From: Messina
Date: October 9, 2025
Subject: Messina Newsletter - Week of 10/6/25



Messina Newsletter

Action Items

  1. October's Live Update Meeting
    This will be on Wednesday, October 15th from 11:00am to 12:00pm. A calendar invite is coming if it has not already been sent. You can also access the meeting through this link. 
     
  2. ​​​​​Perspectives/CDI Updates:
    No new updates but please set aside 5 minutes of a future enrichment to make sure all students do the pre-work before engaging in these Perspectives conversations.

     

Updates & Reminders

 
  1. Enrichment Plan Edit Form
    Speaking of our curriculum, the Enrichment Plan Edit form is now live on the Messina website under Messina Curriculum Resources. (https://www.loyola.edu/department/messina/working-groups/modules.html)

    The Enrichment Edit form should be used to inform of content updates, such as changing what module is being presented for the Curriculum Core Topics. It should also be used to provide date updates for pre-determined content, such as Course Registration.

    If a working group is switching the order of when core topics are being presented (not including pre-determined curriculum content), an Enrichment Plan Edit form is not required.

    Any member of the working group can submit the Enrichment Plan Edit form at any point in the Fall 2025 semester.

  2. Module feedback form is live!
    We know that many of our curriculum modules are new or recently updated so we are seeking your feedback on how they're going! This will be a form where you can share things like "module was too short,"  "module was too long," "module lacked activities," etc. You can find it under Enrichment Planning Resources on our website or by accessing the form directly through this link
     
  3. Messina Program Review Feedback

    As part of Loyola’s strategic plan and operational excellence initiatives outlined in March 2025, the Messina program underwent a comprehensive review. The purpose of this review was to clarify the program’s goals so that Student Development and Academic Affairs can better determine the appropriate staffing structures and tools needed to evaluate its effectiveness. In April, external reviewers visited Loyola to meet with key stakeholders. Loyola received their written feedback, findings, and recommendations in June. Raven Williams, Dean of Student Success, and Michael Puma, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, have been tasked with sharing the report with campus stakeholders, gathering input, and assessing the feasibility of the recommendations. Final recommendations will be submitted to Dr. Cheryl Moore-Thomas and Dr. Deb Cady Melzer to confirm a preferred approach for the continuation or refinement of the Messina structure, along with strategies to measure outcomes more effectively. The report will be presented to the Cabinet in early December

    Please use this form to provide written feedback about the Messina Program Review. The form will remain open until November 3, 2025, at 11:59PM.

    You may access the Messina Program Review Report here: ​pdf icon LUM Messina Review 2025.pdf

    Please contact Raven Williams Cuffee at rdwilliams@loyola.edu or Michael Puma at mpuma@loyola.edu if you have any questions about the Messina Program Review or this feedback form.

  4. Need transportation to your Messina class outing?
    A reminder that all budget and transportation requests still must be submitted via the Logistical Request Form. Please revisit the slides from the August workshop regarding Messina budgets and Workday changes when submitting your first few requests.
    Please still allow approximately 3 days notice for budget requests. Please allow approximately 30 days notice for transportation requests. Contact Patrick Murnane at pmurnane@loyola.edu if you have a trip idea that's less than 30 days out prior to submitting, 

  5. Calling all readers
    Join the Common Text committee to choose the 2026-27 book! Everyone is invited: faculty, staff, students, everyone. We also want your book suggestions, no other commitment required. Suggest a book and/or join the committee by filling out the Common Text form. Please respond by Tuesday, September 30. For those who are interested in the committee: we will meet 3-4 times over the next six months, reading 3-4 books each before we make a final choice. If you like to read and talk about books, we want you!
     
  6. Register now to be an Approved Motor-pool driver
    During the academic year, members of the working group may want to request to drive Loyola Motor-pool vehicles. To obtain driver clearance, you must first register by going to the following webpage: https://loyola.agilefleet.com/_UserRegistration.asp.

    If you already have a Agile Fleet Commander Profile, we encourage you to login and re-sign/renew the user agreement form and policies. We recommend working group members register or confirm previous registration before the start of the fall semester to ensure that you are approved to drive motor-pool vehicles before you place a Messina request. It can take up to 7 days to renew your registration. Once you are registered with motor pool you can submit a Messina Logistical Request Form to reserve your motor-pool cars (and charter buses)
r eric thomas event

Empathy is Your Writing's Superpower

As part of this year’s Writers at Work Series, please join screenwriter, playwright, and national bestselling author R. Eric Thomas for an interactive talk about the craft of writing. He’ll use examples from his non-fiction writing, screenwriting, and his popular nationally syndicated advice column to talk about building characters, framing narrative non-fiction perspectives, and thinking about your readership. 

becoming bulletproof poster

Becoming Bulletproof

Join us for a movie night! Complete with popcorn, candy, and an opportunity. Becoming Bulletproof is a film about individuals with disabilities and able-bodied individuals who work together to make a movie. A film that will introduce you to a pretty amazing cast of individuals. A.J., the main character (who has cerebral palsy), clearly expresses what life is like with a disability—mainly through the lens of ability—and what he wishes to do with his life. His dreams mirror the dreams of people you know. The movie helps to create connections with people with disabilities as people with abilities, hopes, and aspirations "just like everybody else." This movie focuses on dignity and inclusion. Its message can apply to all human beings. A.J. Murray, one of the lead actors in the film, will be joining us for conversation via zoom after the movie. You don't want to miss this.

evergreen museum info

Free Access to the Evergreen Museum & Library

We are excited to share that Loyola students and employees now have free access to the Evergreen Museum and Library! This historic site, which is located at 4545 N. Charles Street just north of Loyola’s Evergreen campus, offers not only a museum filled with art and culture but also beautiful grounds to explore.

Whether you’re looking for a meaningful community experience, a place to reflect, or simply a chance to enjoy nature, Evergreen provides a wonderful opportunity to connect, recharge, and practice wellbeing. Group tours of the museum are also available at no cost.

Take advantage of this new benefit and experience all that Evergreen has to offer!

language requirement

Advising Help - Language Requirement

This sheet is helpful to all advisors and serves as a reminder that students need to at least attempt a language class at Loyola before trying to take it at a different college. Contact MLL or AASC if you have any questions. 

vpa fall programming list

VPA Fall Programming

KnoxRoxs: Autistic Joy: A Photozine Retrospective Exhibition by Jen White-Johnson
Monday, September 8 – Friday, October 10
Artist Talk & Exhibition Reception: Thursday, September 18, 6:30pm in the Black Box Theatre
Autistic Justice and Joy, A Disability Zine Making Workshop: Wednesday, October 8th, 5:30pm
Julio Fine Arts Gallery

Art & Spirituality: A Juried Exhibition
Wednesday, October 15 – Wednesday, November 19
Reception: Thursday, October 23, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Julio Fine Arts Gallery

Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Natka Bianchini
Presented by the Evergreen Players
Thursday, October 23 – Sunday, October 26
McManus Theatre

Piano Recital featuring Wan-Chi Su
Saturday, Nov 8, 7:00pm
Recital Room (College Center W040)

Seven Minutes in Heaven by Steven Levenson, directed by Leah Mazzuchelli, ’26
Presented by the Poisoned Cup Players
Thursday, November 13 – Sunday, November 16
Black Box Theatre

Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo Concert, Mark St. Pierre, Director
Tuesday, December 2, 8:00 p.m.
McManus Theatre

2025 Visual Arts Capstone Exhibition
Featuring the artwork of Visual Arts’ Senior Capstone students
Thursday, December 4 – Thursday, December 18
Opening Reception: Thursday, December 4, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Julio Fine Arts Gallery

Cantorei Concert, Dr. Clay Price, Director
Thursday, December 4, 7:00 p.m.
Recital Room (College Center W040)

Voice Studio Recital I, Julie Kurzava, Instructor
Sunday, December 7, 7:00 p.m.
Alumni Memorial Chapel

Voice Studio Recital II, Julie Kurzava, Instructor
Monday, December 8, 7:00 p.m.
Alumni Memorial Chapel

Chamber Ensemble Recital, David Lavorgna, Director
Tuesday, December 9, 7:00 p.m.
Recital Room (College Center W040)

tavern picture

Tavern Trips

Eileen Hiebler, Dave Belz, Matt Beverlin, Kate Tourison, & Lena DiVittorio took their respective Messina class to lunch this week at Mt. Washington Tavern. 

If you have a photo from your Messina outing, please share with Patrick Murnane pmurnane@loyola.edu 

tavern picture

Upcoming Events

Students can register events through The Bridge (links below). View the Calendar tab of the Messina website for a complete list of events for the semester.
Thursday, October 23rd
6:00pm 7:00pm Empathy is Your Writing's Superpower - R. Eric Thomas Event 4th Floor Program Room Messina, The Center for the Humanities, Education for Life, and the Writing Department
Friday, October 24th 
6:00pm 8:00pm Pride Night Reitz Arena Athletics, SASS, Messina, Spectrum, the Thrive Center, the Counseling Center, the McAuley Women's Center, and HAP
 
Monday, October 27th 
7:00pm 9:00pm Becoming Bulletproof 4th Floor Program Room Messina & the Writing Department

Important Dates

(See our Ongoing Support for Working Groups tab of the Messina website for more details about Messina submissions.)  
  • Friday, October 17: Midterm grades due by 3:00 p.m.
  • Monday, November 10: Transportation Request Deadline
  • November 12 & 13: Registration Days for Spring 2026 semester (Class of 2029)
  • Monday, December 1: Course Withdrawal Period ends for Fall Semester; last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of W
  • Wednesday, December 10: Budget request deadline
  • Friday, December 12: Spring Curriculum Plans Due
  • Friday, December 19: Fall Enrichment Audit & Assessment Survey Due

Quick Links


Need to arrange transportation or submit a reimbursement, cash advance, or Pcard budget number change? 
Use the Working Group Logistical Request Form

Share working group photos by emailing messina@loyola.edu

Technology issues in the classroom -- submit a ticket to Tech Services or call 410-617-2255

Tax Exemption Certificate -- when possible, please be sure to use this certificate when making purchases for your Messina working group

Follow Messina on social media!