Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes

Based on recommendations from the Educational Standards Committee at the College and the Academic Policy Committee at the SGPP, and in consultation with the deans and academic administrative teams, I am pleased to announce that the total number of required credits to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will be 120 credits, effective fall 2021. This change will apply to all Saint Mary’s bachelor’s programs, including on-ground, online, and bachelor’s completion programs.

In addition, the total number of “in residence” requirements for the B.A. will be 30 credits (the equivalent of one average academic year or two average semesters). The number of maximum allowed transfer credits for B.S. completion will be 84 credits.

Current students will be allowed to shift to the 120-credit requirement without changing the catalog for their degree requirements. This change will also not affect the core number of credits required for a major.

Background and context

This proposal stems from ongoing conversations regarding review of transfer credit policies across the College and Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP).

Rationale

1. At the College: Graduation requirements to complete a major and general education program, with minimum GPA and upper level credit requirements and restrictions on number of elective credits earned in performing arts, sufficiently ensure the academic integrity of the degree, even if the total number of credits is decreased by two and the number of credit hours earned in residence is reduced.
2. Saint Mary’s increased the B.A. total credit count to 122 when physical education was made credit-bearing, but the credits were not subsequently reduced when PE became non-credit-bearing. The change was made for B.S. completion programs in Minneapolis to ensure consistency.
3. This change will bring Saint Mary’s into alignment with credit requirements at other schools in the area.
4. Lowering total credits, including lowering “in residence” credit requirements, will help recruit transfer students.
5. If credit reduction can be applied retroactively to existing students, lowering total credit requirements may lessen the load to graduate for students experiencing missed opportunities due to COVID-19.
6. 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree aligns with Minnesota Academic Program Standards (as dictated by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education) and by Saint Mary’s accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission.

This article will be edited as updates or changes occur. Last edit 3:45 p.m. Feb. 9. 

On Advance Day 2021, Provost Brian Schmisek announced that Saint Mary’s University will be investing in its faculty by providing a $1,000 stipend to all instructors who complete three levels of our Online Instructor Certification course (Introduction, Intermediate, and Advanced) in fiscal year 2020-21 (ends May 2021).

You can read more about the certification courses and register for them at the CELT Online Instructor Certification page.

Right now, all February courses are full and we anticipate March’s introductory course will be full as well. Registering for any of these courses on the CELT site’s form will put you on the waitlist, and as space becomes available, we will gradually register people first who are first on the waitlist. You will need your dean’s approval to register for the certification courses, including courses starting in March at all levels.

We anticipate being able to offer the courses on the following schedule:

• Courses starting February 1: Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced
• Courses starting March 8: Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced
• Courses starting April 5: Intermediate, Advanced
• Courses starting May 3: Advanced

Further sections are planned and will be announced via Cardinal Update and the CELT site.

Faculty and staff,

We wanted to share the following communication about tuition, which is being shared with students in Thursday’s newsletter.

Students,

We wanted to give you as much advance notice as possible regarding tuition costs for the 2021-22 academic year. In order to maintain the quality of our academic programs and services to you, Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees has approved a small increase in tuition at both the undergraduate level and Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP). After much planning and taking into consideration increases in contract rates, technology costs, and non-reimbursed expenses due to COVID-19, the tuition and fees structure for the new academic year are as follows.

Undergraduate College

Tuition and room and board charges for next year will increase by 3% for the Winona Campus undergraduate College. No other fees will change at this time.

With the new increase, tuition will be $38,780, an increase of $1,130, and comprehensive tuition and fees will total $39,330. Room and board charges will be $9,920. The tuition for our PA program will be $42,640, a 3% increase.

In alignment with our commitment to keeping tuition costs reasonable and competitive, we, along with the Board of Trustees, are careful stewards of our financial resources and are committed to goal 5 of our strategic plan: Steward Resources: create long-term financial stability through improved enrollment, efficiency, strategic partnerships, and philanthropy.

Saint Mary’s remains focused on providing a quality education at a great value. In fact, our value compares favorably when reviewing tuition and fees at other private institutions in Minnesota. For example; the comprehensive tuition and fees at College of Saint Benedict is more than $17,000 higher; Saint John’s University and University of Saint Thomas close to $17,000 higher, and the College of St. Scholastica more than $7,000 higher.

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs

At the graduate level, tuition rates per credit will increase by an average of 2.8%, with individual program ranges increasing between 0% to 5.8%. The individual program rates are detailed online.

The university will also add a $100 per term technology fee for SGPP students to cover technology investments such as increased Wi-Fi accessibility, more comprehensive tech support for students, and a more functional and mobile friendly learning management system. This change will be effective summer 2021 term, beginning May 2021. The fee would not apply to doctoral students who are enrolled with the status of “dissertation only.”

Saint Mary’s continues to be committed to keeping SGPP tuition rates accessible for working adults and more affordable than most competing institutions. Also, given the pandemic, we are fully aware of and sensitive to making education affordable to students who may be experiencing acute financial challenges.

As part of our Lasallian Catholic mission, we remain committed to all students with the goal of providing a quality education that is accessible, affordable, and focused on outcomes. Thank you for being a valued member of the Saint Mary’s community. Our best wishes to you for a successful spring semester and throughout your studies with us.

Current and new fees have been updated on the following webpages:

• Undergraduate tuition and fees
• Graduate tuition and fees
• Bachelor’s completion tuition and fees 
• All program and undergraduate major webpages

If you have additional questions, email studentcentral@smumn.edu.

It’s Monday morning, and before we start looking ahead to all the Cardinal action this week, here’s a quick look back at last week, which included action in men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s hockey.