Message from the Dean

Welcome. All of us who work in the School of Undergraduate Studies are dedicated to the hope that every student at the University will take away a fine education, along with cheerful memories of the good times they have had in the process.

I know that most UT faculty are building good memories. That is because we have such good students, better every year, and because the campus provides us opportunities to do the things we love. I have taught here for over 35 years, and I can testify to the improvement of the student body.

Many students will remember with pleasure the seminars they took in the Signature Course Program—small classes with good faculty, usually taught in lovely rooms right under the Tower. Others will remember larger courses in the same program, with dazzling faculty and requirements tailored to the needs of first-year students.

Over half of all students will look back on their First-year Interest Groups with gratitude. These small cohorts of beginning students help each other adjust to the demands of university life.

And all of our graduates will have negotiated their way through the core curriculum—the general education requirements that go beyond those of the academic major. Our job is to make sure that the courses they take are good, and that students are able to choose a set of core courses that work well for them. Our advisors will help with that.

In the near future, many of our students will be able to say that they graduated on time because they met with an advisor in Undergraduate Studies, in person or on the web, who helped them choose majors they could complete on time—majors which would help launch them toward the careers of their dreams.

These are only some of the ways Undergraduate Studies can help students toward a rewarding education. Make the most of our resources. Look through these pages, and contact us if you have any questions.