WELCOME TO NEW STUDENTS AND FACULTY, as well as to all those returning to the Madrid Campus after the semester break! >>

Don’t forget each Monday to check this weekly electronic newsletter, the Billiken News, for the latest Madrid Campus news and notices. And please remember that the Madrid Campus uses the Billiken News, as well as slu.edu e-mail addresses, to officially communicate with students, faculty and staff. 

MONDAY 10^th

New Students Welcome Sessions I


TUESDAY 11^th

New Students Welcome Sessions II

8:00 pm · SLU-Madrid Soccer Billikens vs. Hangover 09 · Green Canal


WEDNESDAY 12^th

First Day SP 11 Classes

1:50 pm · Catholic Mass in English – Chapel, Padre Rubio Hall (PRH), first floor


THURSDAY 13^th

1:50 pm · Misa Católica en español – Capilla, Padre Rubio Hall (PRH), primera planta


FRIDAY 14^th

2:30 pm · Soccer tryouts (3:00-5:00 pm) for the SLU-Madrid Billiken soccer team · gather in front of Padre Rubio Hall for the walk to Green Canal Park

3:00 pm · Faculty-guided visit to the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums (cf. “Opportunities & Invitations”)

3:30 pm · Faculty-Staff Meeting · Large Reading Room, Library (Manresa Hall)

8:30 pm · Student Life Billiken Night · Tapas at the Cava Baja · meet in front of Padre Rubio Hall · bring 15 €


SATURDAY 15^th

9:00 am · Day Trip to Segovia · 40 € · sign up and pay for trip in Finance Office · meet Saturday morning in front of Padre Rubio Hall


SUNDAY 16^th

9:00 am · Day Trip to Toledo · 40 € · sign up and pay for trip in Finance Office · meet Sunday morning in front of Padre Rubio Hall

6:00 pm · Campus Ministry “Welcome (Sunday) Mass” · Chapel, Padre Rubio Hall, first floor

Monday, January 17 · deadline to sign-up for Namibia Spring Break trip

Monday, January 17 · 2:00 pm · information meeting about Loyola Pilgrimage Retreat · PRH 2

Tuesday, January 18 · 2:00 pm · information meeting about Bible Study Group and about CLC (Christian Life Communities) · PRH 2

Wednesday, January 19 · 2:00 pm · information meeting about Volunteer Service Opportunities · PRH 2

Friday, January 21 · Faculty-guided visit to the Reina Sofía and Sorolla museums

Friday, January 21 · Student Life Billiken Night: Bowling 

Saturday, January 22 · Student Life Day Trip to Salamanca

Sunday, January 23 · Student Life Day Trip to El Escorial

Monday, January 24 · information meeting about Bokatas

Tuesday, January 25 · last day to add a class or to drop a class without a grade of W

Wednesday, January 26 · application deadline for fall semester degree candidates

Wednesday, January 26 · presentation by Morocco Exchange about student trip to Morocco 

Friday, January 28 · No Classes

Friday, January 28 · Faculty-guided visit to the Descalzas Reales museum and the Royal Palace

Friday, January 28 · Faculty-guided visit to the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums

Friday, January 28 · Student Life Billiken Night: Movie Night

Saturday, January 29 · Student Life Day Trip to Alcalá de Henares

Sunday, January 30 · Student Life Day Trips to Aranjuez

Wednesday, February 9 · final day to choose Audit (AU) or Pass/No Pass (P/NP) options

Check this site each week for the latest news from sports director, César Rioja, about Madrid Campus sports and exercise opportunities!

Tryouts for openings on this year’s SLU-Madrid fútbol (soccer) team will take place on Friday, the 14th, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Those interested should gather at 2:30 pm in front of Padre Rubio Hall. Click here for this year’s schedule of games, all of which take place in Green Canal Park, a short walk from the campus. >> 

Congratulations to those who learned a place on the Fall 2010 Dean’s List! >> 

Congratulations to Todd Guidry (of our IT staff) and his wife, Egla, on the arrival of new son Kauan!

Special Bookstore Hours:  Through the 25th of January, the bookstore will be open with expanded hours from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, for book purchase, exchange and refund.

Spring Office Hours (including computer labs, cafeteria and other services) >>

Library Spring Hours >>

Namibia Trip Deadline: Monday, the 17th, is the final day to register and make a deposit for the Namibia Trip to take place during April’s Holy Week break. Learn more about joining the African Politics class in this life-time educational adventure, by contacting Professor Knut Roder, trip leader, at kroder@slu.edu. A minimum of 10 students is required for this trip to take place.

First-year and newly transferred students who need to apply for their tarjeta de estudiante for the first time must stop by the Student Life Office – located on the ground floor of Padre Rubion Hall – with their passport before Wednesday, January 19. For more information, carefully read the Residency Card section of our website.


Are you a returning student with a tarjeta de estudiante which is about to expire?  Do you need an appointment for an autorización de regreso?  Carefully read the Residency Card section of our website. For more information, contact Ariadne Ferro at aferro@slu.edu.  

All SLU-Madrid returning students should stop by the Student Life Office before Wednesday, January 19 to renew their student ID card and pick up their new Sanitas card.

Campus Climate: Please keep in mind that in compliance with Spanish law, smoking is prohibited on the Saint Louis University – Madrid Campus. Also, within classrooms, computer labs and the library, no food or drink (other than water) is allowed.

Façade of Padre Arrupe Hall: Work continues on the exterior of Padre Arrupe Hall, sometimes resulting in the disruption of normal human traffic patterns. 

Interested in Student Life Day Trips to great sites in and around Madrid?  Check out this link.   Of course, you could easily fill up all of your free time after welcome sessions visiting its many museums, monuments, parks, theatres and hidden corners; however, you may want to take advantage of Madrid’s convenient location to travel on your own around Spain and beyond!  To assist you in planning your own exciting trips, visit the Independent Student Travel section of our website!

Visit Madrid´s World-Famous Museums:  During the month of January, join guided tours of some of Europe’s greatest museums. Led (in Spanish) by a Madrid Campus art history professor, these visits are particularly recommended for Spanish language majors and art history students, but everyone who likes art and wants to learn more about some of Spain’s finest treasures is invited. Three museum-visit “packages” are available. The first (to the Prado and the Thyssen) takes place on Friday, the 14th, beginning at 3:00 pm.
For more information, check out >>

Stuck on your homework?  Need help with your English?  With your Spanish?  The English Writing Assistance Center and the Spanish Assistance Center will re-open on Monday, January 17. The Centers are located in the entry area of Manresa Hall.   The schedule of the English Writing Assistance Center is: Mondays & Wednesdays, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, and Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm. The Spanish Assistance Center is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and Tuesday & Thursdays, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.