Anna Schmitz ’14 My phone lit up this morning with dozens of Whatsapp notifications as I sat in a work meeting and attempted to concentrate. When I left the meeting, I immediately checked my phone and saw that it was a group chat with my four closest friends from my 2014 Mac graduating class. But…
mentalhealth
Administrative mental health policies frame responses
Students rarely see Macalester’s responses to their individual struggles beyond each unique, isolated moment. But as an institution, Macalester has set policies and procedures for dealing with the aftermath of campus suicides as well as the larger issues of mental healthcare and mental illness.
mentalhealth
For involuntary leave policies, colleges turn to the law
Involuntary leave policies across the nation are a result of educational institutions walking a fine line between balancing student health concerns and complying with a litany of federal obligations. Fail to walk that line, and college administrators risk violating civil rights laws.
News
Department of Multicultural Life close to hiring dean
After five months of searching, Macalester has narrowed its pool of candidates for the vacant position of Dean of the Department of Multicultural Life (DML) to three. On March 27, 28 and 29, each finalist for the position visited campus to engage with students, faculty and administration and host an open forum. The position was…
Opinion
The Trump Administration, One Year Later
One year after Donald Trump took the oath of office, a popular take among the savviest members of the chattering classes is that the Trump administration is in disarray, historically unpopular and unaccomplished. This assessment is not entirely baseless. Trump’s approval rating has fluctuated between 35 and 40 percent for most of the past year,…
News
Faculty to focus on advising
By Hamzah Yaacob and Katie Jolly The 2016-17 academic year is an unusual time in the Provost Office. For the first time in recent years, faculty development and review will be shaped by a theme—this year will be the Year of Advising. The Provost Office will focus on ensuring that faculty are equipped with the…
News
Macalester welcomes new Vice President Donna Lee
Macalester welcomed Donna Lee as the new Vice President of Student Affairs this August. The former Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students at Agnes Scott College, Donna’s focus has revolved around diversity, leadership and inclusion, and other varied areas. Lee graduated from Boston University with her M.Ed. in Counseling and has a…
News
Laurie Hamre to retire at end of academic year
Vice President of Student Affairs Laurie Hamre announced on Monday she will be retiring from Macalester at the end of this academic year. Hamre has worked at Macalester for 23 years, serving in her current position as Vice President since 2000. Before that, Hamre served as Associate Dean of Students for three years and then…
News
Pat Traynor to leave Macalester at end of year
Pat Traynor, the Executive Assistant in the Office of Student Affairs, will leave Macalester at the end of this year. Traynor has worked at Macalester for over 30 years in various roles, and has been in her current position since 1989. The Mac Weekly celebrates Traynor’s extensive service to the College and offers its appreciation…
Opinion
A call for administrative accountability and transparency
During October’s Mock Border campus controversy, students asked administrators why the border relocation decision was made. The Mac Weekly’s article “Mock border wall moved across campus, students frustrated” can succinctly introduce those new to the conversation. The eventual answer: It was a departmental—not student-led—project and thus certain administrators had the final say. One staff member…