Saint Mary’s University unveils ‘Strategic Plan 2017’ to guide university into second century

WINONA, Minn. — In 2012 Saint Mary’s University, under the direction of President Brother William Mann, conducted a year-long comprehensive strategic planning process. The significant endeavor involved 900 persons from the university’s network of stakeholders in a focused, five-phased planning process. The result, Strategic Plan 2017, was recently approved by the Board of Trustees. The plan is a complete articulation of a new vision for Saint Mary’s as a top-tier, national university.

With the adoption of Strategic Plan 2017 during its Centennial year, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is charting a course for the future by strategically aligning the university’s operations with its mission and vision. The plan outlines three themes which will serve to guide the work of the university: 1) strengthen and preserve the core mission and identity; 2) innovate and grow – three centers of excellence; and 3) steward and strengthen resources.

Over the next five years Saint Mary’s will undertake new initiatives and new thinking with a distinctive commitment to teaching and learning, ethical leadership, the sciences, and online education. “Strategic Plan 2017 is the next step in a process to launch the university’s second century, building on the significant success of its first century,” said Brother William. “This plan was the outcome of the thoughts and aspirations of our extended Saint Mary’s community. Under the goals set forth in Strategic Plan 2017 we will collaboratively ensure a vibrant, successful and meaningful future for Saint Mary’s.”

Strategic Plan 2017

Theme 1: Strengthen and Preserve the Core Mission and Identity
• Goal 1 Teaching and Learning: Establish active Centers for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at both the College and the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs.
• Goal 2 Identity: Perpetuate the Lasallian Catholic heritage and identity.
• Goal 3 Residential Experience: Create a vibrant campus and transformational residential life experience at the College.

Theme 2: Innovate and Grow — Three Centers of Excellence
• Goal 4 Sciences: Develop, articulate and execute a new vision for excellence in the sciences for the 21st century.
• Goal 5 Leadership Development: Develop, articulate and execute a new vision for excellence in leadership development for the 21st century.
• Goal 6 Online Education: Develop and launch a national online education initiative at the SGPP for the 21st century.

Theme 3: Steward and Strengthen Resources
• Goal 7 Enrollment: Increase the enrollment and visibility of the university at both the College and the SGPP.
• Goal 8 Institutional Sustainability: Optimize the financial and human resources and well-being of the university.
• Goal 9 Philanthropy: Grow the university’s endowment and philanthropic investment to support new initiatives, student scholarships, and faculty and staff development.

To read the plan in its entirety, go to www.smumn.edu/strategicplan.

Dance Repertory Company presents 'The Nutcracker'

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) will present the Dance Repertory Company in The Nutcracker, Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 28 through Dec. 2.

The production will take place in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

This year marks the company’s seventh biennial production of the piece and features a special choral performance by MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers at the conclusion of Act I in the Land of Snow.

The cast includes more than 90 members, comprised of students from Saint Mary’s University, Winona State University, MCA and children and community members from Winona and the surrounding areas.

Through this ballet, the beauty of the pure, young heart shines bright in a world of dancing dolls, angels, and of course, the wonderful magical Nutcracker Prince. In the dreams of a child named Clara, a battle wages between a band of mice and a company of toy soldiers. With Clara’s assistance, the toy soldiers are victorious and grateful. A Nutcracker Prince welcomes her to the Land of Snow, where they dance with the angels, and to the Kingdom of the Sweets hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, where she sees a beautiful array of ethnic dances such as Spanish Coffee, Chinese Tea and Russian Baba.

The Nutcracker will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 1, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

A special matinee for families with younger children will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28. This matinee features selections from the full ballet and lasts about one hour. This is especially suited for families with young children who may not enjoy a full evening performance. The cost for this afternoon matinee is $4 for everyone.

To order tickets, call the Saint Mary’s University Box Office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at (507) 457-1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU All-Campus Student Art Exhibit runs Nov. 17-Dec. 15

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University students will display their artwork in the show “Clarity” Nov. 17 through Dec. 15 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

The 2012 All-Campus Student Art Exhibit will feature senior art exhibitions by Nikki Farmer and Marie Fidler.

An opening reception is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in the galleries, located in the Toner Student Center.

The galleries — free and open to the public — will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Gifts for Winona application deadline is Friday, Nov. 16

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona — in its 11th year — is providing gifts to area children and seniors in need this holiday season.

Families looking for help obtaining gifts this year must apply by Friday, Nov. 16. Families may pick up an application form through one of the human service agencies that they work with (Habitat for Humanity, Project FINE, Winona County Community Services, Winona Senior Advocacy Program, Winona Volunteer Services or Women’s Resource Center).

Families must apply for the program through a referral agency.

Once again this year, Gifts for Winona’s main priority is to provide gifts to children 18 years of age and younger and individuals 60 years of age and older.

This program exists through the generosity of the Winona community, as well as the work of other community partners including: Winona Volunteer Services, Winona Radio and the Winona Post.

Saint Mary’s to host panel discussion about global education issues Nov. 14

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, the Under-Told Stories Project, Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting and Saint Mary’s University will host a forum on “Closing the Global Gap: The complex issue of education in a global era.”

In America today, there is concern about a persistent achievement gap in our education system. Whether it is a drive to maintain global competitiveness or a desire to catch up, efforts are underway in many countries to rethink and modernize education. The mastery of reading, writing and math are no longer enough. Students need to think critically, reason, problem-solve and communicate effectively in a global economy. 

The public forum — scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. — will include a digest of the latest reporting on issues associated with youth education. International journalist Fred de Sam Lazaro will lead a distinguished panel and moderate a discussion with the audience. De Sam Lazaro is director of the Under-Told Stories Project, a program that combines international journalism and teaching at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. He is a regular contributor to PBS’ “NewsHour” and the network’s “Religion and Ethics Newsweekly.”

Panelists will include:

• Nathalie Applewhite, managing director of the Pulitzer Center

• Dr. Efe Agbamu, executive director, English Language Learners, St. Paul Public Schools

• Brother. Ed Siderewicz, assistant to the president for First-Generation and Lasallian Initiativs, Saint Mary’s University

The event is free and open to the public and will be held in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center. For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/globalgap.

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts to host Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party fundraiser

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is hosting its seventh biennial Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party, Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

This year’s Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party will feature two tea sittings (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.), with specialty teas and exquisite finger foods. The Land of the Sweets Gift Boutique, featuring holiday gifts and crafts, is available to the public from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for children and $18 for adults. All children attending the tea party will receive a complimentary photo with their favorite live character from the “Nutcracker” ballet. Tea attendees will enjoy the sounds of MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers, as well musical performances by MCA’s Music Division instructors.

The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea party is the first big event of the “Nutcracker” production season for MCA and its performing group, the Dance Repertory Company. The company will present the full-length ballet, Nov. 28 – Dec. 2 at the Saint Mary’s University Page Theatre.   This year’s cast of more than 90 includes students from Saint Mary’s University, Winona State University, and children and community members from the Winona and surrounding areas.  For tickets to the production, call (507) 457-1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

Proceeds from The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party go toward the MCA student scholarship fund and “Nutcracker” production costs.

To reserve seats or a full table of six for either the 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. tea sittings, please call (507) 453-5500. The Valéncia Arts Center is handicapped accessible.

Conservatory’s Fall Music Division Concert is Nov. 16

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will conduct its Fall Music Division Concert 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Saint Mary’s University’s Figliulo Recital Hall. The concert will showcase the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS), two new jazz combos, and a variety of private lesson students.

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “Like” the Conservatory on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500. Admission is a free-will donation, and all proceeds support the music division.

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit arts organization that offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre, year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for children age 3 to adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

Zumbathon® Nov. 10 to raise funds for First-Generation Initiative at SMU

WINONA, Minn. — Get fit while raising money for scholarships! On Saturday, Nov. 10, the public is invited to a Zumbathon® fundraiser from 4 to 5 p.m. at Saint Mary’s University. The event will be held in the SMU gymnasium and freewill donations will benefit the university’s First-Generation Initiative, which provides full scholarships to high-need, high-potential qualified students who are the first in their families to attend college. Alyssa Gostomski Carter, a 1998 alumna, is organizing the event, with help from Lisa Ziebell and Sondra Howard from Z’s Studio in Winona. Carter is being supported by MetroBeat Fitness and Dance in Minneapolis. This is the second year that she is spearheading a Zumbathon® to help raise awareness and funds for the First-Generation Initiative.

Saint Mary’s guest speaker Sarah Gee to provide entertaining business perspective

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University will host workshop facilitator, improv actress and alumna Sarah Gee onto campus Thursday, Nov. 1, to discuss “How to Survive and Prepare for the Business World in Today’s Economy.”

Gee, a 1995 graduate, has a unique background — serving as both a senior facilitator of MJ Learning, a full-service management training company, as well as a long-time improv actress with The Second City of Chicago (through which she has worked with Martin Short, Tina Fey and Eric Idle).

She is also the co-author of “Business Improv,” a book that blends experiential learning and the improvisation activities practiced in the world of theatre into a collection of activities designed to get people engaged and help them overcome the many obstacles and barriers that get in the way of creative problem-solving discussions.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in Page Theater, located in the SMU Performance Center. The presentation, sponsored by the Saint Mary’s Business Office, is free and open to the public.

Saint Mary’s students to stage ‘Our Town’ Nov 8-11

WINONA, Minn. — Audiences will get a gentle reminder to not take the little things in life for granted as the Saint Mary’s University Theatre and Dance Department presents “Our Town” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8-10 and 3 p.m. Nov. 11 in Page Theatre.

Written by Thornton Wilder and directed by Judy Myers, “Our Town,” is set in the small town of Grover’s Corners, N.H., in the early 1900s, as told through the eyes of the stage manager. Set in three acts: daily life, love and marriage, death and eternity, the play presents universal ideas about family, love and life that are essentially the same as they were more than 100 years ago.

This work was especially selected by the Department of Theatre and Dance to celebrate the Saint Mary’s University Centennial season.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.