Connection and Belonging
Campus experiences help students build meaningful relationships, develop a sense of belonging, and become active members of the St. Thomas community.
Tommie Advantage
There are opportunities to learn everywhere
At the University of St. Thomas, learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom. Through campus programs, leadership opportunities, student organizations, community engagement, wellness initiatives, and experiential learning, students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits they need to thrive during college and beyond.
These experiences support students as they grow in self-awareness, build meaningful relationships, navigate differences, care for their well-being, and contribute to the common good. Together, they complement the academic experience and help prepare students for lives of purpose, leadership, and impact.
Tommie Advantage Learning Goals
Self-Understanding
Students will engage in deep self-exploration of their faith and values and will experiment with self-expression as a means of discerning their vocation.
Students will be “encouraged to use their talents and skills creatively” (Francis, 2019) in their vocational discernment process, which involves examining how strengths, values and passions intersect with the needs of the world.
Connection and Belonging
Campus experiences help students build meaningful relationships, develop a sense of belonging, and become active members of the St. Thomas community.
Embracing Our Differences
Students will learn about their social identities in relation to those different from themselves.
Aligned with Catholic social teaching’s call to uphold human dignity and build a just and compassionate society, students will deepen their understanding of the shared human experience, develop the ability to engage respectfully across differences, and foster solidarity in service to the common good.
Holistic Well-Being
Students will develop knowledge and skills that support their holistic well-being, a state of flourishing that allows the whole person and the community the ability to grow, mindfully balance and thrive in all dimensions of well-being.
Students will engage in personal changemaking by exploring and employing practices that foster holistic well-being and will demonstrate proficiency in applying these practices in their lives.
Leadership and Civic Responsibility
Students will learn to take wise action while collaborating with others to make positive contributions to their communities.
Aligned with our institutional priority to educate students on changemaking, students will develop an understanding of their impact on others and communities and will work to develop reciprocal relationships informed by community values.
Self-Understanding
Self-Understanding
Students will engage in deep self-exploration of their faith and values and will experiment with self-expression as a means of discerning their vocation.
Students will be “encouraged to use their talents and skills creatively” (Francis, 2019) in their vocational discernment process, which involves examining how strengths, values and passions intersect with the needs of the world.
Connection and Belonging
Connection and Belonging
Campus experiences help students build meaningful relationships, develop a sense of belonging, and become active members of the St. Thomas community.
Embracing Differences
Embracing Our Differences
Students will learn about their social identities in relation to those different from themselves.
Aligned with Catholic social teaching’s call to uphold human dignity and build a just and compassionate society, students will deepen their understanding of the shared human experience, develop the ability to engage respectfully across differences, and foster solidarity in service to the common good.
Holistic Well-Being
Holistic Well-Being
Students will develop knowledge and skills that support their holistic well-being, a state of flourishing that allows the whole person and the community the ability to grow, mindfully balance and thrive in all dimensions of well-being.
Students will engage in personal changemaking by exploring and employing practices that foster holistic well-being and will demonstrate proficiency in applying these practices in their lives.
Leadership and Civic Responsibility
Leadership and Civic Responsibility
Students will learn to take wise action while collaborating with others to make positive contributions to their communities.
Aligned with our institutional priority to educate students on changemaking, students will develop an understanding of their impact on others and communities and will work to develop reciprocal relationships informed by community values.
Outcomes and Opportunities
Skills for Success
Students gain practical skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving that support success in college and beyond.
Well-Being
Students learn strategies for balancing academic, personal, social, spiritual, and physical well-being while navigating the opportunities and challenges of college life.
Leadership and Impact
Students are encouraged to explore their values, engage with their communities, and develop the confidence to lead and contribute to positive change.
Purpose and Growth
Through reflection, engagement, and new experiences, students deepen their understanding of themselves, their strengths, and the unique contributions they can make in the world.