Dr. Tonia Bock
Associate Vice Provost for Accreditation, Assessment and Curriculum; Professor, Psychology
tsbock@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-6039
Accreditation and Assessment
Institutional Accreditation
The University of St. Thomas has maintained continuous accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1916. HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an institutional accreditor.
Institutional accreditation by the HLC provides assurance to prospective students and other constituents that course credits and degrees earned from the institution meet quality standards of higher education.
In addition, institutional accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution is engaged in continuous improvement. HLC evaluates each institution on its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.
Reaffirmation of Accreditation
The University of St. Thomas has been approved for the Open Pathway for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. The two components of the Open Pathway are the Assurance Review and the Quality Initiative.
St. Thomas had its accreditation re-affirmed by HLC in 2024. St. Thomas will undergo an Assurance Review in 2027-2028.
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
Toll Free: 800-621-7440
www.hlcommission.org
Assessment Program
The program to assess student learning is an integral part of the university’s commitment to excellent teaching and effective learning. Learn more about our approach and learning outcomes.
Minnesota Office of Higher Education (MOHE)
The University of St. Thomas is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions. Contact information for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education is:
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
Phone: (651) 642-0567
Toll Free: (800) 657-3866
Fax: (651) 642-0675
https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Federal regulations require institutions that provide distance education to students residing outside of the institution's home state to seek state authorization with the states from which they enroll students or participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA is a voluntary agreement among the 49 member states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands that permits certain types of educational activities without requiring institutions to seek state-by-state authorization. (Information on SARA can be found at www.nc-sara.org.) The University of St. Thomas has been approved by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to participate in SARA. Currently, all states except for California are members of SARA. Although California is not part of SARA, California does not regulate out-of-state, non-profit accredited institutions and St. Thomas is able to provide distance education to students who are in that state with the caveat that students and institutions are not bound to SARA regulations.
Specialized Accreditation
Specialized (or program) accreditation agencies evaluate particular units, schools, or programs within an organization. Some are discipline-based and many are also associated with national professional associations and state licensing.
The University of St. Thomas School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association.
The American Bar Association’s Accreditation Committee and Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar unanimously approved full accreditation for St. Thomas.
The school received provisional American Bar Association accreditation in 2003 and its first full accreditation in 2006.
Chicago Headquarters
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312-988-5000
Washington DC Office
740 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
202-662-1000
Accreditation Reaffirmed in 2016
- The J.D. program in the University of St. Thomas Law School.
Visit the School of Law for more information.
The BS degree in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Professional Training. ACS promotes excellence in chemistry education for undergraduate students through approval of baccalaureate chemistry programs. ACS-approved programs offer a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that gives students intellectual, experimental, and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals.
ACS
American Chemical Society
1155 Sixteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (800) 227-5558
Approval continued in 2020
For more information, visit the Department of Chemistry.
The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a designated program of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)/National Register of Health Service Providers in psychology, Joint Designation Project.
American Psychological Association (APA)
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: 800-374-2721; 202-336-5500.
TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Re-accredited in 2016
For more information visit the Doctorate Counseling Program website.
The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity is accredited and its degree programs (M.Div., MA in Pastoral Leadership, and MA Theology) approved by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United Stated and Canada.
ATS
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
Telephone: 412-788-6505
FAX: 412-788-6510
Accreditation reaffirmed in 2024
For more information visit the Saint Paul Seminary School of Dinity.
The Opus College of Business maintains professional accreditation from AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.
The Opus College of Business joins an elite group with fewer than 5 percent of institutions worldwide having earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. The Opus College of Business is one of only six accredited business schools in Minnesota and the only private accredited business school in the state.
AACSB International
777 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 750
Tampa, Florida 33602 USA
Telephone: +1 813 769 6500
Fax: +1 813 769 6559
Accreditation extended in 2021
For more information visit: Opus College of Business.
The University of St. Thomas Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing programs are seeking accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The site visit for initial accreditation October 2023.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
655 K Street NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
P: 202-887-6791
To learn more visit: School of Nursing.
The University of St. Thomas BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our next review will take place in 2023-2024. St. Thomas was previously part of a joint program with St. Catherine University that was accredited by CSWE from 1974-2019.
The St. Thomas MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our next review will take place in 2023-2024. St. Thomas was previously part of a joint program with St. Catherine University that was accredited by CSWE from 1990-2018.
Council on Social Work Education
1701 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-3457
Phone:+ 1.703.683.8080
Fax: + 1.703.683.8099
E-mail: info@cswe.org
Initial accreditation in 2018
1990-2018 as part of a collaborative
To learn more visit: School of Social Work.
The University of St. Thomas bachelor degree programs in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. All of our programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
ABET
415 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone 410-347-7700
Fax 410-625-2238
Civil Engineering BS, Computer Engineering BS, Electrical Engineering BS, Mechanical Engineering re-accredited in 2023
For more information visit: School of Engineering.
The University of St. Thomas Department of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.All music programs including: Bachelor of Arts in Music (General, Music Business); Bachelor of Music in Music Education; Bachelor of Music in Performance; Master of Arts in Music Education (Choral, Instrumental, Kodaly, Orff, Piano Pedagogy); Certificate in Piano Pedagogy (Graduate); Certificate in Teaching World Music (Graduate)
National Association of Schools of Music
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248
Telephone: 703-437-0700
Facsimile: 703-437-6312
E-mail: info@arts-accredit.org
Membership renewed in 2021
For more information visit the Department of Music.
Contact Us
Sarah C. Smith
Assessment Analyst
scsmith@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-6029
Daryl Coppoletti
Assistant Director, Standards and Assessment
dbcoppoletti@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-6395