Saint Mary’s online graduate programs recognized nationally

Saint Mary’s offers students exceptional online graduate programs. The 2015 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Program rankings, released recently, include Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota as a top school in its “Best Online Programs: Business        (Graduate)” category (www.usnews.com/education/online-education/mba/business-rankings).

“As we strive to make education accessible to adult learners, we have increased our online educational offerings,” said Brother Robert Smith, vice president for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs. “Our goal is to provide a quality, personalized experience that meets the needs of today’s learners, and being recognized by U.S. News is proof that we are successful in our efforts.”

Saint Mary’s achieved a spot (74th) in U.S. News’ national rankings in the online graduate business programs category with favorable scores in student engagement, admission selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, student services, and technology.

Online graduate business programs offered at Saint Mary’s include the M.A. in Human Resource Management, the M.A. in Organizational Leadership, the M.S. in Project Management, and the new M.S. in Accountancy and M.A. in International Development programs.

Saint Mary’s also offers exceptional online graduate programs in education and health and human services. They include the M.A. in Health and Human Services Administration, the M.A. in Educational Leadership, the M.A. in Special Education, and the M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology.

Philanthropy and Development cohorts on campus July 20-31

Dates for the M.A. in Philanthropy and Development summer residency are July 20-31. Forty-two students are expected to be on campus during this period.

Commencement schedule announced for May 11

On Saturday, May 11, the Winona campus will hold a joint ceremony including both Winona undergraduate and graduate students. A baccalaureate Mass will begin at 8 a.m. in Saint Thomas More Chapel, and the commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. A reception will follow in the Plaza (or in case of inclement weather, Gostomski Fieldhouse).

Limited parking will be available. A shuttle service will be provided from a nearby parking lot. More information will be posted at www.smumn.edu/commencement.

Handicapped parking is available on campus. Anyone needing special accommodations for seating in the gymnasium should call Darlene Paulson at Ext. 1586 to make arrangements. In order to honor all handicapped section seating requests, only one additional guest may sit with the individual requesting handicapped seating. A sign language interpreter will be at the ceremony.

Commencement schedule announced for May 11

On Saturday, May 11, the Winona campus will hold a joint ceremony including both Winona undergraduate and graduate students. A baccalaureate Mass will begin at 8 a.m. in Saint Thomas More Chapel, and the commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. A reception will follow in the Plaza (or in case of inclement weather, Gostomski Fieldhouse).

Limited parking will be available. A shuttle service will be provided from a nearby parking lot. More information will be posted at www.smumn.edu/welcome-tobrst-marys/about-smu/commencement-information.

Handicapped parking is available on campus. Anyone needing special accommodations for seating in the gymnasium should call Darlene Paulson at Ext. 1586 to make arrangements. In order to honor all handicapped section seating requests, only one additional guest may sit with the individual requesting handicapped seating. A sign language interpreter will be at the ceremony.

Commencement schedule announced for May 11

On Saturday, May 11, the Winona campus will hold a joint ceremony including both Winona undergraduate and graduate students. A baccalaureate Mass will begin at 8 a.m. in Saint Thomas More Chapel, and the commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. A reception will follow in the Plaza (or in case of inclement weather, Gostomski Fieldhouse).

Limited parking will be available. A shuttle service will be provided from a nearby parking lot. More information will be posted at www.smumn.edu/welcome-tobrst-marys/about-smu/commencement-information.

Handicapped parking is available on campus. Anyone needing special accommodations for seating in the gymnasium should call Darlene Paulson at Ext. 1586 to make arrangements. In order to honor all handicapped section seating requests, only one additional guest may sit with the individual requesting handicapped seating. A sign language interpreter will be at the ceremony.

Still time to register for March 9 All-Program Reunion

Register now for the March 9 “All-Program Reunion” on the Twin Cities Campus. The Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs is planning a once-in-a-lifetime gathering to mark the SMU Centennial and 30 years of graduate education. Everyone is welcome. Register at  www.mysmumn.org/MarchBack.

Eubank named director of Institute for Lasallian Studies

Dr. Roxanne Eubank has been selected as the first director of the newly established Institute for Lasallian Studies in the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs. She will continue as professor in the Doctor of Education in Leadership Program, teaching and advising graduate students.

Dr. Eubank has been at the university since 1991, serving as a faculty member and an administrator in the graduate school. She has participated in a wide and rich variety of Lasallian formation programs, and she now is recognized as a leading lay partner in university, regional and international Lasallian conversations. Dr. Eubank currently serves on the SMU University Council for Lasallian Mission, the Mission and Ministry Council of the Midwest District of the Christian Brothers, and the International Lasallian University Leadership Program.

The Institute for Lasallian Studies was founded to provide Lasallian formation and accompaniment to members of the regional and international family. The Institute will provide master’s-level and doctoral-level programs, as well as certificates, designed to serve the needs of those working in Lasallian ministries around the world. In addition, the Institute anticipates hosting retreats and workshops on emerging issues of special concern to members of the Lasallian family.

Annual research symposium set for Nov. 1 in Minneapolis

The Ed.D. in Leadership program at Saint Mary’s will host the fifth annual Ed.D. Research Symposium at the Minneapolis campus on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saint Mary’s annual research symposium attracts numerous members of the SMU community, including current doctoral students, faculty, and graduates of the program. This event highlights the accomplishments of our recent graduates, allows current students to receive valuable feedback from their peers, and provides an opportunity for Saint Mary’s students to share their accomplishments with a wider professional audience.

The keynote speaker at the symposium luncheon this year is expected to be Brother Michael Collins, president of De La Salle High School in Minneapolis. If you have any further questions contact Britt Bakken at bbakken@smumn.edu or Ext. 5127.

Annual research symposium set for Nov. 1 in Minneapolis

The Ed.D. in Leadership program at Saint Mary’s will host the fifth annual EDD Research Symposium at the Minneapolis campus on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saint Mary’s annual research symposium attracts numerous members of the SMU community, including current doctoral students, faculty, and graduates of the program. This event highlights the accomplishments of our recent graduates, allows current students to receive valuable feedback from their peers, and provides an opportunity for Saint Mary’s students to share their accomplishments with a wider professional audience.

The keynote speaker at the symposium luncheon this year is expected to be Brother Michael Collins, president of De La Salle High School in Minneapolis. Brother Michael is a renowned Lasallian leader who has served the Christian Brothers in key leadership positions for many years. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Saint Mary’s for 29 years and has been a strong supporter of the provision of higher education to adults in the Twin Cities. In addition, Brother Michael has been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his contribution to the continuing dialog on educational access and inclusion.

If you have any further questions contact Britt Bakken at bbakken@smumn.edu or Ext. 5127.

Annual research symposium set for Nov. 1 in Minneapolis

The Ed. D. in Leadership program at Saint Mary’s will host the fifth annual EDD Research Symposium at the Minneapolis campus on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saint Mary’s annual research symposium attracts numerous members of the SMU community, including current doctoral students, faculty, and graduates of the program. This event highlights the accomplishments of our recent graduates, allows current students to receive valuable feedback from their peers, and provides an opportunity for Saint Mary’s students to share their accomplishments with a wider professional audience.

The keynote speaker at the symposium luncheon this year is expected to be Brother Michael Collins, president of De La Salle High School in Minneapolis. Brother Michael is a renowned Lasallian leader who has served the Christian Brothers in key leadership positions for many years. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Saint Mary’s for 29 years and has been a strong supporter of the provision of higher education to adults in the Twin Cities. In addition, Brother Michael has been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his contribution to the continuing dialog on educational access and inclusion.

If you have any further questions contact Britt Bakken at bbakken@smumn.edu or Ext. 5127.

Professional conference on teacher inquiry is April 5-6

“Leadership for Learning” is the thematic focus for the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning’s annual conference at Champlin Park High School April 5-6.

Approximately 900 learners in the M.Ed. Program from across the state of Minnesota and Wisconsin will come together for two days of shared learning. Participants will be given the opportunity to explore the fruits of applied inquiry into the use of strategies that support student learning and development.

The conference provides an opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding of their practice, explore ways to use classroom-based action research, and to develop instructional habits of mind that improve student learning and promote the well being of all learners.

During the two-day conference, participants will attend a total of seven sessions. Six sessions will be seminars following a forum, round table, or Socratic seminar format. Here, participants will experience learning seminars grounded in action research sharing, with seminar leaders communicating both an understanding and application of strategies being applied in their classroom. A seventh session will bring teachers of like grade, subject matter, and curricular interests together for a time of sharing new strategies and developing possibilities for future collaboration.

Each seminar at the conference will be led by a second year M.Ed. Program participant. Each leader will facilitate a seminar engaging participants in active learning and dialogue focused on instructional problem solving. Ultimately, the conference is designed to facilitate teacher efforts to realize their personal visions and goals through opportunities to gain relevant information, engage in instructional exploration through dialogue, and renew the purpose that fuels their passion for teaching.

For more information, or to attend, contact Suzanne Peterson, program director, Ext. 6615 or speterso@smumn.edu.

Ryan named director for M.A. Special Education

Dr. Kathy Ryan has accepted the position of program director for the M.A. in Special Education program, which will launch in the spring 2009. Dr. Ryan has served the university as the PACC director and as an assistant professor in the School of Education.

Saint Mary's to offer courses in Minnetonka

Saint Mary’s will offer courses in Minnetonka beginning in January 2008. The university’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) in Minneapolis is leasing classroom and office space in Ridge Plaza, located on Highway 394 straight north of Ridgedale Mall.

The 7,600-square-foot addition to Saint Mary’s University will initially be used for Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree completion programs and Master of Arts in Business Administration classes.  The site will be referred to as Minnetonka Center.

“The rapidly growing enrollment in our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs has resulted in a considerable need for more Twin Cities classroom and office space,” said Brother Chancellor Louis DeThomasis. “Minnetonka is an excellent location for us to bring education closer to students in the west metro area.”

Sobolewski contributes to ‘New York Times’ article

Dr. Greg Sobolewski, director of the Institute of Pastoral Ministries, was interviewed for a New York Times article titled, “A New Emphasis for the Ministry: Management Skills.”
Read the article

Saint Mary’s names 9 to new SGPP Board of Regents

Nine Twin Cities community leaders have been named to the new Saint Mary’s University Board of Regents. The regents will counsel the president and Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs administration regarding long-range and programmatic strategic planning. Brother Louis DeThomasis, chancellor, appointed the regents to serve three-year terms.

The members of the Board of Regents include: Kent Eklund, president, Fairview Foundation, Minneapolis; Farley S. Kaufmann, partner, Lurie Besikof Lapidus and Company, L.L.P, Minneapolis; G. Carlos Lopez, president, Casa Travel, Inc., Burnsville; Russell V. Michaletz, partner, Deloitte Tax L.L.P., Minneapolis; John Montague, president, Muve Inc., Minneapolis; Julie Morath, chief operating officer, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics, Minneapolis; Kaye O’Leary, chief financial officer, Buca, Inc., Minneapolis; and Willie Mae Wilson, former president and chief executive officer, Saint Paul Urban League, Saint Paul. The first chairman of the board is Loras H. Sieve, retired, General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis.

Noted faculty featured in new Canon Law program at SMU

An innovative two-year Graduate Certificate in Canon Law program is now accepting applications for a summer 2008 debut at Saint Mary’s.

The program, featuring noted experts as faculty, will be offered to a national student body by the Institute in Pastoral Ministries. Students will engage in a blended-learning format, with both an online delivery as well as a two-week summer residency.

The two-year program will run in conjunction with the Institute’s master degree programs in Pastoral Ministry and Pastoral Administration. The first summer residency is June 16 - 28, 2008, with a second residency planned for summer, 2009.

The Graduate Certificate in Canon Law is aimed at Roman Catholic Church administrators at all levels, school and health-care administrators, and civil attorneys. The course of study is designed for those who do not seek a pontifical degree in canon law, but require canonical knowledge for administrative or pastoral duties.

The outstanding faculty include: Sr. Dominica Brennan, OP, JCL, chancellor for canonical affairs, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; Rev. Paul Golden, CM, JCD, Vincentian Canonical Services, Denver; Lawrence Price, JD, JCL, director of the tribunal, Diocese of Winona, Minn.; Rev. Daniel Smilanic, adjutant judicial vicar, Archdiocese of Chicago; and Dr. Greg Sobolewski, director of SMU’s Institute in Pastoral Ministries.

For more information on the Graduate Certificate in Canon Law, contact Sobolewski at Ext. 1767 or email gsobolew@smumn.edu. Or go online to www.smumn.edu/ipm.

Saint Mary's reports increase in undergraduate and graduate enrollment

Saint Mary's reports enrollment growth at both the undergraduate and graduate program levels.

As of the fall "enrollment data freeze" dates, Saint Mary's has a total of 5,960 students, up 394 from last year's total of 5,566.

The number of graduate students enrolled is 3,918 (929 in Winona-based programs and 2,989 in Twin Cities campus-based programs). That number is up 170 from last year's enrollment of 3,748. An additional 692 bachelor degree-completion and undergraduate certificate students are enrolled, up 166 from last year's total of 526.

The undergraduate College at the Winona campus shows enrollment of 1,350, up 58 from last year's total of 1,292. (1,276 are full-time undergraduates and 74 are part-time and non-degree-seeking students.) The freshman class of 399 is the second-largest in Saint Mary's history. Adding in transfers and readmitted students, the total of new degree-seeking students is 455.

P&D cohort member quoted in ‘Chronicle of Higher Education’

One of SMU’s Philanthropy and Development students from cohort 15, Wendy Zufelt-Baxter, is quoted in the article “The Care and Feeding of Top Fund Raisers” in the Oct. 12 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education, and she mentions the SMU program.

SMU receives $2 million gift for speaker series, scholarships

An anonymous donor has given $2 million to Saint Mary’s. The largest gift ever received by its Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs will fund a major new Twin Cities speaker series and endowed scholarships for adult, non-traditional students.

The annual speaker series — featuring renowned guest speakers — will help raise visibility for the entire university in the Twin Cities, a most important market for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Read more...Saint Mary’s will sponsor the event with its Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, whose student and community programs emphasize the importance of ethical principles, morals, spirituality, and free enterprise. The event’s keynote speaker will present an award to an outstanding leader for his or her contributions to global ethical initiatives.

Brother Chancellor Louis DeThomasis expressed his “immense gratitude” to the anonymous donor, noting that this gift will allow us to bring a top-flight event to the Twin Cities that will spotlight the national need for ethical leadership. “We’re excited that the gift also will help the university in its mission to make life-changing education accessible and affordable,” he said.