Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Student Development and Persistence is to assist students with their transition and adjustment to college and campus life. The goal is to emphasize the need for students to develop all the skills and competencies to be successful during their college years and to involve them in the life of the campus during their transition. The programs of the office aim to enhance all students’ self-awareness, provide them with the opportunity to explore new challenges and learn new skills, and encourage them to become engaged within the campus community. One of the main goals of the Office is to assist students in setting their future direction and to encourage students to persist towards their degree at St. Thomas University.

 

Programs

The Challenge Peer Mentoring Program, CHAMP, is designed to connect current students with new first-year students at STU. The aim is to assist in the new students’ transition to college life. The CHAMP Peer Mentors are sophomores, juniors or seniors who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and who have shown leadership abilities. More information on the program is available here.

Class Presentations and Workshops: Student Development and Persistence organizes class presentations and workshops on various areas of student development. The focus of these presentations is on developing the basic skills that new students need to be successful. These skills include time management, study strategies, assistance with deciding on a major and on a career, stress management, relationship skills, and other developmental skills.

 

 

 

 

 

One-on-one Success Coaching: Student Development and Persistence also provides personal success coaching for those students who need follow up assistance on the skills needed to be successful in college.

The Office of Student Development and Persistence is located in the Student Center in an office next to the Rathskeller.

 

 

 

For more information, please contact:

Orlando R. Barreto, M.S.
Associate Director of Student Development and
Persistence
Phone: (305) 474-6853
Fax: (305) 628-6768
obarreto@stu.edu