Faculty and Academic Advising

Faculty and Academic Advisors work with the student in developing meaningful educational plans consistent with their academic, personal, and professional goals.

Faculty Advising

Each student is required to have one primary faculty advisor. The first-year faculty advisor is assigned to upon entry to the colleges. In spring of the first year, each student transitions to a faculty advisor, usually from the department of the student's intended major. “Exploring” students will be assigned to a member of the Academic Advising Office. Students may enlist additional faculty advisors from areas related to other academic or pre-professional interests.

During registration each semester, the student is required to consult with the primary faculty advisor and obtain the Personal ID Number (PIN) before they can access the registration system online.

Academic Advising

The Academic Advising Office empowers students in developing meaningful educational plans that support their academic, personal, and professional goals. The office also provides assistance and support to students and faculty across the campuses. The office monitors academic progress oversees, academic probation, and proactively reaches out to a variety of student groups.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services ensures qualified students with disabilities have equal access to all CSBSJU programs and activities. The office facilitates reasonable accommodations, determined on an individualized case-by-case basis, for students who voluntarily self-disclose a disability. All services are provided in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act he office's work is guided by its responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

Experience and Professional Development - XPD

XPD - Experience & Professional Development empowers students to connect their aspirations with opportunities and translate their liberal arts education to achieve meaningful personal and professional lives.

We coach students to explore, do, reflect, and connect.  To learn more about our experience-based programs and ways to engage in major and career exploration, visit  https://www.csbsju.edu/xpd.

Libraries & Archives

The Libraries & Archives at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are places where you can learn, explore, connect, and belong within the CSB and SJU community. Whether you’re studying for class, working on a project, exploring new interests, or looking for a quiet place to recharge, we offer welcoming spaces, supportive staff, resources, technology, and programs to help you succeed.

Our librarians partner with faculty and campus offices to help students build the academic and critical thinking skills needed to navigate assignments, evaluate information, ask meaningful questions, and explore new ideas. You can meet with a librarian at any point in the semester for assignment help, from developing your research topic to finding and citing relevant sources. The Libraries & Archives also create opportunities for students to connect with one another through events, exhibits, and programs designed to foster community and belonging. More than 60 student employees work in the Libraries each year and gain professional skills and experience that support future career success.

Library Spaces

Our library spaces are campus hubs where you can study, create, collaborate, relax, and connect. Clemens Library at the College of Saint Benedict provides seating for 225 students, ten collaborative study rooms, PC and Mac computer labs with 36 computers total, and a Makerspace for creative and hands-on projects. Additional student support services, including an IT Services Help Desk, Instructional Technology, Academic Advising, and the Career Center, are also located in the building. The Benedicta Arts Center Music Library provides an audio recording studio, audio digitization equipment, and other resources for CSB and SJU student use. 

Alcuin Library at Saint John's University, designed by prominent architect Marcel Breuer, opened in 1966 and was renovated in 2017 to include the Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons. Together, these spaces provide seating for 265 students, 18 collaborative study rooms, three classrooms, and an auditorium. The Learning Commons includes a video studio, editing lab, training room, and coffee shop (“The Schu”). Our building partners at Alcuin include The Study, the Writing Center, the Center for Teaching and Learning, The Saint John’s Bible Gallery, and Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML).

Library Collections & Research Support

The CSB and SJU Libraries provide access to extensive print and online collections to support learning and research, including more than 600,000 print books; 900,000 eBooks; 110,000 electronic journals and magazines; 200 active subscriptions to print periodicals; and 280,000 streaming media materials. Students can also borrow equipment and technology tools to support coursework, presentations, and creative projects.

The College of Saint Benedict Archives and the Saint John's University Archives preserve and share materials documenting institutional history and support research using archival collections. Additional distinctive collections, including artists’ books, rare books, Sullivan Collection, and Sacred Music Collections, are available for use by students, faculty, and researchers.

The Libraries’ website provides access to research help, library services, and the online catalog, making it easy to find books, articles, media, and materials in our collections and to discover items available through interlibrary loan from libraries around the world. Students and faculty can access most online resources from anywhere with an internet connection, and wireless access is available throughout library spaces.

Math Center

The Math Center provides services to Saint Benedict's and Saint John's students, offering assistance with concepts and skills that are used in lower division mathematics courses. One-to-one tutoring help (from student tutors and/or a professional staff member) is available on a walk-in basis .

Reference books, workbooks, worksheets, and computer materials are also available to students who may be looking for help with math content in other courses, or who are preparing for pre-professional or graduate school exams.

Office of Assessment and Effectiveness (OAE) 

Overview

The Office of Assessment and Effectiveness (OAE) provides (a) guidance and support for CSB and SJU departments and programs undergoing program review, (b) guidance and support for departments and programs preparing for required annual assessment reporting, (c) leadership and guidance for accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and (d) assessment and evaluation support for CSB and SJU’s participation in some national research studies and programs. OAE also supports institutional assessment related to mission, the True North Journey, and the Co-Curricular Approach. 

Institutional Accreditation

CSB and SJU are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. OAE provides direct leadership and support to the institutions as we prepare for accreditation.

Program Review

Every 10 years, each department and program conducts program review. Programs have the opportunity to also engage in a smaller, mid-cycle review at year 5. Program review is an opportunity for programs to engage in continuous, data-informed improvement of their programs, curricula, pedagogy, student learning, and using data to inform meaningful evolution. Departments and programs create a self-study document. An external disciplinary evaluator visits campus typically for 1-2 days and provides an independent evaluation of the department or program (full reviews only). At the end of the process, an action plan is developed to provide accountability and to ensure continued quality improvement.

Assessment

OAE supports the improvement of teaching, learning, and program development on the campuses using student outcomes assessment. We support efforts to advance the quality of teaching, student learning, and programs by assisting in the design, implementation, and measurement of assessment activities. We collaborate with faculty, staff, academic and non-academic departments.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholars

The Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholars provides support and game-changing mentorship to student scholars in all disciplines throughout their four-year college experience. The office helps students secure competitive fellowships; uncover, plan, and execute research and creative work opportunities; participate in off-campus meetings and conferences, and much more. OURS is also the home for Pathways to Distinction, a new initiative providing students the opportunity to earn distinction upon graduation in alignment with the Institutional Learning Goals. OURS is part of the Experience Hub in Clemens Library.

To learn more about programs and funding, visit https://www.csbsju.edu/ours or book an appointment via the Hive.

The Study

Located in Alcuin Library, The Study shares resources and offers peer academic coaching to meet the higher expectations of college learning. Engaging with The Study provides all students opportunity to build skill and confidence, reduce academic stress, and maximize opportunities during and after college. Developing strategies for time management, effective studying, and efficient reading elevates students’ academic skills and prepares them for future professional experiences. College work is challenging; working with the Study is recommended so you can do your best work with the least amount of stress and the most positive outcomes.  Access online resources or learn more at  https://www.csbsju.edu/the-study. 

The Writing Center

The Writing Center provides writing assistance to all members of our academic community. Well-trained peer tutors offer free response to writers during individual writing consultations. Additionally, peer tutors help facilitate in-class writing workshops upon faculty request.

The Writing Center, with an office on each campus, welcomes writers of all backgrounds: honor students, first-year writers, writers from every major, students with learning differences, students for whom English is an additional language, graduate students, staff, and faculty. Writers are welcome to bring in any piece of writing, ranging from essays, lab reports, or letters of application to works of reflection, fact, or fiction. Some writers want a one-time-only appointment for work on a particular piece of writing; others want to establish a series of appointments to achieve personal or program goals.

During an appointment, the writer and the tutor work together to identify and meet the writer’s needs. Usually writers who use Writing Center services seek help in one of three general areas:

1. initiating the writing process (understanding the assignment, talking through a topic, organizing ideas),
2. revising (refocusing the text to better support the thesis, polishing an introduction or conclusion, taking the text to the next level),
3. managing conventions of standard written English (correcting sentence structures or grammatical forms).

Writers can make an appointment on The Hive; walk-in appointments are welcome if a tutor is available.