graduation, not commencement, will appear on students’ transcripts and diplomas, independent of whether they participate in the January or June ceremony.
Beginning Jan. 22, 2022, we will also hold commencement ceremonies off-site at Orchestra Hall. While we appreciate the University Center’s convenience and rich history, the space is not large enough to accommodate one ceremony on each date. In addition to the official commencement ceremonies in January and June, individual programs are welcome to host separate commemorations for their graduates.
Offering two SGPP commencement ceremonies per year at an outside venue aligns with goal five of the strategic plan to steward resources by increasing institutional effectiveness and operational integration and goal three to foster innovation and offer flexibility. Orchestra Hall is a beautiful space that will allow us to celebrate our graduates in style.
Call for activities during Welcome Weekend 2021 in Winona
Welcome Weekend 2021 (Aug. 26-29 on the Winona Campus) is right around the corner, and we are looking for your help!
New this year, the orientation staff is hosting “Big Red Activities” on Saturday, Aug. 28, and Sunday, Aug. 29. Big Red Activities are optional sessions that new students can participate in during welcome weekend. Big Red Activities are hosted by members of the Saint Mary’s community and the orientation staff. These activities are meant to engage new students in fun and enriching travels, crafts, or even events that foster a sense of community amongst the incoming class and the community.
We are looking for faculty or staff on the Winona Campus who would be interested in hosting a Big Red Activity Session during Welcome Weekend. If you are interested, please fill out this form. You will need the name of your proposed Big Red Activity, how long the activity will be (up to 2 hours), who will be hosting the activity, where the activity will take place (on campus or in the Winona community), and which day is your preference (Saturday or Sunday).
The sky is the limit! Here are two examples of Big Red Activities that have already been submitted:
- Safe Spaces in Winona: A tour of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ friendly businesses and spaces in the Winona community (Saturday in the Winona community)
- Transfer Student Bingo: A game of bingo specifically intended for incoming transfer students (Saturday on campus)
Submit your proposed Big Red Activity today! Once you submit the form, someone from the orientation team will be in contact with you to confirm approval and logistics.
Questions can be directed to Tricia Dobrient at tdobrien@smumn.edu.
Fiscal year end reminders
With the end of another fiscal year upon us, please take note of the dates below to ensure accurate information is recorded by the Business Office for the current fiscal year, which ends on Monday, May 31.
Budget/expenditure review
Carefully review your departmental budgets and current year expenditures and be certain to submit any interdepartmental transfers prior to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 28.
If there are any reallocations unit managers who wish to make in their area budgets heading into the new fiscal year, they should submit those no later than Monday, May 10, to David Ulaszek at dulaszek@smumn.edu. (As a reminder, this is only for reallocations that do not change the bottom line of the unit; any additional expenses or reduced revenues must be commensurately offset.)
Important dates to remember
- Friday, May 14 — Last day purchase orders will be issued for current fiscal year.
- Friday, June 11, at 10 a.m. — Deadline for extra payroll items (advising, independent studies, etc.) for the year ending May 31, 2021.
- Wednesday, June 16 — All reimbursements for direct expenses must be submitted and approved in Chrome River for year ending May 31, 2021.
- Wednesday, June 16 — All invoices must be submitted and approved for payment in Chrome River by this date. All invoices submitted after June 16 will be charged against the next fiscal year, fiscal year 2021-22.
U.S. Bank/Chrome River expenses
All charges incurred and posted on your May 2021 Chrome River expense report will be charged against the current 2020-21 fiscal year. All charges incurred and/or processed after the May report will automatically be charged against the new 2021-22 fiscal year. Please note: U.S. Bank charges are often delayed in posting by vendors. If you make purchases in late May, these charges may post to your June statement, thus being charged to the new year.
Annual policies review
We ask all employees of the university to review the university’s business policies on an annual basis. These policies are located on the Business Office page which can be accessed from smumn.edu under the Students, Faculty & Staff heading in the upper left. Once in the policy, use “CTRL F” to search for specific topics.
If you have any questions regarding the above deadlines or activities, please contact Cindy Ostrem at costrem@smumn.edu or Ext. 6690.
Thank you for being good stewards of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota resources!
Tschida returning to Saint Mary’s, where the tradition of winning began
John Tschida ’90 is rounding third and heading home to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Tschida, hailed as the coach with the highest winning percentage of all NCAA Division III softball coaches, is returning to his alma mater — where he FIRST led his fastpitch team to a national championship in 2000.
Beginning June 1, Tschida will serve as head coach of the Saint Mary’s Cardinal fastpitch team, a position he held from 1995 to 2000, in addition to serving as assistant baseball coach from 1990-1994. Tschida most recently coached at the University of St. Thomas, where his winning tradition continued with seven more national fastpitch championship appearances and two other national titles (in 2004 and 2005).
Tschida returns to Saint Mary’s for a number of reasons, including the fact that St. Thomas is moving to NCAA Division I. “I love the Division III atmosphere; it’s the culture I grew up with, and I appreciate the relationships you develop with student-athletes in this division,” he said. “I enjoy the Division III philosophy of developing a lot of different levels of players and watching them grow as people and as players.
“Saint Mary’s, of course, is my alma mater, and I have a nephew (Nick Winecke ’07) coaching baseball there, so I’m still connected,” he added. “It is appealing to be able to coach there and be around family again. Saint Mary’s has done a great job of valuing the educational component outside the classroom that athletics provides and has invested the required resources needed to provide the student-athletes with a great experience. I’ve seen the changes, and they’ve done a great job of stepping up their game. They’re on the right path, and it’s exciting to see what we can accomplish.”
Tschida brings with him a remarkable overall 27-year coaching record of 999-193. He’s just one game away from being one of only 25 active NCAA softball coaches to reach 1,000 victories.
“I feel winning is a by-product of having disciplined student-athletes who take pride in what they do, on and off the field,” Tschida said. “With having coached 43 All-Americans, I am continuously amazed that nearly all of them also achieved Academic All-American status. Better people make better Saint Mary’s softball people.
“I believe athletics is an educational component outside of the classroom. Athletics can lead to more confident leaders, who lead by example on and off the field, in and outside of the classroom. Teamwork, inclusiveness, and fair play are all part of what can make athletics an important part of the growth of our future leaders.”
Father James Burns, IVD, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s president, is excited to welcome Coach Tschida back to Winona. “Not only do we believe he has what it takes to lead our women to greatness on the field, he’ll also develop them as great leaders with strong character and virtues both on and off the field,” he said. “When we looked for the very best for our Cardinal athletes, we knew there is no one better than Coach Tschida, and we’re grateful to welcome him home.”
Brain Sisson, athletic director, shares Father Burns’ excitement. “Of course, it’s our goal to win games and attract talented student-athletes but also to shape tomorrow’s leaders. Coach Tschida will help us do that; his record speaks for itself,” Sisson said. “He is a proven winner, mentor, and leader. I have no doubt he will maximize the potential of our student-athletes and staff and help us become a force in the MIAC, regionally and nationally. I also know the relationships he will build with our student-athletes will strengthen our program.”
Tschida, voted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, is also a two-time National Coach of the Year and has been named MIAC Coach of the Year in 13 of his 26 seasons at Saint Mary’s and University and St. Thomas. In addition, Tschida and his staff have been named the 2014, 2016, and 2019 Division III Midwest Regional Coaches of the Year by the NFCA. He’s twice been inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame, first as the coach of the championship team in 2005 and again for his success as a coach in 2010.
A respected clinician and speaker, Tschida travels the country and the world to promote fastpitch softball and educate fellow coaches on fine points of training and competition. Due to time commitments away from coaching, he turned down invitations by two different countries to coach their national teams in the 2008 Olympics Games.
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Site Feedback/Changes | Accreditation