Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterStudent Senate meeting minutes – March 16, 2021
Meeting called to order by Mary Furlong, vice president of Academic Affairs, at 7 p.m.
Prayer by Collin van Waardenburg
Members present: Cece Abel, Samantha Carlson, Larkin Clem, Jake Emeott, Sarah Fowler (proxy Catie Schiltz), Mary Furlong, Gabriel Graves, Riley Hall, Noah Kimel (proxy Breanna Tews), Megan Kowalis, Jonathon Krull, Abigail Lang, Thomas Magnavite, Allison Moysis, Tara Nikolich, Nicole Noreen, Lyanna Novak, Enitan Onayiga, Sophia O’Neil (proxy Luke Pauly), Angel Sacta Espinoza, Joseph Schauf, Ryan Stoynich (proxy Trevor Mikyla), Collin van Waardenburg, Destiny Walker, and Elijah Williams
Members absent: n/a
Members excused: Kendall Archer, Sarah Fowler (proxy Catie Schiltz), Noah Kimel (proxy Breanna Tews), Sophia O’Neil (proxy Luke Pauly), and Ryan Stoynich (proxy Trevor Mikyla)
Discussion items
- Chartwells representative Abel Valencia’s presentation on changes for 2021-22 academic year
- Recap of student feedback
- 495 students replied
- Meal plan dissatisfaction was a high issue to students
- Seating and lines were determined to be an issue
- Enhancements
- Spring 2020: Outlined goals, created a proposal, got student feedback
- Summer 2020: Renovated Cardinal Club and opened The Market, offered new meal plans
- Summer 2021: Renovation of Toner Dining Hall
- Resident dining enhancement plan
- Visual graphic enhancements
- More pop-up menus
- Upgraded equipment
- More screens in the dining hall featuring menus/events
- Implementation of the Rockbox jukebox app upstairs
- Rebranding as The Eatery at Toner Student Center
- New floor plan and renderings visible in senate meeting recording
- More open space in the food station area
- New floor plan and renderings visible in senate meeting recording
- Questions:
- In regards to the removal of the private dining areas, is it possible to keep at least a few of those spaces?
- We are looking at making it mainly student use and communal use upstairs
- Graphics displaying sustainability, will there be any improvements to sustainability? What will be done to speed up the students moving through the lines?
- We have numerous programs that attribute to our sustainability promise, we do the graphics to try and tell the story of sustainability. They are also located on our website.
- It is a challenge due to the varied amounts of students going through the lines; we are trying to provide them multiple options and also working to improve the appeal of other items to help alleviate that.
- In regards to the removal of the private dining areas, is it possible to keep at least a few of those spaces?
- View the presentation in the Student Senate meeting from March 16 in the CommUNITY newsletter
- Recap of student feedback
- Figure Skating Club budget
- Bri Raabolle present to tell more about the club
- Looking to advertise more for events and involving the Saint Mary’s community more
- Requested funding at $75
- Recommended funding at $20
- Motion to fund at $20 by Joseph Schauf
- Seconded by Collin van Waardenburg
- Motion to fund at $20 passes unanimously
- Bri Raabolle present to tell more about the club
- Yoga Club budget
- Elizabeth Kelsey present to tell more about the club
- Looking to fund yoga instructors twice a week each semester
- Requested funding at $2,080
- Recommended funding at $1,670
- Motion to fund at $1,670 by Jake Emeott
- Seconded by Riley Hall
- Motion to fund at $1,670 passes unanimously
- Elizabeth Kelsey present to tell more about the club
- Biology Club budget
- Abigail Johnson present to tell more about the club
- Looking to go yurt camping and going to the Science Museum in Minneapolis
- Purchasing a state park sticker
- Money to fund their plant fundraiser
- Purchasing tickets for Winona 7
- Requested funding at $925
- Recommended funding at $390
- Motion to fund at $390 by Joseph Schauf
- Seconded by Gabriel Graves
- Motion to fund at $390 passes unanimously
- Abigail Johnson present to tell more about the club
- Zumba Club budget
- Bridgette Hagerty present to tell more about the club
- Offers weekly Zumba classes to everyone on campus, looking to get funds to pay for a certified Zumba instructor to lead the classes
- Requested funding at $1,250
- Recommended funding at $1,000
- Motion to fund at $1,000 by Abigail Lang
- Seconded by Samantha Carlson
- Motion to fund at $1,000 passes unanimously
- Bridgette Hagerty present to tell more about the club
- ASCD Club budget
- Bridgette Hagerty present to tell more about the club
- Student chapter of National Educators Association, events are open to everyone on campus. Requesting funding for thank-you gifts for community speakers, funding for ice cream socials, advertising for events, and hosting the MN Teacher of the Year (funding for a hotel room), reimbursement of speakers for mileage to travel to Saint Mary’s
- Requested funding at $648
- Recommended funding at $190
- Motion to fund at $190 by Riley Hall
- Seconded by Joseph Schauf
- Motion to fund at $190 passes unanimously
- Bridgette Hagerty present to tell more about the club
- Executive board updates
- Kendall Archer, president
- Update given by Marisa Naryka, Student Senate adviser, below
- Jonathon Krull, VP of Media and Communications and executive assistant
- Reach out to Kendall Archer if interested in running for executive board
- Reach out to Jonathon Krull with any questions
- Angel Sacta Espinosa, VP for Campus Affairs
- Capital improvements are being reviewed
- Nicole Noreen, VP for Financial Affairs
- No updates
- Destiny Walker, VP for Multicultural Affairs
- Multicultural Weekend in April is in the works
- Reach out to Destiny at Dxwalk14@smumn.edu if interested in helping out
- Multicultural Weekend in April is in the works
- Mary Furlong, VP for Academic Affairs
- No updates
- Elijah Williams, VP for Student Life
- Sporting events can have 250 attendees outdoors with social distancing and masks
- Indoor sporting events are still not allowed to have attendance
- More housing information for next year will be coming out in the coming weeks
- The guest policy has changed, check out the CommUNITY newsletter for more information
- The Wellness Center has started a partnership with Catholic Charities in Winona
- Sporting events can have 250 attendees outdoors with social distancing and masks
- Megan Kowalis, VP for Public Affairs
- No updates
- Sarah Fowler, SAC president
- Tomorrow there will be Saint Patrick’s Day Bingo
- If interested in running for a position on SAC, reach out to any of their e-board members
- Marisa Naryka, adviser
- Updates from Kendall Archer, president
- Presidential election results will be released later this week
- E-board petitions are available, reach out to Kendall Archer for the petitions
- More information will be in Thursday’s CommUNITY
- Petitions are due Monday, March 22
- Elections will be Wednesday, March 24
- Easter travel updates will be in Wednesday’s COVID-19 update
- Please continue following COVID-19 policies
- Updates from Kendall Archer, president
- Kendall Archer, president
- Class officer reports
- Freshman: No updates
- Sophomore: No updates
- Junior: The senior peer ministers are holding Theology on Tap (free beer for those 21+), link is in the Campus Ministry email or QR codes around campus to sign up
- Senior: Meeting with Marisa to discuss Senior Day; seniors please fill out the survey we have sent out
- Motion to adjourn
- Motioned by Cerdane Abel
- Seconded by Collin van Waardenburg
- Time 7:50 p.m.
Housing registration reminders
Next week, the housing process continues with assigning a time slot to each returning student who has completed their housing application. Eligible students will receive an email prompting them to check eRezLife once this is complete. Students should sign in to eRezLife during their assigned time to register for 2021-22 housing.
- Seniors are Thursday, April 1, beginning at 4 p.m.
- Juniors are Friday, April 2, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
- Sophomores are Tuesday, April 6, beginning at 4 p.m.
- Freshman and any overflow are Wednesday, April 7, beginning at 4 p.m.
Students should double check their roommate groups and make sure they see a green checkbox next to each member. If there isn’t a green check mark, then that group will not be housed together.
Contact the Office of Residence at reslife@smumn.edu or Niki Peterson, director of Residence Life, at npeterso@smumn.edu with any questions.
SAC events this weekend
The Student Activities Committee (SAC) invites you to the following events:
STEM Trivia
Saturday, March 20, at 7 p.m.
Zoom – sign up
Calling all students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Test your general knowledge and win some epic prizes. Join SAC and the Chemistry Club for a fun and basic knowledge test of all things STEM.
Wing Eating Contest
Monday, March 22, at 8 p.m.
Dining room
Can you take the heat? SAC and Chartwells are partnering to bring you a spicy wing contest that will test your tolerance on the Scoville scale. Think you have what it takes to win? Sign up to participate in the Cardinal Club. Want to just watch the action? Simply come to the dining room to bear witness to the spiciest challenge of the semester!
Coffee and Cocoa
Thursday, March 25, from 8 a.m. to noon
First floor, Saint Mary’s Hall
Want to warm up your morning? Join us for free coffee and cocoa and all the fixings.
Upcoming events:
Mini golf – Saturday, March 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. in SLC
Soap Making – Wednesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in the game room
Easter Egg Dying – Thursday, April 1, at 1 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 3, at noon, outside
For more information, follow SAC on Instagram @smumnsac.
Questions? Email studentactivities@smumn.edu.
Receive the SAC weekly meeting invite and events list.
Want to join SAC? Contact SAC president Sarah Fowler at safowl17@smumn.edu.
Not happy with your midterm grades?
Stressed out about your midterm grades? Talk with a peer learning assistant (PLA) who can help you figure out the best way for you to study and manage your time so you can stay on top of your homework. Schedule a meeting or come visit a PLA in HC19 today!
Not happy with with your midterm grades? Sign up for a peer tutor at smumn.joinknack.com. A peer tutor can help you better prepare for the next big exam.
Don’t have the Knack app? Download Knack in the App Store or get it on Google Play.
Improve your writing process by contacting the Saint Mary’s Writing Center.
Feel like you’re wasting time when you sit down to study? Learn five ways to build your focus.
Workshop: Finding Internships for Summer and Fall Semester
An internship is an incredibly valuable way to learn about a career field and build your skills and your network while in college. Participants in this workshop will discuss how to find and secure internships for this summer and fall semester, and learn the procedures in securing the internships for academic credit.
DATE: Wednesday, March 24
TIME: 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Zoom – The meeting is free, but you must preregister to attend.
Safer ways to enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Attending gatherings to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day increases your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day this year is to gather virtually, with people who live with you, or outside and at least 6 feet apart from others.” They offer the following ideas to celebrate the holiday more safely:
- Decorate your home in Saint Patrick’s Day colors, shamrocks, and leprechauns.
- Celebrate by making Irish–inspired recipes.
- Have an outdoor neighborhood Saint Patrick’s Day celebration with everyone at least 6 feet apart and wearing masks.
- Watch a virtual Saint Patrick’s Day celebration.
If you plan to celebrate with others, outdoors is safer than indoors.
CDC guidance on vaccinated people
On March 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of guidelines on how fully vaccinated people can visit safely with others. The new guidelines address how fully vaccinated people can visit with others who are also fully vaccinated and with other people who are not. The guidelines provide that fully vaccinated people may:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart.
- Visit with unvaccinated people from one other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart if everyone in the other household is at low risk for severe disease.
- Refrain from quarantine and testing if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 after contact with someone who has COVID-19.
A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine.
Fully vaccinated people should continue to take COVID-19 precautions when in public, when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple other households, and when around unvaccinated people who are at high risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19, including:
- Wear a well-fitted mask.
- Stay at least 6 feet from people you do not live with.
- Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings.
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Follow guidance issued by individual employers.
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.
Visit the CDC website for more information.
Easter travel clarifications for Winona Campus
All Winona Campus students who elect to travel over the Easter weekend will be required to:
- Complete the COVID-19 travel request form by Wednesday, March 24.
- Participate in a 10-day soft quarantine upon returning to campus, which means:
- Student may attend classes, visit cafeteria, study in the library or other designated spaces.
- Student may not have guests, visit other residence halls, or participate in-person extracurricular activities.
- Student-athletes may participate in practices and strength and conditioning activities as scheduled by their coaches.
- Participate in mandatory testing upon return to campus.
Students who fail to complete the COVID-19 travel request form before traveling will be subject to:
- A $35 non-compliance fine for not completing the travel request form.
- 10-day medium quarantine, which means:
- Student may attend classes, pick-up meals only, and take recreation time alone outdoors daily.
- Student must remain in their residence hall room except for the above exceptions.
- Student may not have guests, visit other residence halls, participate in-person extracurriculars, or workout in Gostomski Fieldhouse.
- Student-athletes may not participate in practices, strength and conditioning activities, or competitions.
- Mandatory testing upon return to campus.
Students who wish to test prior to their departure should contact the Jay Johnson Wellness Center to schedule an appointment.
All students traveling must participate in mandatory COVID-19 testing upon their return on Friday, April 9. Those unable to participate must contact Student Affairs and submit a negative test result to the Wellness Center by Tuesday, April 13.
Students who fall into the following categories are exempt from travel-related quarantine and testing, if they have documentation on file with the Jay Johnson Wellness Center:
- Tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days.
- Have been been vaccinated.
Stay safe, Saint Mary’s
Cardinals,
With the state of Minnesota opening up more, we want to remind you to stay safe by avoiding crowded bars and establishments that do not require face masks.
Let’s keep our streak of minimal COVID-19 transmission within our Saint Mary’s community and move toward being in the green! This allows us to have athletic competitions and in-person events. It takes all of us to do this. We encourage you to stay on campus, socialize with each other according to our recent guest policy guidelines, complete the travel request form, wear a mask, and social distance.
Thank you for keeping our community safe and staying strong.
Together, we are still Saint Mary’s!
Student spotlight: Kayla Vang
Launching successful careers for our students is a major motivation for Saint Mary’s faculty and staff. Even while still working through their program, students are encouraged to push themselves professionally.
Kayla Vang is a student who is doing just that — she’s working hard to accomplish her career goals. Currently enrolled in our Master of Science in Accounting program, Vang’s professor and program director, Melanie Torborg, introduced her to the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification.
“My academic journey began at Saint Mary’s University in the fall of 2019, and I look forward to graduation at the end of spring semester 2021.
“In the winter semester of 2019, Melanie Torborg introduced me to the CMA certification. After some research and reflection, I became a member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) to follow my objective of becoming a CMA. The CMA certification will expose me to an array of expert knowledge from accounting, finance, quality control to strategic financial management, to name a few proficiencies. Furthermore, the certification will prepare me to be more well-rounded in these competencies and refine my leadership skills to become an exceptional business leader.”
After being introduced to the CMA certification, Vang continued to work diligently through her M.S. in Accounting program, but never lost sight of this certification and what it could do to bolster her career. In December 2020, she worked with Torborg to apply for a CMA scholarship offered through the IMA. Shortly after applying, she was chosen as a recipient on behalf of Saint Mary’s.
“I want to thank Saint Mary’s University for providing me with this opportunity and the IMA for selecting me as a recipient of the CMA scholarship,” said Vang. “My CMA preparation journey will begin in late January 2021, and I plan to become certified within a year from my prep date. I also want to thank Melanie Torborg for sharing the scholarship opportunity with me. All my professors at Saint Mary’s University provided the knowledge tools that helped make this decision clearer. I am now not just thinking about getting certified; I am in the process of making it happen. Specifically, I want to thank Professor Catherine Rice for providing me with the adequate tools to instill the confidence that I needed in my technical abilities; Professor Renee Thompson for believing in me and championing my goals and efforts to grow personally and professionally; and lastly, Professor Ron Myszkowski, for his encouraging words.”
Saint Mary’s is proud and honored to share this wonderful accomplishment and wish Vang the best as she begins her CMA preparation. If you are interested in pursuing your M.S. in Accounting, we encourage you to learn more about the program today!
Father Burns hosts President’s Roundtable on character and virtue in business
Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., hosted the spring President’s Roundtable event this morning, March 16. The virtual event featured engaging dialogue on the integration of character and virtue in business. At these events, Winona-area business, education, and government leaders gather together (now virtually) to network and to hear updates on new and innovative initiatives happening at Saint Mary’s University.
Saint Mary’s strategic plan, “Building a Future Full of Hope 2025,” calls for a renewed focus on character and virtue education. Michelle Wieser, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business and Technology, and Michael Hahn, Ph.D., program director of Character and Virtue Education, led a panel discussion on how character and virtue education is being implemented throughout campus life, academic curriculum, and in the School of Business. They also facilitated small group engagements where attendees had the opportunity to share their professional experiences on this important subject.
For more information about character and virtue education at Saint Mary’s, visit character.smumn.edu.
Cardinal Update Live is April 15
Mark your calendars for the next Cardinal Update Live Thursday, April 15, at noon. A Zoom link will be shared closer to the event. All current staff and faculty from all campuses are welcome to attend and hear updates and initiatives happening across the university.
Next Character and Education speaker to address ‘Sport, Virtue, and Excellence’
On Wednesday, April 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, will present on “Sport, Virtue, and Excellence.” The event, hosted by Character and Virtue Education, will be live streamed with a limited number of in-person seats on the Winona Campus.
All faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend the event virtually, but registration is required at the Character and Virtue event website. A Saint Mary’s email account will be needed to register. For information about attending the event in-person, contact cve@smumn.edu.
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