A Message from Kirsten Gabriel |
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Greetings V-Hawk parents and families,
It’s hard to believe, but we are almost to the midpoint of the fall semester – the old adage ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ feels particularly relevant this time of year, because we have been having some fun.
We had a wonderful time with those who were able to attend this year’s Family Day. Students in our fall musical, Footloose, performed for big crowds last weekend. Adrianna Reinhart (women’s volleyball) and Grace Breuchel (women’s soccer) were named players of the week this week, and our Concert Choir performed with alumni during the annual Viterbo Days alumni weekend concert.
We celebrated Francis Week and Franny Fest last week and this week (Friday, Oct. 14) we celebrate the inauguration of Rick Trietley, Viterbo’s 10th president. More information is available on our presidential inauguration website. A link to livestream the ceremony will be posted on that page.
As we approach the middle of the semester each year, a few important things happen. Your student will get a well-deserved break from classes on Friday, Oct. 21. We’ve also noticed that the days leading up to and directly following mid-semester break can be full of assignments, papers, and exams, so if you are hearing any notes of stress from your students, please encourage them to talk with their advisors or counseling services.
This is also a time when we like to reconnect with parents and families. Please join us for a Parent Family Virtual Town Hall, which will run from 6–7 pm CDT on Monday, Oct. 17 via Zoom. Attendees will hear from President Trietley as well as leaders in academic and career development, counseling services, and residence life. The event will include key information from these areas and provide space for you to engage with those supporting your students and ask any questions you might have.
I hope you enjoy perusing the helpful and timely news from residence life, counseling services, and the business office; learning about two of our fantastic community members, Justin McKnight and Maria Morgan-Bathke, and checking out links to photo galleries and resources from our many recent events and programs. Happy reading!
Lastly, thank you for being an important part of the Viterbo family. We continue to be grateful for the opportunity to get to know your student and help them learn, grow, and thrive, and we recognize that wouldn’t be possible without your continued care and support.
Thank you again, and go V-Hawks!
All the best,
Kirsten Gabriel
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Murphy Center, Room 226
608-796-3840
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Important Dates
►Oct. 14: Inauguration of President Rick Trietley
►Oct. 17 Parent and Family Town Hall
►Oct. 21: Mid-semester break (no classes)
►Oct. 21: Last day to drop a full semester class without it appearing on permanent record
►Oct. 31: Last day to make payment in full on balance due before interest is assessed
►Nov. 7: Last day to drop a full semester class with a grade of W
►Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving vacation (no classes)
►Dec. 2: Registration for spring semester classes begins
►Dec. 12-16: Finals week
►Dec. 17: Commencement
►Dec. 20: Fall grades are due
►Dec.16-Jan. 15: Break
►Jan. 16: Spring semester begins |
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Vibrant Viterbo
They say pictures are the next best thing to being there, and they are probably right. Viterbo’s Flickr page is one great way to get a taste of what's been happening on campus (and maybe even catch a glimpse of your student).
The Flickr page includes photo galleries for last weekend's Viterbo Days alumni event (which included a ceremony honoring Distinguished Alumni Award winners), activities at the recent festivities held annually to honor St. Francis, the fall science symposium, the Welcome Back Bash, and more.
Sometime next week there should be a photo gallery from this week's inauguration of President Rick Trietley. |
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Star of the Arts
Viterbo’s Fine Arts Center programming has much to offer students (and their families, of course).
On the heels of a sizzling student production of Footloose, the Conservatory for the Performing Arts presents a Platinum Edition/Diamond Edition concert Oct. 29 and a production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure Nov. 18.–20. The university's choral program also will present A Viterbo Christmas: Earth Shall Ring on Dec. 3–4.
The Fine Arts Center also will host plenty of top-notch touring acts, including the Nov. 5 Prince tribute show by Marhall Charloff & Purple Xperience. Check out the FAC webpage for tickets and details. |
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Keep up with campus happenings and stories about the Viterbo family on our Viterbo in the News page,
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Staff Focus:
Justin McKnight
When Justin McKnight graduated in 2000 from Pennsylvania's Bucknell University, he was the first in his family to get a college degree, thanks to athletic scholarships he earned for his skills in an unusual sport. McKnight went on to earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling at Viterbo University, where he taught as an adjunct professor before taking on the position of Viterbo’s director of counseling services.
Read McKnight's Q&A |
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Faculty Focus:
Maria Morgan-Bathke
Maria Morgan-Bathke was working as a post-doctoral fellow at Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 2015 when she realized she had a passion for teaching that was unfulfilled. She found a home at Viterbo, where she directs the dietetic internship program and has chaired the science department since 2020. She also earned an MBA from Viterbo and this year started a business, Dr. Maria’s Nutrition & Wellness.
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University Creates Health Advisory Committee
The COVID-19 Response Team has changed its name and function to the Campus Health Advisory Committee and will become a permanent standing committee. The change is in response to the need for continuing oversight of institutional response to COVID-19 as well as monkeypox and other health related issues.
The campus response to COVID-19 is moving from a pandemic approach to an endemic one. We are working on ways to manage the virus as part of the health landscape. The revised COVID-19 campus policy reflects the recent changes from the CDC. The key changes involve isolation and quarantine protocols.
Testing for students exposed to a known COVID-19 positive individual and for those students showing symptoms will be provided. If a student tests positive for COVID-19 with a home test, they should report their positive to Health Services who can assist with isolation accommodations and can notify faculty of absences during isolation.
The committee is also monitoring monkeypox. A guideline is being drafted if we should have a positive case on campus. The state of Wisconsin has online resources regarding the monkeypox virus and preventing the spread.
Currently, there are no suspected cases of monkeypox at Viterbo University. For more information on symptoms and how monkeypox spreads, visit the CDC website.
If your student is experiencing symptoms or has concerns about potential exposure, they can contact health services at 608-796-3806.
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Advising Services Now a 'Supercharged Unit' It’s been a year of exciting change in the academic advising and career services areas.
In mid-July, the two offices merged into one supercharged unit, Advising and Career Development (ACD). This creates additional streamlined services and maximizes outreach.
ACD staff are on the third floor of Murphy Center and available to meet with students and alumni as they navigate questions about scheduling, major fit, career opportunities, internships, and more.
October and November are an optimal time for students to meet with their advisor to review classes for spring registration as well as discuss job shadow, internship, and other experiential education opportunities.
If your student is graduating in December, a huge congratulations to them and you! Our team is here before and after graduation for grad school and job search strategies, resume and cover letter reviews, and mock interview preparation. Direct your student to Starfish to schedule their next ACD meeting.
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Plan Ahead on Housing for Junior, Senior Years
Moving from the first-year residence halls and second-year apartments to junior and senior apartments at Viterbo provides thoughtful transitions for students as they develop in their learning environment.
Living in Clare and Laverna apartments, which provide studio, one, two, and four-bedroom furnished apartments, students continue to have housing with secure entries and in-building laundry facilities without additional fees. Parking options are available for students with vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis.
On-campus living also provides easier access to professors, the library, the cafeteria, the fitness facilities at the Mathy Center, athletics events, and much more. Maintenance and custodial staff are always available to assist with resident concerns or repairs that may arise.
Studies also show that students who live on campus earn better grades and are more likely to graduate while connections to people, organizations, and events become stronger.
If you would like more information about housing at Viterbo, call the residence life office at 608-796-3116 or email the residence life staff. |
Innovations Important in Helping Students
As we move deeper into the new school year, the staff in counseling services continues to grow professionally and prepare to meet the diverse needs of students.
Justin McKnight, the director of counseling services, and Alicia Hengel, a staff therapist, were recently trained in an innovative therapeutic technique called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), which will enable us to provide effective and fast treatment to students with trauma and other complex and challenging treatment needs.
Counseling services staff are receiving additional training in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. IFS has been around since the 1980s but has regained popularity recently as an approach that adopts principles of family work in a creative way that builds common language between therapist and client while providing a meaningful model for self-exploration and reflection.
Counseling services also has added new counseling groups for students that address college transition issues, interpersonal struggles on campus, and in the future workplace. We look forward to continuing to serve your student this semester and beyond.
If you have any questions about counseling services, email Justin McKnight. |
Fifty years ago, some graduating seniors who were members of Viterbo's Marianettes singing group missed their commencement ceremonies to go on a USO concert tour entertaining American soldiers at European military installations.
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Stay in Touch — Keep Your Contact Info Up to Date with Viterbo
Email us | 608-796-3841
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Viterbo University, 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI, 54601 |
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