Communications from the President

Spring Semester 2021 Plans Saint Mary's celebrates our seventh week on campus and announces plans for the spring semester. Expecting the Unexpected Dear Saint Mary’s Friends, We often talk with students about becoming life-long learners, and this year the entire faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s have had to lead by example, demonstrating the many ways that we, too, can remain open, flexible, determined, and creative in our work. A Letter from the President In a letter to the students of Saint Mary's College, President Katie Conboy urges students to stay on campus. "Let me be clear. Our precious time together on campus is at risk," she writes. "Right now, while we have only three positive cases among the Saint Mary’s College community, we are growing concerned. The trends on other campuses — high infection numbers that are largely due to off-campus activities — are undermining our own campus precautions. We are alarmed by what we are seeing, and it has us on high alert." The Chance to Explore Dear Saint Mary’s Community, When I ended my letter to you last month, I was feeling the heady rush of the Le Mans start: I compared launching my first week as President of Saint Mary’s with revving up for that classic endurance race involving high-powered automobiles. But at the end of my message, I promised that while I would continue to move quickly to get up to speed (as it were), I would also slow down and balance important decisions and actions with research and reflection on the unique character of this College. Campus Improvements Welcome Students Back Saint Mary’s prepares for students’ return to campus with dozens of improvements as the fall semester is set to begin. Live Learn Work: Our Fall 2020 Semester President Katie Conboy outlines the first steps for students arriving to campus. The Le Mans Start Dear Saint Mary’s Friends, Greetings from the President’s Office in Le Mans Hall! I arrived at Saint Mary’s just over a week ago and found the campus in its late-Spring glory, but strangely devoid of people! The sun had just set when I arrived at Riedinger House, where I’ll be staying until my husband and our two cats join me later in the summer. The church bells were the only interruption of a deep and abiding silence.