Saints Institute

Campus Map.

• Tuesday sessions start in Mitchell Auditorium (11). Wednesday morning sessions are in Science (10). Other sessions are in Somers (9) and Burns Wellness Commons (5).

• Lactation rooms are located in each building. Contact Kelly Durick Eder (kdurickeder@css.edu) for locations and access cards/keys.

• If you have accommodation needs, please email institute@css.edu directly. 

!HEADSHOTS! Local photographer Mark Fitzgibbons will be in the Ashlea Meeting Room (Student Center 1811) from 10am to 3pm if you want to update your CSS directory profile photo! 

New Faculty Orientation in Tower 3414. The schedule and invites have been sent to new faculty.

If you have accommodation needs, please email institute@css.edu directly. 

Given that there are very few new faculty in orientation this year, program and department meetings can also be held on this day.

Please wear your favorite CSS t-shirt or school colors!

NOTE: If you have accommodation needs, please email institute@css.edu directly. 

8:00-9:00 a.m. -  Mitchell Lobby

• Coffee & Refreshments available. 

• New employee? Pick up your lanyard in the Mitchell lobby.

9:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. - Mitchell Auditorium (Zoom link)

• President's Address

• Value of the Year

• Sisters' Blessing

• Awards presentation

11:45 a.m.  -  Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel

• Mass 

12:00-2:00 p.m. - Large Flex and the Student Center Lawn/Patio (following the conclusion of Mass). In the event of rain, we will eat in the Benedictine Commons.

• Social–Beverages available 12:00-12:30

• Appreciation Luncheon 12:30-2:00

• During the Luncheon, pick up your Employee Engagement Bingo Card from the CSS Employee Engagement Committee! More details HERE.

2:00-4:00 p.m. 

• School Meetings

Morning: Professional Development Sessions

All sessions WILL have a Zoom option. Links for each room will be provided. Coffee, tea and water will be available. If you have accommodation needs, please email institute@css.edu directly. 

8:15-9:00 a.m.

• PD kickoff - Amy Bergstrom & Matt Ridenour - Science lecture hall (S2122)

9:15-10:00 a.m. (2 concurrent sessions)

NOTE: Accessibility and Disability have been identified as the primary focus of our Inclusive Excellence Team this year and will be a track (S3207) for professional development at Saints Institute. 

• Laying the Groundwork: ADA in Context - Hannah Bober - S3207
  Thirty-six years after the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, students with disabilities still encounter barriers to belonging, participation, and success.  This session explores the history of disability rights and justice in the U.S. to understand why legal protections alone have never been enough. Drawing on national examples, Minnesota history, and feedback from our campus community, we’ll examine how ableism continues to shape higher education and begin the work of recognizing our role in creating change.

• Sister Kathleen Del Monte and John Bauman: Celebrating and Embodying the Love of Learning - S3211
  Love of Learning, what a wonderful value to explore and celebrate! Join us for an active experience putting love of learning into practice with colleagues and friends. We will explore the daily living of our core value of the year through reflection and interaction and come away with practical steps for nurturing this beloved value and putting it into action!!

10:15-11:00 a.m. (2 concurrent sessions)

• Rethinking Disability: Challenging Myths, Bias, and Ableism - Amy Murzyn - S3207
  In this session, we’ll explore the evolution of disability models and examine how these frameworks influence our assumptions and decisions. Together, we’ll challenge common myths about disability, discuss visible and invisible disabilities, and identify the subtle ways ableism can appear in everyday interactions. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of disability as an aspect of human diversity and a greater awareness of how their perspectives impact student belonging. 

• Sarah Brokke, The P&T Process - S3211
  This workshop will engage participants with the P&T process, talking through each piece of the P&T portfolio and supporting evidence, upload and format procedures, and timeline. There will be time for questions, troubleshooting, and engagement with workshop attendees to help support the process.

11:15 a.m. -12:00 p.m. (2 concurrent sessions)
**ICE CREAM and POPSICLE treats for all those attending the 11:15 sessions, provided by CEA**

• From Awareness to Action: Teaching for Access and Belonging - S3207
  Panelists: Anna Semanko, Brynn Borer, Emily Woster, Matt Hoeschen, Chery Lucarelli
  In this final session, participants will explore practical, evidence-based strategies for inclusive teaching, accessible course design, and classroom practices that foster a sense of belonging. You’ll hear from campus partners and faculty who are advancing accessibility at CSS and leave with concrete ideas you can implement right away. Note: This session will emphasize the classroom, but the content can be generalized to other contexts.

• Callle Ronstrom, Preparing for new F-1 Visa Regulations - S3211
  In one of the biggest changes to F-1 visa regulations in decades,  the Department of Homeland Security is eliminating Duration of Status (D/S) and replacing it with a fixed period of admission, capped at a maximum of four years. The new rule fundamentally changes F-1 visa regulations and how we support our international student body. This session will break down the main components of the new rule, including shortened 30-day grace periods, strict new limitations on changing majors or transferring institutions, and the shift of approving program extensions from our Designated School Officials (DSOs) to formal applications with USCIS. Participants will learn how these changes directly impact academic advising, curriculum planning, and student retention, and how faculty and staff can collaborate to keep our campus compliant with federal regulations while supporting the success of our international students.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Lunch on your own.

1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

• Faculty Assembly - BWC 249

• Staff Council - Somers Lounge

3:30-4:30 p.m.

All-College Happy Hour in Somers Lounge

Morning Session: Mapping the General Education Curriculum
(Hosted by the General Education Task Force)

This will be held in person in Somers Lounge. 

9:00 a.m. Informative Introduction (Open to all Staff and Faculty)

• Explain the structure of the curriculum, the difference between foundation seminar and Dignitas, topic areas, integrative seminar, etc.

• Run through several student scenarios to show program will affect traditional students, transfer students, students with AA degrees, online students.

• Run through the timeline for the fall semester 

• Invitation to provide feedback

9:45-10:30 a.m. Faculty Session 1

• This collaborative session provides a focused opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback on the foundational and integrative seminars. 

10:45am-11:30 a.m. Faculty Session 2

• This collaborative session will provide faculty teaching in the program the opportunity to review content areas and consider where existing and future courses may fit into any of the six content areas (Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Cultural Studies, Collective Past, Theology and Religious Studies)
  
  

Afternoon: Community Social Activities

1:30 p.m. Saints Scramble Golf Event

• Held at Grand View Golf Links (website). There will be space for nine teams of four players each. This is an out-of-pocket event. You must register to secure your spot using the FORM LINKED HERE.

1:30 p.m. Mountain Bike Ride

• Meet Troy Abfalter outside the Burns Wellness Center for a ride on the Duluth Traverse. Bring your own bike, or get one free-of-charge from Outdoor Pursuit on campus (just contact Shawn Olesweski well beforehand to reserve your bike). 

1:30 p.m. Pickleball!

• Join Nat Brown for a Pickleball outing at Wheeler Athletic Complex in west Duluth.  All levels are welcome. We can play some casual doubles and enjoy a hopefully nice day!
  Questions and to RSVP: nbrown1@css.edu

1:30 p.m. Never-Before-Offered Historical Walking Tour of Campus

• Join librarian and archivist Heidi Johnson for a *never before offered* historical walking tour of campus, where both the front and back yards will be explored! The tour will include downhill and uphill walking, will last about two hours, and will leave from and return to the steps in front of Tower Hall. No need to RSVP, just show up!