A FEARLESS CULTURE OF POSITIVE CHANGE 18 GOALS FROM
THE CALL TOWARD TOMORROW PLANNING PROCESS
“CRESCAMUS IN CHRISTO”
May we grow in Christ.
OUR MOTTO IS A GUIDESTAR FOR THE FUTURE.
OUR MISSION
During the Call to Tomorrow strategic thinking process, the University’s mission was enthusiastically reaffirmed without revision or alteration, and was upheld as the starting point for the process: We are the University of St. Thomas, the Catholic university in the heart of Houston. We are committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the dialogue between faith and reason. By pursuing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service, we embody and instill in our students the core values of our founders, the Basilian Fathers: goodness, discipline, and knowledge. We foster engagement in a diverse, collaborative community. As a comprehensive university grounded in the liberal arts, we educate students to think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally, and lead ethically.
GOODNESS. DISCIPLINE. KNOWLEDGE. COMMUNITY. Our VALUES were reaffirmed by the process.
The Basilian Fathers’ values - goodness, discipline and knowledge remain inspiring and universally embraced by the University. A fourth value that embodies the Catholic character of community has been part of the University’s values for a long time.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
in the daily life of University of St. Thomas Operational Core Characteristics:
Spiritual Core Characteristics
Learner-centered: at the heart of our work are our students
Hope: we long for the best and anticipate the best
Catholic: we are universal, seeking to encounter all
Servant Leadership: service, not authority, is our priority
Inclusivity: we welcome and respect the dignity of each person
Vocation/Call in Life: we believe in lives of purpose with each one’s gifts brought to flourishing and freely shared
Community: unity, dialogue, and belonging are important
Love: God’s love of us motivates our own love and concern for others
Holistic: our approach is to accompany the whole person – body, mind and spirit
Sacrifice: we give of ourselves and lay down our lives in service day by day
A VISION FOR A BOLD FUTURE OUR PURPOSE To lift and inspire through education, community, and service. OUR VISION/ THE BIG HOLY AUDACIOUS GOAL By 2023, University of St. Thomas will be known for having a fearless culture embracing positive change.
5 YEARS l 5 PRIORITIES AND 18 GOALS FOR A BOLD FUTURE
01 Ethos, Culture, and Spirit
02 Academics and Organizational Structure
03 Enrollment
04 Infrastructure
05 Awareness
ETHOS CULTURE SPIRIT
ETHOS, CULTURE, AND SPIRIT | GOAL #1 University of St. Thomas will be named one of the “Best Places to Work” in the Houston Chronicle selection list by 2023.
ETHOS, CULTURE AND SPIRIT | GOAL #2 By Fall 2018, establish a standard for mission-driven hiring and provide a system for orientation for new members of the faculty, staff, and corpus of administrators.
ETHOS, CULTURE AND SPIRIT | GOAL #3 By Fall 2018, opportunity for interaction with other members of the professional UST community should be strengthened through communication documents, scheduled events, and both informal and structured information sessions.
ETHOS, CULTURE AND SPIRIT | GOAL #4 By January 2019, the UST professional community will subscribe to accepted standards of mission effectiveness. The use of a set of applications and mission document should serve as a roadmap for fulfilling the
UST mission and goals. The leadership of each constituency will review their portion of the document and provide feedback by Nov. 1, 2018. Ultimately, a consistent, shared practice of mission will evolve.
ACADEMICS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Academics Organizational Structure l GOAL #5 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will become an institution where innovation is learner-centered.
Academics Organizational Structure l GOAL #6
By 2023, University of St. Thomas will become a collaborative organization that values subsidiarity, accompaniment and innovation.
ENROLLMENT
ENROLLMENT | GOAL #7 Increase undergraduate enrollment to 5,000 by 2023 by creating a curriculum that is more attractive to prospective students.
ENROLLMENT | GOAL #8 Increase retention from freshman to sophomore year to 85% and four year graduation rates to 80%.
ENROLLMENT | GOAL #9 Raise the graduate enrollment from ~1,375 to 2,000 by creating a unified operational workflow for all graduate programs.
INFRASTRUCTURE
INFRASTRUCTURE | GOAL #10 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will have facilities and infrastructure that foster and support campus engagement based on a master plan that addresses its facility needs in the
light of enrollment goals, anticipated student life needs, changing learning technologies and the desire to cultivate a culture of encounter across the University community.
INFRASTRUCTURE | GOAL #11 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will have facilities and infrastructure that meet our evolving needs for learning and research at or above levels exceeding that of our peer institutions.
INFRASTRUCTURE | GOAL #12 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will streamline administrative processes to maximize efficiency, encourage interdepartmental collaboration, and positively transform the end-user experience.
INFRASTRUCTURE | GOAL #13 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will enhance and maintain a quality information environment for learning, research, and administrative
processes that meets our evolving needs at or above levels exceeding that of our peer institutions.
AWARENESS
AWARENESS | GOAL #14 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will have a strong, established brand identity that is effectively communicated across all marketing materials and is well known by Houstonians.
AWARENESS | GOAL #15 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will be the most engaging university in our market with the 14-22 age demographic.
AWARENESS | GOAL #16 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will have demonstrated a clear and steady commitment to investing in marketing.
AWARENESS | GOAL #17 By 2023, the majority of graduating high school seniors in the Houston area will be aware that UST has majors they are interested in.
AWARENESS | GOAL #18 By 2023, University of St. Thomas will be known for providing an education that impacts both lives and careers.
TOGETHER TOWARD TOMORROW ETHOS, CULTURE AND SPIRIT
ACADEMICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
ENROLLMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE
AWARENESS
To view the companion video to this booklet or for more information, visit www.stthom.edu/TheCall