Navigating UT Dallas: A Comprehensive Guide to Student Union Services and Resources

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) provides a wide array of services and resources designed to support students' academic, personal, and professional growth. The Student Union serves as a central hub for campus life, offering spaces for relaxation, recreation, and engagement. This article explores the various services and resources available to UTD students, with a particular focus on those offered within and in collaboration with the Student Union.

Division of Student Affairs: A Foundation of Support

The Division of Student Affairs is committed to developing the knowledge and skills of its staff, recognizing that professional development is essential for maintaining a standard of excellence. This commitment extends to students through numerous units, each dedicated to specific aspects of student life. The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs oversees these units, ensuring a cohesive and supportive environment.

Key Departments Within Student Affairs

Fraternity and Sorority Life: This department oversees 26 national Greek fraternities and sororities, providing opportunities for scholarship, service, and social engagement.
University Housing: Responsible for the University’s residence halls and apartments, this department establishes housing policies and procedures, reviews maintenance, and manages financial reports.
Intercultural Programs: This department offers experiences that develop, promote, and enhance intercultural competence, supporting the integration of international students into campus life.
Office of Community Standards and Conduct: This office promotes awareness of the University’s expectations of behavior, holds students accountable for violations, and develops educational sanctions to address the consequences of student decisions, encouraging student learning, growth, and development.
Student Counseling Center: The center’s professional staff of licensed psychologists and counselors is available by appointment or in times of emergency and helps students maintain the emotional well-being necessary for their success. Sexual assault recovery services are also available.
Student Health Center: The Student Health Center provides quality care for acute and stabilized chronic illnesses, minor injuries, women’s care, and preventative health care. Visits are free to currently enrolled students, with nominal fees for lab work, medications, and certain procedures. Care is provided by a staff of licensed, registered, and certified professionals.
Student Media: Encompassing The Mercury (the bi-weekly student newspaper), Radio UTD, UTD-TV, and AMP, Student Media provides platforms for student expression and journalistic endeavors. The Mercury publishes bi-weekly on Mondays throughout the school year.
Student Transition Programs: This office plans and arranges Freshman Orientations, Comet Camp, Success Camp, and the Road Warriors program. The office also provides involvement opportunities specific to the transfer, sophomore, junior, and senior student populations.
University Career Center: The University Career Center offers a variety of services for students at all stages of their job search process. Services include career counselors, mock interview training, and resume review. Students can also log in to Handshake to schedule an appointment for a resume review or career assessments. Students should register online through CareerWorks to find on- and off-campus employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities.
University Recreation: University Recreation includes aquatics, club sports, fitness, intramural sports, and informal recreation. The Activity Center includes a fitness area, racquetball, squash and basketball courts, a climbing wall, a multipurpose room, and an indoor swimming pool. Outdoors, there are sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, and softball, baseball and soccer fields.
Military and Veteran Center: The Military and Veteran Center is a resource center for veterans, reservists, eligible dependents and active duty military students attending UT Dallas. Staff in the center can help students access information about VA benefits, financial aid, scholarship opportunities and on- and off-campus veterans support services. The center offers a veterans· lounge that allows students to meet and greet other vets. The office of the VA certifying official is also located in the center.
Student Success Center: Whether it is individualized tutoring, Peer-Led Team Learning, Supplemental Instruction, coordinated group study, or another approach to improving academic achievement, the Student Success Center makes every attempt to assist students in achieving their academic goals across a wide variety of subject areas. Services include the Math Lab, Writing Center, Success Coaching, Testing Center and Peer-Led tutoring.
Student Wellness Center: The Student Wellness Center promotes health, fitness and responsible personal choices among UT Dallas students through educational programs, resources and individual consultations.

The Student Union: A Hub of Activity

The Student Union is a central location for students to hang out, eat, and relax. Open seven days a week, it includes a TV lounge, study areas, pool and Ping-Pong tables, the Comet Café, and multipurpose rooms. The Student Union also provides extension cords for special events. All cords must be properly covered by a carpet cover or taped to the floor to prevent tripping. Groups should consult with Student Union staff to ensure safe placement and coverage of cords.

Space Reservations and Event Planning

Mazévo is the UTD Student Union’s event scheduling software for all indoor and outdoor Student Union spaces. Reservation requests can currently be submitted through Mazévo for the Fall 2025 semester. To submit a reservation request, log in at utdunion.mymazevo.com using your UTD NetID and password. If you do not have an account already, you will need to request one. Each semester, student organizations submit three official space schedulers to the Student Organization Center (SOC) when they re-register their organization. Individuals who are not associated with any of the above groups may not submit reservation requests through Mazévo.

Student Union staff are responsible for the set up of all events in Student Union spaces. If it is determined that a group's event needs are greater than the Student Union's capabilities, university facilities may be referred. The screening of any copyrighted movie to a group is illegal without obtaining the Public Performance Rights for the film. For reservations in Student Union spaces, furniture will be provided. If it is determined that a group's event needs are greater than the Student Union's capabilities, university facilities may be referred. If these areas do not have what is needed, the equipment/furniture will have to be rented from an outside company. The removal of permanent Student Union furniture from a space, such as dining tables, lounge furniture, etc. is prohibited.

Read also: Understanding Student Unions

SUAAB Collaborations

SUAAB (Student Union Activities Advisory Board) defines a collaboration as a mutually beneficial partnership between two or more organizations or departments that help build useful relationships between all parties involved for the betterment of the entire UT Dallas community. Collaborations are important to SUAAB because they provide resources that SUAAB may not otherwise have been able to develop, bring in students that would not have otherwise been exposed to SUAAB programs, and expands the network of individuals involved in the SUAAB programming process. SUAAB plans their events a semester in advance. For instance, Fall events are planned in the Spring prior and Spring events are planned in the Fall prior. Therefore, all discussions of collaborations are ideally facilitated a semester in advance of the proposed event. The form should be filled out at least 3 months prior to the collaboration. Collaborations are accepted case by case. SUAAB is not a funding board, meaning that it is not able to give grants to different organizations or departments to fund their events. Rather, SUAAB can work through collaborations to help from a financial standpoint, meaning that both the SUAAB and the other organization(s)/department(s) have a significant role in the event’s planning and running. You can get involved with SUAAB as a volunteer. Volunteers are recruited per event. Our events prioritize UT Dallas current students first and foremost. Events require attendees to scan a QR code using the UT Dallas Mobile App in order to participate.

Student Union Spaces: Guidelines and Regulations

Several guidelines and regulations are in place to ensure the smooth operation and enjoyment of Student Union spaces for all users:

Alcohol Sales: The sale of alcohol is only to be tendered by Buffalo Wild Wings staff.
Accessibility: Every effort will be made to assist people with accessibility needs.
Transportation: The riding of bicycles, skates, inline skates, scooters, skateboards and other related forms of transportation inside Student Union spaces is strictly prohibited. Items must be locked up at designated locking stations with personal locks. Parking of bicycles and other related forms of transportation outside entrances of Student Union spaces is strictly prohibited.
Cleanliness: Guests of Student Union spaces are expected to maintain the general cleanliness of the area which they are using. All spaces should be left in the condition in which they were set. To maintain a safe and clean environment for all, guests are expected to properly dispose of trash in the proper trash receptacles.
Decorations: All decorations must be completely removed, and rooms/areas cleaned after an event. In the SSA and SU, helium balloons must be attached to a weight. All balloons should be disposed of immediately following an event. Balloons are not allowed in the SSB.
Digital Signage: All digital screens in Student Union spaces are controlled by Student Affairs Marketing. All requests to promote events, programs, etc. must be made to Student Affairs Marketing via the Digital Signage approval process.
Emergency Services: For any university-sponsored events in Student Union spaces, university administration may determine, without the consent of an event organizer, that an event requires emergency services.
Gambling and Graffiti: Gambling and Graffiti within Student Union spaces is strictly prohibited.
Lost and Found: All cash items and items of value (electronics, jewelry, Comet Cards, etc.) that are turned in to Student Union control desks are held in their departmental safe for a week. Student Union spaces cannot hold any items for any person for any reason.
Music: All music played in the first-level common area of the Student Union must be approved by Student Union administration. Noise makers of any kind are strictly prohibited in Student Union spaces.
Outdoor Spaces: The Student Union manages and maintains all outdoor space adjacent to Student Union spaces. Reservable areas include the SU Green, SU Mall and Chess Plaza. Reservations for those spaces are made through Mazevo.

Additional Regulations

Chalking: Chalking is not allowed on any interior or exterior surface of Student Union spaces.
Kitchen Appliances: Please note that kitchen appliances are not allowed on booth tables surfaces or Student Union furniture.
Donation Boxes: Donation boxes may be displayed for a maximum of two weeks, and the donated items must be picked up weekly. The requesting group will solely be responsible for the boxes, including drop-off, maintenance, and pick-up. If boxes are overflowing with donated materials, Student Union staff reserve the right to relocate donated materials/donation boxes.
Furniture: The removal of permanent Student Union furniture from a space, such as dining tables, lounge furniture, etc. is prohibited.
Severe Weather: The Student Union will open following normal operating hours. The Student Union Dining Hall will close. If weather conditions are so severe as to make conditions in the Student Union inoperative, Student Union administration will consult with university officials to decide on the hours of the spaces.
Egress Paths: No items may be stacked as to impede the egress path. Any events hosted in Student Union spaces must ensure clear pathways for pedestrians. Aisle ways must be kept clear at all times during programs. Exits must always open and be accessible.
Speech Expression and Assembly: According to the Speech Expression and Assembly policy (UTDSP5001), academic units, administrative units, and registered student, faculty, and staff organizations may submit a reservation form to erect General Exhibits or display an A-frame exhibit (sign). All requests must be made at least three business days (Monday through Friday) in advance.
Ping-Pong and Pool Tables: The Ping-Ping tables are not available for reservation. Tables are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Pool tables and equipment may only be used for standard billiards style game play. The pool tables are not available for reservation. Tables are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Prohibited Items: Items that jeopardize safety, facility, event and/or program enjoyment are strictly prohibited.
Smoking and Tobacco: Smoking and tobacco use is not permitted anywhere on the UT Dallas campus.
Minors: Minors that are not students are not permitted to reserve equipment in Student Union spaces.

Engaging in Campus Life

UT Dallas offers numerous avenues for students to get involved and make the most of their college experience.

Freshman Commuter Program: Designed for freshmen during their first-year at UT Dallas, the Freshman Commuter Program connects commuters to campus. Students are placed into small groups led by an Orientation Leader. The groups will meet a few times during the semester for study sessions, meals on campus, attend games or campus events, and learn about how to get involved in other organizations!
Spirit Programs: Spirit Programs include UT Dallas Cheerleaders, Power Dancers, our mascot Temoc, the Pep Band and the Crush Crew.
Road Warrior Commuter Student Program: The Road Warrior Commuter Student Program is committed to enriching the collegiate experience of commuter students. Commuter students attend campus socials, university sports events, educational programs and more.
Student Government: Student Government is the official representative body and voice of UT Dallas students. Students have the opportunity to participate through serving on committees, running for office or voting in elections.
Student Organizations: Student organizations play an important role in campus life. Throughout the year, various organizations sponsor activities and service projects for the campus community.

Additional Resources

Career Center: The Career Center offers a variety of services for students, including career expos and internship programs. You also can log in to Handshake to schedule an appointment for a resume review or career assessments.
Student Counseling Center: Programs in the Student Counseling Center help students maintain the emotional well-being necessary for success. Help is given to students to manage academic and personal demands more effectively. The Student Counseling Center’s staff of licensed psychologists and counselors are available by appointment or in times of emergency. All counseling is confidential.
Student Health Center: The Student Health Center offers free primary and preventative care for students, including minor emergency care, treatment of chronic stabilized diseases, sports physicals and more. Students, faculty and staff can also take advantage of free flu shots offered while supplies last.
Student Transition Programs: Student Transition Programs help UT Dallas students adjust, get connected, stay focused and make a more seamless transition from one classification to the next.

Read also: Campus Life at Ole Miss

Read also: Student Union at Fresno State

tags: #utd #student #union #services #and #resources