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  • May 2021

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Saint Joseph’s to Create State of the Art Academic, Business, and Mentoring Center Saint Joseph's College is pleased to announce the creation of the Academic, Business, and Mentoring Center opening this fall. Through the Center, students will take online classes, be guided by tutors, and interact with business mentors who will introduce them to the world of work—including possible internships with local businesses. The Center will provide computers as well as facilitators to help students navigate the classwork, interact with fellow students, and network with potential employers. Why the Center? The traditional classroom is characterized by a community of learners in close physical proximity to one another. The teacher serves as the conveyor of information, mentor, and career guidance. While these characteristics may be available online, the past year has demonstrated that the online experience is often lonely and harsh. The Academic, Business, and Mentoring Center will provide the benefits of online learning with the communal advantages of traditional liberal arts learning. The Center will also seek to bridge the technological gap between those who have ready access to technology and the internet and those who may not be so fortunate. What separates liberal arts colleges and universities from complete online learning is not the curriculum but the communal associations that are engendered on the traditional campus. The proposed model captures the best of both worlds. The Center will include the following elements: a state-of-the-art computer classroom with internet connectivity at SJC, degree and certificate programs offered by Saint Joseph’s College’s university partners, credit programs offered by university partners are transferable to other institutions, introductory workshops for individuals seeking to explore career opportunities or to hone business skills, safe and comfortable communal space for students to interact with one another, discipline-specific tutors to assist students in their educational journey, local business people to serve as mentors and career enablers, affordable tuition for state-of-the-art programs. For more information or to find out how you can help, please contact Beth Graf at bgraf@saintjoe.edu or (219) 866-6000 x2014. New Certification Program: Medical Billing and Coding Beginning this fall, Saint Joseph’s College will be offering certification in Medical Billing and Coding. Billing and coding specialists are responsible for processing health insurance claims and have an expansive range of opportunities for employment, including hospitals, physician offices, surgery centers, nursing homes, dental offices, home healthcare agencies, mental health facilities and even insurance companies and consulting firms. Earning the certified billing and coding specialist certificate with Saint Joseph's College and the NHA shows that you have the knowledge and experience needed to transition into a rewarding and meaningful career as a sought-after billing and coding specialist. The average salary for medical coders in Indiana is $49,358. Indiana provides job opportunities for developing medical coders. As with many other states, the main cities will serve as the primary hubs for the majority of these opportunities, with strong possibilities in Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Indianapolis. Most coders in Indiana work on-site, but roughly 35% work remotely. These remote employees earn $54,056 on average, just above the state-wide average salary. Employers tend to offer higher compensation for remote employees because remote employees tend to have more years of experience or multiple credentials to validate their expertise. Currently, Saint Joseph’s College is offering certifications for Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, and EKG. With a 100% pass rate, Saint Joe has graduated 25 medical assistants and 3 phlebotomists since the program’s beginning summer of 2020, with a majority of the graduates employed in a medical facility. Another great addition to our medical certifications is CPR training. Saint Joe has begun offering CPR training, especially for CPR, AED, First Aid, and BLS. CPR classes are being offered to current SJC students, local health care and nursing home facilities, local schools and businesses and the local community. For more information about the certification programs or CPR training, please contact Hali Chapman, Health Sciences Program Coordinator at hchapman@saintjoe.edu or (219) 866-6000 x2022. Come Visit Campus Beautiful flowers are in bloom on campus and we invite you to come take a walk with us! Our physical plant crew has done a tremendous job of keeping the campus beautiful. Over the next several months, we will be hosting campus tours of the grounds and the Core Education Center. On the 2nd Saturday of the month from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm central standard time you can schedule a time to come and take a walk through campus. The first opportunity will be June 12th. To set up your tour of campus and the Core Education Center, please contact Beth Graf at bgraf@saintjoe.edu or (219) 866-6000 x2014. Due to liability constraints, a waiver will need to be signed upon arrival. Additional dates and times may be available upon request. Fr. Ralph Verdi, C.PP.S., Beloved Music Professor, Passes Away Fr. Verdi was born on September 21, 1944, in New York to Ralph C. and Inez (Gregorio) Verdi. He entered the Society in 1962 at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., and was ordained on June 19, 1971 at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio. After his ordination, Fr. Verdi returned to Saint Joseph’s College as part of its music department. He later attended Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. for graduate studies in music. He then continued in music and education ministry at Saint Joseph’s. In 2005, he was appointed parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Cleveland. In 2010, he served as sacramental minister at St. Rita and Precious Blood Parishes in Dayton, later becoming part-time chaplain for the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton. Fr. Verdi retired to St. Charles Center in 2015. With his health declining, he launched his search for a kidney transplant, which took place in late 2017. He faced numerous and dire medical obstacles during his recovery, but eventually made his way back to St. Charles Center, where he spent his last years. Fr. Verdi wove music into his ministry as a priest. He was an accomplished musician and composer. He composed several hymns to the Precious Blood as well as a Votive Mass for St. Gaspar del Bufalo and the Precious Blood Founders Hymn Collection. He had a number of compositions published by GIA Publications of Chicago, including what is probably his most popular, “Come, Let Us Adore.” His later years plagued with health issues, his strength fading, Fr. Verdi maintained a sense of mission, believing that God was calling him to something more. His own suffering made him even more attuned to the suffering of others. He once said, “All those people who were sick in the Gospels and came to Jesus—it’s easy for me now to say the same thing they said, ‘Lord help me.’ It teaches you empathy; it expands your ability to love. Suffering is a way of getting to the real truth of things: that we’re all fragile, that we all need each other. Bishop Sheen used to say, ‘So much suffering is wasted because it is not offered up to God,’ as a way of expressing one’s love for others. I try not to waste my suffering. I offer it up for myself and for anyone who needs it.” Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • April 2021

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Happy spring, Pumas! The changing of the seasons brings new life and growth not only to our world, but to our beloved Saint Joe. As promised, I would like to share with you updates on campus activity and plans for new things coming soon. I also hope to put to rest any rumors or falsehoods that may have been shared with our alumni and friends. The 128 Core Partners initiative was a fundraising campaign to cover the expenses of SJC’s journey back to health and vitality. With the support of the 128 Core Partners, that gave us the time we need to execute a viable, comprehensive plan to bring life back to the Rensselaer campus. It will help us find a way to continue the SJC mission in a form that is sustainable in the 21st century. The campaign’s purpose was to provide operating support over a three-year period to restructure, restart and rebuild. To date, we have not had to use any 128 Core campaign payments to fund our operations. The $772,567 actual dollars received are being held in a money market account awaiting future use. We are thankful for the continued support of our Core 128 donors. To the contrary of what you may read in social media, only a small fraction of Core 128 donors have requested a return of their gift. We have not called anyone to release their Core 128 funds nor have we indicated the school is not on a path to revitalization. We continue to develop certification programs and other partnership we are forming with educational institutions. We continue to host ongoing Zoom meetings with Core 128 partners and Rensselaer and Jasper County leadership to inform them of the College’s progress, answer their questions, and listen to their suggestions. As part of the rebuilding plan, the certificate programs, approved by the state of Indiana and solely SJC, are graduating students and are earning tuition revenue. We have four, State approved, certificate programs – Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Electrocardiogram Technician. Our second CNA class just finished, our fourth class of CCMA and second group of CPT student’s finish in May. We are enrolling for the next round of classes to start the end of May and beginning of June. As we build these programs, we are looking to add accelerated weekend programs for working students or those who might live further away. This year we will be adding Billing and Coding and by the end of April we will be a Red Cross CPR training site. Later this year and spring 2022, we are considering adding QMA, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, Patient Care Technician, and Pharmacy Technician. As you may recall, Ivy Tech partnered with SJC to use our facilities to teach their classes. Due to COVID this partnership was put on hold as all classes went virtual. The SJC leadership are currently working with the leadership at Ivy Tech to resume this partnership when COVID lifts. We are also in talks with Marian University and Calumet College of Saint Joseph’s for additional partnerships and new programs. Should the operating need arise to continue the initiatives as outlined in the CORE 128 campaign, those funds may be used for these initiatives in the future. Through the House of Grace Program, we are fulfilling our mission by serving the underserved and supporting and engaging with the community. House of Grace is paying rent to the College and using only one apartment. The intent is for those individuals in the House of Grace program to enroll in our certificate programs as we continue the mission of education and serving the underserved. We are pleased to report we operate on a balanced budget and are continually finding ways to reduce cost without inhibiting our progress. The SJC CFO provides monthly, detailed balance sheets, income statements, and budget to actual results to the finance committee and additionally supplies cash projections and Core 128 updates monthly to the Board of Trustees. There has never been a request since the school suspended operations in 2017 from limiting a trustee access to the financial and operational records. As we continue to move forward and grow, we invite you to share your thoughts and ideas. We have received multiple ideas and proposals, all of which were shared with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees along with the SJC staff give full consideration and much time spent vetting proposals. If the proposal is sound and in line with the mission of the College, the Board of Trustees may choose to pursue further. It is with the great help from our successful and brilliant alumni that we have come this far. As COVID restrictions continue to ease, we will be hosting on campus open houses and tours. The SJC staff and I are working with the Alumni Association to consider a gathering on campus this coming fall. More information about this will be shared as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have questions please reach out to our Director of Communications and Development, Beth Graf, and she would be glad to answer your questions or share with the appropriate person. She can be reached by cell (219) 863-3839 or email bgraf@saintjoe.edu. Blessings to you, Mike Van Eekeren Chairman of the Board Saint Joseph’s College Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • March 2021

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Graduate Spotlight: Kaitlyn Braun, MA Before beginning Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) classes at Saint Joseph’s College, Kaitlyn Braun worked in-home care for three years as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA). A PCA is someone who helps people with day-to-day activities in their home and around their community. Kaitlyn shares, “I have always been interested in pursuing a job in the medical field. I heard about the CCMA class at Saint Joe and decided I was finally going to take a chance and enroll in the class.” Kaitlyn continues, “The CCMA class was great and our instructor, Hali Chapman was awesome! I enjoyed everything about the class. I loved practicing drawing blood.” Drawing blood is a necessary skill the students learn in the program. For most, it is the highlight of the 15-week course. Since receiving her certification, Kaitlyn has become a Medical Assistant at Porter Primary Care in Valparaiso. Kaitlyn received assistance locating, applying, and paying for the CCMA program at Saint Joe from WorkOne. WorkOne Northwest Indiana is a valuable one-stop for jobseekers when it comes to career resources. They assist jobseekers in exploring job and career opportunities. There is no cost to use WorkOne and take advantage of all the helpful resources and services available. We are currently enrolling students for spring classes. If you or someone you know is interested in earning a healthcare certification, please go to our website for more information – www.saintjoe.edu Spring at the Campus As spring comes, the grass greens, flowers bloom, and the trees bud. The campus grounds will come to life again. Our Plant Team is working diligently to clean up from the winter and prepare the grounds for a beautiful spring. Unfortunately, the majority of the campus grounds remain closed to the general public. The liability of having guests wander campus is too great at this time. We have local police officers patrolling the grounds to be sure everyone is kept safe and there is no destruction of the buildings and property. We know you want to come back to campus! We want life back on campus again. This spring and summer we will be planning campus tour dates, where you, your family, and classmates can meet and walk the campus grounds. More details to come soon. Also, we are working with the Alumni Association to arrange an alumni gathering on campus. As we have more plans and details, they will be shared via this newsletter, website, and social media. 128 Core Partners In March, SJC staff hosted two Zoom meetings for current 128 Core Partners to update their progress at the College. Mike VanEekeren (Board Chairman), William Carroll (Executive Director), Kimberley Morisette, CPA, and Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development shared information about progress with partnerships, current and new certification programs, and financial updates. Among the updates to the 128 Core Partners, it was reported that ALL pledge payments remain unspent in an account for future use. To date, with great fiscal planning and mindful spending, SJC has the cash it needs to run on a day-to-day basis without using the 128 Core Partners donations. Keep in mind the 128 Core Partners plan document specifically stated the purpose for these funds. The campaign funds would be used “to cover the expenses of SJC’s journey back to health and vitality.” The campaign’s purpose was to provide operating support over a three year period to “restructure, restart and rebuild.” To date, we have NOT had to use ANY Core Partners campaign payments to fund these operations. We are in the “rebuild” phase as stated in the 128 Core Partners campaign documents. We are in the throes of “fundraising”; in which one of the objectives was to start a certification program which has been done. We have “reduced expenses.” We are in the process of “engaging with the community” through House of Grace endeavors, and we are working on “collaborating” with other education institutions for the success of the educational future of SJC. To that end, should the operating need arise to continue the initiatives as outlined in the 128 Core Partners campaign, those funds may be used for these initiatives in the future. The income to meet our daily expenses comes from unrestricted donations, grants, estate gifts, and windmill and farm income. One such gift came from the estate of Brother Joseph Hrezo, C.PP.S. Brother Joe served in ministry at Saint Joseph's College from 1958 to 1978. There, he was the equipment manager for the college's sports teams and later worked in its infirmary. He enjoyed his time at Saint Joseph's College, where he attended baseball, basketball, and football games, and found the space to raise Irish setters and other bird dogs. Later, he worked in the infirmary, where he was known as someone who would take care of students without regard for his health, particularly during a meningitis outbreak in the 1960s. A case of polio when he was a child cost him much of the use of his right side; he knew what damage disease could cause, even among the young. Brother Joe continued his legacy at Saint Joseph’s College by leaving a large part of his estate to the College. His generosity will give the College more time to form the partnerships needed to begin the accreditation process. We are very grateful for the wonderful gift. If you too would like to support the College with a monetary donation, please contact Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development at (219) 866-6000 x2014 or bgraf@saintjoe.edu Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • February 2021

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Graduate Spotlight: Micaela Benitez, MA This month's graduate spotlight is about recent Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Micaela Benitez. Before pursuing her certification at Saint Joseph's College, Micaela was a manager at Victoria's Secret while pursuing her degree in Education. She says, "I realized right before graduation that I wasn't wholehearted in the education field, and knew I wanted to go back to school to work in the healthcare industry." Micaela chose the certification program at Saint Joe because she was ecstatic to hear the College was offering classes again on campus. Micaela originally was a freshman at Saint Joe in 2015 pursuing Nursing. Shortly after learning of the closing of campus, she transferred to Purdue University where she studied Education. Micaela says, "I have always loved Saint Joe's campus and was so excited to hear they were offering certifications to the public again. It fell into place once I heard my store was closing and had the perfect opportunity to come back to school to complete the medical assistant program." Micaela shares, "Hali Chapman is such a great instructor! I cannot express how thankful I was to have her as my instructor. She made class fun while giving real-life situations. I felt so prepared going into my first job after completing the certification. I would (and I have) recommended this certification to numerous people because the hands-on experience, as well as the class size, made it such a great opportunity to get one on one instruction." Since completing her certification, Micaela has accepted a position at the Family Health Clinic where she works with a pediatric nurse practitioner. Micaela shares, "I absolutely love my job where I get to room for the best nurse practitioner, and I get to see all kinds of kiddos! I feel like I am learning something new every day and I am always on the go with these kiddos." Saint Joseph's College Welcome House of Grace to Campus Saint Joseph's College Trustees and staff are pleased to welcome The House of Grace to campus. The House of Grace is a nonprofit, faith-based organization established in 2017 in Thorntown, Indiana. They provide education, spiritual and emotional healing, and a safe environment where residents experience an at-home familiarity. The House of Grace, available for women who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, is a safe place for women coming out of jail or prison and is INARR (Indiana Affiliation of Recovery Residents) certified. While on campus, the ladies have the opportunity to further their education through the various programs being offered and developed through the College. Tammy Tidd, Founder and Executive Director, states, "Taking these classes and completing the program is going to give them a chance to get a degree or license, get a good-paying job, and take care of themselves and their families. It will help them stay out of the pit of wondering how they are going to make it. It will build their self-esteem and confidence, which they may never have or lost while in the mess of things. Our hope is the ladies who complete the program will want to be part of helping lead the next lady into a better life." Saint Joseph's College is grateful for the opportunity to partner with The House of Grace to establish a home in Rensselaer, which follows our mission of serving the underserved. The House of Grace currently occupies one apartment on campus. Saint Joe Continues Pursuit in Higher Education The goal of the Saint Joseph's College Board of Trustees continues to be bringing back higher education to the College campus. Unfortunately, it's not a sprint; it's a marathon. Acquiring accreditation takes years. In the meantime, the College needs to produce revenue. To this end, certification courses in healthcare have been developed, which continue to grow and produce income for the College. So far, the College has graduated and certified nineteen medical assistants, six nursing assistants, and one phlebotomist, with additional classes taking place right now and more scheduled soon. New health care certification programs are in development for introduction in 2021. But the certification programs are not the finished product. The certification programs are the first step while working on other partnerships to bring back two and four-year degrees. Saint Joseph's College continues its partnership with Marian University. As you know, Marian University created Saint Joseph's College of Marian University in Indianapolis, which is an innovative and mission-driven two-year college, which offers flexible class schedules that allow students to work, if they choose, while earning their associate degree. The College has been in discussions with Marian University regarding offering classes at SJC, but, at this point, they are unable to do so due to the current economic environment. Meetings continue with local Rensselaer and Jasper County leadership to discuss partnerships and the needs of the community. Discussions have included how the College could help the agricultural community, how it can create opportunities for local high school students, and how it can partner with the Jasper County Airport. Additional meetings are being scheduled. Local leadership has been very supportive. Discussions regarding partnerships with other higher education institutions are progressing. These types of partnerships take time, proposals, and Board approvals. They are not the type of news we can share until both organizations and their boards have approved agreements. Our goal continues to be to have students on campus working toward their associate or bachelor's degree, and we hope you will celebrate with us when that day is here. For more questions or to share your ideas, please contact Beth Graf at bgraf@saintjoe.edu Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • Saint Joseph’s College Welcome House of Grace to Campus

    Saint Joseph’s College Trustees and staff are pleased to welcome The House of Grace to campus. The House of Grace is a nonprofit, faith-based organization established in 2017 in Thorntown, Indiana. They provide education, spiritual and emotional healing, and a safe environment where residents experience an at-home familiarity. The House of Grace, available for women who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, is a safe place for women coming out of jail or prison and is INARR (Indiana Affiliation of Recovery Residents) certified. Founder and Executive Director, Tammy Tidd, former Chaplain at Boone County jail said that is where her dream began. Tammy’s vision was to open a house where she would live alongside and walk through the program with women by mentoring, leading, and showing them a new way of living. Tammy shares, “I would show the ladies we need something bigger than us to help change the destructive lifestyle in which they were enslaved. We find that through Jesus Christ. At the House, we help them reunite with their families and children. We want to empower them to become strong women and to make good choices when they go back into the community.” Tammy continues, “Opening a house on the Saint Joseph’s College campus has given us a great opportunity to help more women than we have been able to at our first location. We have the room to continue to grow and house many women.” Housed in the residential apartments, growth is possible with staff, volunteers, and donations. While on campus, the ladies have the opportunity to further their education. Once the nine-month program is complete, the women can move into the transitional house and start taking classes offered through Saint Joe. Tammy states, “Taking these classes and completing the program is going to give them a chance to get a degree or license, get a good-paying job, and take care of themselves and their families. It will help them stay out of the pit of wondering how they are going to make it. It will build their self-esteem and confidence, which they may never have or lost while in the mess of things. Our hope is the ladies who complete the program will want to be part of helping lead the next lady into a better life.” Saint Joseph’s College is grateful for the opportunity to partner with The House of Grace to establish a home in Rensselaer, which follows our mission of serving the underserved. When asked how the local community can help, Tammy says, “You can help by partnering with us financially or donating items we need regularly. We need community businesses to be willing to give these ladies jobs once they are ready to work. We need the community to be willing to encourage, love and lead these ladies when they start working in the community. The House of Grace needs the community to stand beside us and these ladies. We need to love them and not tear them down.” Tammy has been overwhelmed and excited by the number of volunteers already on board. With this quick growth, they are looking for an additional house manager willing to help with the next apartment. Items they regularly need include paper goods, hygiene items, food, and gift cards for food and gas. For more information on how you can help or how to donate, contact Tammy Tidd at tamtidd79@yahoo.com or houseofgracerecoveryhomes.org. Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • January 2021

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Meet Recent Grad Megan Karger, MA Before taking healthcare classes at Saint Joe, Megan Karger was in retail management for fifteen years, dedicated to one company. Due to Covid related issues, that company abruptly closed. This provided the perfect opportunity for Megan to explore the medical field, which she had always desired. Megan heard about the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification program at Saint Joe from a friend who had already completed the program. Megan says, “It sounded too good to be true! The scholarship opportunity and time frame was perfect for me.” Megan continues, “I absolutely loved my time at Saint Joe. First and foremost, this was my first college experience and I was 33 years old and nervous. I will forever be grateful for Hali Chapman, our instructor. She gave me the best experience. The curriculum was easy to follow and she taught in a way everyone could learn. She was cognizant of how each of us learned and tried her best to cater to our learning styles. The time flew by and before we knew it the three months were over and we were CCMA’s!” Now that Megan has her certification, she was able to acquire a job where she can use the skills she learned at Saint Joe and apply her fifteen years of management skills every day. Megan works for Riggs Community Health in Lafayette as a Clinical Unit Manager on the Pediatric floor. Megan shares, “I get to see adorable kiddos all day long while managing six MAs, three nurses, two ward clerks, and one assistant manager. I love my job and I am loving working in the medical field!” We have many stories like Megan’s from the recent graduates of our healthcare programs. We plan to share those with you throughout the upcoming months. If you know of someone who could use the opportunity Megan received, please share our website with them. We have many scholarship opportunities available. Healthcare Certification Program Thriving This month our second cohort of Certified Medical Assistants completed and passed their NHA certification exams. All nine students passed their exam and received their certification. This continues our 100% pass rate for all of our students. Our third cohort of CCMA students wrap up their classes the beginning of February and take the exam on February 11th. Hoping for another 100% pass rate. In February our next cohort of Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and Certified Nursing Assistant classes begin. Our new instructors will be teaching these classes. Our next Certified Phlebotomy Technician class begins March 2nd. Additional classes are scheduled for each program throughout the year. Prospective students have several grant and scholarship opportunities to assist with tuition costs. Additional programs we are researching for 2021-2022 are Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), and Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS). We are really enjoying the learning environment of having students back on campus. 2020 Fundraising Update Fundraising for 2020 ended with a burst of giving. In December we raised over $325,000 from 32 donors and grants. We truly appreciate all alumni and friends who continue to support our efforts to bring education back to the Saint Joe campus. We could not make the progress we have thus far without your support. In 2020 we raised more than $645,000 from 104 donors and grants. Alumni and friends interested in contributing to the College’s continuing growth, please contribute by sending your donation to: Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • December 2020

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. December Donations to the College Thus far in December the College has received over $322,000 in donations. The College is grateful for the support from its alumni and friends. These funds will be used to support educational programs on campus. As the College’s webpage states: The “founding” of an institution is not a one-time event. It is a continuous founding by successive generations of “founders” guided and inspired by the institutions’ mission. Saint Joseph’s College has been on an exciting and groundbreaking journey since its founding in 1889. This journey has been met with twists and turns in the road with the College stopping “to recreate” itself at times.—all of which the College has navigated successfully…The goal is to restore Saint Joseph’s College as a viable and model Catholic liberal arts institution for the 21st century offering academic programs at the Rensselaer campus. Alumni and friends interested in contributing to the College’s continuing growth, please contribute by sending your donation to: Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Interested individuals can also donate online at pumas.saintjoe.edu. Contact the Business Office for gifts of stock, etc. More information on how to give can be found at www.saintjoe.edu/give. Health Sciences Program Update Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Programs The College is currently running two Certified Clinical Medical Assistant programs. Classes are at midday with 8 students and in the evening with 7 students. Students are driving from all over to attend the accelerated CCMA program. Students driving from Lafayette to Culver, which really shows their dedication. Students in the earlier CCMA class will take their state test in mid-January and students in the latter CCMA class will take their state test in early February at Saint Joseph’s. The classes are over halfway completed, and class time is very busy. The students will be starting EKGs and other cardiovascular testing this week, which is a huge portion of their state exam, so the students have their game faces on. Hali Chapman, the instructor, says “I love reaching this part of the program because you can start to see the students putting the material we have been studying to use. The students begin to show confidence when they can associate the material we have been studying with the professional lab equipment in class and actually perform the tests themselves. It is very rewarding to be able to see them all blossom into Certified Clinical Medical Assistants in front of my very eyes!” The College has conducted 2 CCMA instructor interviews and is looking at interviewing a few more candidates this week. Additional instructors are needed so the College can post the official 2021 program start dates. Certified Nursing Assistant Program The College is pleased to welcome Shelby Wolber as a new CNA instructor; she has been working as a Registered Nurse with Franciscan Physician Network and has previous experience as a CNA herself. Ms. Wolber is able to work “full time” enabling the College to offer a variety of classes throughout the week. Certified Phlebotomy Technician Program The College has a Certified Phlebotomy Technician program with a planned start date of February 2nd. All of the Health Sciences Certification Program start dates will be posted by the end of this year. Whoever we hire for the CCMA instructor position will also be teaching the CPT program. Ms. Chapman will also be available to teach the CCMA, CPT, and CET/EKG programs. Certified Electrocardiogram Technician Program Enrollment for this program is significantly slower. The College is posting a CET/EKG program start date of Spring 2021. If enrollment picks up, classes may begin earlier. CPR BLS/AED Training For 2021, pending COVID, the CNA, CCMA, and CPT students will have to attend clinical externships to complete their programs. In order for students to go to clinical sites for their externships, they must be CPR certified. A Christmas Wish Christmas is a very special time of year. It is filled with a spirit like none other. Germane to this spirit is a special silence. It is a quiet that permeates our very being. Listen, and you will hear nothing. Listen and be filled with the Spirit. The Board of Trustees and the College’s staff wish you and yours a blessed Christmas and may 2021 be all you wish it to be. Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • November 2020 Update

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Board Acts on Mark Andrew Zwartynski Presentation As reported in the October newsletter, Mark Andrew Zwartynski presented his ideas for the campus to the Board. On November 9th the Board met to discuss Mr. Zwartynski’s ideas and decided that it was unable to take action because of a lack of specificity. Mr. Zwartynski’s presentation was very aspirational and very low on specifics. End of Year Giving Opportunity We are grateful for the support of our loyal alumni and friends. Many have reached out with ideas, questions, encouragement, and donations. As you think about your end of the year planning, we hope you will consider a gift to the College. For more information on how you can support the College, please contact Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development at bgraf@saintjoe.edu or 219.866.6000 x2014. Donations may be sent to Saint Joseph’s College, PO Box 200, Rensselaer, IN 47978 or online at www.saintjoe.edu. May you and your family have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving and Christmas. Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • November 2020

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Fr. Philip Gilbert Beloved Mathematics Professor Fr. Philip Gilbert, C.PP.S., 90, died at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2020 in the infirmary at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health. Fr. Gilbert was born on February 17, 1930, in Chicago, to Philip and Elizabeth (Buffa) Gilbert. He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1949 and was ordained on May 28, 1960. In 1961, Fr. Gilbert was appointed to education ministry at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., which is sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. There he spent nearly five decades in ministry as a math professor at the college. During his career there, he served as chairman of the math department and was also on the college’s faculty athletic committee. He retired from teaching in 2016 and moved to St. Charles in 2017. Preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Hilary and Carol Gilbert, Fr. Gilbert was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Fr. Gilbert loved his life as a priest, and he also loved Saint Joseph’s College. In fact, it was love at first sight, he once said. His older brother attended the college as well as some of his friends. When he went to visit, “as soon as I saw it, I fell in love.” His parents, Italian immigrants who changed the family name from Gilberti to Gilbert, wanted both their sons to get a college education. They were in favor when Fr. Gilbert enrolled at the college that was to become his home for most of his adult life. While there, he served with compassion and commitment. “I wasn’t brilliant at mathematics, but I was good at it,” said the priest, always self-deprecating. His students describe him as a man devoted to both of his vocations, the priesthood and education. He was a favorite among the faculty and staff as well, presiding at a daily midday mass in a chapel on campus for as long as he was able—even when he had to proclaim the Gospel through a large magnifying glass. Fr. Gilbert also helped out at parishes in the Gary Diocese and, for his Community, served several terms as district chair and the local C.PP.S. director at the college. For many years, he was the chaplain of Knights of Columbus Council 1881 in Rensselaer. He also loved baseball, rooting for the White Sox as a boy; later in life he committed the apostasy of switching his allegiance at least in part to the Cubs. He played baseball in high school and was an excellent point guard on the school’s basketball team. “I was a hustler,” he said. “I had a knack of seeing who was open and feeding them the ball.” A teacher could be said to be a point guard too: seeing who is open and feeding them what they need. A priest, too. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Program Starts Two New Classes The next two cohorts of CCMA classes began on Tuesday October 20th and Tuesday November 10th. That class is filling up quickly! Saint Joe was blessed with a great start to our certified medical programs. This class is 11-weeks and meets twice a week, four hours a day. There are eight students in the October class and seven in the November class. The CCMA program qualifies for a Next Level Jobs grant from the state of Indiana. The Next Level Jobs program provides an opportunity for eligible Indiana residents to receive tuition-free training for careers in high-demand, high-paying jobs in areas that are in high demand. Next Level Jobs will cover the cost of tuition and required fees associated with earning the industry-recognized credentials/certificate. Many of our students have qualified for this grant. For more information about the program, please visit www.saintjoe.edu. Thanksgiving Blessings Giving Thanks For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped, For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped, For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb, For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home - Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land, For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand, For the good that our artists and poets have taught, For the friendship that hope and affection have brought - Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! For the homes that with purest affection are blest, For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest, For our country extending from sea unto sea; The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" - Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! --- Author Unknown We are thankful for all of you! Happy Thanksgiving from the Saint Joseph’s College Staff and Board of Trustees. Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • October 2020

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Program Continues with Success Last week the next group of students began the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certificate program at Saint Joseph’s College. Nine students began the 11-week class, which started last Tuesday. Classes are held two days a week for 4-hours a day in the Core Education Center classroom and labs. The classrooms and labs are equipped with the tools the students need to learn the skills to become a CCMA. Classes are held in person, with as much social distancing as possible. A majority of the instructions must be done in person due to its hands-on nature. CCMA class sizes are limited to 12 students per session. Meeting in-person offers students the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills to be a CCMA and to participate in hands-on and relevant learning. Before students are sent out for their clinical experiences, we replicate real-life situations in our medical lab; this allows our students to practice and perfect their learning and skills. The state of Indiana is helping to boost our enrollment numbers by offering full-tuition grants for the CCMA program. Indiana’s Next Level Jobs is a grant program that pays 100% of CCMA tuition for Indiana residents. One hundred percent of the first cohort of CCMA students passed the NHA certification exam, and have now either found jobs, are interviewing, or are taking additional classes to further their medical education as a LPN at Ivy Tech. The next round of CCMA classes will begin on Tuesday, November 10th. That class is filling up quickly! Saint Joe was blessed with a great start to our certified medical programs. For more information about the program, please visit www.saintjoe.edu. Mark Andrew Zwartynski Presents to the Board of Trustees During a regular session of the Saint Joe Board of Trustees on October 8th, the Trustees met via Zoom with Mark Andrew Zwartynski. Mark Andrew Zwartynski asked for a meeting with the Trustees to discuss his ideas for reinventing the College. The meeting took place via Zoom at his request. In addition to Trustees and staff members, Mr. Zwartynski was accompanied by two associates. Upon the completion of his presentation, Rev. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S., Board Chair, conveyed the Board’s appreciation for the presentation and after due deliberation, the Board would get back to him. Mr. Zwartynski, working with Bill Hogan, has been active within the greater local community and amongst alumni stating they have ideas that will not only bring SJC back but generate business for Rensselaer and greater Jasper County. The Trustees received several letters of support from the community to listen to these ideas. The Trustees wish to convey they are listening to ideas any interested groups want to present. This group has a non-disclosure agreement, which limits what the College can share. Mr. Zwartynski stated he welcomes alumni to contact him directly for more information. The College shall keep you updated on developments. Should you have questions, please forward to Beth Graf at bgraf@saintjoe.edu. Changes in Saint Joseph’s College Board Leadership During the regular session of the Saint Joseph’s College Board of Trustees, changes were made to the Board leadership. Rev. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S. stepped down as chairman of the board. Father Larry has served on the Board of Trustees for many years and most recently devoted much of his time as Chairman. Father Larry has been invaluable in his leadership during the rebuilding of the College. We are grateful for the many long hours he has spent with the staff of the College to help us get to the positive position we are in today, Mike Van Eekeren, Class of 1985, has been elected the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In the aftermath of the College's suspension of operations, Mike was among the leaders who worked diligently to protect our Rensselaer campus. Mike played an integral part in developing a financially-sound strategic plan to bring our campus back to life. There are a lot of exciting possibilities on the table and conversations taking place, but they all need time to be developed. Mike states, “We can't change the past, but we can decide our future. Saint Joseph’s College has reinvented itself several times over its long history, and now stands at a crossroads; looking forward, we have made the decision to try. Saint Joseph’s College Rensselaer is worth giving a chance." Jeff Taylor, Class of 1977, was elected as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees. Jeff, a retired partner with the CPA firm of Katz Sapper & Miller, lives in Indianapolis with his wife Carol. Jeff has a broad business background, with entrepreneurial clients in many different industries both large and small. He has served on several non-profit boards over the years. Jeff states, “The world of higher education is changing drastically – especially for smaller institutions. I hope to help our SJC board of trustees continue to tackle the challenges before us and evaluate opportunities to bring life back to the Rensselaer campus. I am confident that we can re-establish a version of SJC that we can all be proud of; that will serve the mission of the school and that will be in a position to thrive for years to come.” Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Beth Graf, Director of Communications and Development Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • September 2020

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Outside Group Shares Ideas with Board of Trustees In recent months, individuals, businesses, elected officials and various members of the Saint Joseph's College Board of Trustees, have been approached by an outside group regarding the College’s future. This group, which is not associated with the College, communicated interest in working with us to rebuild the entire physical structure of the campus, bring back academic and certificate programming, and develop the athletic center into a community recreation center. Last Wednesday, a key stakeholder from this outside group met via video conference with the executive committee of the Saint Joseph’s College Board of Trustees. A number of aspirational concepts were presented and follow-up conversations are underway; we shall alert you of further developments. 100% Success Rate for Certificate Students This week our first cohort of Certified Clinical Medical Assistant students completed and passed their NHA certification exams. All six students who completed the class received their certification. One student completed the Certified Phlebotomy Technician class and passed the certification exam. Every student passed giving Saint Joe a 100% success rate to start our CCMA and CPT programs. Now the newly certified students are on their way to their next endeavor. One CCMA graduate, who showed much interested in the medical field, has enrolled to further her medical education as a LPN at Ivy Tech. Another graduate, who was a previous Saint Joe student before the College suspended, stated she was skeptical at first, but is so happy she enrolled. She is so excited for what Saint Joe will become in the future. Another student, who was working in a Rensselaer doctor office for billing and coding, is now transitioning into a Medical Assistant, therefore earning a pay increase at her current employment. The Phlebotomy graduate has an upcoming interview for a Phlebotomist position at IU White Memorial Hospital. Saint Joe was blessed with an excellent first group of CCMA and CPT students. The next cohort of classes are enrolling now and will begin in October. For more information about the program, please visit www.saintjoe.edu. Hali Chapman Hired as Program Coordinator Saint Joseph’s College is very excited to announce that Hali Chapman, RMA has joined our team in a new position. As Program Coordinator, Chapman will undertake a variety of administrative and program management tasks in support of the healthcare program and various programming throughout the College. Chapman completed her Medical Assistant Certificate at Brown Mackie College in Merrillville, Indiana, receiving the Allied Health Program Award for her class. After completing her Medical Assistant certification, she completed her Registered Medical Assistant exam and has been on the registry since 2013. After a few years of work as a Medical Assistant, Chapman wanted to grow and take on more projects. While working full time as a MA, she enrolled in night classes at Ivy Tech and obtained her associate's degree in Business Administration with a Certification in Human Resources Management. Chapman worked at Franciscan Physician Network for almost 6 years and was on their Employee Engagement Committee for 2 years. She participated in organizing many activities with the Franciscan Network including employee BINGO nights, Trunk-or-Treats for employees and their families, 5K runs for many great causes, Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt fundraising, Thanksgiving food drives, nursing home Christmas caroling and much more. Chapman has always had a strong passion and interest for the medical field and strives to continue to learn more as the medical field advances. With Chapman's expertise, Saint Joe is looking to grow the healthcare certification program and continue to provide a high quality education. Core Education Center HVAC Installation Complete As part of the rebuilding plan for Saint Joseph’s College, the Board of Trustees agreed to install a new HVAC system in the Core building. The HVAC installation has been completed. The building is energy independent from the rest of the campus resulting in significant heating and cooling cost savings. The new system, fueled by natural gas coming from the City of Rensselaer, makes it the first building on the main campus to be removed from the boiler system. This is a major step in the right direction of rebuilding the College. Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

  • July 2020

    Saint Joseph's College (Indiana), a Catholic college founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, pledges itself to a tradition of excellence and to a liberal education that is a united endeavor of intelligence and faith. Survey Will Close Soon Thank you to all who have shared your ideas for potential programs at Saint Joe. We have received a lot of great feedback. The survey will close on Friday, August 7th. At that time we will compile the results and share the findings with all of you. Please share the survey link with your friends, family, and colleagues. The wide range of responses will give us valuable feedback we can share with potential partners. www.surveymonkey.com/r/saintjoe Fellows Play a Major Role in Chapel Renovation Once again the Fellows of Saint Joseph’s College have played a major role in fundraising at the College. Over the many years the Fellows have contributed much needed funds to improve campus. Their extensive projects have included renovation of labs in the Science Building, beautification of the Grotto, and much needed signage on campus. Most recently the Fellows adopted the Chapel as their next undertaking. It is with great pleasure, we announce the exterior brick tuck-pointing of the Chapel is complete. The Council of Fellows, under the direction of Carol Lane Wood ’74, called upon the Fellows of Saint Joseph’s College to raise the funds needed to complete the tuck-pointing of the East and South sides of the Chapel. The total project cost was $377,916. Of that the Fellows raised $249,879 of the money needed for the project. The remaining cost was funded by an estate gift and College operating funds. The Saint Joseph’s Chapel exterior is secure and preserved for many years to come.This could not have been accomplished without the help of the Fellows. Core Building Improvements As part of the rebuilding plan for Saint Joseph’s College, the Board of Trustees agreed to invest in the Core Education Center by installing a new HVAC system. The new heating and cooling system will take the Core Building off of the main boiler infrastructure and will make it a stand-alone building. The new system will be fueled by natural gas with a line coming from the City of Rensselaer. The hard working SJC physical plant employees are busy preparing for the system installation which will take place the beginning of August. The entire project cost which includes the new equipment and installation of a gas line is approximately $469,000. The money to fund the project is coming from the current operating budget. The Core Education Center houses state of the art class rooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and staff offices. The goal of the investment is to lower utility costs, which make up a large part the budget. Keeping the Core building current and updated is key to rebuilding the College. If you would like more information on how you can help with this project or others, please contact Beth Graf at bgraf@saintjoe.edu. Contact Us Saint Joseph’s College PO Box 300 Rensselaer, IN 47978 Email: bgraf@saintjoe.edu Phone: 219-866-6000 ext 2014 saintjoe.edu

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