Welcome, students and families, to the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University community!

The information in this page will help you know what to expect from the Academic Advising office this summer, offer strategies for a smooth transition to college and introduce you to a few key resources on campus.

JUMP TO:

• Registration for Fall Semester
• Majors
• Global Language Requirement
• Faculty Advisors
• Student Accessibility Services
• Parent Involvement

Registration for Fall Semester 

To support students in the transition to college, each student’s first semester schedule will be created by an Academic Advisor. Students will be registered for first semester courses according to their intended majors, academic interests, pre-professional plans and academic preparation as indicated on the Advising and Registration Form. Pairing the information students provide with our advisors’ extensive knowledge of the CSB and SJU curriculum allows us to set students on a path to explore areas of interest and graduate in four years!

Students, be sure to:

• Submit the online Advising and Registration Form (found in the Forms Portal) to convey your academic interests and background. 
• Complete language placement exams if you speak and/or studied French, German or Spanish.  
• Confirm that score reports are sent to CSB and SJU for any Advance Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. 
• Have an official college transcript, showing all final grades, sent to CSB and SJU from any college where you may have earned course credit through PSEO and CIS. 

Students are invited to New Student Registration Days, which will take place on campus June 10, 11, 14, 17 and 18. Virtual options will also be available for international and out-of-state students on June 26 and July 31! Students will receive their schedule and be able to connect with an academic advisor to address any changes to their academic interests or to discuss scheduling concerns. In order to facilitate a strong transition, first semester schedules changes can only be made through the Academic Advising Office. This can be done through the fifth day of classes in the fall.

Majors

Whether exploring or firmly decided on a major, students should learn about majors and requirements by reviewing information in Department Web pages, including information about faculty, students, alums, course requirements and opportunities.

We strive to balance students’ academic exploration with required sequencing of coursework. Some areas of study—such as nursing, education and sciences—necessitate specific first-semester courses while other areas afford greater flexibility.

Global Language Requirement

To fulfill the Global Language requirement, students will complete language coursework or demonstrate proficiency through the college intermediate one level.

• If beginning a new language, three semesters of study—Beginning I, Beginning II, and Intermediate I—are needed to complete the requirement. 
• Continued study and initial fluency assessment in French, German or Spanish requires an online placement exam. 
• Greek and Latin placement will be estimated pending completion of a language skills questionnaire. Additional information to follow via email. 
• Chinese and Japanese placement interviews may be arranged early in fall if needed. 
• Multilingual students may have additional options for fulfilling the Global Language Requirement and can work with the Languages and Cultures department for more details.
• Students who place beyond the intermediate level may demonstrate proficiency by successfully completing the next level of language study or the language proficiency exam administered by the languages departments in the fall. 

Academic Advising Office

Academic Advising supplements the work of faculty advisors by helping students set goals, explore interests and majors, create four-year plans, choose courses, maintain good academic standing and plan for graduation requirements. 

Advisors work individually with students to facilitate or provide a wide range of academic information and support. We encourage students to contact an academic advisor early so we can be as helpful as possible. 

At the end of each term, academic advisors review the results of student work to determine Dean’s List eligibility (3.8 term GPA with at least 12 credits) and academic probation (insufficient credits earned; GPA below 1.8 for first-term or below 2.0 thereafter), to provide appropriate outreach and support. 

Faculty Advisors

Each student will be assigned a faculty member to serve as his or her faculty advisor for the first year. Faculty advisors help students reflect on how classes are going, explore academic interests, connect with resources, plan next semester’s course schedules and examine career interests. Faculty members are also excellent resources as students refine their study habits and seek tutoring. Later in the summer, faculty advisors will send messages of welcome and introduction to their student advisees. 

At the end of the first year, students are assigned faculty advisors in their intended major department. Students often develop advising relationships with multiple faculty members, perhaps in their minor area of study or pre-professional program.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works with students to determine and facilitate accommodations for those with documented disabilities. Over the course of the summer, SAS will follow up with students who used the Advising and Registration Form to request contact from SAS. Additionally, students who have a disability or have previously utilized a 504 plan are encouraged to call (320) 363-5245 to begin these conversations.

As with much of the college experience, students will take on greater responsibility and control in the use of accommodations than is typically required in high school. The student is responsible for actively utilizing accommodations, communicating with instructors and reaching out to SAS when needed.

Parent Involvement

As students become legal adults, student information and academic records involve a higher level of privacy than in high school. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 requires that students, faculty and administrators maintain a specified level of privacy, limiting the information that college personnel can share with parents or others outside the institution.

Students, it is your role to practice good communication with your family members and other supporters, and to advocate for yourself in reaching out to campus resources throughout the year.

Students may visit the Registrar’s Office to complete a “FERPA Disclosure Form”. Filing this affidavit with the Registrar's office allows a student to give a parent/guardian or other designated person access to their academic record. Those given access to a student’s record must contact the Registrar's Office each time they wish to request end of term grade information.

Except in unusual situations, Academic Advising will not initiate contact with parents. However, we encourage parents to contact us in situations that require immediate attention, such as a student or family emergency, so we can initiate prompt support.