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 community 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 community 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 community conversations around the successes and obstacles of initial draft themes. In addition, feedback was gathered from students and other members of the broader community.
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 community to create and embrace a thriving future for the university.
The newly opened Schoenecker Center at the University of St. Thomas has been certified LEED Gold, one of the highest ratings bestowed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The university’s central home for STEAM learning was honored for excellence in sustainable design and construction. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most… The post Schoenecker Center Earns LEED Gold for Green Construction appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
The University of St. Thomas welcomed 1,591 first-time, first-year students to campus this fall, the second-largest undergraduate class in two decades at Minnesota’s largest private university. The total represents a 4% year-over-year increase, helping to propel St. Thomas’ total student population to a four-year high of 9,445. Graduate student enrollment also rose, with a 2%… The post St. Thomas Celebrates Second-Largest Undergraduate Class in 20 Years appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
University of St. Thomas Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced on Oct. 17 a $20 million gift toward the construction of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena by the Ryan family. “This is an extraordinary gift, and we are deeply thankful for the Ryan family’s commitment to this project,” said Esten. “The Ryan family… The post University of St. Thomas Celebrates $20M Gift From Ryan Family appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
The Morrison Family College of Health at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota has named Dr. Ankita Deka its next director of its Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Deka started her new role at the School of Social Work in August 2024. A highly respected leader in social work education, Deka comes to… The post Dr. Ankita Deka Named Director of Master of Social Work Program appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
On Sept. 19, the University of St. Thomas announced the largest-ever scholarship gift in the history of Minnesota. Numerous media outlets covered the news. From the Pioneer Press: The St. Paul-based Catholic university says a gift from the Schoeneckers Foundation will fund scholarships for 250 undergraduate students every year based on need. They expect the… The post In the News: University of St. Thomas Receives Minnesota’s Largest-Ever Monetary Gift for Scholarships appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.