With all healthcare programs on one campus, “ŗÓźÖ±²„s and faculty benefit from increased collaboration across disciplines and updated, cutting-edge learning technology.
Photo by Erin Smith
With all healthcare programs on one campus, “ŗÓźÖ±²„s and faculty benefit from increased collaboration across disciplines and updated, cutting-edge learning technology.
Photo by Erin Smith
With all healthcare programs on one campus, “ŗÓźÖ±²„s and faculty benefit from increased collaboration across disciplines and updated, cutting-edge learning technology.
Photo by Erin Smith
Campus integration brought renovations to studying and gathering spaces, such as a new adjunct faculty lounge (left).
Photo by Tara Sloane
Campus integration brought renovations to studying and gathering spaces, such as an updated career center lounge (left).
Photo by Rebecca Zenefski Slater ā10
Dew Drop Lounge has returned to its original use as a community gathering space and coffee shop.
Photo by Rebecca Zenefski Slater ā10
BSN “ŗÓźÖ±²„s gain experience with up-to-date technology before they even start their clinicals.
Photo by Erin Smith
From the
"When “ŗÓźÖ±²„s come here, theyāre experiencing a university environment ā they feel like theyāre part of St. Kateās,ā says Scott Haglund, radiography program director, musing on his departmentās four years in St. Paul.
It was no small feat getting there. In 2017, a comprehensive assessment of the Universityās facilities on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses found that the Minneapolis campusā annual operating expenses, combined with a list of necessary repairs, made the second campus location unsustainable. Those factors, along with future programming needs and limited parking, led the administration to decide on integrating the two campuses into a single location in St. Paul.
Scott Haglund (photo by Tara Sloane)
Thus began years of work toward the āOne Universityā plan. In January 2019, the radiography program became the first from the Minneapolis campus to transition to St. Paul, where it is now housed on the ground floor of Whitby. The last of the Minneapolis academic programs and offices completed the move to the St. Paul campus in June 2020, six months ahead of schedule.
Campus integration involved moves and updates to:
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20 departments
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300+ offices
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15 study rooms
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15 meeting rooms
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2 “ŗÓźÖ±²„ lounges
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19 labs and simulation spaces.
Updating and upgrading
With St. Kateās strategic plan priorities of āStrengthen Academic Excellenceā and āBuild a Strong and Sustainable Foundationā in mind, University committees used the integration as an opportunity to rethink and reshape spaces for learning and gathering. Among the goals: enhance “ŗÓźÖ±²„sā academic experience, create a more vibrant campus community in St. Paul, and provide more robust services to the “ŗÓźÖ±²„s, faculty, and staff formerly located in Minneapolis.
āThere was an opportunity to grow and expand, and do things in a fresh, new way,āā says Haglund. āWhen we look at the physical space and technology, the timing for us was perfect.ā
Now, “ŗÓźÖ±²„s across disciplines receive plentiful experience with the current trending technology just steps away from their instructorsā offices, rather than waiting to get their first glimpse of it when they start their clinicals.
Collaborative access across health disciplines
The integration plan re-envisioned the St. Paul campus with vibrant new learning spaces for both “ŗÓźÖ±²„s and faculty, including a centralized hub for humanities and arts programs in Coeur de “ŗÓźÖ±²„. Whitby is now dedicated to several healthcare programs, joining nursing programs there with the BSN, holistic health, health informatics, and radiation therapy programs that moved from Minneapolis.
āChief among the benefits of having all of our health science and nursing programs on one campus is the opportunity for collaboration,ā says Sean Fitzpatrick, interim dean of health sciences and associate professor of interprofessional education. āFor instance, we will bring “ŗÓźÖ±²„s from multiple programs to work together in our Institute of Simulation and Interprofessional Learning (I-SAIL). By working in interprofessional teams on simulated patient cases, “ŗÓźÖ±²„s learn and practice critical collaboration skills.ā
Prior to campus integration, opportunities for collaboration between “ŗÓźÖ±²„s on separate campuses were rare due to timing and logistical challenges. Now healthcare “ŗÓźÖ±²„s can more easily reap the benefits of teamwork and simulation opportunities.
Enriching “ŗÓźÖ±²„ life on campus
While joining the two St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ campuses strengthened the academic experience for many “ŗÓźÖ±²„s, the physical improvements to “ŗÓźÖ±²„ life are felt by all who visit.
The St. Paul campus is known for its vibrant beauty, and now all “ŗÓźÖ±²„s enrolled in in-person programs get to enjoy it together. Parking is more available, and there are expanded, comfortable places to eat, study, and meet friends throughout the day. Coeur de “ŗÓźÖ±²„ās renovations included updates to the library, Career Development Center, Antonian Honors Program, and Dew Drop Lounge, as well as the addition of new lounge
space for adjunct faculty.
Max Macemon ā19 (photo by Rebecca Zenefski Slater ā10)
Max Macemon ā19 began his radiography degree on the Minneapolis campus and completed it after the integration. Despite his initial discomfort with the idea of switching campuses, he says, āRight when I stepped foot on the St. Paul grounds, I knew this home would be easy to live in, learn in, and grow into the grad I am today. Having accessibility to various resources ā the gym, the lab, the cafeteria ā made everyday “ŗÓźÖ±²„ life smoother.ā
Haglund has also noticed the tangible difference made in the experience of “ŗÓźÖ±²„s like Macemon. āThereās a sense of community,ā he says. āPeople are showing up early and staying late on campus now. They never did that before.ā
Part of a larger whole
The University has been enriched by āmerging of the best parts of the two different [campus] cultures,ā says Michael Peterson, the Counseling Centerās director of community mental health relations and one of the campus integration committee members.
In addition to the fusion of Minneapolis and St. Paul campus counseling resources, Peterson says he sees the larger University integration as a way to āamplify the community-serving endeavors which were in place on both campuses, as we strive together to address the great needs of the world around us.ā
As St. Kateās continues to fulfill its mission of serving the community and educating women leaders, its St. Paul campus remains a welcome home to “ŗÓźÖ±²„s, faculty, staff, and alumni ā another step into fostering Forever St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„, and a shared future built on connection, engagement, and an enduring legacy.