Reasons SMC is GREAT

Hey all,

So I have to admit, this blog is not my own original work. We recently got an email from Mike Samara, one of the Deans of the college, with a "year in review" type of thing about SMC. As I was reading, I thought "hey, this is some stuff people might want to know". So I'm putting it here for you to enjoy.

Before I do that, I told you about my new VYou account last post and never linked you to it, so it's linked here now.

Moving on the things that are awesome about SMC.

672 students made Dean’s List last semester and the average grade point average for all undergraduates in the fall of 2010 was 3.11.

Orientation was flawless this year largely due to the energy and commitment of our orientation board and leaders.

Residence Hall staff has been superb and were well-prepared with an excellent staff training program last August.

Student Government’s executive board members and class officers have been outstanding.

Approximately 400 M.O.V.E. volunteers performed over 13,000 community service hours during fall semester 2010 with a solid commitment from our first year class.

Wilderness programs drew approximately 350 participants.

27 SMC Fire Department members and 28 SMC Rescue Squad students responded to 211 Fire calls and 669 Rescue calls during fall semester which includes calls from the campus but mostly from several surrounding communities.

Fall semester featured approximately 30 programs that were part of our GOT SKILLS efforts promoting human dignity and diversity. Nearly 3,000 were in attendance at these events.

"One promise that we make to each other at Saint Michael’s College is that we can count on one another to be treated with decency and respect. GOT SKILLS programming attempts to reinforce this important message. Faculty, staff and student leadership collaborate widely to sponsor programming which brought such programs as Dr. Paul Farmer, the Dear Hilary Campaign, the Student Association sponsored “Not in my House” panel, and Common Ground and Campus Ministry’s prayer vigil drawing about three hundred outside of the Chapel remembering LGBT victims of bullying that had taken their own lives across the country."

Campus Ministry’s Retreat programming was very successful in the fall with about 150 students participating in four Leap and Emmaus Retreat weekends. Further, about 30 students were trained as Liturgical Ministers last fall.

Student athlete leadership along with Athletic Department personnel created and implemented an outstanding new student athlete orientation program.

The 99% Academic Success Rate (ASR) for Saint Michael’s student athletes is the best in the Northeast Ten Conference and the second best in Division II nationally. The ASR is the number of varsity athletes who graduate within a 4 to 6 year period.

1571 students attended and participated in programs and activities sponsored by our Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force which is committed to raising awareness and promoting educational outcomes regarding the pervasive cultural issues associated with the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

Our Residence Hall Association was very active and involved during fall 2010 reporting high attendance at weekly hall programming activities. For example, 331 students participated in a Pizza Putt night on a Friday night in the fall, just one of many activities sponsored by the RHA.

We continued a very strong floor visitor program with a member of our faculty and a staff member teaming up with each first year hall RA to work with every wing of first year residents in the quad. During the fall of 2010, 120 programs occurred with 1,895 students attending programs on the following topics:
o Transition Issues
o Sustainability
o Alcohol and Other Drugs
o Safety/Sexual Assault
o Diversity, Cultures, and Globalization
o Stress Management

Our First Year Student program office and residence life staff sponsored 90 weekend hall programs attracting 3,931 students.

Late night weekend cook-outs remain popular attracting between 400-600 students each Friday and Saturday night between 11pm and 1am outdoors in the quad.

Larger campus wide programs like comedian Nick Cannon, the Halloween dance, the Welcome Back Bash, Friday Knight Dry, and Jib Fest were very well attended.

So there's just a little taste of why SMC is my favorite place to be. I've linked you to just about everything I can in there too, so click away and learn why SMC can be your favorite place too!

My life continues with doubles for swimming. We returned from DC on Sunday and were back in the pool on campus yesterday. There are 3 meets in the next week so we're working hard to get ready for those. I'll keep you updated.

-Christine