Student Services

Student Central

Student Central, our one-stop student service model, is designed to provide students with all the services needed to be successful in one place – with a strong commitment to relationship driven and solution-oriented customer service.  The Student Central team provides services to prospective, current and former students for programs administered by the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP). 

The student services offered include new student orientation, financial aid, scholarships, program and degree requirements, educational planning and course selection, registration, withdrawing from classes/school, university information, veteran services, international student services, graduation and information on Saint Mary’s policies and procedures. This team assists academic programs with outreach to students to increase retention.  

Registrar’s Office

The registrar’s office is committed to serving the needs of all prospective and current students, faculty, staff, alumni and external constituents. We provide services in the areas of course and, classroom scheduling, registration, commencement coordination, degree completions, and reporting, as well as ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the university’s academic records. We ensure that the policies outlined in the student handbook and catalog are consistently followed across all academic units.

The registrar’s office ensures the integrity, accuracy, and security of all academic records of current and former students; facilitates effective student registration and enrollment; builds secure student data files and sets policy and procedure for their responsible use; maintains up-to-date course schedules, catalogs, final examination schedules; manages efficient use of classrooms; and supervises and maintains the degree audit system.  The registrar supervises the processes for the articulation of transfer credits, graduation and certification of degrees, enrollment and degree verification, production of official transcripts, and diplomas. The registrar’s office counsels and advises students, faculty, and staff on academic matters; and interprets and enforces policies and regulations of the University and FERPA.

Official University Communication

Saint Mary’s University provides students with an email account upon acceptance to the university. Email is the official mode of communication for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs and students are responsible for checking their email regularly. Students are responsible for all information sent to them via the university email account. If the student issued email is forwarded to another email account, you are responsible for all information sent to any other email account.

New Student Orientation

Upon acceptance, students are given access to an online student orientation.  This is an opportunity to become acquainted with the university and the services available to students. All new students are strongly encouraged, and in some programs students are required to attend an orientation session for their programs.

Access Services for Students with Disabilities

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws concerning access to educational benefits and programs.  For the purposes of this policy, a student with a disability is one who:

1. Has a physical or mental impairment that materially or substantially limits a major life activity or,
2. Has a record of such an impairment and,
3. Is regarded as having such an impairment.

A student with a disability who requests academic assistance must provide professionally recognized documentation of the disability and the need for services requested.  Students are responsible for furnishing current documentation of their disability to the Director of Access Services or dean.  These diagnostic reports should be within three years of the request for service and should be completed by a physician or other licensed practitioner.  Determination of the specific services for eligible students will be made by the disability services coordinator or Vice Provost for Faculties and Academic Affairs with input from any appropriate administrative and faculty members, taking into account the eligible student’s stated preferences.  The services provided will be within the legal parameters of “reasonable accommodation.”

Requests to determine eligibility may occur at any time during the student’s career at the university.  Students who need accommodations are expected to contact the Access Services office as soon as possible upon admission or as soon as an access issue is identified. Accommodations may take several weeks to arrange and cannot be made retroactively.

A written accommodation requests and documentation can be mailed to:

Students enrolled in programs through the Twin Cities campus:
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Director of Access Services
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403
612-728-5120

Students enrolled in programs through the Winona campus:
Saint Mary’ University of Minnesota
Director of Access Services
700 Terrace Heights #44
Winona, MN 55987-1399

Textbooks

All students may purchase textbooks at the Saint Mary’s University Bookstore located in La Salle Hall on the Twin Cities Campus or online though stmarys-grad.bncollege.com. Textbook availability is based on registration numbers; students are encouraged to register early.

Twin Cities Campus Bookstore Refund Policy

Students may return books, with the receipt, for a 100% refund one to six days after the first day of class. From day seven to 14 a 75 percent refund will be given, with the receipt. Books should be returned in the condition they were purchased. Course packs, special print materials, or materials for special session classes are nonrefundable.

Students who drop a class will have two weeks from the first day of class for a 100 percent refund. Proof of schedule change must be obtained from the registrar’s office and provided with book and receipt. Course packs, special print materials, or materials for special session classes are nonrefundable.

For hours and questions, contact the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at Saint Mary’s University by phone at (612) 728-5170.

Winona Campus

All students taking classes at the Winona Campus may purchase textbooks at the Saint Mary’s University Bookstore located in the lower level of the Toner Student Center Room #11. Textbook availability is based on registration numbers; students are encouraged to register early.

Winona Campus Bookstore Refund Policy

Students may return books, with the receipt, for a 100% refund one to six days from the start date of that class. Books must be in the condition that they were purchased (including shrink-wrapped items). Course packs, special print materials, or materials for special session classes are nonrefundable.

Students who drop a class may return books, with the receipt, two weeks from the start date of that class to return those books for a 100% refund. Proof of schedule change must be obtained from the registrar’s office and brought in with items to be returned as well as the receipt. Course packs, special print materials, or materials for special session classes are nonrefundable.

For hours and questions, contact the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at Saint Mary’s University by phone at (800) 635-5987 ext. 1570 or visit our website st-marys.bncollege.com

Security

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is committed to creating an environment free from physical, sexual, emotional, and harassment and assault. Services are provided to promote such an environment. Refer to the policies against discrimination and, sexual harassment, and assault. Saint Mary’s has many safety precautions in place and is always working to ensure that the Winona and Twin Cities Campus emergency alert equipment, facilities and policies remain up to date. At our various centers, safety is entrusted to the security services provided by each facility.

Campus Crime Statistics

Campus Crime Statistics for the Twin Cities and Winona Campus are available on the Campus Safety website.

Twin Cities Campus Security Services

General Security Information

Parking

Parking on the Twin Cities Campus is free and available in clearly marked campus parking lots as well as on the public streets near campus.  Additional parking, for a fee, is available at the Phillips Eye Institute parking ramp on the corner of Park Avenue and 24th Street.

Emergency Numbers

Minneapolis Police/Fire/Medical Emergency 911

This service will allow individuals to text their emergency to dispatch if they are unable to call or it is unsafe to call - Text to 911 ​

If you are outside of Minneapolis city limits, but need an immediate Minneapolis Police response, call 612-348-2345

Snow Emergency Information 

612-348-SNOW (7669)
TTY 612-673-2157

Hennepin County Emergency Management

612-596-0250
emergency.mgmt@hennepin.us

Minneapolis Non-emergency Police Information and Impound Lot

612-673-3000 or 311

Non-emergency Phone Numbers for Saint Mary’s University

Twin Cities Campus 

866-437-2788 or 612-728-5100

Rochester Center

507-252-8133

877-768-4545 or 507-457-8600

Winona Campus

Operator 800-635-5987 or 507-452-4430

Twin Cities Campus Security Services

At Saint Mary’s, a university safety and security committee is in place to review and discuss safety and security policies and also to update, engage in training, and implement the university’s Emergency Response Plan. In addition, the committee works to mitigate crime and security risks on campus and conduct periodic threat assessments and emergency drills. Saint Mary’s University contracts its security services with GardaWorld Security Services. The security staff is available to provide non-emergency escorts from buildings to vehicles. The security staff is available by radio, located at each building’s main entry reception desk, by calling 612-720-0417, or by pressing the pre-programmed security button from any campus phone.

612-720-0417 (mobile phone monitored during business hours) or pressing the pre-programmed security button

Security radio located in each building

Notification Systems

Blackboard Connect

The university’s emergency communication system is the primary means of emergency notification. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to 2 sign up for text and voicemail alerts to receive notifications regarding emergencies at the university. This system is intended for immediate transmission of specific information regarding an emergency to all areas of the university, including campus closure due to severe weather. Through this notification system, information may be sent via voice messages to provided home, work, and mobile phone numbers; emails to email addresses; text messages to mobile phone, PDA, and other text-based devices; and TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired. Voice messages and emails are not optional and will be delivered to the contact information you provide. To receive text messages, you must register your mobile phone. To ensure Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has the most up-to-date contact information, please verify and update your emergency contact information in the Student Portal

1. Log in to Student Portal: student.smumn.edu.
2. Select Update Student Demographic Information.
3. Fill in contact information.
4. Select Submit.

On-campus Public Address (PA) System

All classrooms are equipped with telephones.  In the event of an emergency, the phone system will be used to send a page message to all office and classroom phones.

Severe Weather Related Closing

Twin Cities Campus

Weather alerts are posted to the Saint Mary’s website homepage (www.smumn.edu). Students attending classes on the Twin Cities Campus may also dial the general number, 612-728-5100, and listen to the answering system’s broadcast message that is updated to communicate weather-related cancellation information after an official decision has been made. Class cancellations are also broadcast on WCCO-AM 830, www.wcco.com, and WCCO TV or KSTP-AM 1500, www.kstp.com, and KSTP TV.

Rochester Center

Rochester Campus Saint Mary’s students attending the Rochester Campus may tune in to KROC (FM 106.9, AM 1340, or www.kroc.com) or KTTC-TV for announcements. Weather-related cancellations will also be posted on the voicemail system at 507-457-8600 or 507-252-8133.

Off-campus Sites

An individual decision is made for each site. Site liaisons and faculty members will be notified of the decision to cancel at a particular site. Voicemail, email, and calling trees, if previously arranged, will be activated.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Campus Buildings

Brother Louis Hall: 2304 Park Avenue South
La Salle Hall: 2500 Park Avenue South
Martin De Porres Hall: 2450 Park Avenue South
Mother Teresa Hall: 2440 Park Avenue South
Saint Mary’s University Center: 2540 Park Avenue South

Building Hours of Operation

Business hours vary depending on the University Academic Calendar. See website at smumn.edu/academics/academiccalendar If you have questions about safety and security at Saint Mary’s University at any time other than during an emergency situation, contact: 

Twin Cities Campus GardaWorld Security Services Account Manager
Email tcsecurity@smumn.edu
Phone 612-720-0417

or 

Gena Bilden, Director, Campus Operations
Email gbilden@smumn.edu
Phone 612-728-5145

Winona Campus Safety Services

Security Services — Campus Safety personnel are available 24 hours a day to assist in emergencies, provide campus escorts, and enforce regulations detailed in the Community Planner and parking policy. They also patrol all administrative and residence halls to maintain security at all times.

Security Paging — Security staff can be reached by contacting the switchboard by dialing “511” from any on-campus phone.

Reporting Criminal Actions

All criminal actions occurring on the university premises must be reported to the Minneapolis Police Department (Twin Cities) or the Rochester Police Department (Rochester), or the Winona Police Department (Winona) and to the university. Security services employed by the university are considered a service to students, faculty, and staff in assuring their own personal safety. University security personnel do not have the authority to make arrests. The Minneapolis, Rochester, or Winona Police Department is called for all criminal actions.

Students should report crimes to the university by using forms available in the security/campus safety office. The university will respond as you request on this form. Confidentiality is assured by maintaining the forms in a locked file and by only using the aggregate numbers in reports each September. Should it be necessary to alert the members of the campus community to the occurrence of a crime, an email or test message will be issued from the appropriate office and made available to all affected students and employees.

Students may use the university’s internal grievance procedure to handle actions of discrimination, harassment, or assault from within the university community.

The Twin Cities Campus recognizes no off-campus student organizations and is not responsible for unofficial meetings of students, faculty, or staff.

Campus Ministry

Twin Cities Campus

Drawing on the university’s Catholic roots, the goal of the campus ministry is to offer services in our church’s traditions, to extend a supportive, spiritual, and ecumenical environment for all members of our campus community, and to draw strength through greater involvement with our inner selves and the university.

The Saint La Salle Meditation Chapel is located on the first floor of La Salle Hall at the Twin Cities Campus. The chapel offers a quiet space for meditation and prayer to students, faculty and staff. In addition, there are regularly scheduled liturgies and reflection services for members of the campus community. These times are posted in advance of the day the event is offered.

The Campus Spirituality Team was formed as an outgrowth of campus ministry at the university’s Twin Cities Campus. The purpose of the team is to foster a sense of spiritual connection among the students, faculty, staff, and families at the campus in an inclusive and ecumenical manner. Special events are planned during the year. The team hopes that its efforts are able to enrich the lives of those working or studying at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Winona Campus

Campus ministry prides itself on its student leadership and campus-wide involvement, with over 22 student-led groups/programs and 400 students, faculty, and staff involved. There is an opportunity for everyone.

The Office of Campus Ministry is located in the Toner Student Center, Room 5. The office is staffed during regular business hours (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) throughout the undergraduate College academic schedule.

Confidentiality of Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:

• A student has the right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. The records that are viewable include only the documents that were created at Saint Mary’s. The student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official a written request that identifies the record(s) he/she wishes to inspect. The registrar will arrange for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official will advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
• A student has the right to request that the university amend his/her records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. The student must request the amendment in writing, clearly identifying the part of the record he/she wants changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the university decides to not amend the record as requested by the student, the university must notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his/her rights to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when the student is notified of the right to a hearing. Any request for grade changes must follow the procedure as outlined elsewhere in this catalog.
• The student has the right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in his/her records, except where FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. School officials with a legitimate educational interest may have access without the student’s consent. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, professional, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee (such as a disciplinary committee) or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility to the university. Upon request, the university may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which the student seeks to enroll or is already enrolled.
• The university designates the following information as directory information, which may be released without student consent and is not subject to the above regulations: name, local and permanent mailing addresses, telephone numbers, university email address, dates of attendance, registration enrollment status (course schedule is not directory information), class year, major field of study, awards, honors, degree(s) conferred, past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical characteristics (height/weight) of athletes,  prior schools attended, the most recent educational agency or institution attended, date and place of birth, hometown, photographs and other visual images.
• A student may prevent the release of any or all of the categories of Directory Information outlined above by notifying the registrar, in writing, of the categories of information the student does not want disclosed. Notification must occur within ten (10) calendar days of the first scheduled day of classes for the fall, spring, or summer terms. The university will honor all written requests for nondisclosure for one (1) academic year; therefore, students must request nondisclosure annually. 
• A student may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20202-4605.

In order for a parent or guardian or spouse to receive information about their student’s progress, the student must complete the FERPA Designation form located on the Student Portal.