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.
2025 Strategic Plan
St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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 ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ in May 2025.
Come back to share in the next exciting vision for St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½!
Expanding our Impact
St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ a unique advantage. With keen focus on strategic opportunities, we will not just survive the headwinds, but thrive and grow.
Our 10-year Aspiration
The University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ will advance to the level of excellence, impact and reputation that distinguishes the top 10 national Catholic universities.
Our Mission
Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.
Our Convictions
- Pursuit of Truth
- Academic Excellence
- Faith and Reason
- Dignity
- Diversity
- Personal Attention
- Gratitude
Guiding Themes
As our ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ education, ensure all students have equal opportunities to take advantage of the full St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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.
Strategic Priorities
Through these strategic priorities, St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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.
Factors That Shaped the 2025 Strategic Plan
Community Input
The faculty and staff of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ shared their thoughts, contributed ideas, and engaged in ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ conversations around the successes and obstacles of initial draft themes. In addition, feedback was gathered from students and other members of the broader ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.
Success of the 2020 Strategic Plan
St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 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. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 2025.
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. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ make a bolder impact. Listen to this high-level overview with President Sullivan's call to the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ to create and embrace a thriving future for the university.
2025 Strategic Plan News
March 6, 2025
University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Junior Jake Ratzlaff '26 spoke to KSTP Eyewitness News in an interview that highlighted his unique Division I journey. Originally from Rosemount, Minnesota, Ratzlaff had played both football and hockey in high school, where he received accolades as Metro Player of the Year in 2020 and was chosen to captain an… The post In the News: Jake Ratzlaff on Hockey Journey appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.
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March 4, 2025
Amy Cooper, University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ senior athletic director and women’s administrator received the 2025 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award and was celebrated with other recipients on Feb. 5 at the Minnesota History Center. The award is given to a woman athlete who overcame adversity and exhibits extraordinary courage in their athletic performance. Cooper’s sports career… The post Senior Athletics Director Amy Cooper Receives Courage Award appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.
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February 18, 2025
The University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, in partnership with Bright.Green, has announced a $2 million investment to advance cutting-edge research in microgrid technology. This funding will support the construction of a state-of-the-art microgrid facility and establish Dr. Mahmoud Kabalan as the Bright.Green Director of the Center for Microgrid Research, located on the university’s St. Paul, Minnesota, campus.  The new facility will serve as a national… The post University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Receives $2M From Bright.Green to Advance Microgrid Innovation appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.
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February 18, 2025
Drake Dobbs’ third consecutive 20-point scoring game paced St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ men’s basketball to a 95-84 win over Omaha Feb. 15, handing the Tommies (20-7, 10-2 Summit League) sole possession of first place in the conference standings with four games to play. The win pushed the Purple to 20 on the season, the ninth season under… The post PHOTOS: Men’s Basketball Takes First Place in Summit League appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.
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February 17, 2025
Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize the legacy of Black leaders, honor the past, and reflect on the progress still to be made. However, it’s not just a month – it’s an ongoing commitment to education, reflection and action. Recently, members of the University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ reflected on three questions: what… The post Reflections on Black History: St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Community Speaks appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.