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.
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 program.
Access Services for Students with Disabilities
Saint Mary’s University is committed to providing reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. These accommodations address the barriers that students experience as a result of their disability. In addition, we provide information and resources necessary for students to pursue their academic, personal and professional goals while at Saint Mary’s. We are committed to working with administrators, faculty, staff and students to cultivate an awareness of creating an inclusive environment for all individuals.
ADA and Section 504 Policy for Students
Purpose
The Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities. These laws require Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (“the university”) to provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified students with disabilities. Generally, the term “disability” means that an individual has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This policy is intended to guide the student disability accommodation process once a request for academic accommodation has been made.
Individuals with questions about this policy or who wish to request an accommodation, including prospective students who may need a disability accommodation during the admissions process, should contact Access Services at:
Twin Cities Campus:
2500 Park Avenue
LaSalle Hall #42
Minneapolis, MN 66505
612-238-4576
accessservicessgpp@smumn.edu
Scope
This policy applies to all student requests for accommodations under the ADA and Section 504.
Policy
- General
- Students are required to self-identify as a person with a disability and may request accommodations. Once a student self-identifies as a person with a disability, the university will engage in an interactive process with the student to determine what, if any, reasonable accommodations are available.
- A student self-identifying as a person with a disability who needs accommodation must have a disability covered by law and be qualified with or without reasonable accommodation. The university is only obligated to provide reasonable accommodations, and it is not required to fundamentally alter its programs to accommodate a student. Thus, not all accommodation requests will necessarily be granted.
- Accommodation requests and supporting documentation are reviewed on an individualized, case-by-case basis. As such, approved accommodations may vary from person to person and from environment to environment for students with the same disability diagnosis. Documentation of a specific disability does not translate directly into specific accommodations.
- During the interactive process, appropriate university officials may be consulted to determine the reasonableness of requested accommodations and how best to implement certain accommodations.
- Temporary accommodations may be available while the university engages in the interactive process to determine whether ongoing accommodations are appropriate and, if so, what reasonable accommodations are needed. However, temporary accommodations do not reflect a determination that ongoing accommodation will be granted and/or what reasonable accommodations are appropriate, nor do they create an obligation on the part of the university to continue accommodating the student.
- Requesting Accommodations and Documentation
- Students should complete the online Student Intake and Accommodation Request Form to request accommodations. After doing so, an access services specialist will contact the student to arrange a meeting to discuss the requested accommodations. Students should not make accommodation requests directly to faculty members; if this occurs,faculty members will refer students to Access Services. Similarly, faculty members or other university employees should not provide accommodations to students who have not been approved by Access Services through this policy. All faculty members and other university employees are expected to implement approved accommodations unless they believe an accommodation fundamentally alters an assignment or course. In this instance, faculty should contact Access Services to work through the fundamental alterations process.
- The university encourages the timely request of accommodations before the start of a school term because the documentation and determination process may take some time. However, accommodation requests can be made and will be accepted and considered at any time. Do note, though, that granted accommodations are not effective retroactively so students will not be able to re-do assignments or re-take exams with accommodations that they originally took before they asked for and received accommodations.
- Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- extended time on exams
- alternative testing (different location for taking exams or alternate test formats)
- audio recordings of class lectures
- transcriptions or captions for online lectures
- interpreter services
- assistive technology (audiobooks, texts in Braille, text-to-speech programs, etc.)
- alternate housing
- reduced course loads
- priority registration
- magnified text
- specific classroom seating
- use of laptops for tests and exams
- use of calculators for tests and exams
- Appropriate supporting documentation will be requested. This may vary depending on the circumstances but should generally include
- A prior Individual Education Plan (IEP) [The university may request additional documentation if the IEP or Section 504 plan were not “in effect” immediately before the student exited high school.];
- Documentation of prior services or accommodations under a Section 504 plan [The university may request additional documentation if the IEP or Section 504 plan were not “in effect” immediately before the student exited high school.];
- Records from a private school, local educational agency, or a plan or record from a previous institution of higher education provided under the ADA or its amendments
- A military record of disability; or
- A record, evaluation, or additional information from a qualified health professional including:
- a description of the qualified professional’s credentials,
- a description of disability-related impairments as they relate to the student’s ability to learn and participate in the academic program,
- a description of any tests, assessments, facts, observations, records, other materials, and/or evaluations that the professional relied on in arriving at their specific diagnosis, and
- a list of accommodations that the professional believes would allow the student to fully and equally participate in their educational program and how the professional expects the suggested accommodations to help the student.
- Note that specific accommodations being recommended by a professional do not guarantee that those accommodations will be granted, and the university may provide alternative accommodations instead.
- While documentation of past accommodation history is important and will be considered, it is not decisive as to what accommodations will be granted by the university.
- The university reserves the right to request additional documentation if the initial documentation does not provide sufficient information.
- A course instructor must provide notice to Access Services outlining any concerns about reasonable accommodations that create a fundamental alteration of a course. A copy of that notice must also be provided to the student.
Implementation of Approved Accommodations
Once a student has been approved for accommodations, Access Services will prepare a document outlining these accommodations. This document will be emailed to the faculty and the student. The student should discuss the approved accommodations with the faculty member in each course for which the student wants the accommodations to be implemented.
A student who believes that an approved accommodation is not being appropriately implemented, or is otherwise having difficulty with a faculty member related to accommodations, should review below, for guidance in handling the situation.
Checking-In, Modifications, and Additional Accommodations
The student should contact and engage Access Services in a discussion when the need arises to discuss the implementation of the student’s accommodations, identify any issues of concern, discuss the student’s upcoming class schedule, consider whether any additional accommodations are necessary or if current accommodations need to be modified, etc. Access Services will presume the approved accommodations are being implemented effectively unless Access Services hears otherwise.
It is recommended that students contact Access Services with any identified needs before the start of a term. However, students who have been granted accommodations may request additional accommodations and/or modifications to their already granted accommodations at any time by contacting Access Services.
Grievance and Appeal Process: ADA and Section 504
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (“the university”) has adopted the following policy for grievances relating to accommodation decisions or disability discrimination.
Students have the right to file a complaint directly with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the United States Department of Education (DOE).
- Appeal relating to accommodation decisions
- When a student does not agree with an accommodation decision, the student is encouraged to discuss any concerns with the Director of Access Services within five (5) business days from the date of the accommodation decision. The concerns can be submitted either in writing (hard copy or electronic) or communicated verbally.
- If the student does not agree with the decision of the Director of Access Services regarding the accommodation decision, the student may appeal the decision in writing to the Vice President for Student Development within ten (10) business days from the date of the director’s decision. The vice president will communicate a decision to the student in writing within ten (10) business days from the date the appeal was received.
- The decision on appeal exhausts the student’s administrative remedies. Should the student not be satisfied with the outcome of the appeal, the student may utilize the external complaint process as outlined in “External Grievances/Complaint Procedure” below.
- Grievance relating to discrimination complaint
A student whose complaint concerns discrimination on the basis of disability or perception of disability is encouraged to use one of the following for assistance:
- Call, write, or meet with the Director of Access Services.
- Use the procedure outlined in the university’s Discrimination Policy.
- Call, write, or meet with the university’s designated Section 504/ADA Coordinator.
University personnel will respect a student’s request for privacy but may not be able to ensure confidentiality in resolving the complaint.
Filing a Complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota encourages students to use university procedures before pursuing remedies outside the university.Students have the right to file a complaint directly with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the United States Department of Education (DOE). Complaints can be filed by:
- Online: Students may file a complaint with OCR using OCR’s electronic complaint form at the following website:http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html.
- Mail or Facsimile: Students may mail or send by facsimile information to the address or phone number available at this link. Students may use OCR’s Discrimination Complaint Form or write their own letter. If they write their own letter, please include:
- Name, address, and, if possible (although not required), a telephone number where the student may be reached during business hours;
- Information about the person(s) or class of persons injured by the alleged discriminatory act(s) (names of the injured person(s) are not required);
- The name and location (city and state) of the institution that committed the alleged discriminatory act(s); and
- A description of the alleged discriminatory act(s) in sufficient detail to enable OCR to understand what occurred, when it occurred, and the basis for the alleged discrimination.
- Email: Students may email OCR’s Discrimination Complaint Form or their own signed letter to ocr@ed.gov. If they write their own letter, please include the information identified above.
Note: A recipient of federal financial assistance may not retaliate against any person who has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an OCR matter or to interfere with any right or privilege protected by the laws enforced by OCR. If a student believes that they have been retaliated against for any of these reasons, they also may file a complaint with OCR.
Textbooks
All students may purchase textbooks at the Saint Mary’s University Bookstore located in La Salle Hall on the Minneapolis Campus or online though stmarys-grad.bncollege.com. Textbook availability is based on registration numbers; students are encouraged to register early.
Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis and Winona Campus are available on the Campus Safety website.
Minneapolis Campus Security Services
General Security Information
Parking
Parking on the Minneapolis Campus is free and available in clearly marked campus parking lots as well as on the public streets near campus. Parking passes are required and are
distributed at the start of the semester for new students.
Emergency Numbers
Minneapolis Police/Fire/Medical Emergency 911
Text to 911- This service will allow individuals to text their emergency to dispatch if they are unable to call or it is unsafe to call
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
Minneapolis 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
Minneapolis 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.
To enchance building security, most buildings are locked during business hours with the exception of Lasalle Hall, 2500 Park Avenue. Students, faculty and staff need to use acces devices to enter buildings. Bluetooth enabled access codes for handheld devices are distributed at the beginning of each semester to new students. Security is available to provide access if needed.
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 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
- Log in to Student Portal: student.smumn.edu.
- Select Update Student Demographic Information.
- Fill in contact information.
- 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.
Minneapolis Campus
Weather alerts are posted to the Saint Mary’s website homepage (www.smumn.edu). 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 Campus
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.
Minneapolis 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 https://www.smumn.edu/academics/academic-calendar. If you have questions about safety and security at Saint Mary’s University at any time other than during an emergency situation, contact:
Minneapolis Campus GardaWorld Security Services Account Manager
Email tcsecurity@smumn.edu
Phone 612-720-0417
or
James Bedtke, Vice President of Facilities
Email jbedtke@smumn.edu
Phone 507-457-1458
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 (Minneapolis) 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 Minneapolis Campus recognizes no off-campus student organizations and is not responsible for unofficial meetings of students, faculty, or staff.
Campus Ministry
Minneapolis Campus
Drawing on the university’s Catholic identity, the goal of the campus ministry is to allow easy access to the sacramental and devotional life of the Church, as well as to extend a supportive, spiritual, and ecumenical environment for all members of our campus community. The space on the Minneapolis Campus where that can occur is The Saint La Salle Chapel which is located on the first floor of La Salle Hall. The chapel offers a quiet space for meditation and prayer to students, faculty,and staff. In addition, there are regularly scheduled liturgies and services for members of the campus community. These times are posted in advance of the day the event is offered.
The University Chaplain’s office is located in La Salle Hall, Room 170. The chaplain is available for the sacraments and spiritual direction throughout the year.
Winona Campus
Campus ministry prides itself on its student leadership and campus-wide involvement, engaging over 200 students, faculty, and staff. There is an opportunity for everyone in faith, service, and community.
The Office of Campus Ministry is located in St. Mary’s Hall, Suite 100. 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: the student’s name(s), student identification number, address(es), telephone number(s), university email address, photographs, electronic images. date and place of birth, major field(s) of study, current enrollment status, including academic level (e.g., sophomore) and full- or part-time status. participation in officially recognized activities, dates of attendance, degrees earned and dates of graduation, including expected graduation dates, awards and academic honors received (including selection criteria and names of scholarships), Dean’s List selection (including selection criteria), previous educational institution(s) attended, program and promotion materials for participants in various sports and similar public activities, including weights and heights of members of athletic teams.
- 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: Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20202-8520.
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.
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