St. Thomas’ newly-introduced strategic plan is unfolding smoothly and will benefit the university as a whole, according to leaders of the effort toward implementation.
Last year, President Julie Sullivan launched a steering committee, co-chaired by theology professor Corrine Carvalho and Institutional Effectiveness co-chair Michael Cogan, to further the university’s mission statement and vision for the future. Carvalho and Cogan established seven subcommittees to focus on specific goals relating to issues and themes deemed crucial to St. Thomas.
The steering committee members submitted their plan to Sullivan’s cabinet last spring for final revisions over the course of the summer. Cogan said the cabinet has been working since then.
“(The) President’s cabinet has been working hard to refine and prioritize these goals and objectives,” Cogan said. The final revisions are set to be completed later this fall.
During this process, the steering committee devised two sets of goals. Carvalho said the first goal will fall under an “operational plan” of smaller changes that students currently attending St. Thomas may see in the near future. However, “big-ticket items” have been included in the strategic plan to be rolled out long term. An implementation committee appointed in the future will work to achieve these goals.
Sullivan’s next step is to submit the plan to the Board of Trustees for final approval, according to Carvalho. She hopes the plan will be approved this year.
“We have embarked on a strategic planning process that has engaged the entire community,” Sullivan said in her recent convocation address. “Beginning this fall, we will engage in an inclusive, campus wide discussion and strategic planning process to develop these.”
One objective Carvalho highlighted is an outreach to the Twin Cities community.
“The university is looking to gain richer interactions with communities that are our neighbors and our world,” she said.
By partnering with the communities around St. Thomas, Carvahlo explained that “flexible pathways will be created within college to the workplace for students.”
Junior Alexa Fryer said this objective will benefit St. Thomas.
“I think the more people that know about St. Thomas the better it is for the students and the more connections they can make with people around the cities,” Fryer said.
Carvalho stressed the overall purpose is to grow and build up from the university’s foundation.
“We don’t want to change who we are or our mission,” she added.
Once the plan is approved and implementation begins, Carvalho said yearly checks will ensure that progress is occurring and continuing.
However, Fryer said she was unaware of the strategic plan effort prior to this interview.
“I’m kind of surprised actually,” Fryer said. “It seems like a big deal, and I feel like I know a lot of happenings. I hadn’t heard anything about it.”
Sullivan will provide an update on progress at her first brown bag luncheon of the year on Sept. 15.
Kathleen Murphy can be reached at murp0003@stthomas.edu.