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University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

The University of St. Thomas (also known as UST or simply St. Thomas) is a private Catholic research university with campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1885 as a Catholic seminary, it is named after Thomas Aquinas, the medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher who is the patron saint of students. As of fall 2021, St. Thomas enrolled 9,347 students, making it Minnesota's largest private, nonprofit university.

University of St. Thomas
Former names
College of St. Thomas (1885–1990)
MottoAll for the common good
TypePrivate university
Established1885; 139 years ago (1885)[1]
Religious affiliation
Catholic Church
Academic affiliations
Endowment$653.3 million (2020)[2]
Budget$374 million (2016)[3]
PresidentRobert K. Vischer[4]
ProvostEddy M. Rojas
Academic staff
704[1]
Administrative staff
1,041
Students9,347 (2021)[5]
Undergraduates6,067 (2021)[5]
Postgraduates3,280 (2021)[5]
Location, ,
United States

44°56′35″N 93°11′25″W / 44.94306°N 93.19028°W / 44.94306; -93.19028
CampusUrban: 78 acres (32 ha)
ColorsPurple   and   Gray
NicknameTommies
Sporting affiliations
MascotTommie
Athletics11 men's and 11 women's varsity teams
Websitewww.stthomas.edu

History edit

Founded in 1885 by John Ireland, archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, St. Thomas began as an all-male, Catholic seminary.[10] In 1894, the liberal arts program became an independent college through a gift from local railroad tycoon James J. Hill, who provided funds to establish the Saint Paul Seminary apart from the college.[10] In 1903, the College of St. Thomas established a military program on campus, and it was officially termed a military school by the U.S. War Department in 1906. Initially, the school gave out two-year diplomas in commercial and classical programs before awarding its first academic degrees in 1915. In 1922, military training became optional.

From the late 1920s through the mid-1930s, the Holy Cross Fathers, who run the University of Notre Dame, controlled the college's administration. The diocese called those priests in to help with the school's financial problems; those priests were known as a crisis intervention team of sorts for parochial schools of that time. During World War II, St. Thomas served as a training base for naval officers, which kept the school open when men who would have attended college were fighting in the war. After the war, in 1948, the college established "Tom Town" on the eastern end of the lower quadrant, which is currently the site to the O'Shaughnessey-Frey Library and O'Shaughnessey Education Center. Tom Town, made of 20 double-dwelling huts, consisted of white, barracks-like housing units for faculty, students, and their families. The units helped to meet housing demand after World War II.

In the latter half of the 20th century, St. Thomas started two of its most notable graduate programs, education in 1950 and business administration in 1974. The school became co-educational in 1977, and although women were not allowed to enroll until then, female students from St. Catherine University (then the College of St. Catherine) often took classes at St. Thomas. Women were also present as instructors and administrators on campus, but the staff, faculty, and administration have seen a vast increase in female employment since the move to co-education. In 1990, the College of St. Thomas became the University of St. Thomas[11] and the following year, the university opened the Minneapolis campus. In 2001, St. Thomas reinstated its School of Law at its Minneapolis campus; it had been shut down during the Great Depression. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was the speaker at the grand opening.

Campuses edit

Saint Paul edit

 
Arched entryway to the St. Paul campus

The St. Paul campus is the main campus and is home to most undergraduate students. The main campus, built on a farm site once considered "far removed from town", is located where St. Paul's Summit Avenue meets the Mississippi River. The site was farmed by ex-Fort Snelling soldier William Finn, who received the property as a pension settlement after he accidentally shot himself in the hand while on guard duty.

The western edge of the campus borders the Mississippi Gorge Regional Park. Summit Avenue, which runs through the middle of the campus, is the country's longest span of Victorian homes. This tree-lined avenue includes the Governor's Mansion, F. Scott Fitzgerald's townhome, and James J. Hill's mansion.[12]

 
Murray-Herrick Center

In 2005, a new apartment-style residence hall was built on an existing parking lot.[13] McNeely Hall was also built the following year. It is a large classroom building for business that replaced the smaller building of the same name.[14] A new residential village, more parking ramps, and general planning all have been negotiated successfully with the surrounding neighborhood. These developments are expected to begin within the next five years.[citation needed]

In early 2012, St. Thomas completed the final stage of its three-building expansion on the St. Paul campus.[15] The two main additions that were completed are the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center (AARC) and the Anderson Student Center. These projects were completed in the summer of 2010 and January 2012, respectively.[16] The Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center has a field house, basketball arena, weight room, and swimming pool.[17] The track in the field house is home to the most dominant track team in the MIAC conference. Other St. Thomas sports that use the AARC's facilities have also had recent success, including a playoff run for the football team, and a national championship for the men's basketball team.[citation needed] The new Anderson Student Center is home to new food venues, as well as entertainment options, including a game room and bowling alley, and a coffee shop. An art gallery on the second floor is home to the American Museum of Asmat Art.[18]

St Thomas' newest dormitories, Frey Residence Hall and Tommie North Residence Hall, opened on north campus in 2020. Frey Residence Hall is a 5-story facility which houses 260 second-year and transfer students. Tommie North is also a 5-story facility, houses 480 residents and has a 116-stall underground parking ramp.[19] It is connected to the Iverson Center for Faith and Ireland Hall via tunnel and sits on the site of the former John Paul II dormitory.[20][21]

In 2021, St. Thomas moved forward with plans for a new $100 million building on South Campus called Schoenecker Center.[22] The 130,000 square foot facility is scheduled to open in 2024 and will focus on STEAM fields. The 126-year-old Loras Hall, most recently used as an administrative building, was demolished to make way for Schoenecker Center.[23]

In 2023, the university announced plans for a $175 million on-campus indoor arena known as Lee and Penny Anderson Arena. The 6,000-seat arena is planned to be the home of the basketball and hockey teams in addition to hosting other events such as commencement. Cretin Hall, McCarthy Gymnasium and the Service Center are to be demolished to make way for the arena.[24]

Minneapolis edit

 
Downtown Minneapolis Campus

In fall 1992, the university opened a permanent 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2) campus at 1000 LaSalle Ave. in Minneapolis. The first building, named Terrence Murphy Hall in May 2000, is headquarters to the university's Opus College of Business. Artist Mark Balma created one of the largest frescoes in the United States on the arched ceiling of its atrium.[25] The seven-panel, 1,904 square feet (176.9 m2) fresco was completed in the summer of 1994 and portrays the seven virtues discussed in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Minneapolis campus also holds St. Thomas' School of Education, the School of Law, and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.

Daniel C. Gainey Conference Center (Owatonna) edit

As announced on May 15, 2014, the Daniel C. Gainey Conference Center was to be sold to Meridian Behavioral Health, LLC, with a plan to convert it to a treatment facility for addiction and behavioral disorders. The deal closed in August 2014. The deal included the entire 180-acre property and all the buildings except for the Winton Guest House, which was designed by architect Frank Gehry. St. Thomas then sold the house at auction and it was moved from the site.

Bernardi (Rome) edit

Since 1999, the University of St. Thomas has been the only university in the United States to have a formal affiliation with the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).[26]

Academics edit

Each year, the university awards almost 2,500 degrees, including five different bachelor's degrees (B.A., B.M., B.S., B.S.M.E. and B.S.E.E.). It has 88 major fields at the undergraduate level, with 59 minor fields of study and seven preprofessional programs. At the graduate and professional level, the university offers 41 master's degrees, 2 education specialist degree, 1 juris doctor, and 5 doctorates.

Schools and colleges edit

 
Frey Science and Engineering Center

The university offers its degree programs through nine divisions. The College of Arts and Sciences includes undergraduate departments in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, plus a number of interdisciplinary programs. The Opus College of Business has seven departments offering graduate and undergraduate curricula including Executive Education and Professional Development at University of St. Thomas, and is one of six AACSB accredited business schools in Minnesota.[27] St. Thomas also houses the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, which offers master's- and doctoral-level degrees oriented to theological study and the practice of ministry. Saint John Vianney Seminary, a minor college seminary, is also at St. Thomas. Other schools include the School of Education, the School of Engineering, and the School of Social Work. The Master of Social Work is offered as a double degree program with the St. Catherine University.

 
School of Law

Schools housed on the Minneapolis campus include the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Undergraduate and Graduate Schools of Education, Graduate Programs in Software Engineering, and the School of Law, which was re-opened in 1999 after a 66-year hiatus.

The University of St. Thomas is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC), a consortium of five private liberal arts colleges. This program allows students to take classes at one of the associated colleges for no additional cost. Other schools include Hamline University, St. Catherine University, Macalester College, and Augsburg University.[28]

In the Princeton Review 2023 rankings for best undergraduate entrepreneurship programs the St. Thomas Schulze School of Entrepreneurship was ranked 18th in the country.[29]

Athletics edit

 
Tommie/Johnnie football in 2005
 
MIAC Basketball Finals versus Carleton in 2006

St. Thomas's school colors are purple and gray, and the athletic teams are called the Tommies. The mascot for these teams is "Tommie". "Tommy" was changed to the "ie" spelling when women were accepted as full-time students, to be more inclusive.

For most of its athletic history, St. Thomas was a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), which performs at the NCAA Division III level. Since 1885, athletics have been present on St. Thomas' campus. The first sports teams that became popular were intramural. The top intramural baseball teams in the 1890s were the "Blues" and "Grays", which is where the school colors come from. Varsity sports did not begin until 1904, and UST was a founding member of the MIAC in 1920. St. Thomas celebrated its 100th year of varsity athletics in 2003–2004.[30]

St. Thomas' longtime archrival was Saint John's University from Collegeville, Minnesota. Recent national titles include men's basketball in 2011 and 2016;[31] men's baseball in 2009 and 2001; women's softball in 2005 and 2004; men's lacrosse (MCLA Division II) in 2019, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2010 and 2009; women's volleyball in 2012; and dance team in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008 and 2006. St. Thomas also won national championships with women's basketball in 1991; men's cross country in 1986 and 1984; men's indoor track in 1985; and women's cross country in 1987, 1986, 1984 and 1982. In 2012, St. Thomas played for the first time in the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia, which is the Division III Football National Championship game, against the University of Mount Union, losing 28-10.[32] In 2015, St. Thomas reached the Stagg Bowl for the second time, prompting another championship match against Mount Union. St. Thomas ultimately ended up losing the game, with a final score of 49-35.[33]

WCCO has broadcast radio coverage of Tommies football games since 2011.[34]

On May 22, 2019 it was announced that St. Thomas was "involuntarily removed" from the MIAC.[35] St. Thomas was to have been allowed to remain as a member of the conference until the spring of 2021 while they searched for a new conference had that become necessary but would be allowed to leave at an earlier date should a new conference accept them prior to spring 2021 or should they have decided to become an independent. On October 4, 2019, St. Thomas announced that it had been invited to the Summit League, an NCAA Division I conference. This announcement also noted that St. Thomas had applied for a waiver from the NCAA to move directly from Division III to Division I beginning with the 2021-22 season. While the process of transitioning from Division III to Division I normally takes 12 years and requires transitioning through Division II, on July 15, 2020, the NCAA announced they had approved St. Thomas's application to move directly to Division I. As the Summit League does not sponsor football or ice hockey, St. Thomas joined the Pioneer Football League for football, the CCHA for men's hockey[36] and the WCHA for women's hockey. [37][38]

Student life edit

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity[39] Total
White 74% 74
 
Other[a] 8% 8
 
Hispanic 7% 7
 
Asian 5% 5
 
Black 4% 4
 
Foreign national 3% 3
 
Economic diversity
Low-income[b] 22% 22
 
Affluent[c] 78% 78
 

Student housing edit

 
Cretin Hall, built in 1894

Undergraduate housing is found on the St. Paul Campus. Approximately 2,400 residents live in 10 traditional halls and apartments. Additionally, St. John Vianney College Seminary holds approximately 140 students. All but one (Murrary Herrick) traditional halls are single-sex, while apartment residences are co-ed by floor. Residence halls on campus are named after Archbishops of St. Paul-Minneapolis, such as William O. Brady, Austin Dowling, and John Ireland. Built in 1894, Cretin Hall is the oldest hall on campus and was designed (along with Loras and Grace halls) by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray.

Recently the department of residence life has purchased additional buildings on what they are calling 'mid-campus' in the area between Grand and Summit Avenues. These buildings house men and women transfer students in one of two buildings, separated by gender. There are two apartment complexes that are specifically designed for sophomores. Students are also housed in the residence above the Child Development Center, a day-care facility on campus.

 
Morrison Hall is connected to Koch Commons with a skyway.

The University of St. Thomas offers special interest floors, or floors that are intended to house specific residents with similar interests or class standing. Almost one-third of all floors are First Year Experience floors, which consist of only freshmen. This practice attempts to create a cohesive community by placing students together who will have a similar experience. First year students have the opportunity to participate in Living Learning Communities (LLCs). These include Sustainability, Aquinas Scholars, Tommies Do Well(ness), Pathways to Engineering, eMedia, Bridging Divides, Catholic Studies, Major Explorers, and Business for the Common Good.[40]

Controversy edit

Desmond Tutu edit

In 2007, the president of the University of St. Thomas, Father Dennis Dease, cancelled a planned speech by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and anti-apartheid figure, Desmond Tutu, on the grounds that his presence might offend some members of the local Jewish community.[41] Many faculty members of Voice for Peace led an email campaign calling on St. Thomas to reconsider its decision,[42] which the president did and invited Tutu to campus.[43] Tutu declined the re-invitation, speaking instead at the Minneapolis Convention Center at an event hosted by Metropolitan State University.[44] However, he addressed the issue two days later while making his final appearance at Metro State.

Demolition of Foley Theater edit

In 2008, plans were announced to the public that the theater department at the University of St. Thomas was to be dissolved and that the school would no longer offer this major. Declining numbers of theater majors was publicly cited as the reason. However, during this same time, plans were underway to make space for a new student center to be named after the Anderson family, then the largest single donors to a single private institution in United States history. Despite protests from senior faculty and students, the decision was made to demolish the theater and dissolve the department the same semester; though, according to the Dean of St. Thomas's College of Arts and Sciences, Marisa Kelly, the two decisions were "completely unrelated".[45]

Notable faculty and staff edit

Notable alumni edit

Academia and education edit

Arts and entertainment edit

Athletics edit

Business and leadership edit

Law, politics, government, and military edit

Religion edit

Other edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
  2. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  3. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Quick Facts". About University of St. Thomas. University of St. Thomas. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2020. "University of St. Thomas Financial Statements: Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020 with Report of Independent Auditors". University of St. Thomas.
  3. ^ Kennedy, Patrick. "Minnesota Nonprofit 100". StarTribune News. Minneapolis StarTribune. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  4. ^ Newsroom, The (December 19, 2022). "Rob Vischer Named 16th President of University of St. Thomas". University of St. Thomas. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Class of 2025: St. Thomas Makes Strides Toward Diversity Goals". University of St. Thomas Newsroom. University of St. Thomas. October 12, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "Forbes America's Top Colleges List 2023". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "2023-2024 Best National Universities". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "2023 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "2024 Best Colleges in the U.S." The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Jarchow 1973, pp. 39–40.
  11. ^ Murphy 2001, pp. 7.
  12. ^ . Project for Public Spaces. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  13. ^ (Press release). University of St. Thomas. September 6, 2005. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  14. ^ (Press release). University of St. Thomas. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  15. ^ "Construction Projects". University of St. Thomas. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  16. ^ Kimball, Joe (October 18, 2012). "University of St. Thomas raises more than $500 million in capital campaign". Minn Post. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  17. ^ "Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex". University of St. Thomas. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  18. ^ Jossi, Frank (January 19, 2012). "Building Blocks – University of St. Thomas' Anderson Student Center". Finance and Commerce. Minneapolis: Dolan Media. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  19. ^ "University of St. Thomas Residence Hall". www.opus-group.com. Opus Group. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Tommie North Residence Hall". www.stthomas.edu. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  21. ^ Brown, Noah (November 20, 2018). "University announces 2 new dorms, renovations to existing buildings". TommieMedia. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Reilly, Mark. "University of St. Thomas to begin $100M STEAM research center in St. Paul". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Loras Hall Makes Way for STEAM Complex". University of St Thomas Newsroom. February 22, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  24. ^ Navratil, Liz. "University of St. Thomas announces record-setting donation for new sports arena". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  25. ^ Fedo, Michael (November 19, 1993). "Artist Mark Balma's Lasting Impression". The Christian Science Monitor: 12. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  26. ^ Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum, Handbook of Studies 2012- 2013, p. 303 http://www.pust.it/ March 14, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "St. Thomas' Opus College of Business receives AACSB accreditation : Opus College of Business : University of St. Thomas". Stthomas.edu. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  28. ^ Murphy 2001, pp. 8, 33.
  29. ^ "Top 50 Entrepreneurship: Ugrad | the Princeton Review".
  30. ^ . University of St. Thomas Athletics. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
  31. ^ "St. Thomas pounds Wooster for D-III men's title". ESPN.com. March 19, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  32. ^ "St. Thomas reaches Div. III title game". ESPN. December 6, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  33. ^ Berkes, Peter (December 18, 2015). "Mount Union beats St. Thomas for 12th D3 title". SBNation.com.
  34. ^ "WCCO Radio to broadcast St. Thomas football games". WCCO.com. WCCO. May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  35. ^ Medcalf, Myron (May 22, 2019). "St. Thomas wins too much, kicked out of MIAC". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  36. ^ . Northern Michigan University. July 29, 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  37. ^ Scoggins and Christensen, Chip and Joe. "St. Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC". Star Tribune. Star Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  38. ^ Ryan, Megan. "St. Thomas gets approval from NCAA to go Division I". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  39. ^ "College Scorecard: University of St. Thomas". United States Department of Education. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  40. ^ . www.stthomas.edu. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  41. ^ Furst, Randy (October 4, 2007). "St. Thomas won't host Tutu". Minneapolis Star Tribune.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ Furst, Randy (October 15, 2007). . Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  43. ^ . University of St. Thomas Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  44. ^ Mador, Jessica (April 12, 2008). "Desmond Tutu avoids politics while talking about peace". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  45. ^ Furst, Randy (October 9, 2008). "St. Thomas drops the curtain: Eliminates theater department, slates Foley Theater for destruction". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved February 24, 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Jarchow, Merrill E. (1973). Private liberal arts colleges in Minnesota: their history and contributions. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society. ISBN 9780873510813.
  • Murphy, Terrence J. (2001). A Catholic university: vision and opportunities. Collegeville: The Order of St. Benedict. ISBN 9780814651018.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Official athletics website

university, thomas, minnesota, university, thomas, also, known, simply, thomas, private, catholic, research, university, with, campuses, paul, minneapolis, minnesota, founded, 1885, catholic, seminary, named, after, thomas, aquinas, medieval, catholic, theolog. The University of St Thomas also known as UST or simply St Thomas is a private Catholic research university with campuses in St Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota Founded in 1885 as a Catholic seminary it is named after Thomas Aquinas the medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher who is the patron saint of students As of fall 2021 St Thomas enrolled 9 347 students making it Minnesota s largest private nonprofit university University of St ThomasFormer namesCollege of St Thomas 1885 1990 MottoAll for the common goodTypePrivate universityEstablished1885 139 years ago 1885 1 Religious affiliationCatholic ChurchAcademic affiliationsACCUICUSTANAICU ACTCSpace grantEndowment 653 3 million 2020 2 Budget 374 million 2016 3 PresidentRobert K Vischer 4 ProvostEddy M RojasAcademic staff704 1 Administrative staff1 041Students9 347 2021 5 Undergraduates6 067 2021 5 Postgraduates3 280 2021 5 LocationSt Paul Minneapolis Minnesota United States44 56 35 N 93 11 25 W 44 94306 N 93 19028 W 44 94306 93 19028CampusUrban 78 acres 32 ha ColorsPurple and GrayNicknameTommiesSporting affiliationsNCAA Division I FCS Pioneer Football League Summit League CCHA WCHAMascotTommieAthletics11 men s and 11 women s varsity teamsWebsitewww wbr stthomas wbr eduAcademic rankingsNationalForbes 6 258U S News amp World Report 7 163Washington Monthly 8 201WSJ College Pulse 9 301 Contents 1 History 2 Campuses 2 1 Saint Paul 2 2 Minneapolis 2 3 Daniel C Gainey Conference Center Owatonna 2 4 Bernardi Rome 3 Academics 3 1 Schools and colleges 4 Athletics 5 Student life 5 1 Student housing 6 Controversy 6 1 Desmond Tutu 6 2 Demolition of Foley Theater 7 Notable faculty and staff 8 Notable alumni 8 1 Academia and education 8 2 Arts and entertainment 8 3 Athletics 8 4 Business and leadership 8 5 Law politics government and military 8 6 Religion 8 7 Other 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 Bibliography 13 External linksHistory editFounded in 1885 by John Ireland archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis St Thomas began as an all male Catholic seminary 10 In 1894 the liberal arts program became an independent college through a gift from local railroad tycoon James J Hill who provided funds to establish the Saint Paul Seminary apart from the college 10 In 1903 the College of St Thomas established a military program on campus and it was officially termed a military school by the U S War Department in 1906 Initially the school gave out two year diplomas in commercial and classical programs before awarding its first academic degrees in 1915 In 1922 military training became optional From the late 1920s through the mid 1930s the Holy Cross Fathers who run the University of Notre Dame controlled the college s administration The diocese called those priests in to help with the school s financial problems those priests were known as a crisis intervention team of sorts for parochial schools of that time During World War II St Thomas served as a training base for naval officers which kept the school open when men who would have attended college were fighting in the war After the war in 1948 the college established Tom Town on the eastern end of the lower quadrant which is currently the site to the O Shaughnessey Frey Library and O Shaughnessey Education Center Tom Town made of 20 double dwelling huts consisted of white barracks like housing units for faculty students and their families The units helped to meet housing demand after World War II In the latter half of the 20th century St Thomas started two of its most notable graduate programs education in 1950 and business administration in 1974 The school became co educational in 1977 and although women were not allowed to enroll until then female students from St Catherine University then the College of St Catherine often took classes at St Thomas Women were also present as instructors and administrators on campus but the staff faculty and administration have seen a vast increase in female employment since the move to co education In 1990 the College of St Thomas became the University of St Thomas 11 and the following year the university opened the Minneapolis campus In 2001 St Thomas reinstated its School of Law at its Minneapolis campus it had been shut down during the Great Depression U S Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was the speaker at the grand opening Campuses editSaint Paul edit nbsp Arched entryway to the St Paul campusThe St Paul campus is the main campus and is home to most undergraduate students The main campus built on a farm site once considered far removed from town is located where St Paul s Summit Avenue meets the Mississippi River The site was farmed by ex Fort Snelling soldier William Finn who received the property as a pension settlement after he accidentally shot himself in the hand while on guard duty The western edge of the campus borders the Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Summit Avenue which runs through the middle of the campus is the country s longest span of Victorian homes This tree lined avenue includes the Governor s Mansion F Scott Fitzgerald s townhome and James J Hill s mansion 12 nbsp Murray Herrick CenterIn 2005 a new apartment style residence hall was built on an existing parking lot 13 McNeely Hall was also built the following year It is a large classroom building for business that replaced the smaller building of the same name 14 A new residential village more parking ramps and general planning all have been negotiated successfully with the surrounding neighborhood These developments are expected to begin within the next five years citation needed In early 2012 St Thomas completed the final stage of its three building expansion on the St Paul campus 15 The two main additions that were completed are the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center AARC and the Anderson Student Center These projects were completed in the summer of 2010 and January 2012 respectively 16 The Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center has a field house basketball arena weight room and swimming pool 17 The track in the field house is home to the most dominant track team in the MIAC conference Other St Thomas sports that use the AARC s facilities have also had recent success including a playoff run for the football team and a national championship for the men s basketball team citation needed The new Anderson Student Center is home to new food venues as well as entertainment options including a game room and bowling alley and a coffee shop An art gallery on the second floor is home to the American Museum of Asmat Art 18 St Thomas newest dormitories Frey Residence Hall and Tommie North Residence Hall opened on north campus in 2020 Frey Residence Hall is a 5 story facility which houses 260 second year and transfer students Tommie North is also a 5 story facility houses 480 residents and has a 116 stall underground parking ramp 19 It is connected to the Iverson Center for Faith and Ireland Hall via tunnel and sits on the site of the former John Paul II dormitory 20 21 In 2021 St Thomas moved forward with plans for a new 100 million building on South Campus called Schoenecker Center 22 The 130 000 square foot facility is scheduled to open in 2024 and will focus on STEAM fields The 126 year old Loras Hall most recently used as an administrative building was demolished to make way for Schoenecker Center 23 In 2023 the university announced plans for a 175 million on campus indoor arena known as Lee and Penny Anderson Arena The 6 000 seat arena is planned to be the home of the basketball and hockey teams in addition to hosting other events such as commencement Cretin Hall McCarthy Gymnasium and the Service Center are to be demolished to make way for the arena 24 Minneapolis edit nbsp Downtown Minneapolis CampusIn fall 1992 the university opened a permanent 150 000 sq ft 14 000 m2 campus at 1000 LaSalle Ave in Minneapolis The first building named Terrence Murphy Hall in May 2000 is headquarters to the university s Opus College of Business Artist Mark Balma created one of the largest frescoes in the United States on the arched ceiling of its atrium 25 The seven panel 1 904 square feet 176 9 m2 fresco was completed in the summer of 1994 and portrays the seven virtues discussed in the writings of St Thomas Aquinas The Minneapolis campus also holds St Thomas School of Education the School of Law and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Daniel C Gainey Conference Center Owatonna edit As announced on May 15 2014 the Daniel C Gainey Conference Center was to be sold to Meridian Behavioral Health LLC with a plan to convert it to a treatment facility for addiction and behavioral disorders The deal closed in August 2014 The deal included the entire 180 acre property and all the buildings except for the Winton Guest House which was designed by architect Frank Gehry St Thomas then sold the house at auction and it was moved from the site Bernardi Rome edit Since 1999 the University of St Thomas has been the only university in the United States to have a formal affiliation with the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas Angelicum 26 Academics editEach year the university awards almost 2 500 degrees including five different bachelor s degrees B A B M B S B S M E and B S E E It has 88 major fields at the undergraduate level with 59 minor fields of study and seven preprofessional programs At the graduate and professional level the university offers 41 master s degrees 2 education specialist degree 1 juris doctor and 5 doctorates Schools and colleges edit nbsp Frey Science and Engineering CenterThe university offers its degree programs through nine divisions The College of Arts and Sciences includes undergraduate departments in the arts humanities natural sciences and social sciences plus a number of interdisciplinary programs The Opus College of Business has seven departments offering graduate and undergraduate curricula including Executive Education and Professional Development at University of St Thomas and is one of six AACSB accredited business schools in Minnesota 27 St Thomas also houses the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity which offers master s and doctoral level degrees oriented to theological study and the practice of ministry Saint John Vianney Seminary a minor college seminary is also at St Thomas Other schools include the School of Education the School of Engineering and the School of Social Work The Master of Social Work is offered as a double degree program with the St Catherine University nbsp School of LawSchools housed on the Minneapolis campus include the Graduate School of Professional Psychology Undergraduate and Graduate Schools of Education Graduate Programs in Software Engineering and the School of Law which was re opened in 1999 after a 66 year hiatus The University of St Thomas is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities ACTC a consortium of five private liberal arts colleges This program allows students to take classes at one of the associated colleges for no additional cost Other schools include Hamline University St Catherine University Macalester College and Augsburg University 28 In the Princeton Review 2023 rankings for best undergraduate entrepreneurship programs the St Thomas Schulze School of Entrepreneurship was ranked 18th in the country 29 Athletics editMain article St Thomas Minnesota Tommies nbsp Tommie Johnnie football in 2005 nbsp MIAC Basketball Finals versus Carleton in 2006St Thomas s school colors are purple and gray and the athletic teams are called the Tommies The mascot for these teams is Tommie Tommy was changed to the ie spelling when women were accepted as full time students to be more inclusive For most of its athletic history St Thomas was a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference MIAC which performs at the NCAA Division III level Since 1885 athletics have been present on St Thomas campus The first sports teams that became popular were intramural The top intramural baseball teams in the 1890s were the Blues and Grays which is where the school colors come from Varsity sports did not begin until 1904 and UST was a founding member of the MIAC in 1920 St Thomas celebrated its 100th year of varsity athletics in 2003 2004 30 St Thomas longtime archrival was Saint John s University from Collegeville Minnesota Recent national titles include men s basketball in 2011 and 2016 31 men s baseball in 2009 and 2001 women s softball in 2005 and 2004 men s lacrosse MCLA Division II in 2019 2016 2013 2012 2010 and 2009 women s volleyball in 2012 and dance team in 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2008 and 2006 St Thomas also won national championships with women s basketball in 1991 men s cross country in 1986 and 1984 men s indoor track in 1985 and women s cross country in 1987 1986 1984 and 1982 In 2012 St Thomas played for the first time in the Stagg Bowl in Salem Virginia which is the Division III Football National Championship game against the University of Mount Union losing 28 10 32 In 2015 St Thomas reached the Stagg Bowl for the second time prompting another championship match against Mount Union St Thomas ultimately ended up losing the game with a final score of 49 35 33 WCCO has broadcast radio coverage of Tommies football games since 2011 34 On May 22 2019 it was announced that St Thomas was involuntarily removed from the MIAC 35 St Thomas was to have been allowed to remain as a member of the conference until the spring of 2021 while they searched for a new conference had that become necessary but would be allowed to leave at an earlier date should a new conference accept them prior to spring 2021 or should they have decided to become an independent On October 4 2019 St Thomas announced that it had been invited to the Summit League an NCAA Division I conference This announcement also noted that St Thomas had applied for a waiver from the NCAA to move directly from Division III to Division I beginning with the 2021 22 season While the process of transitioning from Division III to Division I normally takes 12 years and requires transitioning through Division II on July 15 2020 the NCAA announced they had approved St Thomas s application to move directly to Division I As the Summit League does not sponsor football or ice hockey St Thomas joined the Pioneer Football League for football the CCHA for men s hockey 36 and the WCHA for women s hockey 37 38 Student life editStudent body composition as of May 2 2022 Race and ethnicity 39 TotalWhite 74 74 Other a 8 8 Hispanic 7 7 Asian 5 5 Black 4 4 Foreign national 3 3 Economic diversityLow income b 22 22 Affluent c 78 78 Student housing edit nbsp Cretin Hall built in 1894Undergraduate housing is found on the St Paul Campus Approximately 2 400 residents live in 10 traditional halls and apartments Additionally St John Vianney College Seminary holds approximately 140 students All but one Murrary Herrick traditional halls are single sex while apartment residences are co ed by floor Residence halls on campus are named after Archbishops of St Paul Minneapolis such as William O Brady Austin Dowling and John Ireland Built in 1894 Cretin Hall is the oldest hall on campus and was designed along with Loras and Grace halls by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray Recently the department of residence life has purchased additional buildings on what they are calling mid campus in the area between Grand and Summit Avenues These buildings house men and women transfer students in one of two buildings separated by gender There are two apartment complexes that are specifically designed for sophomores Students are also housed in the residence above the Child Development Center a day care facility on campus nbsp Morrison Hall is connected to Koch Commons with a skyway The University of St Thomas offers special interest floors or floors that are intended to house specific residents with similar interests or class standing Almost one third of all floors are First Year Experience floors which consist of only freshmen This practice attempts to create a cohesive community by placing students together who will have a similar experience First year students have the opportunity to participate in Living Learning Communities LLCs These include Sustainability Aquinas Scholars Tommies Do Well ness Pathways to Engineering eMedia Bridging Divides Catholic Studies Major Explorers and Business for the Common Good 40 Controversy editDesmond Tutu edit In 2007 the president of the University of St Thomas Father Dennis Dease cancelled a planned speech by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and anti apartheid figure Desmond Tutu on the grounds that his presence might offend some members of the local Jewish community 41 Many faculty members of Voice for Peace led an email campaign calling on St Thomas to reconsider its decision 42 which the president did and invited Tutu to campus 43 Tutu declined the re invitation speaking instead at the Minneapolis Convention Center at an event hosted by Metropolitan State University 44 However he addressed the issue two days later while making his final appearance at Metro State Demolition of Foley Theater edit In 2008 plans were announced to the public that the theater department at the University of St Thomas was to be dissolved and that the school would no longer offer this major Declining numbers of theater majors was publicly cited as the reason However during this same time plans were underway to make space for a new student center to be named after the Anderson family then the largest single donors to a single private institution in United States history Despite protests from senior faculty and students the decision was made to demolish the theater and dissolve the department the same semester though according to the Dean of St Thomas s College of Arts and Sciences Marisa Kelly the two decisions were completely unrelated 45 Notable faculty and staff editSee also Category University of St Thomas Minnesota faculty John Abraham professor in the School of Engineering Michael Murphy Andregg geneticist and peace activist Archbishop William Brady Don J Briel Professor of Catholic Studies Glenn Caruso head football coach Andrew H Cozzens Professor of Divinity Robert Delahunty internationally recognized professor of law David Durenberger U S Senator from Minnesota Massimo Faggioli theology professor Michael Joncas professor of Catholic Studies Ellen J Kennedy genocide scholar John Jeremiah Lawler Professor of Divinity Nekima Levy Pounds President of the Minneapolis NAACP Whitney MacMillan former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Cargill Eugene McCarthy U S Senator and Representative Eoin McKiernan early scholar in Irish Studies Harry Mehre football and basketball coach Thomas Mengler Dean of the School of Law Larry Miggins baseball coach Leslie Adrienne Miller poet Charles Morerod Director of the Rome Program in Catholic Studies Rachel Paulose Visiting Professor of Law Mary Rose O Reilley poet Mark Osler Professor of Law Bishop Lee A Piche theology David Renz Professor of Public Policy John A Ryan moral theologian Patrick J Schiltz U S federal judge Katarina Schuth Professor for the Social Scientific Study of Religion Brandon Staley Head Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers David Strom Professor of Political Philosophy Peter Vaill Professor of ManagementNotable alumni editThis article s list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia s verifiability policy Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations February 2024 See also Category University of St Thomas Minnesota alumni Academia and education edit Tim Callahan geologist Dennis Dease former President of the University of St Thomas Richard DeMillo computer scientist Mark Dienhart educator Tom Dooher president of Education Minnesota Abraham Kaplan philosopher Rick Krueger educator Stephen A McCarthy director of the Cornell University libraries John A Ryan theologian Edward J Walsh journalistArts and entertainment edit Felix Biederman writer gamer co host of Chapo Trap House Larry Bond game designer and author Dottie Cannon Miss Minnesota USA 2006 Vince Flynn author T R Knight actor Glenn Lindgren TV chef and food writer Thomas Melchior author T D Mischke radio talk show host Evan Schwartz author Ali Selim film director Joe Soucheray radio talk show host John Vachon photographerAthletics edit Adrian Baril professional football player Brady Beeson professional football player Jim Brandt professional football player Herb Franta professional football player Courtney George professional curler Tommy Gibbons Hall of Fame boxer sheriff of Ramsey County Minnesota 1934 1959 Neal Guggemos professional football player Red Hardy professional baseball player Walt Kiesling professional football player and coach member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame John Kundla first coach for the Minneapolis Lakers Horace LaBissoniere professional football player Jake Mauer professional baseball player and coach Chuck Reichow professional football player Isaac Rosefelt American Israeli basketball player Don Simensen football player Larry Steinbach football player Roy Vassau professional football player Joe Warren professional soccer playerBusiness and leadership edit Ben Anderson entrepreneur Robert Buss managing director Disciplined Growth Investors Jack Casey business professional Ron Fowler owner San Diego Padres John Schneider general manager of the Seattle Seahawks Bob Short businessman sport teams owner and politician Ann Winblad venture capitalistLaw politics government and military edit Semhar Araia social activist James N Azim Jr Wisconsin State Assemblyman Mike Beard member Minnesota House of Representatives William V Belanger Jr Minnesota State Senator Michelle Benson Minnesota State Senator David H Bieter mayor of Boise Idaho John E Boland member Minnesota House of Representatives Stephen F Burkard attorney Michael Ciresi attorney Ted Daley Minnesota State Senator Gary DeCramer Minnesota State Senator Terry Dempsey member Minnesota House of Representatives Joe Dunn California State Senator Sondra Erickson member Minnesota House of Representatives Peter Fischer member Minnesota House of Representatives Burke Harr Nebraska State Senator John Harrington chief of metro transit police in Minneapolis St Paul Brian H Hook former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Paul Kohls member Minnesota House of Representatives Charles B Kornmann United States federal judge Arthur Lenroot Jr Wisconsin State Senator Patrick Lucey Governor of Wisconsin Erin Maye Quade member Minnesota House of Representatives Mike McFadden 2014 Republican candidate for U S Senate from Minnesota Pam Myhra member Minnesota House of Representatives Jim Oberstar former U S Congressman James Hugh O Neill brigadier general U S Army Cindy Pugh member Minnesota House of Representatives Patrick J Ryan chief of chaplains of the U S Army Henry Timothy Tim Vakoc first U S military chaplain to die from wounds received in the Iraq War Conrado Vega Minnesota State Senator D D Wozniak former chief judge of the Minnesota Court of AppealsReligion edit Joseph John Annabring William Henry Bullock James Joseph Byrne Archdiocese of Dubuque Frederick F Campbell Robert J Carlson Archdiocese of St Louis Peter F Christensen Leonard Philip Cowley Blase J Cardinal Cupich Archdiocese of Chicago John Francis Doerfler Paul Vincent Dudley Paul D Etienne Lawrence Alexander Glenn David Haas Hilary Baumann Hacker Lambert Anthony Hoch Edward Howard James Keane Francis Martin Kelly Arthur Kennedy John Francis Kinney Louis Benedict Kucera Raymond W Lessard John M LeVoir Raymond Alphonse Lucker Lawrence James McNamara John Jeremiah McRaith William Theodore Mulloy Gerald Francis O Keefe Richard Pates Lee A Piche John Roach Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis Alexander King Sample Archdiocese of Portland Francis Joseph Schenk Alphonse James Schladweiler Fulton J Sheen titular see of Newport Wales George Henry Speltz Rose Thering social activist Sylvester William Treinen Nicolas Eugene Walsh Thomas Anthony Welch Stephen S WoznickiOther edit Dan Buettner explorer educator author Daerek LemonNation Hart professional League of Legends player Hussein Samatar politician banker and community organizer Will Steger polar explorerSee also edit nbsp United States portalList of colleges and universities in Minnesota Higher education in MinnesotaNotes edit Other consists of Multiracial Americans amp those who prefer to not say The percentage of students who received an income based federal Pell grant intended for low income students The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum References edit a b Quick Facts About University of St Thomas University of St Thomas Retrieved December 16 2017 As of June 30 2020 University of St Thomas Financial Statements Fiscal Year Ended June 30 2020 with Report of Independent Auditors University of St Thomas Kennedy Patrick Minnesota Nonprofit 100 StarTribune News Minneapolis StarTribune Retrieved December 16 2017 Newsroom The December 19 2022 Rob Vischer Named 16th President of University of St Thomas University of St Thomas Retrieved March 8 2023 a b c Class of 2025 St Thomas Makes Strides Toward Diversity Goals University of St Thomas Newsroom University of St Thomas October 12 2021 Retrieved February 18 2022 Forbes America s Top Colleges List 2023 Forbes Retrieved September 22 2023 2023 2024 Best National Universities U S News amp World Report Retrieved September 22 2023 2023 National University Rankings Washington Monthly Retrieved February 10 2024 2024 Best Colleges in the U S The Wall Street Journal College Pulse Retrieved January 27 2024 a b Jarchow 1973 pp 39 40 Murphy 2001 pp 7 Summit Avenue Project for Public Spaces Archived from the original on September 30 2012 Retrieved December 12 2012 Take a look at new Selby Hall today Sept 6 Press release University of St Thomas September 6 2005 Archived from the original on February 1 2014 Retrieved December 12 2012 McNeely Legacy Opens Doors Press release University of St Thomas November 15 2006 Archived from the original on February 1 2014 Retrieved December 12 2012 Construction Projects University of St Thomas Retrieved December 12 2012 Kimball Joe October 18 2012 University of St Thomas raises more than 500 million in capital campaign Minn Post Retrieved December 12 2012 Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex University of St Thomas Retrieved December 12 2012 Jossi Frank January 19 2012 Building Blocks University of St Thomas Anderson Student Center Finance and Commerce Minneapolis Dolan Media Retrieved May 1 2017 University of St Thomas Residence Hall www opus group com Opus Group Retrieved April 9 2023 Tommie North Residence Hall www stthomas edu Retrieved January 17 2023 Brown Noah November 20 2018 University announces 2 new dorms renovations to existing buildings TommieMedia Retrieved January 17 2023 Reilly Mark University of St Thomas to begin 100M STEAM research center in St Paul www bizjournals com Retrieved January 17 2023 Loras Hall Makes Way for STEAM Complex University of St Thomas Newsroom February 22 2021 Retrieved January 17 2023 Navratil Liz University of St Thomas announces record setting donation for new sports arena Star Tribune Retrieved January 17 2023 Fedo Michael November 19 1993 Artist Mark Balma s Lasting Impression The Christian Science Monitor 12 ISSN 0882 7729 Retrieved December 11 2012 Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas Angelicum Handbook of Studies 2012 2013 p 303 http www pust it Archived March 14 2018 at the Wayback Machine St Thomas Opus College of Business receives AACSB accreditation Opus College of Business University of St Thomas Stthomas edu Retrieved October 2 2011 Murphy 2001 pp 8 33 Top 50 Entrepreneurship Ugrad the Princeton Review Traditions amp Spirit University of St Thomas Athletics Archived from the original on December 27 2007 Retrieved January 27 2008 St Thomas pounds Wooster for D III men s title ESPN com March 19 2011 Retrieved March 19 2018 St Thomas reaches Div III title game ESPN December 6 2012 Retrieved December 9 2012 Berkes Peter December 18 2015 Mount Union beats St Thomas for 12th D3 title SBNation com WCCO Radio to broadcast St Thomas football games WCCO com WCCO May 11 2011 Retrieved May 11 2011 Medcalf Myron May 22 2019 St Thomas wins too much kicked out of MIAC ESPN com ESPN Retrieved October 4 2019 CCHA Welcomes The University Of St Thomas Northern Michigan University July 29 2020 Archived from the original on July 24 2021 Retrieved July 29 2020 Scoggins and Christensen Chip and Joe St Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC Star Tribune Star Tribune Retrieved October 4 2019 Ryan Megan St Thomas gets approval from NCAA to go Division I Star Tribune Retrieved July 15 2020 College Scorecard University of St Thomas United States Department of Education Retrieved May 8 2022 LLCs Residence Life University of St Thomas Minnesota www stthomas edu Archived from the original on September 26 2017 Retrieved March 19 2018 Furst Randy October 4 2007 St Thomas won t host Tutu Minneapolis Star Tribune permanent dead link Furst Randy October 15 2007 St Thomas urged to reconsider its decision not to invite Tutu Minneapolis Star Tribune Archived from the original on March 23 2009 Retrieved October 7 2007 UST president says he made wrong decision invites Tutu to campus University of St Thomas Bulletin Archived from the original on October 13 2007 Retrieved October 7 2007 Mador Jessica April 12 2008 Desmond Tutu avoids politics while talking about peace Minnesota Public Radio Retrieved May 6 2008 Furst Randy October 9 2008 St Thomas drops the curtain Eliminates theater department slates Foley Theater for destruction Twin Cities Daily Planet Retrieved February 24 2014 Bibliography editJarchow Merrill E 1973 Private liberal arts colleges in Minnesota their history and contributions St Paul Minnesota Historical Society ISBN 9780873510813 Murphy Terrence J 2001 A Catholic university vision and opportunities Collegeville The Order of St Benedict ISBN 9780814651018 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of St Thomas Minnesota Official website Official athletics website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title University of St Thomas Minnesota amp oldid 1208517562, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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