Office of Student Engagement

The College of Liberal Arts offers students the largest number of majors of any college at The University of Texas at Austin. Students study majors from across cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields, the humanities, foreign languages and cultures, and the social sciences. To learn more about the College’s academic offerings, enrichment opportunities, and more, sign up for an in-person or virtual information session or visit our prospective student page.

The Path to Admission through Co-Enrollment (PACE) program offers alternate entrance to The University of Texas at Austin to select students. PACE participants spend their freshman year on the Forty Acres part-time, taking one class per semester at the university while completing the majority of their coursework at nearby Austin Community College (ACC) – Rio Grande. At the end of the year, those who successfully complete PACE requirements continue their undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin full-time and on track for on-time graduation, and are automatically admissible to a number of majors in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Education, Moody College of Communication or the Steven Hicks School of Social Work.

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All incoming COLA students are required to attend New Student Orientation. These sessions are held throughout the summer and in January. At Orientation, students will learn about resources available within the College of Liberal Arts, have a required meeting with a professional academic advisor, meet with a student orientation advisor, and receive information about first year connection opportunities.

A First-year Interest Group (FIG) consists of 15-20 first-year students who take 1-2 courses together as well as a one-hour weekly seminar co-led by both a peer mentor and staff facilitator. These seminars are designed to help Liberal Arts students get to know each other and be a part of a small community as they navigate their first semester at UT Austin.

A Transfer-year Interest Group (TrIG) consists of 15-20 transfer students who take 1-2 courses together as well as a one-hour weekly seminar co-led by both a peer mentor and staff facilitator. These seminars are designed to help Liberal Arts students get to know each other and be a part of a small community as they navigate their first semester at UT Austin.

LA 101P is a one-credit course that provides Liberal Arts students with content that addresses academic and non-academic life at the university, especially if it is your first year attending UT Austin. LA 101P is a great way to learn about campus resources, get involved in student communities, and take early steps in career exploration. Students who complete LA 101P will be more readily equipped to maximize university services available to them while attending UT Austin. Course content includes topics about academic transition, health and well-being, and career engagement.

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The Foundation Scholars Program (FSP) is an academic transition program for students who have a demonstrated record of academic achievement and are strongly motivated to maintain a tradition of academic excellence at UT Austin. The invitation-only program assigns first-year students with a well-trained peer mentor for their first academic year. Along with a peer mentor, students in FSP take a 1-hour course (LA 101P) in their fall semester, have access to a dedicated support coordinator, and the opportunity to attend numerous events focusing on their holistic development. The goal of FSP is to work with students to create community, develop leadership skills, connect students to resources at UT Austin, and promote academic success.

The College of Liberal Arts is committed to providing holistic, wraparound support that impacts not only academic success, but all aspects of a student’s life, including mental health, social connections, career exploration, and much more.

The Humanitas Student Well-Being Collective strives to foster a culture of empathy, kindness, and support for Liberal Arts students. We offer a wide array of events and programming, including our semesterly Poetry on the Pond event, weekly Wellness Labs, visits from therapy dogs, therapeutic art activities, and frequent opportunities to learn about the wide variety of well-being resources on campus.

Located on the 2nd floor of the Jester Dormitory, the newly opened Liberal Arts Student Well-Being Center is a sanctuary for holistic student support, and a home for the Humanitas Student Well-Being Collective. Liberal Arts students have a space to relax and recharge to boost their academic and personal growth. The space features:

• A serene lounge with a menu of therapeutic activities, a relaxation station with an anti-gravity chair, a wellness library, a mini-UT Outpost, and more.
• A dedicated meeting room for workshops with campus partners such as Liberal Arts Career Services, the Counseling and Mental Health Center, the Longhorn Wellness Center, the Sanger Learning Center, and many others. This space is also available for use by student organizations.
• Frequent opportunities to meet 1:1 with career coaches, counselors, and other student support professionals.

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Dean’s Ambassadors is one of the premier student leadership organizations in the College of Liberal Arts. Students majoring in the liberal arts are selected to represent the college in a wide variety of programming across campus. The goal of the Dean’s Ambassadors is to inform prospective students and their families about university and College of Liberal Arts programs and resources.

Liberal Arts Council (LAC) serves as the official student voice and governing body for the College of Liberal Arts – one of the largest student populations at The University of Texas at Austin. LAC serves as the principle liaison among students, faculty, and administration and strives to improve student life and address academic concerns through active student government. Visit www.utlac.org for more information about Liberal Arts Council.

Wellness Ambassadors (aka “Wellies”) are Liberal Arts students with an interest in holistic wellness, mental health, and assessing and improving the student experience. They represent the core values of Humanitas and help promote a culture of empathy, kindness, and support across the College. They are well-informed about campus resources for well-being, and are prepared to share that knowledge with other students who may benefit from it. They are encouraged to share their personal lived experience as a means of validating that of other students and fostering a welcoming, positive community across our programming. For for information email colawellbeingcenter@austin.utexas.edu

 

Registered Student Organization funding requests create an opportunity for student organizations to receive financial support from the College for key events and programs. The process can take several weeks and only complete applications will be considered.

• All organizations that apply for funds should directly serve and/or engage Liberal Arts students. The event should be academic in nature and inclusive of all populations of students.
• To apply for funds, complete the Student Organization Funding Request Form. Please email COLA’s Office of Student Engagement at ose@utexas.edu if you have any questions.

Reservable Spaces

• Are you looking for a Liberal Arts space to facilitate a meeting or host an event for your student organization? Consider one of the options below.
  • Martin Dies Student Center is located on the first floor of Patton Hall (RLP 1.110). Contact COLA’s Office of Student Engagement at ose@utexas.edu to make a room reservation request. 
  • The Wagner Workroom adjoins the Dies Center and can seat up to 20 people. The workroom is a great space for meetings and small events. Contact COLA’s Office of Student Engagement at ose@utexas.edu to make a room reservation request.
  • The Community Room in the COLA Well-Being Center is located on the second floor of Jester (JES A-223A). The Community Room features a large screen with AirPlay connection, movable tables, and a capacity of 10-15 people depending on room layout. Contact the COLA Well-Being Center at colawellbeingcenter@austin.utexas.edu to reserve the space.

 

 

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Registered Student Organization funding requests create an opportunity for student organizations to receive financial support from the College for key events and programs. The process can take several weeks and only complete applications will be considered.

All organizations that apply for funds should directly serve and/or engage Liberal Arts students. The event should be academic in nature and inclusive of all populations of students.

To apply for funds, complete the Student Organization Funding Request Form. Please email COLA’s Office of Student Engagement at ose@utexas.edu if you have any questions.

Are you looking for a Liberal Arts space to facilitate a meeting or host an event for your student organization? Consider one of the options below.

• Martin Dies Student Center is located on the first floor of Patton Hall (RLP 1.110). Contact COLA’s Office of Student Engagement at ose@utexas.edu to make a room reservation request. 
• The Wagner Workroom adjoins the Dies Center and can seat up to 20 people. The workroom is a great space for meetings and small events. Contact COLA’s Office of Student Engagement at ose@utexas.edu to make a room reservation request.
• The Community Room in the COLA Well-Being Center is located on the second floor of Jester (JES A-223A). The Community Room features a large screen with AirPlay connection, movable tables, and a capacity of 10-15 people depending on room layout. Contact the COLA Well-Being Center at colawellbeingcenter@austin.utexas.edu to reserve the space.

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