Welcome New Students!

Welcome to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and we look forward to meeting you!  

Arrival

Fall 2024 – ARRIVAL DAYS/SCHEDULE

Monday & Tuesday, August 26 & 27
New students arrive on Winona campus

Please let us know if you would like a ride from the airport to the Winona campus by sending your flight information to Vicki McDonald at vmcdonal@smumn.edu as soon as possible, or at least 2 weeks before your arrival.  Rides to the Winona campus can be from La Crosse and Rochester airports.

If you plan to arrive on a day different from the designated arrival days, you must arrange your own transportation to campus.  Transportation from the airports to Winona is available through Groome Transportation.  Make a reservation by going to https://groometransportation.com.  Indicate Winona SMU Toner Center as the destination.  Cost one way is $62. If you need help arranging this, contact Vicki McDonald at vmcdonal@smumn.edu.

La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)
30 minutes from the SMU Winona campus
lseairport.com

Rochester International Airport (RST)
1 hour from the SMU Winona campus
flyrst.com

If your arrival airport is the Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) airport, the International Center will arrange for you to take a Groome Transportation shuttle van to Saint Mary’s University of MN.  However, if your arrival time prevents you from being at the Groome Transportation office by 5:00pm within the MSP airport, you will need to wait until the next morning to join the 6:15am shuttle van to Winona.

Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
2 hours from the SMU Winona campus
mspairport.com

Wednesday, August 28
International Student Orientation for new students – Begins at 9:00 am
Place: International Center, Heights Building (campus map #11)

During orientation we will take care of:

  • Immigration Check In: bring your passport, I-20, I-94, proof of health insurance
  • Getting your Saint Mary’s ID
  • Getting you get connected to Saint Mary’s technology
  • Banking
  • Introduce you to campus services
  • Shopping for supplies for your room
  • Tour of campus and Winona

Tuesday, September 3
Classes begin

SPRING 2025 – ARRIVAL DAY/SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 2
New & returning students arrive on Winona campus

Please let us know if you would like a ride from the airport to the Winona campus by sending your flight information to Vicki McDonald at vmcdonal@smumn.edu as soon as possible, or at least 2 weeks before your arrival.  Rides to the Winona campus can be from La Crosse and Rochester airports.

If you plan to arrive on a day different from the designated arrival days, you must arrange your own transportation to campus.  Transportation from the airports to Winona is available through Groome Transportation.  Make a reservation by going to https://groometransportation.com.  Indicate Winona SMU Toner Center as the destination.  Cost one way is $62. If you need help arranging this, contact Vicki McDonald at vmcdonal@smumn.edu.

La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)
30 minutes from the SMU Winona campus
lseairport.com

Rochester International Airport (RST)
1 hour from the SMU Winona campus
flyrst.com

If your arrival airport is the Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) airport, the International Center will arrange for you to take a Groome Transportation shuttle van to Saint Mary’s University of MN.  However, if your arrival time prevents you from being at the Groome Transportation office by 5:00pm within the MSP airport, you will need to wait until the next morning to join the 6:15am shuttle van to Winona.

Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
2 hours from the SMU Winona campus
mspairport.com

Friday, January 3
International Student Orientation for new students – Begins at 9:00 am
Place: International Center, Heights Building (campus map #11)

During orientation we will take care of:

  • Immigration Check In: bring your passport, I-20, I-94, proof of health insurance
  • Getting your Saint Mary’s ID
  • Getting you get connected to Saint Mary’s technology
  • Banking
  • Introduce you to campus services
  • Shopping for supplies for your room
  • Tour of campus and Winona

Monday, January 6
Classes begin

Housing

Students will be informed of housing assignments via Saint Mary’s email. Questions about housing can be directed to the Office of Residence Life reslife@smumn.edu.

Prepare

Study the Saint Mary’s Campus Map. Important buildings are:

#11 International Center (also known as The Heights)
#18 Campus Safety (Information Desk), Toner Student Center
#29 The Office of Residence Life, Room 105, Vlazny Hall

Technology

What is my username and first time login information?

Saint Mary’s University assigns usernames to all of its community members, students, faculty, staff, and administration. The username and associated password is given to new users via email upon admission confirmation. Users also are assigned a SMUMN ID number at this time.

First Time Login Instructions

Sometime after you accepted through the university, you should have received an email to your personal email account that you submitted with your original application. This email is very generic looking and contains your username and temporary password for your first time logging into SMUMN systems. If you cannot find this email, please check your spam folder and/or call the Helpdesk for assistance.

The Student Portal at SMUMN is where students can add/drop classes, view billing, grades, transcripts, and much more! To access the Student Portal, go to student.smumn.edu. All first time users need to login to SMU Portal first and change their password. You will not be able to access other SMUMN Systems, including Gmail, until you change password in the portal.

From now on, you will receive communication from the university at your Saint Mary’s email address. Please check your Saint Mary’s email daily.

Student Services Information:

Winona Campus: 1-800-635-5987

Helpdesk Ext. 7800 (Technology Issues)
Cardinal Central Ext. 6655 (Billing)
Registrar’s Office Ext. 1501 (Academic Issues)

Tuition
How to Pay Tuition

Tuition payment reminders are sent by email to students and and responsible parties on a monthly basis. Your tuition account detail can be found in the MyBill section of the student portal. Please verify that the Saint Mary’s email is not blocked by your spam filter.

Tuition bills can be paid online, through the mail, or in person. To pay online, go to the student portal, MyBill section, and select Pay by Electronic Check/Credit Card.

  • Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
    • Transfer funds from checking or savings (no fee)
  • Credit Card
    • Pay with Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or American Express (2.75% fee applies)
  • Pay with check or money order at the cashier window or mail payment to:
    • Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
      Business Office
      700 Terrace Heights #8
      Winona MN 55987

Note: A service charge of $20 will be assessed against the student’s account for each check returned for insufficient funds.

Visas

In most countries, first-time student visa applicants are required to appear at a U.S. embassy or consulate for an in-person interview. However, each embassy and consulate sets its own interview policies and procedures regarding student visas. You should consult embassy/consulate websites or call for specific application instructions.

Keep in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest months for processing visa applications, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period. You need to plan ahead to avoid having to make repeat interview visits and be sure to bring all the documents listed on the embassy/consulate website, as well as any other documents that might help establish your ties to your local community. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.