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Be Bold Blog

The University of St. Thomas (UST) is Houston’s Catholic University, committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the dialogue between faith and reason. Our blog is dedicated to helping you explore your future career possibilities and how to make the most of your college experience.

Student Resources for Success

5 Student Resources That Help UST Students Succeed

At the University of St. Thomas (UST), our number one priority is creating an inclusive and caring environment that sets students and alumni up for success. We pride ourselves on our small class sizes and student-to-faculty ratio of just 11:1 that allows learners to get the personal attention they need to thrive. Our classes are always taught by professors, not teaching assistants, and every undergraduate student is matched with an online success coach to maximize their learning potential.

UST students learn to think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally and lead ethically. Read along to learn more about just a few of the many resources we provide to help support student success.

5 Helpful Resources at UST for Students to Utilize for Success

Learn more about the various support services available to help UST students achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond.

1. Academic advising

Navigating the ins and out of academia can be confusing for learners who are just entering into higher education. That’s why UST makes sure every student has an assigned academic advisor to help guide them. It’s important to connect with your advisor right away when you begin school so that you can be proactive and start off on the right foot.

You and your advisor will work together to create a degree plan in order for you to get the most out of your education and graduate on time. They can help you answer questions like:

  • How many transfer credits do I have?
  • Do I have the pre-requisites needed to take this class?
  • What classes do I have left to take?
  • How long will it take me to graduate?
  • What are my remaining costs between now and graduation?

Academic advisor services are located on the 2nd floor of the Crooker Center. Students can walk in any time during business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. or email to set up an appointment.

2. Counseling services

Mental and emotional well-being is just as important as physical health, yet many people still struggle to ask for help when they need it. College life can be a fun and enriching time, but can also be challenging. It’s normal to need and seek out support.

We provide confidential counseling services from licensed mental health professionals at no cost to students (which can even include meetings with our very good boy, Percy the Therapy Dog). It’s common for students to reach out to discuss issues like anxiety, depression, personal and romantic relationships, academics, and any other topics that might be affecting daily life. In fact, on average, UST students attend about five counseling sessions a year.

Students can make an appointment with a qualified counselor by email, by calling 713-525-2169, or by visiting our office on the 2nd floor of Crooker Center Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3. Tutorial services center

One of the benefits of a liberal arts education is gaining exposure to areas of study outside of your comfort zone or expertise. But even the most dedicated students aren’t expected to master every single class or skill. It’s normal to need support throughout your academic career.

Even if you are already doing well in a subject, there are benefits to visiting the Tutorial Services Center. Our tutors are here to assist all UST students (undergraduate and graduate), alumni and seminarians with things like:

  • Clarifying general principles and concepts
  • Developing specific writing skills
  • Brainstorming ideas for projects or papers
  • Giving constructive feedback
  • Putting the finishing touches on an assignment
  • Getting confirmation of a job well done

UST provides content-specific tutors for the following subjects: biology, chemistry, English, general writing, history, math, philosophy, physics, psychology, Spanish and theology.

All UST tutors are juniors, seniors or graduate students who have a minimum 3.8 GPA in their area of specialty, strong writing skills and at least two recommendations from professors. While tutors will not edit writing assignments for you, they will guide you through the process and help you recognize common issues like unclear thesis statements, grammatical errors and weaknesses in organization and development.

Tutoring is 100% free and each session lasts at least 30 minutes. Find out how to make a tutoring appointment today and get the support you need to sail through the semester.  

4.    Athletics and recreation

Whether it’s pumping iron, competing in a game, getting out in nature or just going on a walk with friends, working up a sweat is good for your physical, mental and emotional health. UST recognizes the importance of fitness and recreation and provides ample facilities and programming opportunities for students to enjoy.

The Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center is available to all UST students, faculty and staff. Amenities include:

  • Gymnasium
  • Cardio and weight rooms
  • Racquetball courts
  • Fitness studio and classes
  • Outdoor pool
  • Practice turf

Perhaps team sports and group classes are more your speed. We have a robust roster of clubs to join, such as:

  • Badminton
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Beach volleyball
  • Cheerleading
  • Dodgeball
  • Fencing
  • Jiu-jitsu
  • Running
  • Soccer
  • Table tennis
  • Court tennis

Student-athletes and sports fan will be happy to know the University of St. Thomas has an intercollegiate department currently transitioning to become an NCAA Division III member. Cheer on the Celts by supporting our various men’s and women’s team sports.

5.    Career services

It’s never too early to start thinking about what jobs you might pursue after earning your degree. UST has dedicated staff to help students and alumni plan for their future in the workforce. Whether it’s exploring potential careers or finding the perfect senior internship, our career services professionals are here to help.

Students who take advantage of the free career services at UST can get support with things like:

  • Choosing a major that matches your skills and personality
  • Fine-tuning your resume and cover letter
  • Polishing your interview skills
  • Articulating your skills and experience
  • Learning professional etiquette and presentation
  • Networking effectively and connecting with prospective employers
  • Breaking down important milestones and decisions for your freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year into an undergraduate checklist to track your progress

UST also has its own online job and internship board called Handshake that gives you instant access to opportunities on and off campus, along with info about career fairs, workshops and recruitment events.

Our career-related services are available to all students and alumni. Visit us on the 2nd floor of the Crooker Center, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Get the support you need to succeed at UST

Student life at UST is dynamic and filled with opportunities to challenge yourself academically, make lifelong friends, try new things and develop leadership skills. We strive to ensure that your experience isn’t defined by your major and that all students feel seen and valued.

Visit the Student Services homepage for a full list of the many resources that UST provides to help students succeed.

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About UST

The University of St. Thomas (UST) is Houston’s Catholic University, committed to the religious, ethical and intellectual traditions of Catholic higher education. For more than 70 years, we’ve been graduating students like you into successful careers in medicine, education, business, public administration and more – throughout Houston and across the globe.

Learn more about what UST has to offer.