2025 Strategic Plan

St. Thomas 2025, the university's current strategic plan, is in its final year of implementation. It was an ambitious yet focused five-year effort designed to propel the university toward a new level of impact. It has guided us to reach higher in serving our students, our community and the world.

Now, we are in the midst of preparing for the next five years.

President Rob Vischer appointed a strategic plan working group of faculty and staff that is currently listening to the community and gathering feedback. This group will help develop the next five-year strategic plan. A draft plan will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval and presented to the community in May 2025.

Come back to share in the next exciting vision for St. Thomas!

Expanding our Impact

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.

Student take part in "March through the Arches"

Our 10-year Aspiration

The University of St. Thomas will advance to the level of excellence, impact and reputation that distinguishes the top 10 national Catholic universities.

Students in caps and gowns during commencement

Our Mission

Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.

John Ireland Statue during March through the Arches

Our Convictions

Pursuit of Truth
Academic Excellence
Faith and Reason
Dignity
Diversity
Personal Attention
Gratitude

Guiding Themes

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.

Ever Press Forward through Innovation

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.

Build Belonging and Promote Equity

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.

Ensure Access, Achievement, and Outcomes for All

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.

Lean In to Our Catholic Mission

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.

Widen the Circle of Impact

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.

Strengthen Culture As We Embrace Change

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.

The arches with a nativity scene above it

Strategic Priorities

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.

See the 2025 Strategic Priorities

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.

Community Input

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.

Read about the Community Input Process & Leaders

Success of the 2020 Strategic Plan

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.

A Recap of St. Thomas 2020

St Thomas 2025 is written over a photo of students near the arches on campus

Introducing the 2025 Strategic Plan

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.