The Commuter Center and Off-Campus Services Office provides services for commuter students, nationally defined as “all students who do not live in university owned housing.” At St. Thomas, that’s 70 percent of undergraduate students, some coming from across the street and some from across the Twin Cities. The population is extremely diverse, from ethnicity to religion to courses of study.

If you need help or have questions, these people can help you:

• Jessica Arbour, Commuter Center coordinator, who oversees the desk and programming and hosts the freshman/transfer commuter orientation program.
• Kris Trimble, the off-campus housing manager, who is in charge of all issues related to housing, the available-housing list, tenants’ rights and landlord complaint processes.
• Michael Davis, the graduate and nontraditional student coordinator, who addresses the needs of non-traditional students.

The Commuter Center and Off-Campus Services Office is located in the lower level of Murray-Herrick Campus Center near the Post Office and Scooter’s. Here is a general list of the services the center offers:

Free legal advice: A representative from Moore, Costello, and Hart is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Wednesday to discuss matters with students, free of charge. Common issues include landlord complaints and related tenants’ rights; however, the attorney is not allowed to discuss any grievances against the university.

Landlord complaint file: The off-campus housing manager maintains a complaint file that students should use to file grievances against their landlords. Issues include pest infestation, withholding the damage deposit and even discrimination. The landlords are given an opportunity to respond. If warranted, the complaint will be forwarded to the proper authorities on behalf of the student.

Graduate and non-traditional student services: The GNTS coordinator is in charge of facilitating group meetings and activities for students returning to campus or completing courses at the graduate level.

All College Council commuter representatives: The ACC commuter representatives, Jessica Arbour and Nathan Schultz, are familiar faces (and employees) of the center. Feel free to contact them with any issues you may have to bring to the ACC.

Convenience items: The Commuter Student Lounge in the lower level of Murray-Herrick Campus Center provides the following convenience items for students to use while on campus:

• Computers (2 Macs, 2 IBM PCs)
• Microwave
• Refrigerator
• Phones
• School supply lending services
• Chippewa Springs water
• Comfy couches
• Coffee maker

Programming: The following is a tentative list of some of the activities planned for fall semester. Stay tuned to Bulletin Today for more details (or stop in the center).

• Bagel Wednesdays (first Wednesday of each month)
• Cheap-seats movies (last Thursday of each month)
• Bowling night
• Slumber party
• Vikings-Packers party
• Oktoberfest (pumpkins and caramel apples)
• Midterm Meltdown (flu shots, massages)

Take time to stop into the center if you’ve never been in before. Be sure to take advantage of the services that the center offers, since they have been created to suit your needs. Make the Commuter Center your home away from home!