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Mission, History and Religious Affiliation Admissions, Expenses and Financial Aid Scholarships and Special Endowed Funds Catalog Statement and Policies
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Student Affairs Student Affairs is an important part of the Macalester student experience. While many of these services provide for immediate day-to-day needs in areas such as health and housing, the goal of Student Affairs is to offer a variety of programs and services which enhance and supplement students' academic experience. The offices and programs described below provide opportunities for students to grow as individuals, to develop a greater sense of interdependence, as well as independence. Programs and activities are designed to encourage the balance of individuality and responsibility. The Macalester College Student Government provides official representation for students in College governance, coordinates student action and allocates the student activity fees. The legislative body meets regularly throughout the year providing a forum for the expression of student opinions. Macalester students have created over eighty-five organizations, and new ones are formed based on student interest. Student organizations are chartered through MCSG. Some of the organizations include: Adelante!, Latino students' group; Amnesty International; the Black Liberation Affairs Committee (B.L.A.C.); Queer Union; the Macalester International Organization (M.I.O.); Mac Christian Fellowship; MacGOP; Mac Jewish Organization; Mac Peace and Justice Coalition; Feminists in Action (F.I.A.); MACTION, the community service organization; the Program Board; and Mac-Ultimate frisbee. Music performance groups include the Concert Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and ensembles, the Flying Fingers (a folk music instrumental group), Pipe Band and Highland Dancers, chamber ensembles, Andean Music Ensemble, African Music Ensemble, and men's and women's a capella singing groups. Speech and Theatre groups include the MacPlayers, along with Bad Comedy and Fresh Concepts-Improvisation groups. Student media includes: the Mac Weekly newspaper, the Chanter literary magazine, WMCN-FM radio, the Banshee women's journal, and several other periodic publications. Macalester's sports and recreation program is extensive, including intercollegiate, intramural, club, and recreational activities. Intercollegiate athletic programs compete in the MIAC and NCAA Division III. Men compete in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and track and field. Women compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track and field, water polo, and volleyball. Club sports currently include men and women's crew, men's and women's Nordic skiing, men's volleyball, men's rugby, men's and women's ultimate Frisbee and men's water polo. Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Students The Vice President for Student Affairs serves as the chief student affairs officer of the College. The Vice President, Dean of Students, and Assistant Dean of Students work jointly and are concerned primarily with the general welfare and collegiate life of all students. The office is responsible for the Campus Center, Campus Programs, Campus Grievance Procedures and the Mediation Process, Career Development Center, Chaplaincy and Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Disability Services, Health Services (health education, medical, and psychological), New Student Orientation, Residential Life, Multicultural Life, Leadership Programs, Student Government, Media and Student Organizations. The Vice President, Dean, and Assistant Dean assist in answering any student or parent questions related to College policies or procedures, and provide ombudsman services to students who have a specific problem or inquiry. The office maintains the personal records of all current students and alumni for eight years after graduation. The Vice President serves as an ex officio member of the Academic Standing Committee. Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center The Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center opened in January 2001. The Campus Center provides the Macalester community a place to meet, celebrate, eat, and interact. The mission of the Campus Center is to foster community by providing centralized facilities and services for programs which encourage interaction, fulfill daily needs, promote development, embrace diversity, generate revenue, and cultivate connections to the college. Student organizations, faculty and staff can take advantage of any of the six meeting rooms, the lecture hall, television lounge, and Café. The Campus Center houses Document Services (copy center), Mailing Services (post office), the Highlander campus store, Campus Information, Central Reservations, the offices of four student organizations (Macalester College Student Government [MCSG], MACTION [community service], Program Board [PB], Residence Hall Association [RHA], and Habitat for Humanity. In addition, the offices of Campus Center & Conferences, Campus Programs and Residential Life and the Student Organization Resource Center [The SORC] are located in the Eichhorn Student Activities Center on the second floor of the Campus Center. Campus Center staff coordinates reservations of Macalester College facilities, summer conferences and facility rentals. In addition, staff within the Campus Center coordinates services at the Information Desk providing access to discounted movie tickets, discounted bus passes, laptop checkout, Bike Share checkout, fax service, and the campus Lost and Found. Finally, student identification card and meal plan assignment are coordinated by Campus Center staff. Campus Programs The staff of Campus Programs works with student leaders, faculty and staff to foster intentional learning outside of the classroom. Campus Programs, in collaboration with others, foster the creation of social, cultural, recreational and educational programs for the campus community. In addition to working with various student organizations, the Campus Programs staff coordinates the programming activities of cultural heritage months and the advisement of the Program Board. Career Development Center The Career Development Center assists students in the creation, interpretation and application of the educational experience to meet career goals. Among some of the more common issues addressed by the Career Development Center are: choosing a major, finding summer, part-time, or full-time employment, deciding on and applying to graduate/professional school, building an experience base as an undergraduate in areas of leadership and involvement, doing a job search and the mechanics of that search, career decision-making, broadening competence to support a strong professional beginning, developing a personal and professional network and applying a liberal arts degree to the workplace. A comprehensive system of resources has been developed by the staff of the Career Development Center to address those and the other issues presented. Services offered include: one-on-one counseling, workshops, interest inventories, handouts, an extensive alumni network, a career resource library, job listings, on-campus recruiters, job fairs, newsletter, computer-accessible employment resources, collaborations with other colleges and campus offices, and other resources/services as requested by students, staff, faculty, and employers. A website has been developed for additional access (http://www.macalester.edu/cdc/). The Career Development Center staff serve as advocates and as a resource for students, addressing personal, academic and professional concerns encountered by students during their four years at Macalester and beyond. The CDC is conveniently located in Kagin Commons along with the Internship Program, Civic Engagement Center, Macalester Academic Excellence Center, Lealtad-Suzuki Center and Multicultural Life, and the Lilly Project for Work, Ethics and Vocation. This support, combined with extensive opportunities to connect with alumni, employers, and graduate/professional schools, provides Macalester students with excellent opportunities to meet personal goals and put their degree to work. Chaplaincy/Center for Religious and Spiritual Life The College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life/Chaplain, and the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish Chaplains seek to offer support to students, faculty and staff of all faiths through their programming as well as by actively cooperating with religious communities within the Twin Cities. Believing that the religious dimension is an essential part of education and values formation, Macalester College offers many opportunities for growth in religious understanding and expressing religious faith. The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life along with the Macalester Multifaith Council provides leadership in addressing issues of social, ethical and religious importance. It works with academic departments, the Civic Engagement Center and student organizations to address these issues. The staff of the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life also provide pastoral counseling and appropriate professional referrals on-campus and off-campus. The Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel houses the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and the chaplains offices. The CRSL (lower level of the Chapel) is a space where religious and spiritual organizations can host events. The Muslim Students Association, in association with the CRSL, maintains a mosque for weekly prayers and other activities. The Hebrew House is the location of Shabbat Services. Other traditions are celebrated on the campus regularly, and close relations are maintained with churches and religious leaders in the Twin Cities. Department of Multicultural Life and The Lealtad-Suzuki Center The framework for the Department of Multicultural Life at Macalester is grounded in the recognition that given the diversity of the Macalester community, members from distinctly different backgrounds often encounter intense cultural conflicts within the context of the larger society. To be true to Macalester's stated purpose "to prepare people to become intellectually vital and productive citizen leaders in a world that includes a multiplicity of cultures, perspectives, and needs," it is imperative that members of Macalester demonstrate a commitment to multiculturalism by approaching the work of the college with intention, inclusion and integrity. The mission of the Department of Multicultural Life is to integrate the values and ethos of historically under-represented peoples, discourses, thoughts and ideas as a catalyst for transforming the traditional ways of doing the work of the college into a more inclusive model. The goals of the Department of Multicultural Life are to identify and assess multicultural core competencies for the campus community; create partnerships with academic and administrative departments to infuse multiculturalism throughout all aspect of campus life; and foster and promote an inclusive physical environment that welcomes the entire college community, particularly those who have been historically under-represented. Multiculturalism at Macalester has a long history dating back as far as 1961. In recent years, the college has spent a great deal of time and energy grappling with both the challenges and opportunities that accompany developing a structure and implementing policies that pertain to advancing the multicultural agenda of the college. The Dean of Multicultural Life and the Dean for the Study of Race and Ethnicity collaboratively lead the work of advancing the college's multicultural agenda. The Lealtad-Suzuki Center The Lealtad-Suzuki Center is named after Catharine Deaver Lealtad '15, the first African-American graduate of Macalester College and a talented doctor and Esther Torii Suzuki '46, a survivor of the Japanese internment campus during World War II and a six-year member of the Macalester College Alumni Board. The Lealtad-Suzuki Center's goals are to provide multicultural training and development to Macalester faculty, staff, and students to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills pertaining to multiculturalism; coordinate and synchronize intentional multicultural programming and services on campus; and provide multicultural education through mediums such as personal consultation, literature, video, audio and art. There are many initiatives created out of the Lealtad-Suzuki Center, which is an integral part of the Department of Multicultural Life. Program initiatives include Student Identity Collectives, Center Associates, Soup and Substance Lunch Series, the Allies Project, the Tapas Series, and the Pluralism and Unity Program for first-year students. Macalester Health Services Health Services provides a range of preventive and primary health care and education for Macalester students. Medical care, counseling, and health promotion are partnerships where students and professionals share a commitment to a healthy community. Staff provide opportunities for students to gain the knowledge and develop the skills and attitudes necessary to make healthy lifestyle choices and to achieve personal and academic success. Specific services provided include: Counseling and Psychological. Short-term counseling services are offered. This includes personal counseling, crisis intervention, consultation with faculty, staff and students, educational programming and referral to on-campus and off-campus resources. Medical. Out-patient ambulatory care for many general medical problems is offered, including diagnosis and treatment for sick and injured students, with referral to other medical services as appropriate. Health Promotion. Information, activities, events, resources, and referrals are offered to help students identify health choices and adapt new behaviors for a healthier lifestyle and community. Classroom presentations, small group workshops, student training, class project and literature resources are a few of the strategies employed. Staff. The staff of Macalester Health Services includes licensed psychologists, mental health counselors, a nurse practitioner, RNs, and a Certified Health Education Specialist, as well as experienced administrative staff. A consulting physician is available one afternoon each week and a consulting psychiatrist is available several days a month. Full staffing and services are available only during the academic school year. Requirements/Fees. To insure the best health care possible, students must have a current health record and physical on file in Health Services before services can be provided. Additionally, Macalester College and the State of Minnesota require that immunization requirements be met in order to be enrolled for classes. New international students are also required to have a TB test upon arrival. There are no charges for medical, psychological or education services provided by Health Services; students are charged only for laboratory services, immunizations, medications, and transportation to other medical facilities. Any medical, surgical or psychological services incurred outside the Health Services are the student's responsibility. All records and services provided are confidential. Students with chronic health concerns (both emotional and medical) are encouraged to identify providers in the Twin Cities for treatment; Macalester Health Services staff can assist with referrals. Insurance Macalester College requires all students maintain comprehensive personal health insurance. Information on health insurance plans and supplemental accident insurance is available from the Business Office and Health Services. New Student Orientation The New Student Orientation (NSO) program offers a four-day program to welcome and orient all new Macalester students and their families. The New Student Orientation program strives to guide new students through the transition from high school to college by exploring and learning the expectations Macalester College holds for all students. Further, the staff create a specific program to ease the transition for transfer students. Moreover, the NSO program provides specific programs for family members to increase understanding and offer insight into the development of their first year college student's potential experience. Campus Programs staff works in conjunction with upper-class students to coordinate the New Student Orientation program. Residential Life The mission of the Department of Residential Life is to engage students in the creation of inclusive communities that foster students' intellectual and emotional development. The department encourages the increased understanding of global issues through interpersonal relationships and dialogue within a residential setting. The programs and services of the department provide opportunities in accordance with Macalester College's core values. First year students and sophomores must fulfill a residency requirement of living on campus for their first and second years at Macalester. The requirement stems from the belief that a fuller and richer college experience can be obtained by living among one's peers for two years. This requirement does not apply to transfer students and housing is not guaranteed for transfer or upperclass students. There are many varied housing options available such as traditional residence halls, campus houses, apartment style living, and special interest housing such as a vegetarian co-op, a Hebrew house, language houses, an eco house, and a cultural house. In addition, first year students have the option of living in a residential cluster comprised of the students in their first year seminar course. Residence Hall Directors are full-time professional staff with Master's degrees in College Student Personnel or a related field, who live in the residence halls. These individuals are charged with the most important task of implementing the department's mission and developing strong learning communities within each hall. The Residence Hall Directors supervise paraprofessional staff who are undergraduates living on each residence hall floor. Food Service Macalester's dining program is housed in the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center and is provided by Bon Appetit, a contracted service. Cafe Mac is an entirely new style of campus dining. The dining experience is a passport to view the world's different cuisine and an adventure through flavors of hemispheric influence. Students who live in the residence halls are required to participate in the dining program.
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