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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. St. Thomas 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. St. Thomas 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

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