On March 30, 2012, the Board of Trustees of St. Mary's University voted unanimously to name the 1st floor of the Louis J. Blume Library the Charles L. Cotrell Learning Commons, recognizing that the commons furthers the Marianists’ tradition of learning (and living) in community.
As professor, dean, academic vice president and president, Cotrell has been committed to implementing innovative approaches to learning at St. Mary’s, which have included transforming traditional classrooms into technology-rich classrooms and being the first institution in San Antonio to provide laptop computers to all its students. The learning commons is yet another creative approach to learning that Cotrell has envisioned.