Dear CSB and SJU parents and families,

We welcome you and your student to the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University community. We have been preparing all summer for the energy and excitement our students will bring when they return to the campuses later this month. In the meantime, there is a lot of important information to pass along and we don’t want you to miss any of it!

New CSB and SJU President

On July 1, 2022, Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D., became the first person to serve as president of both Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s. This is one of several exciting transitions designed to position both institutions to respond quickly and seamlessly in response to challenges in higher education – while retaining the missions and unique identities that have made these schools iconic leaders for well over a century.

Welcome Fest and Involvement Fair

Research shows that students who are engaged and involved on campus tend to have higher GPAs and graduate in four years with their cohort. COVID has contributed to a gap in student involvement and we aim to repair that gap. You can help by encouraging your student to explore and join clubs/organizations of interest and to attend campus events and activities.

Welcome Fest will provide programming on the first six weekends of the academic year, offering engaging opportunities to occupy students’ weekends. Additionally, this year’s CSB and SJU Involvement Fair is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8. There are over 100 clubs and organizations active across the two campuses and 95% of students have reported that their involvement outside the classroom improved their academic experience!

Required Training on Alcohol and Sexual Misconduct

All new CSB and SJU students are required to complete two online courses: one focusing on sexual assault prevention and the other on alcohol and other drug use. Please remind your student that these courses should be completed by Friday, Sept. 9. (A hold will be placed on the accounts of students who have not completed this training by that deadline.)

We care about the safety and well-being of all members of our community. These courses help ensure all our students know and understand campus policies and are aware of the resources available to them – as well as some prevention measures they can take.

COVID-19 Update

We plan to return to campus this fall in much the same way we did pre-COVID. However, we still strongly encourage students to be fully vaccinated. Because we are much more practiced in COVID protocol, we will have rooms for students wanting to quarantine in isolation, but we are not requiring it. We expect our students to take responsibility for their personal health. If they are ill, we expect them to isolate themselves. The campus COVID committee meets regularly to continue to monitor the situation. Students will be informed if mitigation measures are needed. At this time, we are focusing on a fully open campus and masks will not be needed upon our students’ return. We do encourage students to bring a few masks with them, in case they become ill and need to visit Health Services (where masks are still required) or in case our campus mitigations change.

New Student Orientation and FYX

All students should check their csbsju.edu email accounts as they prepare to come to campus. New students will participate in the Orientation Program starting Friday, Aug. 26. New students have also been enrolled in the Beginning the Journey course as part of their First-Year Experience.

Parent Resources on our Website

• Parent calendar
  The 2022-23 CSB and SJU Parent & Family Calendar is nearly here! Stop back at the link above by Monday morning to find a downloadable PDF version.
• CSB and SJU parent e-newsletter
  You can sign up to receive a monthly electronic newsletter highlighting events, important dates and other helpful information.
• Student records and privacy
  Student records and information are protected under the Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents can complete an affidavit for a student who continues to be a dependent, which allows greater access to their student’s academic information.
• CSB and SJU emergency notification system
  Your student will be signing up to receive notifications (typically weather-related class and/or bus cancelations, but also other emergencies). Your student also has the opportunity to add additional phone numbers for other individuals who would like to receive these alerts.
• The J-Book (SJU student policies)
  This link includes the code of conduct for all SJU students. Please encourage your son to take time to familiarize himself with the information the J-Book contains.
• The Bennie Book (CSB student policies)
  The Bennie Book includes the code of conduct for all CSB students. Please encourage your daughter to take time to familiarize herself with the information it contains.
• Academic calendar
• Family Weekend – Oct. 21-23
  Watch for more information on programming and activities for you, your student and the whole family!

We look forward to your partnership in ensuring the health, well-being and success of your student. On behalf of the entire student development teams of both campuses, we welcome you to our community and look forward to a wonderful 2022-23 academic year!

Sincerely,

Mary Geller
Associate Provost for Student Success