St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan unveiled the 2025 Strategic Plan at the State of the University address Thursday, where she revealed a number of changes to the university involving expanding access and diversity over the next five years.

Sullivan addressed key details about how the university has fared over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, including statements about finances, COVID-19 vaccinations and a round of financial aid going out to students in need.

Addressing financial concerns for faculty and staff

Sullivan said that 2,400 students will receive somewhere around $500 to $1,600, depending on need.

“St. Thomas may use certain federal funds to make these emergency grants to students who have exceptional financial need and who are eligible to receive federal financial aid,” the FAQ put out by the financial aid office states.

An email from the Financial Aid Office has been sent to all affected students detailing how much they will be receiving. This grant does not count as a loan and does not need to be repaid.

These funds came from the stimulus package that was passed in December. Paper checks or direct deposits to student employment accounts will begin to be sent out in mid to late March, once the university has access to the funds from the federal government.

State of athletics

Following the announcement of the move to Division I, the university’s fundraising efforts for the athletic department has reached a record high, with $6.4 million raised since June 1.

The university has recruited over 100 new student athletes since it has announced its move to Division I, according to Sullivan.

“As we emphasize both academic and athletic excellence, we will attract students from across the country and rise higher among our nationally-ranked Catholic aspirant peer institutions.” The plan outlines regarding building national awareness and advancing priorities through athletics.

The university’s athletics teams will join the Summit League for 19 out of 22 sports, as well as the Pioneer Football League, the Western Collegiate Hockey League for women’s hockey and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for men’s hockey starting this spring.

After announcing these changes to begin the State of the University, Sullivan unveiled the themes of the 2025 Strategic Plan. There are six themes outlined in the plan.

Pressing forward with innovation

The university has recently created a new curriculum that has separated old majors and created new departments in the 2019-2020 school year, with new classes offered to students.

“In the next five years, St. Thomas will offer new world-class educational experiences, pursue new degree and non-degree programs and adapt existing programs to meet the needs of an ever-changing world,” the 2025 strategic plan said.

The university plans to build a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) building where Loras Hall was formerly located.

Striving to build belonging and promote equity

The plan said regarding building belonging and promoting equity that the university “will diversify our community to better reflect society’s demographics and cultivate inclusion for all who learn, live and work at St. Thomas.”

This includes fostering a robust residency culture at the university to change its reputation as a “suitcase school,” as Sullivan put it, and preparing educators to dismantle disparities among the St. Thomas community.

Expanding access, achievement and outcomes for all

The university “will remove financial barriers to attending and succeeding at St. Thomas, and ensure that we provide equitable opportunities to engage in the holistic St. Thomas experiences so all students are set up for success,” the strategic plan said.

This was also reiterated in the ongoing priorities, where the university is working to close the financial disparities found at St. Thomas by expanding financial aid to students and continuing to improve upon the Dougherty Family College.

Leaning into the Catholic mission

The university also commits to staying true to the mission set by its founder and helping students embrace a lifelong commitment to serving others as principled leaders.

“Our charism reflects Archbishop Ireland’s style of boldly addressing the challenges of our world while contributing deeply to the community,” the plan said.

The 2025 strategic plan also commits to promoting a culture where students actively engage in promoting the common good.

“We will embrace our charism by being wholly committed agents for social justice, protecting our common home, and defending the dignity of all people,” the plan said.

Widening the circle of impact

With the move to Division I athletics, the university is committed to embracing and retaining “world-class talent”, and in order to do so will be searching for a new Chief Human Resources Officer. A committee has been established in order to find suitable candidates.

“I am pleased to announce that today we are launching the search for Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.” Sullivan announced in a newsletter Monday. “This elevated position will report directly to me and work alongside our current HR professionals and the senior leadership team to implement the cultural and organizational changes necessary to implement the university’s priorities.”

As well as the establishment of new positions to elevate the university’s national profile and attract new talent from a national audience, the university has reaffirmed that local connections remain as important as ever.

“To be a partner of choice to local businesses and other organizations, we will work to deeply understand what partners need from us and respond with relevant offerings and engagement,” the plan said.

This includes maintaining partnerships with local businesses and communities and creating new opportunities for students and faculty.

Strengthening culture as it embraces change

The university has committed to creating a culture of honesty and care as it increases its national profile. It aims to do so by engaging in open dialogue, and by committing to continued personal and professional growth.

“In this time of uncertainty, we will work continuously and tirelessly to develop a culture that values community and cares for one another,” the strategic plan says when addressing strengthening the culture of care found at St. Thomas.

The plan calls for multiple shifts within the university, including demographic shifts, workforce demands, addressing concerns about the value of higher education and expanding diversity among the St. Thomas community.

“Within St. Thomas and in our broader community,” the action plan says regarding fostering belonging and dismantling racism, “we will seek transformative, measurable equity and inclusion. We will recruit and retain faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds and insist upon a more inclusive campus environment for underrepresented students.”

Elijah Todd-Walden can be reached at todd5861@stthomas.edu.