1. The Fall Transportation Deadline is Monday, November 10th. Please have all bus or motor pool requests submitted by then.
2. Faculty Intent to Return Form Due 10/29:The link below will allow you to share your intentions to return to Messina next year or not. Specifically, if you plan to teach in Messina next year, if so, in which semester(s), days, and times do you hope to teach; and if you wish to continue with your current pairing or to explore other options.
You may submit your responses and any other relevant information through this Qualtrics Link
3. Perspectives Updates (Mentors Please Read):
If any of your students have not started the Perspectives course yet, their original invite has most likely expired and been deleted (this happens to junk mail after 30 days). I am working with Perspectives and OTS to send another mass email out (hopefully one that doesn’t go to junk) but here’s what mentors can do now:
Option A: Within the Perspectives course, the mentor (instructor) has a copy of the invite link. It’s called “the dedicated program invitation link.” You can email that link directly to all of your students. Please note, at this time this will still go to their junk mail and has not been 100% effective in adding them back to the course. There's a screenshot of this in our Messina Teams chat.
Option B: If that doesn’t work, remove them from the course manually one-by-one then add them back. This will prompt another email (sadly to junk for now) with an invitation link. This has proven to work in almost all cases.
If issues persist, let Patrick Murnane know. We know this has been challenging and are actively working with the IT team at Perspectives and our OTS team to make sure future emails and communications go directly to student inboxes.
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.
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.
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 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.
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. The transportation deadline is November 10th.
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
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.
How to Save the World in Two Hours
This event is a two-hour interactive activity for students to work together to learn how to "save the world in two hours." The activity will provide first-year students real-world critical thinking skills, the opportunity to build new relationships, engage in outside-the-box thinking, practice teamwork, and public speaking as groups will present their ideas on how to save the world. Please tell your Messina students to register on the Bridge.
Note: Participants need to stay the entire time. Late arrivals or early departures will directly impact your team's abaility to save the world.
Greyhound Pitch Competition
We're excited for the upcoming Greyhound Pitch Competition and need your help to promote the event coming up soon - Nov. 14-15. I have attached a flyer and PPT slide for you to share with the Messina community. Last year during our inaugural program, two of the winning teams included three FIRST-YEAR students, one of the teams was selected to go on to a national competition in Boston. This is a great opportunity for our first-year students to expand their friend network, learn in an exciting hands-on program, and maybe win a cash prize or trip to Boston.
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
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)
Class Outside!
Sometimes having class outside is the very best thing. Dr. Eklund showed her students Loyola's outdoor classroom this week.
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.
