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University of St. Thomas (Houston)
Encyclopedia
The University of St. Thomas (also referred to as UST or St. Thomas) in Houston, Texas
, United States is a comprehensive Catholic
university
, grounded in the liberal arts
. Founded by 1947 by Basilian Fathers, it serves as the only Catholic university in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
On June 24, 1944, the Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Christopher E. Byrne, entered into an agreement with the Houston based members of the Congregation of St. Basil
to found a co-educational Roman Catholic university in Houston "as soon as practicable after the War, if possible by 1947." The Basilian Fathers had previously started several other secondary schools, as well as institutions of higher learning, throughout Texas in the early 20th Century, including St. Thomas High School
, also located in Houston. The first classes at UST began on September 22, 1947 with 57 freshmen and 8 faculty members. UST graduated its first class on May 31, 1951.
The University is named after St. Thomas Aquinas. Originally consisting solely of the Link–Lee House on the corner of Montrose and West Alabama, the University has expanded towards the South and West over the last 60 years, establishing itself as a notable landmark in Houston with over 17,000 graduates. The current expansion plan includes the acquisition and development of the majority of the land comprising 25 city blocks.
Former University President J. Michael Miller, C.S.B.
was appointed on November 25, 2003 by the Pope
to preside as Secretary of the Congregation of Catholic Education. By virtue of this office, Miller was elevated to Archbishop
by Pope John Paul II
on January 12, 2004.
area. The campus is north of Houston's Museum District
and is adjacent to the famous Menil Collection
and the Rothko Chapel
. The campus is located within five miles of Uptown
, Texas Medical Center
, Downtown Houston's Theater District, and the Houston Zoo
.
Many of the University's departments office out of houses built in 1930s that are scattered throughout campus. Some of the buildings are historic including the Link–Lee House, once the largest home in Houston which is currently the home of the University's executive office, and Hughes House, the childhood home of Howard Hughes
, housing the Theology
department.
The campus is arranged in a square format, with the main focus of buildings on the north side of the campus which is called the Academic Mall. Composed of rectangular buildings, the Academic Mall is the symbolic architecture of Philip Johnson
. The use of Johnson as the University's architect spawned mild controversy due to the noted architect's open homosexuality and his flirtation with fascism and atheism which clashed with the teachings of the Catholic Church. This controversy has died down and mostly been forgotten.
On the south end of the Academic Mall is the Doherty Library, while the Chapel of St. Basil
is located at the opposite end. Four structures flank these two buildings on each side in a rectangular formation surrounding a courtyard
. The setup is designed to display the methods of human knowledge (faith
, represented by the Chapel, and reason
, represented by the library) in dialogue regarding the various subject matters (represented by the other buildings, most of which are specialized in one or two subjects).
The Chapel of St. Basil
is the main location of Catholic worship on campus. It is categorized by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as a satellite chapel of St. Anne's Catholic Church.
The Chapel of St. Basil is a unique work of art
that has won many awards for its architecture. Named after St. Basil the Great, a fourth century bishop
who was a proponent of both education
and the monastic life, the Chapel sits at the north end of the Academic Mall, representing faith in the Academic Mall's artistic depiction between balance and faith, and reason in dialogue.
There is no artificial light inside the main section of the building during the daytime. There is sufficient sunlight to fully light the worship space, as a combination of smooth textures and reflective surfaces maximize all light shone in the building. At night, the lights from outside combined with candles inside the Chapel are more than enough to illuminate the worship
area.
A setup of the architecture also shifts the focus the building. The entry to the outdoor narthex of the Chapel is created with a tent-like flap extending over the entry, creating an enclosed space that is still outdoors. The entrances to the Chapel are faced away from the center of the building and towards the tabernacle
as a reminder to all the enter that the central point of the Chapel is not the altar
or the crucifix
, but rather the location of the Eucharist
.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the Gueymard Meditation Garden was built on the west side of the Chapel, featuring a labyrinth
, three fountains (meant to represent the persons of the Trinity), and benches for reflection. The garden features a replica of the Cathedral of Chartres in labyrinth in France. Seen from above, the four arms of the pattern stand out as a clear image of the cross of Jesus Christ.
The University currently maintains a population of 1,750 traditional undergraduate students and 1,496 graduate
students. Adding to this number are non-traditional, off-campus, study-abroad, special program, and seminary
students that bring the grand total to 3,246 students.
UST has many diverse ethnicities, as 54% of the total number of students are African-American, Hispanic
, Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian
. UST is the only private, Hispanic-serving institution
of higher education in Houston; to earn this rating from the U.S. Department of Education, UST maintains a student body that is at least 25% Hispanic. 65% of the total enrollment is Catholic. University students come from 40 states throughout the U.S. as well as 59 countries around the world.
Graduate tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year is $753 per hour. For one-year of graduate school (18 credit hours) with fees added, the total tution cost is $13,778.
86% of first-time freshmen receive financial assistance for their undergraduate education at UST. The University awards nearly $22 million in financial aid annually, including $7 million in UST-funded scholarships and grants. Upon admission to UST, students are automatically considered for a scholarship, ranging from $5,000 to $12,000, using information from the admissions application. Scholarships are based on high school GPA, class ranking and SAT/ACT scores.
The University awards a few select students full tuition scholarships annually. The V.J. Guinan Presidential Full Tuition Scholarship is open to Catholic students that meet specific academic requirements. Recipients are required to join UST's Presidential Ambassadors and be active in Campus Ministry.
, consisting of undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and special preparation programs.
and his commentators. In addition, professors in the department publish works on thomist philosophy in conjunction with the University of Notre Dame press.
, the University of Houston
and the University of Notre Dame
. Students earn a BA degree in mathematics from the University of St. Thomas and a BS degree in engineering at the cooperative institution. During the three years at UST, students complete an individualized plan of study that combines a broad liberal arts background with the prerequisites for the program at the chosen school. The UST cooperative engineering program has a 100% acceptance rate.
.
.
In addition to its undergraduate programs, the School of Education offers several masters level programs. One such program is directed towards Catholic educators. Following their undergraduate career, students enter into a two-year rotation in a masters program in conjunction with the University's Gulf Regional Academy of Catholic Educators (GRACE) program. Over the two-years, students live in community as they learn skills needed in the classroom. All students are given a two year teaching job for practical experience, which can become permanent jobs during the school term following their completion of the program.
UST also offers programs for teacher certification. Transition to Teaching allows students with a bachelors degree to complete a few graduate classes to teach in Catholic or public schools. All Transition to Teaching classes can be used as part of a graduate degree upon completion of formal graduate admission.
informed UST that its application to join had been accepted, bringing varsity intercollegiate athletics back to campus for the first time in 20 years. On November 7, 2006, University administrators announced that beginning in 2007, UST would field both a women's volleyball
team and men's soccer team to compete as members of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII)
. They hope to eventually join the Red River Athletic Conference
, pending acceptance of its application to be admitted to the conference. The 2009-2010 academic year marked the inaugural season of the UST men's varsity basketball team.
The University has two types of campus housing.
Guinan Residence Hall under the direction of Residence Life is a three-story, 306-bed facility with private double-occupancy rooms. It is located near the Moran Parking Center and Crooker Center, and provides a residential experience focused on community living.
Young Hall, located on the south side of campus, is also encompassed in Residence Life and offers apartments to upper-class students and graduate or adult students who want to benefit from a Residence Life community.
, Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Court of St. Macrina, Legion of Mary
, and over 20 department-run honor societies.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, United States is a comprehensive Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, grounded in the liberal arts
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
. Founded by 1947 by Basilian Fathers, it serves as the only Catholic university in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
History
Congregation of St. Basil
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
to found a co-educational Roman Catholic university in Houston "as soon as practicable after the War, if possible by 1947." The Basilian Fathers had previously started several other secondary schools, as well as institutions of higher learning, throughout Texas in the early 20th Century, including St. Thomas High School
St. Thomas High School
St. Thomas High School is a Roman Catholic university preparatory school for young men in Houston, Texas, United States. Founded in 1900, St. Thomas is the second oldest continuously operating private high school in Houston behind Incarnate Word Academy, which was founded in 1873. The school is...
, also located in Houston. The first classes at UST began on September 22, 1947 with 57 freshmen and 8 faculty members. UST graduated its first class on May 31, 1951.
The University is named after St. Thomas Aquinas. Originally consisting solely of the Link–Lee House on the corner of Montrose and West Alabama, the University has expanded towards the South and West over the last 60 years, establishing itself as a notable landmark in Houston with over 17,000 graduates. The current expansion plan includes the acquisition and development of the majority of the land comprising 25 city blocks.
Former University President J. Michael Miller, C.S.B.
Congregation of St. Basil
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
was appointed on November 25, 2003 by the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
to preside as Secretary of the Congregation of Catholic Education. By virtue of this office, Miller was elevated to Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on January 12, 2004.
Campus
The University of St. Thomas is located in the NeartownNeartown Houston
Neartown is an area located in west-central Houston, Texas, United States and is one of the city's major cultural areas. Neartown is roughly bounded by U.S. Highway 59 to the south, Allen Parkway to the north, Bagby Street on the east, and Shepherd Drive to the west...
area. The campus is north of Houston's Museum District
Houston Museum District
The Houston Museum District commonly known as, “The Museum District,” is an association of museums, galleries, cultural centers and community organizations located in Houston, Texas, dedicated to promoting the arts, sciences, and cultural amenities of the area.The Houston Museum District currently...
and is adjacent to the famous Menil Collection
Menil Collection
The Menil Collection, located in Houston refers either to a museum that houses the private art collection of founders John de Menil and Dominique de Menil, or to the collection itself...
and the Rothko Chapel
Rothko Chapel
The Rothko Chapel is a non-denominational chapel in Houston, Texas founded by John and Dominique de Menil. The interior serves not only as a chapel, but also as a major work of modern art. On its walls are fourteen black but color hued paintings by Mark Rothko...
. The campus is located within five miles of Uptown
Uptown Houston
The Uptown District of Houston is located 6.2 miles west of downtown and is centered along Post Oak Boulevard, Westheimer Road , and the Galleria...
, Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
, Downtown Houston's Theater District, and the Houston Zoo
Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is a zoological park located within Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, United States. Housing over 6,000 animals belonging to over 900 species, the zoo receives 1.6 million visitors each year and is the seventh most visited zoo in the nation...
.
Many of the University's departments office out of houses built in 1930s that are scattered throughout campus. Some of the buildings are historic including the Link–Lee House, once the largest home in Houston which is currently the home of the University's executive office, and Hughes House, the childhood home of Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
, housing the Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
department.
Academic Mall
Philip Johnson
Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
. The use of Johnson as the University's architect spawned mild controversy due to the noted architect's open homosexuality and his flirtation with fascism and atheism which clashed with the teachings of the Catholic Church. This controversy has died down and mostly been forgotten.
On the south end of the Academic Mall is the Doherty Library, while the Chapel of St. Basil
Chapel of St. Basil
The Chapel of St. Basil is a chapel on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, designed by Philip Johnson.-Location:The Chapel of St. Basil is located at the North end of the University's Academic Mall. The mall itself is a series of buildings representing various academic...
is located at the opposite end. Four structures flank these two buildings on each side in a rectangular formation surrounding a courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
. The setup is designed to display the methods of human knowledge (faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, represented by the Chapel, and reason
Reason
Reason is a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts, and to change or justify practices, institutions, and beliefs. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, ...
, represented by the library) in dialogue regarding the various subject matters (represented by the other buildings, most of which are specialized in one or two subjects).
Chapel of St. Basil
Chapel of St. Basil
The Chapel of St. Basil is a chapel on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, designed by Philip Johnson.-Location:The Chapel of St. Basil is located at the North end of the University's Academic Mall. The mall itself is a series of buildings representing various academic...
is the main location of Catholic worship on campus. It is categorized by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as a satellite chapel of St. Anne's Catholic Church.
The Chapel of St. Basil is a unique work of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
that has won many awards for its architecture. Named after St. Basil the Great, a fourth century bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
who was a proponent of both education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and the monastic life, the Chapel sits at the north end of the Academic Mall, representing faith in the Academic Mall's artistic depiction between balance and faith, and reason in dialogue.
There is no artificial light inside the main section of the building during the daytime. There is sufficient sunlight to fully light the worship space, as a combination of smooth textures and reflective surfaces maximize all light shone in the building. At night, the lights from outside combined with candles inside the Chapel are more than enough to illuminate the worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
area.
A setup of the architecture also shifts the focus the building. The entry to the outdoor narthex of the Chapel is created with a tent-like flap extending over the entry, creating an enclosed space that is still outdoors. The entrances to the Chapel are faced away from the center of the building and towards the tabernacle
Church tabernacle
A tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....
as a reminder to all the enter that the central point of the Chapel is not the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
or the crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
, but rather the location of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the Gueymard Meditation Garden was built on the west side of the Chapel, featuring a labyrinth
Labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos...
, three fountains (meant to represent the persons of the Trinity), and benches for reflection. The garden features a replica of the Cathedral of Chartres in labyrinth in France. Seen from above, the four arms of the pattern stand out as a clear image of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Doherty Library
Completed in September 1972, The Robert Pace and Ada Mary Doherty Library (located at the southern end of the Academic Mall) is one of the premier research libraries in Houston. Housing over 230,000 books, 30,000 periodicals, and 125 databases, the Doherty Library has earned an "A" rating from the American Library Association, the highest possible rating for a library or any other research institution.Students and alumni
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
students. Adding to this number are non-traditional, off-campus, study-abroad, special program, and seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
students that bring the grand total to 3,246 students.
UST has many diverse ethnicities, as 54% of the total number of students are African-American, Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. UST is the only private, Hispanic-serving institution
Hispanic-serving institution
A Hispanic-serving institution, or HSI, is a term used for a Federal program designed to assist colleges or universities in the United States that attempt to assist first generation, majority low income Hispanic students...
of higher education in Houston; to earn this rating from the U.S. Department of Education, UST maintains a student body that is at least 25% Hispanic. 65% of the total enrollment is Catholic. University students come from 40 states throughout the U.S. as well as 59 countries around the world.
Costs and financial aid
For the 2009-2010 academic year, undergraduate tuition costs for the University are set at $717 per credit hour. Total estimated cost of undergraduate tuition and fees is $20,510 for one-year (30 credit hours). Room and board costs are $7,700 for one year, bringing a total cost of approximately $28,000.Graduate tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year is $753 per hour. For one-year of graduate school (18 credit hours) with fees added, the total tution cost is $13,778.
86% of first-time freshmen receive financial assistance for their undergraduate education at UST. The University awards nearly $22 million in financial aid annually, including $7 million in UST-funded scholarships and grants. Upon admission to UST, students are automatically considered for a scholarship, ranging from $5,000 to $12,000, using information from the admissions application. Scholarships are based on high school GPA, class ranking and SAT/ACT scores.
The University awards a few select students full tuition scholarships annually. The V.J. Guinan Presidential Full Tuition Scholarship is open to Catholic students that meet specific academic requirements. Recipients are required to join UST's Presidential Ambassadors and be active in Campus Ministry.
Special programs
UST offers several special programs within its curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
, consisting of undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and special preparation programs.
Center For Thomistic Studies
The Philosophy Department of the University of St. Thomas offers masters and doctoral degrees in Philosophy, specializing in the thought of St. Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
and his commentators. In addition, professors in the department publish works on thomist philosophy in conjunction with the University of Notre Dame press.
Pre-Health Professional Programs
The University offers a strong pre-health undergraduate program with a liberal arts foundation. Graduates experience high interview and acceptance rates to medical and dental schools. Advisors are very involved from the First Year Experience to preparing for the MCAT or DAT. UST offers pre-dental, pre-medical, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant and pre-veterinary medicine.Engineering Cooperative Program
University has cooperative agreements with Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. Students earn a BA degree in mathematics from the University of St. Thomas and a BS degree in engineering at the cooperative institution. During the three years at UST, students complete an individualized plan of study that combines a broad liberal arts background with the prerequisites for the program at the chosen school. The UST cooperative engineering program has a 100% acceptance rate.
Pre-Law Program
The University also maintains a pre-law program. Much like the pre-health professional programs, the pre-law program is not a major in itself, but is rather an additional program which can be combined with any major. Pre-law students enroll in required pre-law courses that help prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), Socratic examination and case briefing. To support UST students in applying to law school, the University participates in a cooperative admission program with South Texas College of LawSouth Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools...
.
Cameron School of Business
The Cameron School of Business is home to about 300 undergraduate and about 560 graduate students. The school offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with majors in Accounting, Finance, General Business and Marketing; Master of Business Administration (MBA); Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) and five-year BBA/MBA. The Cameron School of Business and its programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of BusinessAssociation to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
.
School of Education
At the undergraduate level, the School of Education offers programs in general education from pre-K through high school, bilingual education, and exceptionality.In addition to its undergraduate programs, the School of Education offers several masters level programs. One such program is directed towards Catholic educators. Following their undergraduate career, students enter into a two-year rotation in a masters program in conjunction with the University's Gulf Regional Academy of Catholic Educators (GRACE) program. Over the two-years, students live in community as they learn skills needed in the classroom. All students are given a two year teaching job for practical experience, which can become permanent jobs during the school term following their completion of the program.
UST also offers programs for teacher certification. Transition to Teaching allows students with a bachelors degree to complete a few graduate classes to teach in Catholic or public schools. All Transition to Teaching classes can be used as part of a graduate degree upon completion of formal graduate admission.
Glassell School of Art
The UST Department of Fine and Performing Arts and the Glassell School of Art at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts collaborate in offering BA and BFA majors, a minor and elective courses in Studio Art. This joint effort gives UST students access to the resources of the Glassell School and to instruction offered by the artists on its faculty while receiving credit at the University towards a degree.Mendenhall Achievement Center
The Mendenhall Achievement Center, established in 2008, provides a professional support team to assist students in achieving their goals while enrolled at UST. Services include advising, mentoring, tutoring and counseling. Additionally, the Mendenhall Summer Institute is a five-week program that allows incoming freshmen to complete six credit hours before their freshman year.Study Abroad
The Institute for International Education Exchange has consistently ranked UST as one of the top 20 master's schools in the United States for study abroad participation by undergraduate students. The University sends approximately 8-10% of its undergraduate student body abroad compared to the national average of 2%.Athletics
In Fall 2006, the NAIANational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
informed UST that its application to join had been accepted, bringing varsity intercollegiate athletics back to campus for the first time in 20 years. On November 7, 2006, University administrators announced that beginning in 2007, UST would field both a women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team and men's soccer team to compete as members of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII)
NAIA independent schools
NAIA independent schools are 4-year institutional members of the NAIA that play independent of any formal conference affiliation. Many NAIA independent schools are members of the Association of Independent Institutions , which allows members to have a formal route to NAIA tournaments.-See...
. They hope to eventually join the Red River Athletic Conference
Red River Athletic Conference
The Red River Athletic Conference is an affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . The conference's 14 member institutions are located in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Pending acceptance of their application to the conference, a 15th member, the University...
, pending acceptance of its application to be admitted to the conference. The 2009-2010 academic year marked the inaugural season of the UST men's varsity basketball team.
Residential housing
Guinan Residence Hall under the direction of Residence Life is a three-story, 306-bed facility with private double-occupancy rooms. It is located near the Moran Parking Center and Crooker Center, and provides a residential experience focused on community living.
Young Hall, located on the south side of campus, is also encompassed in Residence Life and offers apartments to upper-class students and graduate or adult students who want to benefit from a Residence Life community.
Neewollah
An annual tradition dating back more than 50 years is the "Neewollah" Party (Halloween spelled backwards) held every year in October. Hundreds of students dress up in costume and party as various local bands and DJ's alternate providing music. Students compete in costume and dance contests winning a variety of prizes. The event draws about 600 people and is held on Crooker Patio, a large area in front of the University's dining hall.Crawfish Boil and Zydeco Fest
On April 19, 2002 the University of St. Thomas Black Student Union held its first Crawfish Boil and Zydeco Fest featuring Step Rideaux and the Zydeco Outlaws. It has since become an annual event. The event features music and entertainment while providing an excellent opportunity for recreation and fellowship. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the surrounding community enjoy imported crawfish, corn and potatoes and a Zydeco dance contest.Other Campus Events
- Cinco de Mayo Celebration
- International Festival
- Oktoberfest
- Spring Formal
- Salsa Night
- Senior Class Roar
- Texas Independence Day Celebration
Student organizations
The Student Organizations Committee is a collective of student leaders from five major organizations that oversee many areas of student life. There is no presiding officer of the SOC. All SOC members have an administrative or faculty adviser. SOC members are allowed to petition for operating budgets before other organizations and/or clubs can request funds for the following school year.Members of the SOC
- The Student Government Association is the legislative student body at UST. The senate body consists of up to four representatives from each class (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate) who are elected into office. An executive board led by an elected president and an elected vice president oversee the SGA. The SGA president can appoint a secretary, treasurer, historian, parliamentarian, and webmaster. The SGA's main function is to allocate funds collected by the Student Activity Fee. It holds regular meetings every Tuesday in the Council of Clubs meeting room in Crooker Center.
- The Student Activities Board is the main programming organization at UST. SAB is led by an elected president and an elected vice president. It is responsible for planning traditional events like Neewollah and Spring Formal, as well as occasional open mic and monthly bingo nights.
- The Council of Clubs is an umbrella organization that represents clubs on campus. It is led by an elected chair and an appointed vice chair. The COC provides funding for various clubs at UST. Interested clubs may request membership into the COC and may be approved with a simple majority vote by eligible clubs, called the board of directors.
- The Sport Clubs Associations is responsible for the sport clubs on campus. It is led by an elected president. Like the COC, it is an umbrella organization that funds athletic-oriented clubs and teams at UST.
- The Graduate Student Association is responsible for representing and catering to the graduate students of UST, which make up about 40% of the student body. In addition to helping integrate graduate students with the campus, it provides independent programming open to both graduates and undergraduates.
Non-SOC Organizations
The University acknowledges 69 student organizations, most of which fall within SOC jurisdiction, but other organizations are overseen by other departments of the University. Honor Societies and Academic Clubs are often overseen by their departments, but some seek SOC approval for financial purposes. Other organizations are under the directorship of administrative offices such as Campus Ministry. Others include the Knights of ColumbusKnights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Catholic Daughters of the Americas was founded in 1903 in New York by John E. Carberry and Knights of Columbus as "National order of Daughters of Isabella," and is one of the largest women's organizations in the Americas. It was renamed as Catholic Daughters of the Americas in 1921, and in 1925 it...
Court of St. Macrina, Legion of Mary
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is an association of Catholic laity who serve the Church on a voluntary basis. It was founded in Dublin, Ireland, as a Roman Catholic Marian Movement by layman Frank Duff. Today between active and auxiliary members there are in excess of 10 million members worldwide making it...
, and over 20 department-run honor societies.
Publications
- The Summa, founded in September 2008, is the newspaper serving the UST community. The Summa is led by a student editor-in-chief as well as various section editors and staff members. The staff is responsible for producing the paper, which is published on the first and third Thursdays of every month during the fall and spring semesters.
- Laurels literary magazine publishes poems, short fiction, and other creative writing submitted by enrolled students. It is led by three appointed editors. During the fall, the three editors are responsible for the administration and editing of the issue. However, a curriculum-approved Literary magazine class, in cooperation with the editors, is responsible for the spring issue.
- Thoroughfare magazine is the newest publication on campus. Modeled after The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
as a "features" magazine, it highlights students, organizations, events, places, and local occurrences in Houston. It is led by an appointed student editor-in-chief with the help of a student staff.
Alumni
- Ken Bentsen - former U.S. Representative from Houston
- Mark Calaway - professional wrestler "The Undertaker"
- Garnet ColemanGarnet ColemanGarnet F. Coleman is a U.S. politician and a member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 147 since 1991. He is the son of John B. Coleman, M.D...
- Texas State Representative - Sean Patrick FlanerySean Patrick FlanerySean Patrick Flanery is an American actor known for such roles as Connor MacManus in The Boondock Saints, Greg Stillson in The Dead Zone and for portraying Indiana Jones in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, as well as Bobby Dagen in Saw 3D.He is currently known for his role as Sam Gibson on The...
- film and TV actor - Henry GroverHenry GroverHenry Cushing "Hank" Grover , was a conservative politician from the U.S. state of Texas best known for his relatively narrow defeat as the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1972. Grover was born in Corpus Christi. He died in Houston of Alzheimer's disease.Grover lived as a youth in San Antonio...
- member of both houses of Texas State Legislature; 1972 RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gubernatorial nominee - Mark Lopez - U.S. Olympic Team (2008) silver medalist taekwondo
- Chau NguyenChau NguyenChau Nguyen is a former Vietnamese-American news anchor most recently seen with KHOU-TV, before stepping down in December of 2007. Chau's family fled after the fall of Saigon, South Vietnam when she was 2 years old and her family settled in Houston, Texas. She is the first Vietnamese-American to...
- first Vietnamese AmericanVietnamese AmericanA Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
news anchor, gained fame working with KHOU-TV - Anthony Obi (Fat TonyFat Tony (rapper)Anthony Obi is a Nigerian-American rapper from, and based in Houston, Texas known as Fat Tony. He is affiliated with Greedhead and Home Skool Rekordz, but previously released the Love Life EP on Same Struggle Ent...
) - Rapper - Barbara OlsonBarbara OlsonBarbara Olson was a lawyer and conservative American television commentator who worked for CNN, Fox News Channel, and several other outlets...
- author and political commentator - Mayo ThompsonMayo ThompsonMayo Thompson is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the avant-garde rock band Red Crayola .-1960s:...
- psychedelic rock musician of Red Crayola
Faculty
- Marshall ApplewhiteMarshall ApplewhiteMarshall Herff Applewhite, Jr. , known among his followers as "Do", was the leader of the Heaven's Gate religious group. A self-proclaimed prophet and messiah, he died in the group's mass suicide of 1997.-Early life:...
- Music Instructor 1966-1970 - Heaven's GateHeaven's Gate (religious group)Heaven's Gate was an American UFO religion based in San Diego, California, founded and led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles...
Cult Leader - John DeelyJohn DeelyJohn Deely is an American philosopher and semiotician. He is a Professor of Philosophy at the Center for Thomistic Studies of the University of St. Thomas ....
- semiotician and Professor of Philosophy - John FX KnasasJohn FX KnasasJohn Francis Xavier Knasas is a leading Existential Thomist in the Neo-Thomist movement, best known for engaging such thinkers as Bernard Lonergan, Alasdair MacIntyre and Jeremy Wilkins in disputes over human cognition to affirm a Thomistic epistemology of direct realism and defending the thought...
- Thomist and Professor of Philosophy