Campus Life

Campus Recreation Programs

The mission of Campus Recreation is to enhance the mind, body and spirit of students, faculty, staff and guest by providing excellent programs, services and facilities that are responsive to the physical, social, recreational, and lifelong educational needs of a diverse community.  The Intramural Sports Program provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to participate in a variety of individual and team recreation activities in the men’s, women’s and co-rec divisions.  The Fitness program offers instructions in proper form and usage of the fitness room equipment, variety of group fitness classes, and personal fitness assessments.  Aquatics offers a heated natatorium suitable for the serious lap swimmer and the swimmer who is more interested in the leisure and relaxation aspect of the pool.  Aquatics offers year round classes in Lifeguarding, Water Safety Instructor and swim lessons for all ages for St. Mary’s University community and public alike. The indoor rock-climbing wall is an exciting and fun alternative to traditional exercise.  A popular activity among students, the 40 ft. climbing wall is a unique experience that offers novice to advance climbing routes, an artificial crevice, and a 45-degree overhang.

Civic Engagement

As a Catholic and Marianist University, St. Mary’s is committed to providing students with experiential learning opportunities that inform their development of faith and vocation, their understanding of justice and the Common Good, and their journey to becoming leaders in our local, national and global communities.  Through involvement with ongoing local volunteer opportunities, service-learning classes, advocacy work, immersion experiences and civic leadership – all rooted in reflection and shaped by our Catholic identity – the Office of Civic Engagement serves to connect our students to the world around them as they identify where their passions, skills and talents meet the world’s needs. Simultaneously our office works to build and maintain healthy and mutually beneficial relationships with community partners, particularly those on the West Side of San Antonio. We serve as the connector of our students and neighbors in a joint effort to learn from one another in a process of community growth and development, heeding Father Chaminade’s wisdom that “new times call for new methods,” and working together to discover our best possible response.

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Social-Greek organizations offer students unique opportunities to develop leadership skills, strengthen personal academics, give back to the local community, and form lifelong friendships. Students who have completed at least 12 credit hours in their most recent semester and are in good academic standing are able to participate in recruitment for these organizations. 

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs

St. Mary's University participates in intercollegiate athletic programs for men and women, designed to assist in the overall development of students. Varsity athletic teams at St. Mary's are rich in history and tradition. School colors are gold and blue and the team name is the Rattlers. St. Mary's is a member of the Heartland Conference, the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. St. Mary's teams participate in baseball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis for men; and basketball, softball, soccer, tennis, volleyball and golf for women, and cheerleading and dance for men and women. The Bill Greehey Arena is the home of the basketball and volleyball Rattlers while Dickson Stadium, one of the finest collegiate baseball stadiums in the country, is the home of the baseball team. The softball team plays at the Softball Stadium, while Sigma Beta Chi Field houses the soccer teams and the Rohrbach Stadium Tennis Complex is home to tennis. St. Mary's University has five national champions: The 1986 and 2002 women's softball team, 1989 men's basketball team, the 2001 baseball team and a 2006 men’s golf individual. The Rattlers also have one national academic championship.

Marianist Leadership Program

The Marianist Leadership Program (MLP) is a community of equals that cultivates relationships through hospitality, selfless servant leadership and faith for the purpose of making a positive change to the San Antonio community by St. Mary’s students. MLP is designed to provide students with educational and experiential opportunities focused on faith and leadership within the five pillars of the Marianist Charism.

Housed in the Office of Civic Engagement, MLP fosters a sense of servant-leadership. Freshmen and sophomore members are required to volunteer with a nonprofit agency for three to four hours a week. Students are encouraged to engage in a multitude of service projects, either on a one-time basis or in smaller time increments over a longer period of time. Members also serve as leaders of Continuing the Heritage.

Members of the program are guided in the development of lifelong habits by integrating faith and culture through leadership and service activities within the university and civic communities. Applications are accepted for entering freshmen, transferring and current students as allowed by current membership size. All majors are considered.

Registered Student Organizations

The University provides students with opportunities to form focused communities in academic, social, service, and professional interests.  Students develop and utilize leadership skills, with an emphasis grounded in the Marianist charism.  Membership in these organizations provides opportunities for developing the qualities expected of college graduates. To learn how to register a student organization, visit Rattler Tracks.

Residence Life

The Office of Residence Life at St. Mary's University is a component of the Student Development Division and is shaped by Marianist traditions. Residence Life provides residence halls that are communities which develop students' life skills and personal responsibility and serve as transitional environments to future roles and service to society. First year students that reside outside of San Antonio/Bexar County are required to live on campus for their first two (2) years unless they receive permission prior to beginning of their first semester from the Office of Residence Life.

Student Activities

The Department of Student Life hosts free events for all St. Mary’s students, providing fun opportunities to foster a vibrant campus community.  Student Life and the student-run University Programming Council host on-campus programs at various campus locations including The Pub at St. Mary’s.  In addition, students can participate in San Antonio excursions for a discounted rate, including StMU Night at the Spurs, Enchanted Rock, and Six Flags Fright Fest.  

Student Government

The Student Government Association (SGA) promotes undergraduate and graduate students' rights, needs and interests; ensures academic freedom and academic responsibility; and continuously supports and promotes the values of St. Mary's University. Elections are held every spring for the Executive Board and Senators, with the elections for Freshman Senators conducted in early fall.  SGA puts on a variety of events every year, including Dinner with the Deans, Chami’s Birthday Celebration, and 24 hours access to The Commons during finals. 

Student Publication

St. Mary’s University supports student publications, such as The Rattler, so that they can explore and discuss student concerns, campus events, and (to some extent) world affairs. The publication records and provides a forum for student opinion, while also modeling responsible journalism.

Since all student media are public forums, their content is not censored, nor is funding withheld because of it. The content of The Rattler is decided by its student editors, not by the administration, faculty or staff of St. Mary’s. The Associate Vice President for Student Development chairs the Student Publications Board, which supports the student editors and staff advisers of all publications to ensure consistency with the mission of the University.

University Ministry

University Ministry is an expression of a desire to be present to all who are involved in higher education. It is a department that is inspired to be bold and creative in the task of re­thinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization and seeks to create and develop a ministry that is “of a “missionary option”, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that spirituality and customs of faith can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world. Its mission is to assist the University's efforts in providing opportunities for all its members to develop the intellectual, moral, and spiritual principles needed for leading value and God-centered lives. Inspired by Catholic and Marianist traditions, University Ministry seeks to unite all persons on campus at their deepest level of religious consciousness, and to enrich them through a genuine ecumenical sharing. University Ministry, staffed by religious and laity, fosters a spirit of community and faith. We provide opportunities to strengthen one's spiritual life and, in collaboration with other departments, encourage community members to respond to the needs of others through the celebration of the Eucharist and other Sacraments, prayer, community service, social justice programming, service immersion experiences, pastoral counseling, retreats, Small Faith-Sharing Communities, spiritual direction, faith formation, peer ministry and other activities. The Eucharist is offered daily when classes are in session and on Sundays in the University Chapels. Special all-school Masses and smaller liturgies and prayer services are interspersed throughout the year. All the members of faith on campus are called, according to their own gifts, to share in this ministry. We welcome the participation of faculty, staff, students and Alumni as part of the team effort to integrate a growing sense of ministry and service into the total experience of our academic community.

Student Services

Disability Support Services

The Disability Support Services offers accessibility to classes, programs, services and activities to individuals with a disability. Students seeking accommodations need to contact the office for assistance in qualifying to receive a variety of accommodations through an interactive process and with supportive documentation. In addition, consultation to faculty and staff about working with students with disabilities is available.

Student Counseling Center

The Student Counseling Center offers individual, couples and group therapy to St. Mary’s University students.  The service is staffed by psychologists, a marriage and family therapist, and a board certified psychiatrist.  These services may be accessed at no additional cost to the student.  The counseling services have a goal oriented focus ranging from situational adjustment problems to ongoing mental health issues.  Crisis intervention is available after hours and on weekends during the academic year.  Psycho-educational assessment is also available to students. The staff is available for consultation by faculty, staff, students, and RAs if someone has a concern about a student’s well-being or behavior. The Student Counseling Center is located in the Center for Life Directions building. 

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center is an outpatient primary health care clinic located on the first floor of Charles Francis Hall. The clinic is staffed by a board-certified Family Practice physician and a certified physician assistant. All currently enrolled students of St. Mary's University are eligible to receive care at the Student Health Center. Spouses and children of enrolled students must seek care outside of the Student Health Center. Graduating students from St. Mary's University should begin the process of seeking a primary care physician in the community at least 30 days prior to graduation so that there is no interruption in patient care.

Student Identification Cards

During the registration processes each student is responsible for obtaining a Rattler Identification Card from the Technical Support Desk located in the Cotrell Learning Commons. The Rattler card is necessary for participating in student activities, elections, athletic and cultural events; for checking out books from St. Mary's library and other college libraries; for use in the Registrar's Office, the Business Office, and the Bookstore; for use as a meal card in the Dining Facilities and other official uses by the University. All students are required to carry their identification while on campus and must present it upon the request of any University official.

Student Integrity and Welfare

St. Mary's University's approach to student conduct and behavior is educational rather than punitive. All students matriculating at St. Mary's University are expected to conduct themselves as responsible adults and are held accountable for their behavior.

Judicial authority is vested in the Vice Provost for Student Development/Dean of Students. The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Development/Dean of Students is the principal area designated by the University for responding to all non-academic student misconduct. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is the principal university officer designated by the University for responding to all academic misconduct. The Vice Provost for Student Development/Dean of Students has designated the Coordinator of Student Integrity and Welfare to administer the University's non-academic misconduct policies as listed in all University publications, including the Code of Student Conduct. 

Testing Services

The testing services offer a variety of tests including admission testing, placement tests, certification tests and departmental tests.  It also serves as a national testing center for a variety of programs including CLEP, THEA, LSAT, MPRE, etc.  Testing fees are set by the particular program with some additional administrative charges added.  Individual proctoring is available for online courses.  The administrative office for Testing is located within the Student Counseling Center.