UNTD Learning Commons

Howdy Trailblazing Jaguars,

Welcome and welcome back! Whether getting to the bag, going on vacation, or relaxing with a good book, we hope you made the most of your summer. While the first week is usually the most chill, it also can be overwhelming. You're getting your syllabi and seeing all the work you have to do. Before you get too worked up, come to the LC so we can discuss a plan for this daunting, yet exciting, journey.

With 250 years under its belt, this young country continues to embody that old American value: freedom. We took the desolation of peoples in 1492, the foundational brick of 1607, the spirit of 1776, the longsuffering of 1865, the resilience of 2026 and found a way, even in the division of minds, to fight for what actually makes America great. So when you celebrate this Fourth of July with the sweat of BBQ grills and pitchers of lemonade, the drip of smiling watermelons, the disbursement of laughter from table to table, remember how fortunate you are to be the enzyme catalyzing America's steady evolution.

Freedom is a gift that belongs to each and every one of us. Freedom is a core Texan...no...American value. In celebrating Juneteenth, we recognize our duty to uphold this value, regardless of who dons the face adversity. I implore you to look up the history of this holiday and be proud of how far we've come. Be proud of far we're willing to go!

The word "final" is so loaded, an academic beast you must defeat. Luckily for you, the Learning Commons is hosting Finals Study Squad, no appointments needed. You can sit with a tutor to discuss STEM related coursework and concepts or APA formatting for your final drafts. Don't struggle alone. Let the LC be a resource for you.

Meet Brooke, one of our lovely Front Desk Assistants

Major: Communication in Digital Media with a certificate in Applied Gerontology
Hobbies: writing poems and spending quality time with my friends and family
What I like most about the LC: “I enjoy working in the Learning Commons because I get to meet new people every day, and no two days are ever the same. The variety and constant interaction make it an adventure that adds to my overall college experience.”
Future Goals: growing my business and working toward earning my CNA certificate

April is National Poetry Month, and we in the Learning Commons are celebrating with a Poetry Reading. Thursday, April 9th 2pm-4pm, on the Collaborative Stairs in the Student Center, you can share your voice. Be heard. You can practice shaking off those jitters in a safe space. Take a break from academia and say what matters to you.

Meet William, our Full-time Professional Writing Tutor,

William graduated with his master's degree in 2021 from Baylor University with a heavy focus on developing museum exhibitions for art, history, and science museums. Multiple museums have had him do a variety of roles, but he has always been an educator who broke down abstract and difficult historical and scientific concepts to visitors and students. He now works as a Professional Writing Tutor for UNT Dallas by offering his experience in communicating difficult historical topics and conducting research to the student body. When not talking about his favorite historical topics, you can find him getting distracted by dinosaurs, doing a deep dive into his latest Dungeons and Dragons campaign, or planning a trip to see more of this beautiful world we live in.

Many of you are probably working on your first or second major writing assignments. You're being asked to find sources and evaluate their effectiveness. Below are a few reading tips to help with note taking.

Engage with the text as if it were a living document.
Question the author. Question the title. Argue with the body of work. In short, respond to everything.

Take stock of the opinions you have. Question why you believe what you believe, and highlight what made you feel that way.

Research what you don’t know. Look up words you don’t understand and look at the context clues around the word.

A few of our employees are venturing out, exploring long held dreams, working in areas that could greatly benefit society. Though we're sad to lose them, we're excited to see what will become of their hands' toils. Congrats to our cherished graduates and staff.

The semester has long since started, but with all the whacky weather, it still feels new. We in the Learning Commons hope you'll take advantage of your resources and come in to see us!