University Of St Thomas

University of St. Thomas Houston, Texas www.stthom.edu

Overview Founded 185 years ago in France, the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers) surfaced in the Houston area at the turn of the 20th century to found a high school. They launched the University of St. Thomas in 1947 at the invitation of then-Bishop Christopher Byrne. Today, the university provides a solid Catholic liberal arts education and is poised to attract a wider following. Indeed, its vision is simple but powerful: “We have decided that within 25 years we will become one of the great Catholic universities in America.” By our standards, we think the Basilians already have achieved their goal, albeit without the attention they deserve. UST has four schools—arts and sciences, business, education and theology (which is offered at nearby St. Mary’s Seminary). A nursing program is scheduled to reopen as early as 2011. Nearly one-third of the students on campus are enrolled in graduate programs; there are nine master’s degrees offered as well as a Ph.D. in philosophy. Among the 30 majors are an interdisciplinary Catholic Studies, theology, pastoral studies, international studies and studio arts. Many minors are available, including Irish studies and creative writing. There also are many joint majors, and students have the opportunity to pursue a Western Civilizationoriented honors program. At the May 2008 commencement, the five leading majors among graduates were liberal arts, business administration, communica-

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quick facts Founded: 1947 Type of institution: Small university Setting: Urban Undergraduate enrollment: 1,750 (2008–09) Total undergraduate cost: $29,530 (tuition, room and board for 2009–10) Undergraduate majors: 31

Five Key Points 1. Catholic identity strongly influenced by the Basilian Fathers. 2. A 72-credit core curriculum with one-third focused on theology and philosophy. 3. Half of students are racial minorities, including a large Hispanic enrollment. 4. Catholicism promoted through several lecture series. 5. Lesser-known college seeking to develop broader recognition.

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tion, psychology, accounting and international studies. Nearly two-thirds of the university’s students in the 2008-2009 academic year were Catholic. Ninety-two percent of UST undergraduates are Texans, and 60 percent of its alumni have settled in the Houston area. But students come from 39 other states as well as 57 foreign countries. Half of its students are minorities (Hispanic, African American, Asian American and Native American), and many of these are first-generation college students. Under Title V of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, UST is identified as an Hispanic-Serving Institution, reflecting its greater than 25 percent Hispanic student population. The university has the most ethnically diverse student body in this Guide. The university, which is primarily a commuter school, is located in a cultural section of Houston known as the Museum District, which is not far from the downtown center. Houston is the nation’s fourth largest city and a leading energy, banking and space center. UST’s price and financial aid package for the average student are roughly equal to the average for private colleges and universities in Texas. Tuition, room and board cost $29,530 in 2009-10.

Governance Six of the eight UST presidents have been Basilian priests. The last was Father J. Michael Miller (1997–2003), who went on to become an archbishop at the Vatican serving as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia, in January 2009. The current president is Dr. Robert Ivany, whose credentials are most impressive. A retired Army major general with tours stretching from Vietnam to Kuwait, he previously 240

From the Financial Aid Office “At the University of St. Thomas in Houston, 86 percent of first-time freshmen receive financial assistance for their undergraduate education. The University awards nearly $22 million in financial aid annually, including $7 million in USTfunded 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. “UST participates in federal and applicable state financial aid programs. For more information, visit us online at www.stthom. edu/financialaid. The Office of Financial Aid may also be contacted by calling 713525-2170 or emailing [email protected]. UST’s FAFSA code is 003654.” headed the U.S. Army War College. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. University regulations require the president to be a Catholic. Also required to be a Catholic is the vice president for academic affairs, who is now Dr. Dominic Aquila, formerly the university’s dean of Arts and Sciences. Before coming to UST in July 2007, Dr. Aquila was a dean and history professor at the University of Saint Francis, Indiana. The board of trustees first admitted lay members in 1969, and they now constitute a majority. One third, however are either Basilians or Basilian appointees. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, is also a member.

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University of St. Thomas

Public Identity Although 35 percent of the student body is non-Catholic, the University of St. Thomas has a very strong Catholic identity. This is a result of the faithful engagement of the Basilian Fathers and top administrators; the commitment to Ex corde Ecclesiae (the text appears on UST’s “Mission and Vision” webpage); the presence of a solid core curriculum, anchored by the theology and philosophy departments; and an active spiritual program. There are 14 Basilians who reside on the main campus, and the order permeates the life of the university with, as one administrator said, their “quiet orthodoxy.” Crucifixes are prominent and widespread throughout the campus. They are in every classroom, in public places and in most offices. However, there is no requirement for such display; one Baptist staff member, for example, has chosen to hang a cross rather than a crucifix in her office. Vice President Aquila talks about UST’s mission of academic excellence and “most distinctively, a sustained, energetic engagement between the Catholic faith and culture.” This engagement happens, he believes, “intentionally by way of UST’s unique core curriculum in which individual academic disciplines are brought into meaningful conversations with the Catholic intellectual tradition.” Such a mission is reflected in the university’s strategic agenda. The first of the four strategic initiatives states: “Assert our idenThe Newman Guide

tity, academic brand, and image as a Catholic university imbued with the Basilian tradition.” This mission is also evident in UST’s approach to the broader culture. While some Catholic universities—including some of the most well known—have hosted the lewd Vagina Monologues, supposedly to raise consciousness about violence against women, the University of St. Thomas has addressed human trafficking and violence against women in a much more productive way. Created by English associate professor Janet Lowery, the Traffic in Women play provides an alternative series of monologues based on Greek mythology. In addition to the performances, there also was a high-level panel discussion that discussed trafficking in women, a particular problem in the Houston area. Traffic in Women was performed as a three-year series, concluding in 2008. Rather than appeal to senseless sexual exhibitionism, Dr. Lowery argues for a “more solutionbased response to the problems facing women on the planet today” and elevating these “to a public concern.” UST abounds in orthodox Catholic speakers such as the late Cardinal Avery Dulles; the prolific philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft; Alasdair MacIntyre, the Notre Dame virtue ethicist; the late Father Richard John Neuhaus of First Things; and theologian Dr. Janet Smith. In 2008 Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., head of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, spoke

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on campus and brought the Salt and Light television crew. Cardinal DiNardo lectured on St. Paul and evangelization in 2009. Some of the other speakers are part of a number of impressive lecture series. In April 2009 Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., president of Gonzaga University, gave the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Speakers Series talk. The Center for Thomistic Studies sponsors an annual lecture, which has included ethicist Germain Grisez. And other speakers have been part of the Archbishop J. Michael Miller Lecture Series, which each year features “an expert who has overcome the dichotomy of faith and life and risen to greatness precisely by embodying the values of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition in professional practice.” The speaker in 2008 was film producer and former actor Steve McEveety. It is not surprising that one faculty member told us, “I’m impressed with the speakers—faithful Catholics and champions of the Faith.” Dr. Ivany intervened in 2008 to cancel an invitation extended to a speaker when he discovered she was an abortion supporter. A speaker policy committee was established following that incident to prevent any future embarrassment. The university sponsors a Mosaics of Faith conference each year to celebrate diversity. In March 2009 the focus was on “The Mexican Experience,” and it included a documentary movie on Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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Academics The university places emphasis on the study of theology and philosophy. Indeed, it proudly notes in its catalog: “The University of St. Thomas gives the place of honor to theology as queen of the sciences.” Twenty-four credits in these two disciplines are required for graduation: nine in theology, nine in philosophy and another six selected from either department. Even transfer students must take at least six credits in theology as well as in philosophy while at UST. One former professor said that in 10 years at the university, he had never heard any non-Catholic, including atheists, criticize the theology requirement. “Most of them end up finding the courses interesting,” he said. “I tell them that theology asks the most important questions and even has some answers.” These requirements form the basis of the substantial core curriculum, which includes another 48 credits distributed among English, foreign languages, history, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts and oral communications. This overall core of 72 hours is unusually large among colleges that offer multiple majors. Professors dedicated to the Catholic intellectual tradition teach many of the core courses. A university committee was named by Dr. Ivany in September 2007 to evaluate the 25-year-old core curriculum and, if necessary, recommend changes to it. As of summer 2009, The Newman Guide



the review process was still underway. Those who major in theology are given a written exam before they graduate. It assesses whether the student has acquired an understanding of the Creed, moral theology, history of the Church and systematic theology. The major requires study of the key areas of Catholic theology. All full-time theology faculty members are faithful to Church teaching and are required to receive the mandatum from the local bishop. Among the department’s leaders is Father Joseph Pilsner, C.S.B., who also serves on the board of trustees. The philosophy department is also uniformly strong and includes Father Anthony Giampietro, C.S.B.; Dr. Theodore Rebard; Dr. R. E. Houser; and Dr. Mary Catherine Sommers, the chair and director of the Center for Thomistic Studies. Complementing these departments is an interdisciplinary Catholics Studies program. The director of the program, Sister Paula Jean Miller, F.S.E., told us that the program is an “effort to see how doctrine has and can be infused into the culture, to enable students to integrate professional learning and development with Catholic teaching.” The Catholic Studies program is one of the possible double majors available which draw from the 31 majors. There is also a fouryear, seven-course honors program that is heavily weighted toward the heritage of the Christian West. Dr. Terry Hall, an associate professor of philosophy and former FBI agent, has headed this program for the past nine years.

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University of St. Thomas

A revamped environmental sciences and studies department is headed by Sister Damien Marie Savino, F.S.E., who holds degrees in engineering and theology. A moral perspective drawn from the Catholic intellectual tradition is incorporated in its programs. Sister Damien Marie said, “We hope to help students forge the links between ‘natural ecology,’ ‘human ecology,’ and ‘social ecology’ that Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict have called for.” Another new curriculum development came in November 2008 when the university announced that it would be reviving its nursing school, which closed in 1986. The school is currently in the design and fundraising stage. The university also has cooperative agreements for dual-degree programs in the fields of engineering and technology with Texas A & M University, University of Houston and the University of Notre Dame. There are number of notable professors in various disciplines, including Dr. Clint Brand and Dr. Kerry Jones MacArthur in the English department; Dr. Lowery, the producer of Traffic in Women and editor of Laurels, a literary magazine; and Dr. John Palasota, assistant dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and assistant professor of chemistry. Some departments have few or no Catholics. But most faculty members respect the Catholic identity of the school and, as one observer reports, “cases of outright dissent are marginal, even from among non-Catholics.”

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One way the university is supporting the professional development of the faculty and especially their understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition is through faculty seminars. UST’s new Pope John Paul II Forum, led by philosophy professor Dr. John Hittinger, sponsored a faculty workshop in summer 2009. The workshop featured Dr. Brian Benestead of the University of Scranton, who examined Catholic social teaching in various Church documents and helped participants discuss ways to integrate Catholic social teaching in their research and teaching. UST has a studyabroad program with classes in England, Ireland, France, Mexico and Argentina. It has exchange programs with 16 overseas universities. Two summer programs in Rome and the Holy Land focus on Catholic heritage. The Institute for International Education placed this program at 16th among colleges of its size— among the top 10 percent—in a 2008 survey. The director of the study abroad program has said of the offerings, “In relation to our mission of shaping leaders of faith and character, studies abroad give our students greater global exposure, expand their world view, and expose our students to the challenges and opportunities that they, as global leaders, will face in such a diverse world.”

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Spiritual Life Religious life revolves around the Chapel of St. Basil, a small but attractive stucco chapel designed by the notable architect Philip Johnson and dedicated in 1997. Its outside appearance was enhanced in 2006 when the Felicie Babin Gueymard Meditation Garden, including a labyrinth reminiscent of one at Chartres Cathedral, was planted beside the chapel. It is at the chapel that most of the 20 weekly Masses are offered and where confessions are heard Monday through Saturday. Every semester is opened with a Mass of Saint Thomas Aquinas. There also are periodic French Masses and Masses for people with special needs. Three times a semester, a student group sings Gregorian chant for a traditional Extraordinary Form Mass. Adoration and Benediction are held every Monday, and Adoration is also held for 24 hours beginning every Wednesday at 8 a.m. The university chaplain, Father Michael Buentello, O.S.B., came to UST in fall 2008. One faculty member said, “He is outgoing and fits here like a hand in a glove.” Father Buentello posts meditations online and also teaches in the theology department. While Sunday Masses are reported to be “bursting at the seams,” and a core of committed students takes full advantage of spiritual

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University of St. Thomas

offerings on campus, there is a certain general level of student non-involvement that extends to religious activities. It does not appear that is for lack of commitment and initiative on the part of the university, but perhaps rather because of the large number of commuters and the diverse student body. Even so, 26 people entered the Church at Easter 2009 through the university’s R.C.I.A. program. The director of campus ministry, Sister Maura Behrenfeld, F.S.E., attributes this high number to “the strong core of philosophy and theology studies here, that really opens students to thinking more deeply about the big questions and prompts them to something more.”

The presence of approximately 25 priests on campus, mostly Basilian Fathers, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist is important in creating the nurturing spiritual environment that does exist. There also is a nearby convent of Vietnamese Dominican Sisters, and these religious participate in campus activities and take classes. Again, Sister Maura said that students tell her that “just seeing the priests and religious sisters here and having them present” has increased their interest in the faith. Among other activities, the campus ministry offers a variety of retreats, including a pre-season soccer team retreat in 2008. In 2009 there was an alternative spring break

Message from the President Dear Parents and Prospective Students: At the University of St. Thomas in Houston, we are committed to educating leaders of faith and character. Our graduates possess a vibrant spiritual faith, seek to learn more about themselves and the world around them, and have the courage to live their lives in accordance with their faith. We hope that our graduates face the challenges of the world strengthened by the foundation of the Catholic, Basilian values of goodness, discipline and knowledge. We encourage them to become life long learners who seek every opportunity to continue to grow and give of themselves. We are proud that our core curriculum provides each student with the ability to think critically and communicate effectively with a world view that is formed by the Catholic intellectual tradition. We are blessed with a faculty that is dedicated to our students and their development as ethical leaders and successful professionals. The university is blessed with the presence of the Basilian fathers who founded our institution in 1947 and the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist who joined us in 1999. The sisters and more than 130 full time faculty look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful campus for a life-changing educational experience.

With best wishes,



Dr. Robert Ivany

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trip to New Orleans. The campus ministry sponsored pilgrimages to World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in 2005 and Sydney, Australia, in 2008. A new practice that has recently emerged is a daily, informal noon gathering of students to pray for five minutes around the UST seal in the campus plaza. In the 2007–2008 academic year, UST launched a chapter of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). It is the first one in Texas. Social service programs are offered through campus ministry, but the university also has a formal program, the Center for Social Justice, which offers internships and other opportunities for service. The center sponsors a Social Justice Seminar Series, and the university holds an annual Social Justice Summer Institute, which focused on “Poverty in the USA and Abroad” in 2009. The political science department offers a minor in social justice. As part of the university’s broader outreach, there are ecumenical and interfaith programs such as the Msgr. William Steele Lecture Series. In February 2009, Father Buentello organized a three-day continuous Bible reading, inviting members of different faiths from the university and Houston area to participate. More than 200 individuals, including retired local auxiliary bishop Vincent Rizzotto and Dr. Ivany, participated in the program titled “Word of God: The Bible Unites.”

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Student Activities Sixty-nine campus groups provide students with extracurricular opportunities that include the typical clubs as well as those targeted to various ethnic groups. Among the Catholic-oriented groups are Chi Rho, the theology club; a Knights of Columbus council; and a pro-life club. Chi Rho sponsors an annual career and volunteer fair for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and a “Theology at the Lab” series in which professors are invited to give talks to students in a local pub. The University of St. Thomas Celts for Life placed 3,700 crosses on campus in January 2009 to bear witness to the abortions that occur every day as a result of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The group participates in the Texas Rally for Life at Austin and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Students also pray weekly at a local Planned Parenthood facility. There are 10 sport clubs, ranging from coed fencing to men’s rugby, and intramural activities. Recently formed i ntercolleg iate teams are women’s volleyball, men’s soccer and, starting in 2009-2010, men’s basketball. The monthly Summa newspaper reaches 3,000 students. The Laurels literary magazine and a new features magazine provide additional outlets for student writing. There is a university committee that reviews student publications.

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University of St. Thomas

We are not aware of any groups that are in opposition to Church teachings at UST. There has been an effort among some students to get approval for a homosexual-oriented group, but that has been unsuccessful. Two notable annual events draw considerable student social involvement. One is the Halloween-related event “Neewollah,” which essentially is a costume dance. The other is the Crawfish Boil and Zydeco Fest that was launched by the Black Student Union in 2002. Various dramatic and musical performances are offered by the fine and performing arts department at the campus’ Jones Theatre. In February and March 2009, for example, there were seven performances of the comedy Charley’s Aunt. There also is the annual President’s Day of Service, begun five years ago. In 2009 this initiative gave students the opportunity to help a local Hurricane Ike relief effort, prepare care packages for soldiers abroad, plant native trees in the area and play softball with special needs individuals in the Best Buddies program. There is additional volunteer work undertaken during the UST Week of Action. Students also volunteer at the nearby John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science. They assist with Head Start programs there and with other activities.

Residential Life Only about 20 percent of students live on campus, so residential life is limited. There is one large building, Vincent J. Guinan Residence The Newman Guide

Hall, which welcomed its first students in fall 2003. It is coed, but bathrooms are in student rooms, and no major problems seem to exist; a Basilian Father is in residence. Also, Monday evening Mass and daily night prayers are offered in the facility’s Chapel of St. Macrina. There is a smaller Augustine Hall for a limited number of freshmen seeking a faith-based community. A third facility, Young Residence Hall, was added for upperclassmen in 2008. Some students live in apartments surrounding the campus. There are no fraternities. The campus does not have a health center, although a nurse is available for consultation. Students use the facilities of the worldfamous Texas Medical Center, a vast complex of hospitals and health care facilities, which is located a short distance from UST.

The Community Houston is a large, diverse city (population of about 2.2 million) with a crime index rate about double the national average. Some of this inevitably spills over onto the campus, largely as theft or pranks. But there have been robberies, including one of a professor, who was assaulted in December 2006. Vigilance, as in most places, is recommended. Students gravitate to the many cultural, sports and social offerings that are available in the adjacent Museum District and within a short distance from campus. These include the Museum of Fine Arts, which featured the 247

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exhibit “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul” in March-May 2009, the Houston Zoo and major shopping areas. The Houston Space Center is the top local tourist attraction. Houston is a major transportation hub, and students have access to two major airports, George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby; east-west Amtrak service (“Sunset Limited”); several major highways, including Interstates 45 and 10; and an extensive bus service. The sprawling city of Houston is heavily reliant on car transportation.

The Bottom Line

on its Catholic identity, which is reflected in its faithful theology and philosophy departments and by the way Catholicism permeates the campus. The university has received too little recognition for its fine work, perhaps reflecting the modesty of the Basilian Fathers over the years. But hewing to its 60-year-old tradition—and building on it—a new group of administrators are poised to lead the university to another level of academic prominence. Local, first-generation college students from the area will continue to benefit, but so will those from around the country looking for a quality Catholic education at a smaller university.

The University of St. Thomas is an excellent liberal arts-oriented institution. Its extensive core curriculum provides graduates with a well-rounded education. But even more notable is the strong emphasis that UST places

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