St. Kate's career fair is large and successful

The annual St. Kate’s Career Opportunities Fair (the largest on-campus career fair at any of the Minnesota private colleges) was held October 11 in the Rauenhorst Ballroom. More than 500 students and alumnae attended, and there was great participation by employers representing 75 businesses, hospitals and social service and government agencies.

Among the employers that attended the event were: 3M, American Red Cross, Ameriprise Financial, AT&T, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dakota County, Dungarvin, Ecolab, Eddie Bauer, Health Partners, GE, Gillette Children’s Hospital, Hennepin County, Lifetime Fitness, Lutheran Social Service, Macy’s, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Minnesota Timberwolves/Lynx, Nordstrom, Peace Corps, Securian Financial Group, Target, Thomson Reuters, Travelers Companies Inc, Upsher– Smith Laboratories, Verizon Wireless and the YMCA.

The employers talked to students about seasonal, part-time and full-time professional jobs as well as internship opportunities. Students came well dressed with professional resumes and questions they'd prepared in advance.

Employer evaluations said the St. Kate's students were well prepared and represented themselves professionally. Students whose majors include the liberal arts, healthcare, business and social sciences talked to employers about jobs in accounting, customer service, sales, nursing, social work, claims, occupational therapy, physical therapy and more.

The St. Kate's Career Opportunities Fair is held every fall, and all students are encouraged to attend.   In addition, a number of other fairs and programs are co-sponsored with other colleges and universities throughout the year. Check the Career Development website at www.stkate.edu/careers or contact the office at 651.690.8890 for information about events and programs.

Is your student prepared for registration?

Registration tips for students

By Lizette Bartholdi, Director of Academic Advising

November 14 is the first date of early registration for Spring Semester 2013. Registration is based on amount of credits earned. Students can identify their registration time by checking  their Kateway account.

Prior to registration, everyone who has earned less than 90 credits is required to  meet with an academic advisor. This allows students to review their online degree evaluation, discuss how the semester is going, and review any concerns or plans they have for this or upcoming semesters. Upper-class students who are already working with a major advisor can make plans for an internship, study abroad or any research they would like to pursue.

St. Kate's is offering more 2- and 4-credit courses this January than in the past. J-Term is a great time for students to get ahead, take a core course they need for their major or just experiment with a field they would like to try. Almost all students need elective credits. Please have your student discuss J-Term with her advisor. Refer your student to the January course listing on the Registrar's website.

If your student is new this year to the Day program in St Paul, urge her to attend our pre-registration planning sessions. The Office of Academic Advising has sent an email to all first-year and new transfer students informing them of the schedule. These presentations will help new students understand the liberal arts requirements at St. Kate’s, where to find information online and how to plan for spring semester.

Please encourage your student to contact the Office of Academic Advising if she has any questions about registration or academic advising. Call 651-690-6509 or email academicadvising@stkate.edu. We are located on the second floor of Derham Hall.

 

 

January Term: focus on one course

This January, a number of courses will be offered to allow students the opportunity to focus on one course -- to delve into a particular subject matter or catch up on credits that count toward graduation. Know that there is no extra charge for staying in the residence halls during this time. Additionally, financial aid eligibility is considered as part of your student's spring term semester's award.

Both 2- and 4-credit courses are offered, including:

• "Career Development for Women," a two-credit course designed for students who have not yet decided on a major. Perfect for first- and second-year students who need a structured process to discern their interests, values and skills in order to identify a satisfying academic plan.
• "Personal Financial  Fitness," a two-credit course geared for first- and second-year students to provide the essential skills for developing a budget, understanding the importance of insurance, learning how to build strong credit and credit scores, and much more. (Juniors and seniors are encouraged to consider the 4-credit course, "Personal and Financial Management," offered in the spring.)
• "Health, Fitness and Lifestyle Issues" is a core requirement in the exercise science department.
• A number of 4-credit courses which will satisfy core requirements are offered in philosophy, art, science and math.
• Several sections of "Global Search for Justice" (the bookend course of "The Reflective Woman") are being offered for juniors and seniors.

A complete list of courses offered during January are available on the registrar's website. Your student may enjoy the focused attention and the opportunity to gain credits toward graduation.

Parents of first-year students: Answer the phone!

Phon-a-thon 2012
On Tuesday, November 13, be prepared to receive a call from members of the Parent and Family Advisory Council, as well as faculty and staff from the University. Our annual Phon-a-thon lets us check in with parents of our first-year students on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. This annual event helps the University see how your student's expectations are being met. We hope that you take time in the next few weeks to check in with your student.

Expect a call some time between 6 and 9 p.m.; we'll have only a few questions. Your feedback is an important way to help us improve the student experience at St. Catherine University. If we miss you on November 13, we'll leave a message with contact information.

Family Weekend was packed with events

Family Weekend 2012: A great success
Despite the cloudy weather, St. Kate's family weekend was well attended. More than 400 students, parents and family members attended the Second City improv show at The O'Shaughnessy on Friday evening. Saturday favorites included the Parent and Family Association speaker event, It's a Jungle Out There: Financial Survival Skills for Life (and after!) College, presented by Certified Financial Counselor Charlie Bolognino, who provided basic tips for developing sound money habits during and after college.

Many families enjoyed attending the Wildcats soccer game with their daughters (we beat St. Mary's University, 2-0). Others took advantage of the James J Hill House tour on historic Summit Avenue. The weekend ended on Sunday with Mass and brunch. Most important was the cherished time between family members and their students.

Saturday Salons engage TRW students

As a way to fully engage students in "The Reflective Woman" (TRW) core course and weekend life on campus, a series of Saturday Salons took place during September. Students were required to attend three of the four events, which emphasized key themes embedded in TRW as well as in the University's mission and vision statements.

The first salon focused on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet: their history, their contributions over the years and the inspiring work they are engaged in today. The second salon focused on understanding the liberal arts. Students visited various "stations" around campus that offered topics on the intersection of poetry and math, and theater and art. In the Catherine G. Gallery, students met Jay Wittenber, an artist who shared his engaging portraits of women poets. "This is great!" one student said. "Sure, it's Saturday morning and it was hard to get up, but it's wonderful to see St. Kate's spending so much effort on helping us understand the liberal arts."

The last two salons focused on "Identity and Race" and "Civic Engagement." TRW instructor Shanon Custer said the camaraderie and critical thinking skills were as critical as the information shared. "Students recognize they are part of a community of scholars," she said, "and that is about more than attending class. The conversations they have with their peers and with their other faculty are just as important."

A number of social events throughout the weekend encouraged students to remain on campus. Your student should refer to the calendar of events on the Student Center and Activities website for the ongoing list of activities planned.