University of St. Thomas Houston will re-open its campus in the fall for face-to-face classes.

“Our faculty, staff and students have risen to the challenge of online delivery through the summer, but now we’re looking forward to getting our community back together on campus. UST is determined to provide an in-person fall semester,” UST President Richard Ludwick said. “Safety is our top priority, and we are preparing for every contingency, including accommodations for those who may not feel ready to return to classroom instruction. Our community can rest-assured that when we return, we will be following strict expert advice on cleaning practices, social distancing and contact tracing.”

The University also announced that it will proceed with plans to open its new microcampus in Conroe as scheduled this fall.

Measures are Designed to Help Students and City

“This pandemic has been especially hard on our students, but also on our city,” Ludwick said. “As we move towards re-opening our campus, we are taking swift action to help both our students and the economy.

“The University hired an expert in online delivery to expand digital offerings and assigned a personal success coach for every undergraduate student, but also recognizes that many students face technology access issues, and re-opening will help mitigate that digital divide, Ludwick said.

“This week, the University will also begin offering free tuition for three new associate degree programs for the fall semester, designed to help those in hard hit sectors in Houston reskill in thriving career fields,” Ludwick said.

Next week, UST will roll out deep discounts to online summer courses, as well as summer incentives for new students. Ludwick says the plans are all in line with the ‘Spirit of St. Thomas,’ and designed to help Houston recover.

Return Follows Months of Work/Study from Home

UST moved to an online learning environment mid spring 2020 academic semester when the coronavirus pandemic mandate for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo ordered all Houstonians to stay home to lessen exposure to the virus in Houston.

UST’s Commitment to Learner-Centered Environment

Two years ago, the UST community came together through an integrated planning process known as The Call Toward Tomorrow and committed to becoming a truly learner-centered environment.

“That means everything we do should be all about the student, and these changes will make UST more affordable, accessible, and flexible for students.” Ludwick said. “Our faculty and students have been resilient during these unusual times, and they deserve every opportunity for continued success.”