Academic Support

ADVISING
Each undergraduate student at St. Catherine's is assigned an academic advisor. Advisors help you clarify educational objectives, plan suitable courses of study, use available resources, explore opportunities for learning and address academic problems that may arise.

CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students in associate degree and certificate programs are assigned academic advisors within their area of study. In order to assure sound academic planning, you are required to discuss with and obtain the support of your academic advisor on course registration each term. Throughout your professional study, you are further encouraged to develop an ongoing relationship with your academic advisor and to communicate with your advisor regarding any concerns or difficulties that might have an impact on your academic success.

BACCALAUREATE WEEKEND PROGRAM
Students in the Weekend College program are assigned an advisor in their chosen major at the time they enroll. You are encouraged to meet with your advisor or the Weekend College academic advisor at least annually and to use advising resources as needed.

BACCALAUREATE DAY PROGRAM
The Office of Academic Advising coordinates advising and serves as a clearinghouse of information for all students and faculty regarding academic programs, policies and procedures, as well as overseeing your initial registration at the University. The office's professional staff will advise you if you are a student who is declaring or changing majors, pursuing a major at another ACTC institution, taking a leave of absence or considering withdrawing from the University. The office also assists you if you are looking for extra assistance with academic planning or academic problems.

In order to ensure success, as a first-year student and as a sophomore student you are required to meet with your advisor each term to discuss your academic program prior to registration. When you are a junior and senior we strongly encourage you to continue to consult with your advisor every semester.

As a first-year student you will participate in a first-year advising program to help facilitate a smooth and successful transition to the University. Your first-year advisor is a specially trained faculty member or professional staff who has a comprehensive understanding of the campus community and its resources. First-year advisors are also instructors of the Reflective Woman class. If you are a transfer student or a student beyond your first year at the University you are assigned an advisor in the major department in which you are interested. Special programs are also available for those needing additional academic support and assistance.

FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION GUARANTEE FOR BACCALAUREATE DAY PROGRAM STUDENTS
The Office of Academic Advising administers the four-year graduation guarantee plan. For a complete statement of the policies governing this program, contact the Office of Academic Advising. This program, available to you as a student who enters the University as a first-time baccalaureate student in fall semester, guarantees that if you meet regularly with your advisor, follow your advisor's advice and make satisfactory progress in your course work, you will graduate in four years. Should you meet all of the conditions of the guarantee in four years and not graduate, you may request to take any course(s) necessary to complete your degree in the fifth year tuition free.

Majors that routinely require more than four years for completion, education licensure programs governed by the state, special majors, and majors offered through the ACTC are not included in the guarantee. Double majors and minors also are not included. Students who begin their studies in one major and change to another major may not be eligible to continue under the guarantee.

COMPUTING SERVICES
Computing Services maintains several large general purpose labs and a number of discipline-specific labs on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses; smaller general purpose labs are located in each of the residence halls. Students who live on campus are provided high-speed Internet access through either data ports or wirelessly in their room. Each member of the St. Kate's community, including students, faculty, and staff, are provided with an account that gives them secure access to campus computing resources. This includes personal file storage on a network server, a Lotus Notes email account that is available both on and off campus via a web browser, and access to the popular Kateway web portal where community members may securely access the information they need to be successful at St. Kate's.

Computing Services also provides training and help desk support for students, faculty, and staff on academic and administrative computing issues; this includes assistance with the Microsoft Office suite, Lotus Notes and the Blackboard course management system as well as hardware issues. The help desk can be reached at 651-690-6402.

The main office for the McGlynn Center for Computing and Technology is located in the Coeur de Catherine Building on the St. Paul campus.

O'NEILL CENTER FOR ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT (ST. PAUL CAMPUS)
The O'Neill Center for Academic Development, located on the St. Paul campus, addresses the diverse academic needs and interests of all students. The professional and student staff provide individual academic support and promote academic achievement through programs, services and facilities offered by the Writing/Reading Center, the Math/Science Center, the Resources for Disabilities Center and Student Mentors.

THE LEARNING CENTER (MINNEAPOLIS CAMPUS)
The Learning Center for the Minneapolis Campus exists in partnership with faculty and staff to support and enhance the academic development of students through student-centered services that promote appreciation and respect for diverse learning styles, physical abilities and cultures.

Services available to all students include content-area learning assistance, writing assistance, and assistance with study skills and time management. The Learning Center also facilitates accommodations for students with disabilities, provides supportive services for students who speak English as a second language, and administers placement tests for students in associate degree programs.

Learning Center staff is composed of highly qualified professional staff and peer learning assistants. There is no charge for any of the services provided by the Learning Center.

ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY'S LIBRARIES
The libraries on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses serve the research and information needs of the University's students, faculty and staff. Each library provides professional research assistance, computer workstations, comfortable study space and convenient hours. The collections of the libraries include more than 260,000 books, 41,000 print and online journal subscriptions and multimedia materials that support the academic and research needs of the community. Additionally, the libraries provide access to the collections of eight other private college and university libraries in the Twin Cities through membership in the Cooperating Libraries in Consortium (CLIC), as well as nationwide lending through interlibrary loan.