St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan released a draft of the university’s strategic plan Tuesday, outlining goals and a plan to achieve them.
Executive Assistant to the President Susan Alexander said the plan encourages the university to provide more flexible pathways for students that may allow them to graduate earlier, increase the diversity of the student body and update curriculum.
“We are looking at how our curriculum needs to change to serve the future better,” she said. “I’m thinking the commitment to curricular change will be big.”
The plan, which has been in the works since last winter, focuses on five strategic themes: “excellence in learning and student engagement,” “education informed by Catholic mission,” “diversity and inclusive culture,” “global” and “one university.”
In addition to the five themes, the draft outlines eight strategic priorities, which include more specific steps the university will take to make sure the goals in the draft are met. Each strategic priority addresses multiple themes.
According to the draft, changes may include programs like “Take UST Home for the Summer,” which would allow students to take classes over the summer in hybrid, blended or online formats. The university could also partner with high schools and community colleges to offer classes at a lower cost.
The plan also emphasizes the importance of building the university’s reputation nationally and globally.
“While the University of St. Thomas has an excellent local reputation, we need to do a better job getting that message out beyond the Twin Cities,” the draft reads. “The University aspires to enhance our current student populations … by attracting well-qualified students from a broader geographical area, recruiting more racially and ethnically diverse students and increasing our international student population.”
In addition, St. Thomas hopes to “attract, support and retain a diverse community of students, faculty and staff,” promote global engagement and unite the university.
Alexander said the plan will affect future students more than present ones.
“It’s a forward-looking document,” Alexander said. “The effects should be felt in the next three to any number of years into the future.”
The St. Thomas Board of Trustees still needs to approve the plan and will meet to vote on the document in November. Alexander said that while the draft is not official, the board had expressed enough support for it to be released early.
“We don’t want to slow down,” Alexander said. “We want to keep our momentum going.”
Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@stthomas.edu.