ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ

Home
Commencement in the stadium

Promote and Leverage Our Comprehensive Academic Excellence

The strong reputations of our professional schools, including the Opus College of Business, School of Engineering and School of Law, along with a solid liberal arts foundation and programs anchored in the College of Arts and Sciences, uniquely position St. Thomas as a comprehensive university, growing in prominence and rankings. Through enrollment growth, new programs and innovative delivery modes, the School of Engineering will lead its peers and continue to fill the region’s need for skilled engineers.

New data science programs will increase relevant opportunities for digital and information literacy. With a distinctive faculty and curriculum that supports students' integration of their faith and ethical principles into their professional identity, the St. Thomas School of Law will continue to expand its reach and produce student employment outcomes of a top-50 Law School.

The Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at the Opus College of Business will achieve top rankings in the Princeton Review and become the top choice for students throughout the United States who are committed to entrepreneurship and social ventures. Through the leadership of the Schulze School, entrepreneurial thinking will expand across the university to spark creative problem-solving among all of our students. The Opus College of Business will lead its peers in developing leaders who understand the impact of emerging technologies in business and society, and who can responsibly harness that power for the common good.

Related Themes

2025 Strategic Plan Ever Press Forward through Innovation Widen the Circle
of Impact
Promote and Leverage Our Comprehensive Academic Excellence Priority Priority

See how the Themes and Priorities of the 2025 Strategic Plan interweave.

Measuring Progress

  • Success Metrics
  • Progress Update
  • Key Leaders

    • Success Metrics

    1. Increase “academic excellence” as a top of mind association with St. Thomas and increase percentage of Minnesotans who are aware of our top programs, as measured by our annual perception tracking survey.
    2. Increasing the number and diversity of faculty who are university thought leaders, as measured by earned and owned media.
    3. Increase position in certain national rankings where feasible and appropriate.
      1. Schulze School of Entrepreneurship will continue to increase ranking position in the Princeton Review.
      2. School of Law will produce student employment outcomes of a top-50 law school.
      3. School of Engineering will experience enrollment growth, develop new programs and innovative delivery modes. It will continue to improve its ranking as measured by US News ranking of undergraduate engineering programs without doctoral degrees.
      4. ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ will continually improve its overall US News national ranking, including increasing peer scores.
    4. Schulze School of Entrepreneurship will develop partnerships across the university to spark creative problem-solving among all St. Thomas students.

    Progress Update, February 2022

    The St. Thomas 2025 Strategic Plan debuted in February 2021. We continually track and report on our progress; here are key developments from the past year, as of February 2024:

    Year-over-year we have seen significant gains to elevate our experts in the media. Since July 1, we have landed 45 interviews; achieving 55 top-tier placements, a 57% increase year over year. We have placed 250 national media stories, a 39% increase year over year. Outlets include NPR, CNN, and TechTarget. University Business published a full-length feature on President Vischer which focused on St. Thomas' goals, mission, and ways of dealing with challenging headwinds. The estimated ad equivalency of all placements is estimated at $130.3 million.

    Key Leaders

    • Eddy Rojas, Executive Vice President and Provost
    • Academic Deans
    • Vice President of Marketing, Insights and Communication

    Success Metrics

    Success Metrics

    1. Increase “academic excellence” as a top of mind association with St. Thomas and increase percentage of Minnesotans who are aware of our top programs, as measured by our annual perception tracking survey.
    2. Increasing the number and diversity of faculty who are university thought leaders, as measured by earned and owned media.
    3. Increase position in certain national rankings where feasible and appropriate.
      1. Schulze School of Entrepreneurship will continue to increase ranking position in the Princeton Review.
      2. School of Law will produce student employment outcomes of a top-50 law school.
      3. School of Engineering will experience enrollment growth, develop new programs and innovative delivery modes. It will continue to improve its ranking as measured by US News ranking of undergraduate engineering programs without doctoral degrees.
      4. ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ will continually improve its overall US News national ranking, including increasing peer scores.
    4. Schulze School of Entrepreneurship will develop partnerships across the university to spark creative problem-solving among all St. Thomas students.

    Progress Update

    Progress Update, February 2022

    The St. Thomas 2025 Strategic Plan debuted in February 2021. We continually track and report on our progress; here are key developments from the past year, as of February 2024:

    Year-over-year we have seen significant gains to elevate our experts in the media. Since July 1, we have landed 45 interviews; achieving 55 top-tier placements, a 57% increase year over year. We have placed 250 national media stories, a 39% increase year over year. Outlets include NPR, CNN, and TechTarget. University Business published a full-length feature on President Vischer which focused on St. Thomas' goals, mission, and ways of dealing with challenging headwinds. The estimated ad equivalency of all placements is estimated at $130.3 million.

    Key Leaders

    Key Leaders

    • Eddy Rojas, Executive Vice President and Provost
    • Academic Deans
    • Vice President of Marketing, Insights and Communication

    Related Stories from the Newsroom

    August 26, 2024

    Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), nearly 70 undergraduate students at the University of St. Thomas 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 | University of St. Thomas.

    • August 9, 2024

      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 | University of St. Thomas.

    • May 29, 2024

      The Community Entrepreneurship Program, a collaboration between the University of St. Thomas, the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, and the Small Business Development Center, was recently featured in MinnPost following successful fundraising for the first Black woman-owned brewery in the Twin Cities with help from St. Thomas students. From the story: Starting a brewery is no… The post In the News: Community Entrepreneurship Program Featured by MinnPost appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • April 22, 2024

      Liz Navratil, higher education reporter at the Star Tribune, recently visited the University of St. Thomas’ Musical Acoustics class – taught at the Schoenecker Center by music professor Doug Orzolek and physics professor Jeff Jalkio – to learn more about the interdisciplinary learning take place in the university’s new academic facility. From the story: Music… The post In the News: Star Tribune Features Interdisciplinary Course Taking Place at Schoenecker Center appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • February 27, 2024

      The Melrose and The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership at the Opus College of Business continues to elevate faculty whose research drives positive societal impact through principled leadership. The center’s Principled Leadership Research Fellowship research benefits academia, industry and the broader business community. The 2022 inaugural fellowship recipients, Chad Brinsfield, PhD; Ameeta Jaiswal-Dale, PhD;… The post Melrose Toro Center Research Fellows Make a Societal Impact appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.