Residential Programs

As liberal arts colleges, Saint Benedict's and Saint John's promote the development of the individual within the context of living and learning in community. Through staffing and programs, the colleges create a supportive residential, learning environment which enhances the Benedictine practices of discerning one's purpose, strengthening one's practice of values, and supporting a just and caring community. Students living on campus benefit from connections with others, opportunities to develop a balanced lifestyle, use of campus facilities and the continued reflective exploration of their own faith.

The living arrangements on campus intentionally support the development of community and the individual. The colleges offer new students an opportunity to live in residence halls with other first-year students. Upper class students have an opportunity to select from a variety of housing options including apartments, suites, single rooms and traditional doubles.

The residential staff consists of upper class students and professional staff who are resources and can assist students with connections to a network of support services. Residential staff can provide information on academics, career development, campus involvement, spiritual development and life planning. The staff is an integral part in the college's focus on teaching students about living in a community. The standards of expected behavior reflect the values in the Benedictine tradition of worship and work. Through developing quality personal relations in activities, students learn about individual respect and responsibility for personal growth, sensitivity to people, stewardship of common property, and care for the environment.

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While the residential programs are separate in order to address the specific developmental needs of women and men, the interaction between the residents of both campuses is supportive of the joint academic mission of the colleges. Residence areas on both campuses have computer connections to individual rooms as well as to common access computer labs. Residential staff promote education activities outside of the classroom by supporting intramural teams, service projects, career development outreach programs, health awareness programs and trips to events in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area.

Students who live on campus have a greater use of campus libraries, computer labs, athletic facilities, intramural facilities, and contact with faculty and staff. The lifelong friendships developed on a residential campus come from the quality of time students spend with faculty, staff and other students from both campuses. As Catholic institutions of higher learning, the residential programs of the colleges seek to promote a balanced practice of physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, recreational and social living. An outline of regulations governing residential living can be found in each college's Residence Agreement and the Saint Benedict's Every Woman's Guide or Saint John's J-Book.

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International Student Programs

Students from countries throughout the world are welcomed at Saint Benedict's and Saint John's. Currently there are about 110 students enrolled from about 25 countries. Efforts are made to integrate international students within all aspects of the colleges' academic and residential life.

All non-native speakers of English enrolled at Saint Benedict's or Saint John's are welcome in the English as second language classes, even those students who are not required to take ESL to fulfill their foreign language proficiency. Other support services offered include the ESL Coordinator, the Writing Centers, academic advising programs, tutors and international advising. The International House, located on campus, provides a setting for office space, study lounges, computer rooms, dining facilities and can be used for other social programming.

Campus Ministry  [Top]

It is the role of Campus Ministry to invite and nurture students, along with the total academic communities, in the Christian, Catholic and Benedictine way of life. Campus Ministry envisions itself as a catalyst of discussion within the two colleges. By engaging students, faculty, staff and administrators in ongoing conversations about what it means to be Christian, Campus Ministry hopes to empower our communities to bring meaning and authenticity to our mission.

To fulfill this role, Campus Ministry employs a variety of people and programs. Since liturgy is the "source and summit" of the Christian life, students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in campus worship. Besides the regular Sunday evening Eucharist, Campus Ministry also provides small group prayer, Bible study and reconciliation services. The Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults initiate and incorporate students into this worshiping community. Campus Ministry responds to the Gospel by promoting peace and justice issues and groups on the two campuses. Campus Ministry sponsors retreats, days of reflection, spiritual companioning, marriage preparation, speakers and panels. Each year during spring break, Campus Ministry offers a variety of service trips throughout the United States that seek to awaken consciousness of social issues and the need for Christians to embrace the Church's preferential option for the poor. Last year, a total of 250 students participated in twenty service trips.

Campus Ministry promotes Christian service through the Volunteers In Service To Others (VISTO) program in which students direct and coordinate the recruitment and training of student volunteers from both campuses. The VISTO student board coordinates its volunteers with a wide variety of educational, social and religious organizations throughout the surrounding area.

Campus Ministry calls forth and empowers student leadership through the Student Campus Minister program (SCM). In conjunction with the professional staff, students working in the Campus Ministry office are involved in planning and implementing many of the Campus Ministry programs. These women and men are to be the ears, eyes, hands and heart of our campus communities, giving witness to the risen Christ, as they serve with compassion.

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