Kolbe School Opens Success Center as a Hub for Student Growth, Wellness, Community

University of St. Thomas-Houston adds another center to the long list of locations on campus dedicated to student success. The Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies opened its Kolbe Success Center in August 2025.

The Kolbe Success Center celebrated its Grand Opening with a blessing by Fr. Dempsey Rosales Acosta, Interim President, and a tour of the space to all who attended on August 18, 2025. Kolbe School staff said the attendance was "overwhelming" and is a testament to how beloved Kolbe School students are on campus.

Dr. Nicole Walters, Dean of the Kolbe School, said the students, faculty and staff are blessed to have this space.

"We are so thankful to the University community for enabling us to utilize this for our Associates students," she said. "The Kolbe retention rate is higher than the national average of two-year Associates Programs. Our Pragmatics Studies Program continues to grow, and we need vital space for their on-campus learning and instruction. We are also particularly proud to have a mental health wellness coach who works in tandem with Kolbe to offer much-needed support to our faculty and students."

Behind the Art Gallery and across from Carriage House, the Kolbe Success Center is for all Kolbe School students to gain essential resources as it relates to service-learning opportunities, mental wellness support, academic support and readiness for the Associates Programs. Instructors may also use this space for classroom instruction, individual office hours and office space. Also, in partnership with Cisco, there is the Cisco Academy which offers technology learning for certification credentials in the space. There are spaces for rest, relaxation and fellowship with peers after a long day of hard work.

Dr. Walters mentions how key this physical space is to the success of students in two-year programs like this.

"Associate students struggle with belonging on a traditional college campus," she said. "The resources available will allow them to have their space for learning, growing and becoming a vital part of the University. This is especially important for our online students who may feel disconnected as they are not on campus oftentimes. This enables them to be woven in the fabric and be a significant part of the campus community."

This was a unique remodel as the Kolbe School Pragmatic Studies students remodeled the space as a part of their service learning and internships. All remodeling was done with the leadership and vision of Kolbe School faculty led by Dr. Tera Torres, Chair of the Pragmatics Studies Program.

"We are so proud of our students, and we hope this will attract internal and external stakeholders to learn more about Kolbe and our significant part of being a successful program within the University," Dr. Walters said. "We are especially thankful to Cisco for partnering with us in an effort to attract additional partners toward the development and allocation of much needed resources for student support and success."

The trailblazing Pragmatic Studies Program at UST's Kolbe School was developed for students with learning differences. It is the only program of its kind in the country and has a waiting list every year. Since its inaugural class of 12 students in 2023, the Pragmatic Studies program now serves more than 165 students with learning differences with 48 interns this past summer. This fall, four Pragmatic Studies students began their graduate school journey at UST focusing in areas such as education, cyber security and business.

Dr. Walters credits much of the success to Student Success Coach, Chianti Grantham, who works closely with all students, faculty and staff at UST. She was also just featured in Inside Higher Ed for her work in student success.

The Kolbe School team is ready to make the Kolbe Success Center feel like home for all its students, providing an environment where students feel included, supported and loved.

"We feel strongly that the center will continue our incredible work of student support and academic readiness strategies," Dr. Walters said. "Here in Kolbe School, we meet our students where they are and are thankful that they enable us to unlock their God-given potential."

See all of the courses offered in the Pragmatic Studies program.