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Minnesota State University Mankato
www.msureporter.com
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
MNSU’s student diversity showcased at DISH Fair Fair goers got the chance to meet many culture-based RSOs BILL HAMM Staff Writer The fall DISH Fair happened Tuesday, Sept. 12, with lots of fun and games to be had. DISH stands for, Diversity IS Happening, a cover organization for at least a dozen individual cultural identity based groups. These groups were all tabling at the event and represent many of our culturally distinct populations. LGBT Center: this group was the first of its kind on any campus in Minnesota and the second in the nation. A couple of their upcoming events are a Drag Show, and the MOCC Minnesota Out Minnesota Campus conference. Women’s Center: a woman support effort to create a safe and supportive atmosphere as well as a place to hangout. Asian Pacific Students Organization (APSO): helps their students connect, provides skill-building and leadership opportunities. Vietnamese American
Photo courtesy of Institutional Diversity Student Association (VASA): currently looking for more members. They have a fitness and wellness program and an academic boot camp on Sept. 27. Blac k I ntellig e nt Gentlemen (BIG): meet bi-weekly to provide support and moral encouragement to
black men on campus. They work diligently to increase retention rates and make sure their members have the support they need to graduate. Black Student Union (BSU): provide support and advice to black students on campus and help their members
acclimate to college life. They also do fundraising to help with those causes. Oromo Student Union (OSU): represent the largest group of students from East Africa, including the countries Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. They promote and support their cultural
beliefs while helping those students succeed. Latino Students’ Wellness Program (LSWP): focuses on the mental health of Latino students via health-related activities, such as soccer and volleyball, to help with stress management. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): promotes Hispanic students in the STEM courses by bringing professionals of those field in to speak, among other efforts. Chicano Latin-American Student s Association (CLASA): provides support and opportunity for its members. They have a Latino night coming up. They also help with homecoming events and are big on supporting DACA right now. Native American Student
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MavConnect: One-stop shop for students and professors
MARJAN HUSSEIN Staff Writer T e c h n o l o g i c a l advancements in society today are phenomenal in almost every aspect. The world of technology seeks to go beyond the horizon and always comes up with outstanding material to aid people in accomplishing more in a simpler manner, making their lives a bit less of a hassle. Minnesota State University, Mankato officially launched
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its new MavConnect Program this fall, which is a student success platform software system that can be used to support, retain and assist students on campus. The Assistant Director for Students Success and
is thrilled as she feels this program will be highly beneficial for all at MNSU. “The MavConnec t Program allows for online scheduling with advisors and instructors while also creating a sense of transparency in that
“The MavConnect Program acts as an umbrella that runs other software programs such as MavCares and midterm reports.”
Communications, Amy Staloch, who is also part of the implementation team for the MavConnect Program,
information is shared freely in the system, breaking the tedious hassle of explaining the given situation a student
may be facing in each time,” Staloch said. The MavConnect Program acts as an umbrella that runs other software programs such as MavCares and midterm reports, which allows advisors to monitor a student’s progress before engaging or connecting with the student. Starfish Solutions, a Hobsons product, is a resource for the MavConnect Program and is a direct connection for initial support for the software system. MavConnect is MNSU’s brand name for Starfish Solutions, as it connects well with students and can be incorporated superbly within the Maverick culture, giving the program a sense of identity within the university.
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“Students see the front and center support,” said Staloch, “thus the program acts as a one-stop shop in that they can view who their advisor is and set up an appointment without having to run to E-services or their degree audit report.” The program is easy and efficient to use as it just requires a Star ID and password to login in, then allows one to connect to various advisors and instructors in their network. “The program is based on relationships and roles,”
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News Editor Alissa Thielges alissa.thielges@mnsu.edu