Headwinds & Opportunities
Societal trends and the state of higher education continue to shift due to forces beyond COVID-19. As we prepare to navigate an ever-changing landscape, we need to keep key opportunities and challenges top of mind.
St. Thomas 2025 is an ambitious yet focused five-year effort designed to propel the university toward a new level of impact. It is a guide to help us reach higher in serving our students, our »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ and the world.
The next five years present an unparalleled opportunity to promote our strengths and leverage key opportunities.
Not only will this five-year plan help us strengthen what we do best; it will encourage us to leverage new opportunities, gain stature and continue to thrive in an increasingly challenging and competitive landscape for higher education.
You can view updates on progress we've made towards key success metrics defined for each strategic priority of the 2025 Strategic Plan.
St. Thomas is at a distinct point in our history – and we are poised to expand our reach across the country and to build a national reputation. Its position as the largest private university in Minnesota, nimble yet comprehensive, gives St. Thomas a unique advantage. With keen focus on strategic opportunities, we will not just survive the headwinds, but thrive and grow.
As our »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ came together through the strategic planning process to develop goals for the next five years, the following themes emerged. These will guide our work, helping us remain true to what makes St. Thomas unique while empowering us to focus on key ongoing and emerging priorities that will help us thrive.
We will innovate, grow and excel in ways that align with our educational mission and vision to provide relevant and continuous learning for Tommie leaders of today and tomorrow.
We will become a university characterized by radical hospitality and a shared sense of belonging where all are welcomed as we work to achieve social justice and dismantle inequities of all forms.
We will broaden access to a St. Thomas education, ensure all students have equal opportunities to take advantage of the full St. Thomas experience and the academic excellence we provide, and connect all students to career opportunities that leverage our powerful Tommie Network.
More about the theme Ensure Access, Achievement, and Outcomes for All
We will bring the visions of our founder and namesake, our unique charism, and Catholic social teaching fully to life as we encounter the grand challenges of the day, develop principled leaders and contribute to a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable world.
We will make our mark and widen our impact locally, regionally, nationally and globally by becoming a partner of choice and extending an invitation to students, faculty, and staff from near and far to become part of our vision and our work.
As we respond to uncertainty and change in the societal and higher education landscapes, we will strengthen our university culture by expressing the values of respect, honesty and transparency, by engaging in open dialogue, and by committing to continued personal and professional growth.
More about the theme Strengthen Culture As We Embrace Change
Through these strategic priorities, St. Thomas will build upon its strengths, invest where we have unprecedented opportunity and make bold progress. We will expand our impact with new and emerging priorities and continue to accentuate our differentiating strengths through priorities that are ongoing.
We share updates on the progress we make on the key success metrics defined for each strategic priority.
Societal trends and the state of higher education continue to shift due to forces beyond COVID-19. As we prepare to navigate an ever-changing landscape, we need to keep key opportunities and challenges top of mind.
The faculty and staff of St. Thomas shared their thoughts, contributed ideas, and engaged in »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ conversations around the successes and obstacles of initial draft themes. In addition, feedback was gathered from students and other members of the broader »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.
St. Thomas 2020 guided the work of the university since 2015 and led to many important accomplishments; many initiatives that began in the 2020 plan will continue into St. Thomas 2025.
Building on the vision of our founder to "never stop improving," the 2025 strategic plan is a five-year guide to help St. Thomas make a bolder impact. Listen to this high-level overview with President Sullivan's call to the »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ to create and embrace a thriving future for the university.
»Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ coaches, including Rico Blasi (men’s hockey), Johnny Tauer (men’s basketball) and Joel Johnson (women’s hockey) recently joined FOX 9 at the Minnesota State Fair to talk about the upcoming season of D-I athletics, the development of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena and the new partnership with FOX 9. From the… The post In the News: Tommie Athletics Joins FOX 9 at the State Fair appeared first on Newsroom | »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.
Tommies are officially back on campus for the fall semester, and many are returning after spending their summers at valuable hands-on internships. From the Minnesota Department of Transportation to Wells Fargo, these »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ students fanned out across the country, exploring careers and jobs in an industry of interest. The St. Thomas Career… The post Tommies Explore Careers, Gain Hands-On Experience at Summer Internships appeared first on Newsroom | »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.
The »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ will once again have a TV broadcast home for the 2024-25 season. On Aug. 28, the Tommies signed a one-year extension with FOX9+, renewing a relationship that will once again make FOX9+ the television home of St. Thomas Athletics for 2024-25. "This partnership with the FOX 9 family provides a… The post St. Thomas Renews Broadcast Partnership with FOX9+ for Athletics appeared first on Newsroom | »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.
Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), nearly 70 undergraduate students at the »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ in Minnesota had the opportunity this summer to work with faculty mentors on a variety of research projects. The program’s grant funding means that students get paid for their work and research. Forty-one Young Scholars, 12 Ignite Research… The post From Carp to Coding: Undergraduate Summer Research Highlights appeared first on Newsroom | »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.
Many people often feel like they wish they could be in two places at once. While that may not be physically possible, the possibility is on the rise digitally as artificial intelligence continues to grow and evolve. One Minnesota radio personality, Jordana Green, hopes to have AI continue her legacy now and long after she’s… The post AI Can Imitate Life When It Comes to Chatbots appeared first on Newsroom | »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.