Latest News

Cougar Cupboard Campus Food Pantry Opens at University Lofts

The University of Houston (UH) Cougar Cupboard has been combating food insecurity on campus since January 2020. This month, Cougar Cupboard Staff will celebrate a long-awaited opening at a new location in University Lofts. The Cougar Cupboard is a crucial resource on campus, as one in three university students report concerns related to food insecurity.

“We are excited to have a permanent location on campus again to provide student support in an area of essential need,” said Jessica Haney (’21), program manager for the Cougar Cupboard. “Our new, larger space will allow for reduced wait times and more storage for a wider variety of food. We also have dedicated space for resources and collaborations.”

Plans for the Grand Opening are slated for mid-April, but students will not have to wait too long to gain  access to the fresh produce, dry goods and hygiene products provided. A soft opening is planned for the first week of April and will mark a shift from the distributions that previously took place at the UH Student Center.

“Having a permanent location again means we can switch from weekly distributions to being open consistently throughout the week, giving students more options to come in,” Haney said.

You can learn more about the resources offered through the Cougar Cupboard, register for the Food for Change program and sign up to volunteer on the Cougar Cupboard website.

A Student’s Perspective: Campus Library Breakdown

By Sakeenah Raji, Marketing Assistant for Student Housing & Residential Life

As one of the quietest places on campus, it is no wonder lots of students, especially commuters, find solace in the University of Houston (UH) M.D. Anderson Library. Students come to the library to study with friends or alone, pick up reading material or use resources like computers and printers. The library, however, has lots of different floors that students may be less familiar with. Read on if you are eager to know more about the different floors.

Starting off with the basics, the library is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight. To enter the library, your Cougar Card must be presented or scanned.

The First Floor contains the Service Desk, North and South Computer Labs and printing services. At the Service Desk, students can check borrowed books in and out or learn more about the library and its resources. There is also a “Leisure” reading section that houses novels catering to different interests as well as physical media, like DVDs. The First Floor also has a 24-hour lounge located near the main entrance which contains a vending machine, study tables and ADA accessible bathrooms. There are stairs that lead to the Pavilion where classes sometimes take place. This floor also features a beautiful balcony that overlooks the library.

In my experience, the basement of the library is the least used floor; however, students go there to meet up with friends, pray or look through the books stored there. It is less used because many students are not familiar with it, and the books contained there are government documents, current journals, bound journals, maps and newspapers.

If you follow the staircases to the Second Floor, you will find the Honors College and the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion. Rockwell Pavilion is a popular location for campus events because of the beautiful ambience of plants and string light decorations. The UH Library Administration, Special Collections and Digital Research Commons, which help to facilitate interdisciplinary research, can also be found on this floor.

You may not know this, but within the library there are the Brown and Blue Wings, which contain more than 150 individual study carrels. These carrels are located on the second through sixth floors of the library and are available to students who prefer a quieter study environment. Blue Wing carrels on floors three and four require a key, which can be checked out from the Service Desk with your Cougar Card. However, there are open carrels on floors five and six which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Brown Wing carrels are located on floors two through five, do not require a key and are also first come, first served.

If you are looking for a more social atmosphere, the Third Floor is notorious for being lively, especially during the weekdays, and is great for group study and discussions. If you are looking to study solo, try to snag a study carrel for a more focused experience. The Faculty Senate Office, responsible for policy making and representing faculty in and outside UH, is also located on this floor.

Floors four through six offer carrells and cubicles for individual study. There is usually a large demand for these spaces, so it is best to plan accordingly or consider alternatives. Currently, the seventh and eighth floors are not available for student access.

The library is a wonderful place to study and offers a variety of resources that cater to students' needs. Be sure to check the individual carrels in the Blue and Brown wings located on the second through fifth floors, host organization events in the pavilion or chat with friends on the third floor. If the library is not your cup of tea for a study spot, you can always print your resume at the computer labs, borrow a book for leisure reading or catch up with friends at the lounge!

Mental Wellness Tips: How To Cope with Anxiety in College

Sourced from Harvard Health Blog

Even amid the rush of final exams and graduation celebrations at this time of year, college beckons with the chance to live on your own, find new friends and explore interesting ideas. Yet for college students these changes can also be stressful. Read on for tips on coping with anxiety during this exciting, yet stressful time of life.

Approach, do not avoid. College is challenging and many students cope by avoiding stressors (skipping class, staying in bed all day). However, we know that avoidance tends to make anxiety worse over time. Instead, practice taking small steps to approach anxiety-provoking situations. If you are struggling in a class, try emailing the professor for help. If you are feeling lonely, try introducing yourself to someone in the dining hall. Not at college yet? Practice this skill over the summer by participating in pre-college programs on campus.

Practice self-care. Many students struggle to maintain healthy eating habits, consistent exercise, and regular sleep without the structure of home. But self-care behaviors like these are extremely important for regulating mood and helping people cope with stress. Try to establish your own self-care routine — preferably before you even start college. Good sleep hygiene is key. Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up time each day. Avoid using your bed for activities other than sleep, like studying. Limit caffeine in the evening and limit alcohol altogether, as it interferes with restful sleep.

Find resources on campus. Many colleges offer resources to help students navigate the initial transition to campus and cope with stress. Investigate campus resources for academic advising, study support, peer counseling and student mental health. If you have been diagnosed with a mental health issue, such as an anxiety disorder, you may also want to find a mental health provider near campus. If you struggle with anxiety and you will l be starting college next year, you may find it helps to establish a relationship with a therapist beforehand.

Featured Events

End of Spring 2024 Checkout Reminder

The Student Housing Agreement covers the duration of the 2023-2024 academic year, which ends on Sunday, May 12. As a result, students in most residence halls are required to vacate the premises by this specified date to avoid penalties. Refer to the information below for proper checkout procedures.

To ensure a smooth checkout process, please adhere to the following steps:

• Remove all possessions from your room or bed space.
• Return room furniture to its original configuration.
• Empty and clean all surfaces and drawers.
• Remove all items or decorations from the walls.
• Remove all items from your common space, clean surfaces and refrigerators.

Summer Application Process

Students who wish to live on campus for the summer term may only indicate a community preference instead of a specific room. Summer housing is typically available in The Quad.

Current or prospective residents of University Lofts have the option to continue living in their community during the summer term. Applicants who are current or future residents of Bayou Oaks are required to remain in their community for the duration of the summer term.

The application process for summer residency typically commences during the first week of March, immediately preceding the summer term. Room assignments for summer applicants will be based on room availability at the time assignments are made.

Announcements & Resources

Campus Resources

Campus Dining
832-842-9053

Center for Student Advocacy and Community
713-743-5558

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
713-743-5454

Cougar Cupboard
uhcupbrd@central.uh.edu

FIXIT
713-743-4948

Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center
713-743-5400

Learning Advancements UNdergraduate Cougars of Houston (LAUNCH)
713-743-5411

Parking & Transportation
832-842-1097

Student Health Center
713-743-5151

Student Housing & Residential Life (SHRL)
713-743-6000

University of Houston Police Department (UHPD)
713-743-3333

Campus Resource Spotlight - CAPS

Staff at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are committed to supporting University of Houston (UH) students on their journey towards living life to the fullest.

While experiencing stress, sadness and anxiety is a normal part of life,  many students may find themselves  in need of professional assistance to find peace and regain control over their lives.

In recognizing the significance of College Student Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, April 18, CAPS, along with other campus partners, aim to raise awareness about grief within the UH community. This initiative seeks to provide support and honor students, staff and faculty who are coping with the loss of a loved one.

Interested in joining the UH Student Grief Support Group? Meetings are held every Friday. To participate, please register here.

Student Leadership to Shine at The 2024 SHRL-ies!

Student Housing & Residential Life (SHRL) will host the SHRLies Awards Ceremony on Monday, April 22. This event aims to honor and celebrate  the outstanding contributions of SHRL student staff for their dedicated service and engagement efforts throughout the academic year.

Important Housing Deadlines

If you submitted a Student Housing Agreement for the 2024-2025 academic year, please be advised of the following cancellation deadlines and associated penalty fees.

For more information, please call 713-743-6000 or email housing@uh.edu.

Upcoming Events

Fiesta

• April 18-20, 2024
• One of the University of Houston’s (UH) most cherished traditions, Fiesta, returns for another year.

Summer 2024 Housing

• May 1, 2024
• Are you planning to stay on campus for classes over the summer? Submit your application for summer break housing before May 1.

Graduation

• May 8-11, 2024
• Mark your calendars for Spring 2024 graduation.

Spring Semester Closing

• May 12, 2024
• Your 2023-2024 Campus Housing Agreement ends on May 12. Be sure to follow the proper checkout procedure to reduce your risk of being fined.