Recent Program Features

Over the past two months, many campus activities have been cancelled or altered due to the current conditions of COVID-19. Since many students have been secluded in their off-campus residence or at home, most registered student organizations have been reduced to meeting virtually or postponing all events until the fall.

But one group in particular is thriving: The Maverick Gaming Community.

The Maverick Gaming Community is a student organized hub for gamers to connect and compete in more than 35 online games. The community has a channel on Discord, a communication application, for Maverick gamers to connect across numerous platforms like PC, XBOX, PS4 and Switch. By joining, students are able to find other Maverick gamers to play with or against and stay up to date on gaming opportunities through student organized events and tournaments.

According to Andrew Weinzierl, a member of the community, gaming has grown immensely in popularity over the last few years. “Having Esports on campus is an amazing way to connect students who might normally not be as involved and serves as an opportunity to make connections and friends throughout the college experience,” Weinzierl says. This is especially true during this unprecedented time, when it is harder to stay involved in the campus community and meet other people.

With the ever-growing popularity of gaming, Esports formed as a sporting competition through organized, multiplayer gaming. Jacquie Lamm, another gamer in the community, explains that “Esports is a competitive video game competition that can be played at the high school, college, casual or professional level. Most games are two teams, comprised of five to six team members, competing against each other towards winning a match.”

Despite current conditions, Esports is still seeing great support from Maverick gamers. The MavLoL (League of Legends) and the CSGO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) student organizations even held a successful tournament this past month titled MavRivals. Although they would have liked to have hosted it in person, the community was still able to provide quality entertainment through Twitch, a live-streaming platform for gamers, which is exactly what students need right now.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and unpredictable; playing video games provides a sense of relief for many people, including myself, who want to pause the real world temporarily and immerse themselves in a virtual experience,” Weinzierl says. “Playing games from the comfort of one's home is a safe way to promote social interaction during these unprecedented times.”

The Maverick Gaming Community is proud to give students a sense of community during a time when they need it most. Thanks to current technology, students are able to still find support and some sense of normalcy during this time. As gaming continues to grow and gamers learn new skills, the community is excited to see what’s next.

“We hope to have a good turn out this summer…and are excited to see what comes next for Minnesota State Mankato and Esports this fall,” says Lamm.

Colleagues,

I want to thank you all for both the important work you have been doing and your flexibility in doing it. As you know, last Wednesday (May 13) Governor Tim Walz announced that his “Stay at Home” order will expire on May 18 and will be replaced with a “Stay Safe MN” order, where the state is transitioning to a measured, cautious turning of the dial toward a new normal.

This new order has raised a number of questions about whether Minnesota State University, Mankato employees are now expected to return to campus. This email (and the attached FAQ) intends to clarify what this means for you and your fellow employees.

Ultimately, our direction on returning to work comes from Chancellor Devinder Malhotra. As of now, the University will continue operating as we have been. For those who can telework, you must continue to do so. International and domestic travel continue to be suspended indefinitely. In-state travel should only occur when essential and must be approved in advance by your respective supervisor and vice president.

As much as I wish I could tell you how long this will last, it’s impossible to say. We expect social distancing and safety protocols to be in place for the near future. Therefore, any return to the workplace will be accomplished through a phased process. We will continue to accommodate the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable to this virus.

For those who need to be in the workplace, we are continuing strict social distancing strategies. These include:

• Keeping at least 6 feet of space between people
• Wear cloth face coverings where:
  • Social distancing (6-foot separation) cannot be maintained,
  • Activities require interactions within 6 feet for an extended period of time, and
  • It does not interfere with wearer’s vision.

I have had discussions with the Cabinet regarding return to work, and we are currently planning a process for employees to return to work at a future date. Our "Maverick Return to Learn" initiative is already underway and is predicated on keeping our students, faculty and staff healthy and safe. As part of this effort, we have a number of action teams engaged in planning a safe and effective return when that time comes. We will keep you apprised of our progress throughout the summer.

We have shifted to a new normal, and we realize this presents both unique professional and personal challenges, as well as feelings of uncertainty and stress. Please be assured that we are continuing to plan and will communicate when you can return to work at the University.

Until then, thank you again for your hard work and flexibility.

Sincerely,

Richard Davenport
President

Stay Safe MN FAQ's

Sent on behalf of Dr. Lynn Akey, Vice President for Student Success, Analytics and Integrated Planning

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you were previously given the opportunity to change your grading method for Spring term courses that were not completed prior to March 16, 2020.

You now have another opportunity to request this change. You may request a change from Letter Grade (A-F) to Pass/No Credit OR from Pass/No Credit to Letter Grade (A-F) between May 15 and June 15, 2020. Because this change can impact your academic standing, it is important that you request this change as soon as possible. If you previously requested a Pass/No Credit grading method and wish to learn the actual letter grade your faculty member would have assigned, please review D2L or contact your instructor. If you are unable to obtain your grade using one of these methods, please contact the Registrar’s Office on Maverick OneStop: https://onestop.mnsu.edu/app/registrar. Your alternative grade will be sent to your Minnesota State Mankato email account. 

To request a change in grading method, please complete the eForm here: Grading Method Change Form

Additionally, the CARES Act recently changed the requirements for calculating student Satisfactory Academic Progress for Spring 2020. Grades of W (if earned after March 12, 2020), I or IP will be removed from the calculation of attempted credits in determining Satisfactory Academic Progress for the Spring term. If you were advised to remain in a class rather than withdraw from it, or have questions about how you may be impacted by Satisfactory Academic Progress for Spring 2020, please contact your academic advisor for additional information.

General questions about Pass/No Credit grade changes, Satisfactory Academic Progress or other academic concerns may be sent to provost@mnsu.edu.

Message to CARES Act Eligible students

Good afternoon,

We hope you are doing well and staying safe and healthy during this extraordinary time.

The University recently received an allocation from the US Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) as part of the federal CARES Act. The funds are designated for direct payments to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.

Following Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system guidance, all eligible students will receive a base payment of $295 from this fund. You are eligible to receive this payment. You do not need to apply for this award. The amount will be processed automatically.

Should this automatic payment not cover the additional expenses you have incurred, there will also be an application-based CARES Emergency Grant fund established in the near future to provide further relief; please watch for a future announcement when the application process is available.

Automated payments are expected to be processed next week. To expedite the receipt of your payment, please be sure you have an active direct deposit authorization on e-services. To set up or review your information, log in with your StarID and password, select the Financial Aid menu, click on the Direct Deposit Setup link and review or enter your bank information. If you do not have an active direct deposit authorization set up you will receive your payment by check, mailed to your permanent address on file with the University.

The University continues to work on solutions to ease your financial concerns. Please let us know if you have any other questions at this time.

Best wishes,

Richard J. Straka
VP for Finance and Administration

Campus Hub

Student Financial Services
Minnesota State University, Mankato
117 Centennial Student Union
Mankato, MN 56001
507-389-1866 / 1-800-722-0544
mnsu.edu/campushub

FAFSA School Code 002360

Message to CARES Act Eligible students who were awarded a Pell Grant

Good afternoon,

We hope you are doing well and staying safe and healthy during this extraordinary time.

The University recently received an allocation from the US Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) as part of the federal CARES Act. The funds are designated for direct payments to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.

Following Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system guidance, all eligible students will receive a base payment of $295 from this fund. You are eligible to receive this payment. In addition, all Cares Act Eligible students who were awarded a Pell Grant will receive an additional $540. You are eligible for a total payment of $835. You do not need to apply for this payment. The amount will be processed automatically.

Should this automatic payment not cover the additional expenses you have incurred, there will also be an application-based CARES Emergency Grant fund established in the near future to provide further relief; please watch for a future announcement when the application process is available.

Automated payments are expected to be processed next week.  To expedite the receipt of your payment, please be sure you have an active direct deposit authorization on e-services. To set up or review your information, log in with your StarID and password, select the Financial Aid menu, click on the Direct Deposit Setup link and review or enter your bank information. If you do not have an active direct deposit authorization set up you will receive your payment by check, mailed to your permanent address on file with the University.

The University continues to work on solutions to ease your financial concerns. Please let us know if you have any other questions at this time.

Best wishes,

Richard J. Straka
VP for Finance and Administration

Campus Hub

Student Financial Services
Minnesota State University, Mankato
117 Centennial Student Union
Mankato, MN 56001
507-389-1866 / 1-800-722-0544
mnsu.edu/campushub

FAFSA School Code 002360