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Academic Resources
In addition, the ASC staff is available to work with eligible students with disabilities in determining
and identifying other academic support services as necessary and/or available. Students with specific
academic needs should contact the disability services coordinator for assistance in determining
appropriate accommodations, for example, providing testing accommodations, acquiring alternate
format texts, using assistive technology and/or relocating classrooms.
Depending on the situation, academic support services may be offered on a limited or ongoing basis;
therefore, eligibility for services is determined each semester within the academic year.
If an eligible student declines services offered to him or her through the DSC, the student may be
required to sign a Declination of Services Form. A student’s signature on this form does not preclude the
student from making subsequent requests for services; however, a separate determination of eligibility
and/or services may be required upon any subsequent request.
Saint Mary’s University retains discretion to establish and maintain curriculum and degree requirements
for all students.
Academic support services are coordinated through the ASC; thus any questions regarding these
services should be directed to the disability services coordinator or the ASC director.
Path to Academic Success (PASS)
The Path to Academic Success is a one-year program designed to assist students with diverse levels of
academic preparation in developing the skills and competencies necessary for academic self-sufficiency
and success at the university level. Avenues to accomplish these goals include small classroom size,
regular consultation with the program director, periodic review of progress reports, and special
programming designed to address academic and personal concerns.
The program is facilitated through the academic advising office. Students who participate in PASS
are assigned to the program by the vice president for admission as a condition of admittance to Saint
Mary's. Program participants generally fall below the regular admissions standards and lack a sufficient
number of university preparation courses. Enrollment is capped and an additional fee is assessed to
students in PASS. PASS students are required to earn a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA by the end of
their first academic year. PASS students who do not earn the 2.000 GPA will be eligible for dismissal.
Questions regarding PASS should be directed to the director of PASS.
Writing Center
The writing center, staffed by professional writing instructors and advanced, highly trained
undergraduate students, operates as an independent department on the Winona campus of Saint
Mary’s University. Its interdisciplinary services are available to undergraduate and graduate students of
all levels of writing ability who want to receive individualized instruction in and feedback on any stage
of the writing process, from brainstorming and prewriting to drafting, revising, and editing.
In keeping with the Lasallian mission, the overall goal of the writing center is to help students grow as
writers by providing help with questions or difficulties students may have with academic writing. This
is done through individual tutoring sessions in which students dialogue one-to-one about their writing
with a writing tutor. In tutoring sessions, writers learn how to further organize, develop, and support
their ideas as well as gain valuable editing skills, while tutors gain experience as writers, teachers,
learners, and communicators.
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