Student Affairs
Student Affairs is an important part of the Macalester student experience. The mission of Student Affairs is to serve as educators in the construction of intentional living-learning environments that foster the holistic development of students. The division creates and facilitates dynamic experiences, programs, services, and resources that support the development of reflective leadership, identity exploration, and responsible citizenship, and personal well-being. The offices and programs in the division 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 Office of Student Affairs is responsible for overseeing many of the critical services that support students to get the most out of their time at Macalester. Members of our staff are a good source of information about college resources and policies.
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 108 organizations, and new ones are formed based on student interest. Student organizations are chartered through MCSG. For a complete listing of active student organizations please reference the Student Organizations directory on the Macalester College website.
Student media includes: the Mac Weekly newspaper, the Chanter literary magazine, WMCN-FM radio, and several other periodic publications.
Office of Student Affairs Staff
The Vice President for Student Affairs serves as the Chief Student Affairs Officer of the College. The Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, and Associate 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 Athletics program, Campus Operations, Student Leadership and Engagement, Career Exploration and Internship Program, Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Disability Services, Laurie Hamre Center for Health and Wellness (health education, medical, and psychological), International Student Programs, Multicultural Life, Residential Life, Family Fest and Student Government.
The Office of Student Affairs assists in answering any student or parent questions related to college policies or procedures, and provides ombudsman services to students who have a specific problem or inquiry. The office maintains the personal records of all current students, and alumni for seven years after graduation. The Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students serves as an ex officio member of the Academic Standing Committee and is a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
Student Life
Athletics
Macalester’s sports and recreation program is extensive, including intercollegiate athletics, intramurals, and club sports. The Intercollegiate athletic programs compete as NCAA Division III members and compete in the following conferences: the MIAC, MWC (Football only), and CWPA for women’s water polo. 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 and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo. Club sports currently include men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s crew, men’s and women’s Nordic skiing, men’s and women’s rugby, men’s and women’s ultimate Frisbee, and women’s lacrosse and men’s water polo. Intramural competition is available in a wide variety of sport activities throughout the school year. Team sports have men’s, women’s and co-ed schedules. Individual sports have men’s and women’s singles, doubles tournaments and co-ed doubles tournaments.
Campus Operations
Campus Operations delivers quality event support services while providing meaningful educational opportunities through employment. Campus Operations also provides space, services and guidance in event planning and support to promote student learning, engagement, and inclusion. We manage the day-to-day operations of the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, which serves as the living room and gathering space for the campus. Areas within Campus Operations include:
- Campus Center Building Managers
- Information Desk
- Reservations
- Conference and Facility Rentals
Career Exploration
Career Exploration assists students with their internship and career search needs, using the “explore, design, connect, launch” framework. We help students:
The staff of Career Exploration have developed a comprehensive system of resources. Services offered include: one-on-one counseling, workshops, interest inventories, “quick guides”, an extensive alumni network, a virtual internship and job posting system (Handshake), the Macalester Summer Internship Grant (MSIG) program, on-campus recruiting, job fairs and collaborations with faculty and other campus offices.
Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
We believe that the religious dimension is an essential part of education and personal 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 Department of Multicultural Life, 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. Our team of experienced chaplains are a resource to all members of the community, students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The College Chaplain provides leadership for the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (CRSL) and supports all chaplains and volunteers who come from the Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and Protestant traditions. The College has historical roots that connect us with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel houses the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and offices for our chaplains. The CRSL (lower level of the Chapel) is a space where communities of practice and student organizations can host events, share in conversation and engage in religious practice. The chapel is available daily for reflection, prayer and contemplation and a prayer room is available in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Communities of practice at Macalester include (but are not limited to): Alternative Faith Association, Mac Catholics, Mac Christian Fellowship, Mac Protestants, Mac Jewish Organization, Muslim Student Association, Sitting at Mac, Unitarian Universalists, Quaker Community and a Secular Humanist Group.
Civic Engagement Center
The Civic Engagement Center supports global citizenship through curricular and co-curricular initiatives. It works with students to learn the skills of democracy to be innovative agents of change, drawing jointly on their interdisciplinary study of the liberal arts and their applied community knowledge to work for a common good. It works with the community in a spirit of respectful reciprocity and partnership to connect the resources of the college with community needs and strengths in order to reinforce the capacity of local communities. Learning to be an informed and active citizen is a core component of global citizenship and part of the mission of Macalester College.
The CEC has developed relationships with numerous community organizations. We offer hundreds of diverse opportunities for students to use their unique skills and interests. Weekly commitment to a local organization is encouraged in order to gain the most learning and make the greatest impact, however, one-time service events are also available. Community visits and self-guided neighborhood tour sheets are also offered by the CEC to encourage students to be a part of their new Twin Cities home. Visit our Twin Cities Resource Lounge for ideas, books and local resources.
Each semester dozens of classes are offered by faculty who have incorporated a community-based learning or community-based research component into their class. The CEC supports faculty in designing the courses and helps students in identifying these classes and assists them with community referrals. Opportunities for training, discussion, leadership development and deep reflection on one’s actions and commitments are also offered through the center.
The CEC offers five different civic leadership programs for students who seek a more extensive involvement with the community and their peers. The CEC has several college access programs working with first generation Mac students and potential college students in the community. We also assist students in developing new service programs, while gaining valuable leadership skills through the process. Entrepreneurial students can apply for funding for their project through the “Action Fund” or the “Davis Projects for Peace” initiative. The CEC also administers the Off-Campus Student Employment Program (OCSE). This program is an opportunity for students to earn their financial aid award (work-study) while working at a local nonprofit organization or school. The program includes a monthly training on social change strategies and the role of nonprofit organizations.
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. Other dining options include the Atrium Market, Nessie’s in the Loch, the Grille, and Scotty’s. These supplemental options have varied hours and menus. Bon Appetit works closely with Macalester College to ensure that food prepared is locally-sourced when possible and meets dietary restrictions of all students.
Most students who live in the residence halls are required to participate in the dining program.
Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services (ITS) supports the use of technology in classrooms, public and academic computer labs, residence halls, and across campus. We support students on campus and those studying abroad as well as all faculty and staff.
- ITS Help Desk: Call, chat or email the ITS Help Desk for tech help. Visit the ITS Help Desk 316 Humanities Building or the front desk in DeWitt Wallace Library for in-person assistance.
- Digital Resource Center (DRC): Use the DRC’s computer lab, audio and video editing suites, color printer, and scanning stations. Reserve media equipment and get help with your assignment from any of the qualified DRC student workers.
- Macalester Wi-Fi & eduroam: Connect to wireless on campus and all over the world at eduroam-participating institutions. Wired connections are also available in the reisdence halls.
- Public computer labs: Take advantage of the public computer labs and printers located in reisdence halls, Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center and at the DeWitt Wallace Library, including the Idea Lab makerspace.
- Printing: Print from any computer lab or your own device using print release stations located in most computer labs and high-traffic areas on campus.
- 3D Printing: Check out the 3D printers available for student use in the DRC and Idea Lab. Additional 3D printers are available to students enrolled in specific academic programs.
- Poster printing: Print academic and research posters at no cost in the DRC.
- Moodle: Use Moodle, Macalester’s learning management system, to access online discussion forums, interactive exercises, and additional curricular resources relevant to your course load.
- Software downloads: Download required software for classes at no cost.
- Computer access: Bring your own laptop or use one of the public computer labs on campus.
- Student employment: Apply to work in one of many student worker positions available annually at the ITS Help Desk, DRC, Idea Lab, or computer labs for real-world customer service and technology experience.
- Google account & G Suite: Use your Google account to access the G suite tools for education and collaborate in real time.
- Information Technology Responsible Use Policy: Students must agree to the Information Technology Responsible Use Policy which covers all students, faculty and staff in order to use Macalester technology related services.
International Student Program
The International Student Programs Department (ISP) serves the educational, cross-cultural, and personal development needs of Macalester’s international students. Its goals are to integrate international students into all aspects of college life, to help them participate in and contribute to Macalester’s high quality liberal arts education, and to assist them in applying their learning to their own lives and cultural contexts. In working toward achieving these goals, the International Student Programs provides advising on immigration, visa, taxation and other U.S. regulations and laws; a pre-orientation emphasizing government regulations and cultural issues; a fall semester mentoring relationship matching international first-year students with upper-class students; the Ametrica Project, which brings domestic and international students together to promote the development of greater intercultural sensitivity through dialogue and a series of ephermeral escapades; a host family program; consultations with faculty and staff on immigration, cultural, and learning issues related to international students. The ISP staff also works with other offices to facilitate international and intercultural learning among international and U.S. students.
Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship (IGC)
The Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship (IGC) serves:
- Students through civic leadership programs, global citizenship discussions, opportunities for reflection on personal discernment of values and vocation, and programs for diverse students to explore a future in academia. We offer opportunities for off-campus employment, community engagement, community-based learning and research opportunities, and pre-graduate school fellowships. Options abroad include study away programs, research collaborations and civic engagement.
- Faculty and Staff by providing ways to deepen understandings of muliculturalism, internationalism, and community engagement; supporting community-based learning courses, hosting the Urban Faculty Colloquium; providing faculty and staff development opportunities aaround equity and diversity; hosting faculty reading groups; organizing Faculty Develpment International Seminars; and providing study away support.
- Community by connecting organizations with college partners for mutual goals, bringing guests to campus for public events, and meeting community-defined needs through course integrated community-based learning, internships and service.
Offices of the IGC:
- The Dean’s Office contributes to building just and equitable learning environments and promotes Markim Hall as a hub for global citizenship on campus, including sponsoring the annual Global Citizenship award and the annual International Roundtable.
- The Center for Study Away administers Study Away, Macalester-sponsored international programs and exchange programs.
- The Civic Engagement Center connects members of the Macalester community with curricular and co-curricular community-based initiatives, supports several student civic leadership programs and offers programs which encourage deep reflection on one’s commitments and actions.
- The Internship Office
develops and administers structured off-campus learning/work experiences that enhance professional skills and heighten career awareness.
Laurie Hamre Health and Wellness Center
We believe that personal and academic success go hand in hand with health and wellness. 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, sustainable lifestyle choices.
The Hamre Center for Health and Wellness offers many resources, but it can also serve as an important gateway to services in the off-campus community. The College’s urban location affords opportunity to connect with providers for students whose health conditions would benefit from more timely, specialized or long-term treatment options.
Specific services provided on campus include:
Counseling and Psychological. Short-term personal counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, limited psychiatric services, consultation with faculty, staff and students, educational programming, and referral support to the on and off campus community. Macalester also offers 24/7 telephone counseling with a contracted service. Staff include psychologists, social workers, advanced clinical practice students and a visiting psychiatrist.
Medical. Medical Services is a primary care clinic that offers appointments for wellness and prevention, mental health, all-gender sexual and reproductive health, illness and injury care, and chronic disease management. Staff include a physician, advanced practice clinicians (nurse practitioner, physician assistant), registered nurse, medical/lab assistant, and rotating medical residents.
To insure a healthy community, students must have an immunization record on file; as well as a required tuberculin screening, which may indicate further testing. Macalester College and the State of Minnesota have immunization requirements that must be met in order to be enrolled for classes. Incoming international students are required to be screened for tuberculosis on campus upon arrival.
Health Promotion. Health Promotion fosters a healthy campus environment that embraces health, balance, and well-being. Through a wide range of outreach initiatives, educational programs, and services, we strive to provide students with the education, skills, and experiences to be balanced and flourish. Our evidence-based approach includes public health campaigns, fitness classes, online self‐assessments, one‐to‐one coaching, social marketing, environmental change strategies, and student work experiences.
A Certified Health Education Specialist leads the health promotion efforts, assisted by a health promotion specialist, and an active health promotion student team.
Insurance and Costs
Macalester College requires all students maintain comprehensive personal health insurance that meets certain minimum standards as defined by the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act, meets or exceeds the Macalester-offered plan and provides coverage in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Macalester offers a health insurance plan for students without insurance or whose plans do not provide adequate coverage.
All students are billed for the insurance and must waive out of the plan during a defined period prior to the start of classes. Information on health insurance plans is available from the Hamre Center.
There are no charges to be seen by medical or counseling professionals, however, students are charged for laboratory services, immunizations, a few procedures/phyiscals, and prescription medications. Any health services incurred outside the Hamre Center for Health and Wellness are the student’s responsibility. Chemical use assessment, if required by the College, is also the student’s responsibility.
Library
Through innovative services, robust collections, inviting facilities, and personalized attention, staff of the DeWitt Wallace Library supports the mission of the College and the ideals express in Macalester’s Statement of Purpose and Belief. We contribute to the development of a broad understanding of the liberal arts, while effectively supporting the Student Learning Goals, especially in developing critical thinking skills and the ability to use information resources effectively.
Librarians are involved in the instructional mission of the College by providing research and personalized consultation services, classroom instruction, and informal classes and workshops. All first year students receive an orientation to library and computing services during their first year seminar in their first semester. This gives students a basic foundation and understanding of the extensive scholarly resources available in an academic environment and introduces them to the variety of staff members who are available to provide personal assistance for technology and research needs. This initial orientation is often followed by more specialized and discipline-focused instruction in the first year, or in intermediate and upper-level courses.
Located at the heart of the campus and designed as a community gathering space, the library building provides ample study space, comfortably seating more than one-third of the student body at any one time. Individual, small group, and larger sized rooms are available to accommodate the needs of the community. The building features multiple computer work spaces and has wireless connections throughout. Community members may use their own laptops or check out a laptop from our circulating “pool.” The second level of the library provides spaces for innovation, collaboration, and creativity. The Idea Lab provides spaces to engage in activities that range from sewing projects to woodworking. Four additional group studies were added to allow for virtual connections with potential employers. An enhanced teaching space for our special collections as well as exhibits from our archies are located on level 2.
The library collections include print volumes, newspapers, periodicals, ebooks, and streaming media. The library is a member of the Center for Research Libraries and HathiTrust. These memberships provide access to extensive digital collections of primary resource materials. In addition, the library offers a full range of networked online indexes and fulltext article databases, featuring subscription-level access to over 1,500 online journals. Nearly all online virtual library content can be acessed from off-campus, providing services to community members wherever they are needed–be it at home over the summer, or in another country during a study-away semester.
Recognizing early on that library services transcend physical spaces and individual collections, much time and effort is spent on developing our “virtual” library at www.macalester.edu/library. Here one can readily search our online catalog with access to resources in over 6,000 libraries worldwide. Materials from other colleges and public libraries may be requested online, and are delivered via twice-daily courier service to our circulation desk. Articles requested through interlibrary loan often are available to download the same day, sometimes in less than an hour.
The building is open 109 hours a week during the academic year, with extended hours until 3:00am during finals periods. A 24 x 7 study space is offered in the “Link”-an area with vending machines connecting the library with Old Main.
Our library has something to offer every student, staff, and faculty member. We invite you to check us out and find your place in our library.
The Macalester Academic Excellence (MAX) Center
The MAX Center supports students so that they can do their best possible academic work. The MAX Center focuses on: A) the disciplines of math, science, and writing; B) the skills required for good time-management and study habits; C) building a culturally diverse learning community; and D) academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. We offer individual and group assistance at no charge in mathematics, biology, chemistry, writing, study skills, time management, and other areas.
Beyond classroom work, we help students with capstone papers and honors projects, along with personal statements and applications for scholarships and study-abroad programs. We also help students prepare for graduate school applications and examinations.
Multicultural Life and The Lealtad-Suzuki Center
The Department of Multicultural Life (DML) at Macalester through the Lealtad Suzuki Center, the Cultural House, and signature programs, as well as through the work of the Dean of Multicultural Life across campus, provides leadership in supporting 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 recognizes that campus diversity and close contact among people of different backgrounds often perpetuate cultural conflicts that emanate from unresolved histories in the larger society and they create a need for collective responsibility to ensure a high-quality learning environment. The DML helps the campus community to address these concerns with intention, inclusion, and integrity.
The mission of the Department of Multicultural Life is to integrate and consistently affirm the values and cultures of historically marginalized peoples and their ideas, discourses, and concerns. The current goals of the Department of Multicultural Life are to identify, assess, and promote multicultural core competencies for the campus community; to create partnerships with academic and administrative departments to infuse and sustain multiculturalism throughout all aspects of campus life; and to foster and promote an inclusive environment.
The Department of Multicultural Life serves all students through a Dean of Multicultural Life, who works collaboratively with other campus administrators to address institutional concerns, professional staff members who coordinate academic and cultural support, and several trained student employees and volunteers who help deliver programs and services to the campus.
Office of the Registrar
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for class scheduling, maintenance of academic records of all students, and the collection and dissemination of certain institutional data. In addition, the office administers all student registrations, processes changes of course registration and grading options, publishes fall and spring term final examination schedules, endorses teacher licensure applications, evaluates transfer credits, acts upon applications from students not seeking a degree from Macalester, issues transcripts and statements certifying full-time attendance and/or good academic standing, and certifies to the faculty those students eligible for graduation.
Residential Life
Living on campus is an important part of a Macalester student’s education. Residential Life focuses on the whole student experience as well as fostering learning beyond the classroom setting. Students are provided numerous opportunities to learn about themselves as well as meet, interact, and develop relationships with others on the floor-building community with those who are different from themselves. Our goal is to give students a greater understanding of their responsibility to the local, national, and global communities as citizens of the world. 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, however, Residential Life is more than happy to work with any interested transfer or upperclass student regarding on-campus housing.
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, language houses, an eco house, and a cultural house.
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. Additionally, we have a Housing Manager who manages housing assignments and housing processes throughout the year, as well as an Assistant Director and Assistant Dean, who provide overall leadership to the department.
Office of Student Leadership and Engagement
The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement (OSLE) educates and empowers students to be their most successful selves through developmental leadership opportunities in the co-curricular. OSLE fosters an environment that encourages student development and builds connection to the Macalester community. We also provide resources and advising, and facilitate opportunities for interactions that exemplify our mission to: build community through campus engagement, develop educational initiatives that promote stuent leadership, and create comprehensive transitional programming to support the educational, social, and personal needs of students.
Areas within OSLE include:
- New Student Orientation and Macward Bound
- Student Organization Services
- Leadership Development Opportunities
- Campus Engagement and Late Night/Weekend Programs
- Senior Programs
Sustainability
The Sustainability Office works with both operational and academic parts of the college to improve the sustainability of the college. Current Sustainability Plan goals are climate neutrality by 2025, zero waste by 2020, 30% real food by 2020 and education for sustainability. Focus areas for the office also include urban sustainability and wellness.
Disability Services
Macalester College seeks to create a welcoming environment in which all students, including those with disabilities, have the same opportunity to reach their academic potential and are provided equal access to courses, programs or co-curricular activities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Acts of 1973 and other applicable state or federal legislation, individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination and provided reasonable accommodation or modifications when necessary to ensure this access.
Macalester is committed to addressing barriers encountered by individuals with disabilities and has established appropriate policies and procedures towards this goal.
Safety, Security and Annual Crime Security Report Information
At Macalester College, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is always a priority. With the support of other departments, we have hundreds of people involved in keeping this campus safe and secure. However, a truly safe campus can only be achieved through the cooperation of all students, faculty and staff.
The Macalester College Annual Security and Fire Safety Report known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and its amendments and the HEOA Campus Fire Safety Report. These reports include statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Macalester; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional polices concerning campus security, such as polices concerning sexual assault, and other matters. The annual fire safety report outlines fire safety practices, standards, and all fire-related on-campus statistics. The Macalester College Clery Campus Crime and the Campus Fire Safety Reports are available upon request, at no charge, from the Macalester Security Department at 651-696-6278, the Admissions Office at 651-696-6357 , Employment Services at 651-696-6280 or by accessing the annual crime report web page at www.macalester.edu/security/reports/annual-crime-report-text.pdf.
In addition, matriculated student users of Macalester’s facilities or services are required to comply with the Campus Security Act and Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002, including self-registration with appropriate State agencies. Failure to comply with this requirement, if applicable, may jeopardize your status as a Macalester student.
For more information about safety or security matters please contact the Director of Security.
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