Academic Resources

Graduate Center for Excellence

The Graduate Center for Excellence, located on the third floor of the Louis J. Blume Library, includes collaborative learning stations with extensive access to technology designed exclusively for graduate student use.  The Graduate Center for Excellence hosts programming to support graduate student success, including seminars to support research and writing.  More details can be found at www.stmarytx.edu/gce.

Library and Academic Technology Services

Library and Academic Technology Services (ATS), including the Louis J Blume Library, Learning Assistance Center, Academic Media Center, and Center for Instructional Technology, were created to combine all those academic support services which facilitate and enhance individual and group instruction. The individual components of Library and Academic Technology Services have unique purposes and functions listed below:

Academic Library

The Blume Library offers a wide variety of resources in print and non-print media. The three-story building is designed for both individual and group study research. It contains 100,000 square feet of floor space with seating for 450.  Wi-Fi is available throughout the building for the St. Mary’s community.

 Located on the second floor are government documents, a small art gallery with rotating exhibitions, and seating areas for quiet study. The second floor also houses the Marianist Collection, the Map Collection, the Teacher Education Collection, and the Juvenile Literature Collection. 

The third floor contains the primary circulating collection and Special Collections. Also on the third floor are the Learning Assistance Center and quiet study seating at open carrels. The third floor also contains the new Center for Graduate Excellence.  

The library provides 24-hour access to over 35,000 electronic serials and aggregated databases. The online collection also consists of a growing collection of over 120,000 eBooks. Librarians provide instruction and workshops in library use, much of it tailored to individual classes, and a full range of reference services.

The Cotrell Learning Commons is located on the first floor and is accessible from the Library or through a separate entrance. The Commons provides space for informal individual and group study, with seating for 250 individuals. The Research Desk and a Starbucks coffee shop are located in the Commons.  Also located in the Commons are the Technical Support Center, Academic Technology Services, Academic Media Center, and the Media Viewing Room.

Academic Media Center

The Academic Media Center (AMC), a branch of Academic Technology Services, is located in the Charles L. Cotrell Learning Commons on the 1st Floor of the Louis J. Blume Library. The AMC serves students and faculty in the development of media-based instruction and learning.  AMC provides tutorials and workshops in creative media development, media-rich presentations, video, and digital photo editing for academic work. The AMC media professionals assist students with the development of instructional materials, in cooperation with the faculty, for classroom use.

The Media Center’s 10 multimedia computers are all configured with the industry-standard Adobe and Apple software for developing creative and powerful multimedia. In addition the AMC provides two sound-proof booths for video editing, along with its 52-seat Media Viewing Room presentation review. Finally, our Media Center also provides faculty, students, and staff with equipment reservations for items such as laptops, cameras, projectors, and screens for academic use.

Center for Instructional Technology

The Center for Instructional Technology (CIT), a branch of Academic Technology Services, is located in the Charles L. Cotrell Learning Commons on the 1st Floor of the Louis J. Blume Library. The CIT provides the primary training facility for instructional technology workshops and professional development series.  Think of the CIT as the “How-To” training center. The door is open.

The CIT’s training lab has 12 multimedia computers are all configured with the industry-standard Adobe software such as Photoshop. Each training station can run both Windows and Mac operating systems for diversity.

Through the CIT and the AMC, Academic Technology Services provides faculty, students, and staff with the training, support, and development to infuse instructional technology throughout St. Mary's teaching and learning environment.

Learning Assistance Center

Learning Assistance Center (LAC), located on the 3rd Floor of the Louis J. Blume Library, serves St. Mary's University by providing instructional resources for students, staff, and faculty in a learner-oriented environment. The LAC offers tutorial support and group work in the following academic areas: accounting, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, English, engineering, foreign languages, mathematics, physics and statistics.

The LAC also supports students needing individualized instruction in English as a Second Language. The Writing Center, housed in the LAC, gives students the opportunity to work with peer-tutors on any writing task from prewriting to finished paper. For students who wish to work independently, the LAC provides programmed instruction, audio/visual materials, computer software and an extensive learning library with textual resources in all subjects.

Information Technology Services

Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the University community with high quality technology infrastructure and services in support of its mission to prepare and educate leaders of tomorrow's world. Students coming to St. Mary's University are asked to bring a laptop to campus. All student dorms provide Internet access to residents. Over 80% (58/68) of classrooms are equipped with projection and Internet access, and approximately 1/3 of the classrooms are wired for student connectivity. We support a Web-based course management system allowing students access to course materials, communicating with instructors and fellow students, and submission of coursework and assignments. Wireless access is available in all open areas such as the library, the university center, and Java City.

The Technical Support Center (TSC) provides prompt and friendly support for all students, staff and faculty of St. Mary’s. We welcome you to communicate with us by phone, email, online and walk-in for computing/technology support.  The TSC is located in the Charles L. Cotrell Learning Commons on the 1st Floor of the Louis J. Blume Library.

The academic library houses a student computer lab containing 36 Dell desktop computers and two HP LaserJet printers. Various departments and programs support their own specialized computer labs with software tools for students to use.

United Colleges of San Antonio

In 1970, the governing boards of the University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary's University of San Antonio, and Oblate School of Theology adopted an agreement to develop and maintain a cooperative enterprise for undergraduate and graduate learning in San Antonio. The institutions cooperate with each other through a central coordinating body.