Maintaining Connection and Support for Students
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or 115 years, the bedrock of St. Catherine University has been our commitment to each student — to empower and guide them on a journey from campus to beyond the gates. In March, the campus took on a new feel as it moved to a virtual mode due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The entire community — students, faculty, and staff — came together to quickly navigate and find innovative methods to maintain our commitment to students and a strong community in a time of heightened emotion and physical separation. “One of the University’s greatest strengths and unique attributes is our community and how we come together in times of need. Additionally, St. Kate’s students are hardworking, dedicated, and persevere through challenges. This spring demonstrated that resilience,” says Seth Snyder, PhD, dean of students. “Although our physical offices on campus are quiet at the moment, all the support services in the St. Kate’s ecosystem are open, bustling, and remotely available. It’s incredible to see how everyone has adapted, and we are able to stay connected.”
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Stress is a given during ordinary college life, but the rapid onset of the pandemic’s extraordinary circumstances and the resulting social, cultural, and academic changes were new territory. These changes created unique stressors for students’ education as well as their personal lives. Access to virtual counseling and mental health resources was a high priority as the University worked to move classes online. To maintain access to these services, St. Kate’s invested in a secure video-conference program that allows in-state students to book virtual appointments with the 12
AT ST. CATHERINE • SPECIAL PRINT EDITION 2020
Counseling Center and Health and Wellness Clinic to provide counseling support and address students’ medication needs. Counselors are also working with out-of-state students to find additional solutions and resources that work for them. “We are collectively experiencing a very stressful time,” says Heide Malat, PysD, LP, director of the Counseling Center. “Our biggest request from students right now is for an opportunity to talk to a receptive and objective person who really listens and is able to give helpful feedback and ideas. During virtual sessions, we typically talk to students about concepts and techniques for managing stress and encourage them to tap into various support systems.” Those seeking solace through religion or faith have also been able to connect virtually. The Center for Spirituality and Social Justice (CSSJ) is providing virtual prayer opportunities and online liturgies for the community until in-person services can resume. On May 14, the CSSJ hosted a virtual prayer event that aired on Facebook for all community members. The virtual prayer service brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others for connection and reflection on their emotional and spiritual journey as they navigate the pandemic — no matter their physical location.
COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITIES One of the greatest changes St. Kate’s made in the spring was de-densifying the campus safely and quickly to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19. While employees transitioned to working remotely, Residence Life helped students return home safely while aiding the remaining 125 students who needed to remain on campus in relocating to housing that
