Welcome to St. Thomas, MN

This is the accessibility version designed specifically for users needing extra accessibility features.
Feel free to check out the original experience here.

Welcome

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to the University of St. Thomas, located on a 78-acre campus in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Originally, the school was created to be a seminary, but since the late 1800Õs, UST has been a private Roman-Catholic liberal arts university. Relatedly, it has the first and largest Catholic Studies program. Students can choose from eighty-eight different undergraduate majors, seven pre-professional degree programs, and forty-one graduate programs. In 1977, UST became co-educational and other recent developments include expanding the campus beyond St. Paul into Minneapolis and reinstating the Law School. Let's take a look at the campus!

Tour stop audio transcript

Many buildings here are named after Ignatius Aloysius O'Shaughnessy, a graduate of St. Thomas who became successful in the oil business and bequeathed much of his wealth to the construction of buildings on campus. The O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center is the main library on campus, with print and digital materials in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and business.

Tour stop audio transcript

Just north of the library is this building, the O'Shaughnessy Educational Center, which houses the communication-journalism, economics, and foreign language departments. A lobby gallery features rotating art exhibits that are complemented by lectures, talks, and openings. The OEC auditorium inside is a 622-seat venue used for events like these as well as conferences.

Tour stop audio transcript

Formerly functioning as the student center, a recent renovation has transformed the Murray-Herrick Campus Center into more of an administration building. Here you will find the Card Office, Registrar's Office, Academic Counseling, and the Business Office, all of which were previously scattered about campus in different buildings. The second floor is now home to many classrooms equipped with projectors and desks large enough for laptops in this increasingly digital world.

Tour stop audio transcript

The Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex was completed in 2010 and is home to a field house that features a 200-meter, six-lane track as well as the option for either four basketball, volleyball, or tennis courts. Additionally, there is a weight room, aquatic center, and cardio room, the latter of which contains ninety pieces of exercise equipment and flat panel TVs. Also housed within is the Schoenecker Arena, where more than 2,000 spectators can watch the Tommies compete in basketball and volleyball games.

Tour stop audio transcript

This is Koch Commons, the college quad area located on the northern end of campus near the athletic fields and stadium. Here you can find Brady, Dowling, and Morrison dormitories, as well as the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center is committed to helping students develop healthy lifestyles and to bettering the overall health of the entire University community.

Tour stop audio transcript

In the early 1900's, the architect who designed St. Paul Cathedral designed the grand Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas in a Byzantine style often seen in Renaissance-era basilicas. Sculptor and artist, Alexander Tylevich was commissioned to design and create the unique crucifix, the sanctuary door, and the altar. The liturgical calendar includes multiple Masses every day except Saturdays, which are usually reserved for the wedding ceremonies of UST alumni, faculty members, and students.

Tour stop audio transcript

Nearly 2,400 students live in one of ten residence halls found on the St. Paul campus, all of which are named after Archbishops of the metropolitan area. Ireland Residence Hall is male-only and consists of mostly double- occupancy rooms with a common bathroom in each wing of every floor. Ireland is known for its annual "teeter-totter marathon," snowball fights, and a football league.

Tour stop audio transcript

Here we are at O'Shaughnessy Stadium, St. Thomas' outdoor venue used for both football games and track meets, with teams competing at the NCAA Division III level. There is ample room for spectators to watch the "Tommies," with seating for 5,000. Be sure to keep your eye out for Tommie the Tomcat, the official team mascot.

Tour stop audio transcript

Completed in early 2012, the Anderson Student Center is where students, faculty, and staff congregate for a variety of reasons. Scooter's is just one dining option found inside, conveniently open until 11pm daily and featuring made-to-order foods like pizza and sandwiches. When you have time for more than a meal, there is a game area called Ò85Ó stocked with video games, a bowling alley, pinball machines, and plenty of spaces that can be reserved and used by campus groups and organizations. The Tommie Shop is your one-stop-shop for UST apparel and gifts.

Tour stop audio transcript

The John P. Monahan Plaza is a wide and grassy outdoor space leading up to Anderson Student Center. Weather permitting, students take advantage of the wooden benches or wooden tables and chairs for both socializing and studying. The Plaza is host to a wide variety of events each week, including free henna tattoos during African Night, fire safety demos, Aztec dance performances, and pre-football game parties.