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Office of Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs works to advance and support excellence in teaching, learning and scholarship across St. Thomas and to foster inclusivity and innovation in all areas of the university's academic life.

Our office is responsible for:

  • Faculty affairs
  • Support of faculty governance activities
  • University-wide accreditation and assessment
  • Faculty development programs
  • Internal faculty grants programs and sponsored research
  • International programs
  • Programs that support undergraduate student retention and success
  • University libraries
  • Campus sustainability initiatives
  • Lifelong learning programs

Contact Information

Email: acadaffairs@stthomas.edu
Phone: (651) 962-6717
Fax: (651) 962-6702

Aquinas Hall Room 110
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1078

Who We Are

Global Learning and Strategy

The Global Learning and Strategy team provides leadership and creates strategic partnerships that advance community and international initiatives (including Study Abroad) in support of the university's mission.

Undergraduate Student Achievement

The Undergraduate Student Achievement team is responsible for implementing strategies and programs that support undergraduate student retention and success, including the Center for Student Achievement and Academic Counseling.

University Libraries

The libraries team builds and sustains University Libraries that are responsive to the needs of the University community; that are focused on the libraries' role in teaching, learning, and scholarship; and that help support the University's mission.

Office of Sustability Initiatives

The Office of Sustainability team supports the University's focus on Sustainability and leads efforts to assess, plan and implement sustainable innovations across the University, including academic programming and applied learning.

Selim Center for Lifelong Learning

The Selim Center for Lifelong Learning engages adult learners in high quality educational opportunities that promote growth in mind, body, and spirit.

Academic Honors and Awards

For Students

The Aquinas Scholars Honors Program is the undergraduate honors program of the University of St. Thomas.

The program's mission is to enrich the educational experience of academically motivated students by creating a community of scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the ideals of a liberal arts education.

The Dean's Honor List is the list of undergraduate students who have demonstrated a high level of scholarship in a given semester. They are recognized as such by the university's administration and an honors notation is added to their academic record for that semester.

At St. Thomas, undergraduate students who achieve a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher (and meet other necessary requirements) are placed on the Dean's List. Read more about the Dean's List.

Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. At St. Thomas, these Latin honors are awarded:

  • Summa Cum Laude ("with highest honor"): awarded to students whose GPA is at or above 3.90 and who have successfully completed the Summa oral examination
  • Magna Cum Laude ("with great honor"): awarded to students whose GPA is between 3.70 and 3.89; also to students whose GPA is at 3.90 or above but who did not pass or did not pursue the Summa oral examination
  • Cum Laude ("with honor"): awarded to students whose GPA is between 3.50 and 3.69

Students who have earned Latin honors status are listed as such in the commencement program and wear a medallion and ribbon at the ceremony to mark their achievement. More about Latin Honors at St. Thomas.

For Faculty

The John Ireland Presidential Award, presented since 2008, recognizes outstanding academic achievement of faculty in teaching and scholarship, and exemplifies the mission and values of the University of St. Thomas as an institution committed to the teacher-scholar model. Awardees are tenured members of the St. Thomas faculty who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to not only their respective disciplines, but also to the university.

List of Recipients:

  • Dr. Dalma Martinović-Weigelt, Department of Biology; 2022
  • Dr. Avinash Malshe, Department of Marketing; 2021
  • Dr. Mark Neuzil, Department of Emerging Media, 2019
  • Dr. Elise Amel, Department of Psychology, 2018
  • Dr. Tom Ippoliti, Department of Chemistry, 2017
  • Dr. Patrick Van Fleet, Department of Mathematics, 2015
  • Dr. Sandy Menssen, Department of Philosophy, 2015
  • Mr. Gregory Sisk, School of Law, 2014
  • Dr. Lisa Waldner, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, 2014
  • Dr. Sameer Kumar, Department of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 2013
  • Dr. Meg Wilkes Karraker, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, 2013
  • Dr. Bernard Brady, Department of Theology, 2012
  • Dr. Teresa Rothausen, Department of Management, 2011
  • Dr. Matthew George, Department of Music, 2010
  • Dr. Mark Stansbury-O’Donnell, Department of Art History, 2009
  • Mr. Neil Hamilton, School of Law, 2009
  • Dr. Kendra Garrett, School of Social Work, 2009
  • Dr. John Abraham, School of Engineering, 2009
  • Dr. Thomas Sullivan, Department of Philosophy, 2008
  • Dr. Mary Reichardt, Department of Catholic Studies, 2008
  • Dr. Terence Nichols, Department of Theology, 2008
  • Dr. Stephen Brookfield, School of Education, 2008

Established in 1961, the Professor of the Year award recognizes a St. Thomas faculty member for their excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The faculty selects the recipient.

See the list of recipients of the Professor of the Year award.

The Award for Outstanding Faculty Service, inaugurated in 2021, recognizes outstanding service contributions to the University of St. Thomas that help the university advance its mission.

List of Recipients:

  • Dr. Melissa Shepard Loe (Mathematics); 2023
  • Dr. Shirley Jordon (Theology); 2022
  • Dr. Catherine Cory (History); 2021

St. Thomas Academic Units