School:University of Saint Thomas

Overview

The University of Saint Thomas is has three campuses: Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN and Rome, Italy. The University of Saint Thomas is known for their engineering and business (including entrepreneurship) programs. Although the university is not considered a research university, many students are involved in research alongside St. Thomas faculty and innovation-based classes. 

Student Entrepreneurship

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Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Saint Thomas is active in their research, although we are not a “research-focused institution.” This goes not only for students, but faculty as well. For example, Dr. Thomas, an engineering and entrepreneurship professor, is known for her unique research prompts - squishy circuits, food technology, and circus are just a few. She speaks to the fact that she is rarely told “no” for any of her ideas, and instead, is assisted by leaders in the University in dreaming up ways for her to accomplish her ideas. Although her ideas are not typical research topics, she is always allowed to create new projects and programs, not matter how seemingly “out there” they are. At St. Thomas, the faculty is encouraged to pursue their ideas, because the more opportunities to explore concepts translates to more opportunities for students to learn and grow underneath them, which is one of St. Thomas’s main goals of education.

University Technology Transfer Function

The University of Saint Thomas does not have an official Technology Transfer Function but all research projects are handled through the Grants and Research Office found here. 

University - Industry Collaboration

The University of St Thomas collaborates with companies in the Twin Cities through classes and clubs. The Engineering Design Clinic (ENGR 480/481) is the capstone class for engineering majors where each group collaborates with a company to work on a real world problem specific to each company. Another program offered at St Thomas is the internship co-op program where a student works as an intern for a company that collaborates with St Thomas part-time in the fall and full-time in the winter; upon completion of this program, the student will write a paper and present their experience and receive four elective credits. Many of the clubs at St. Thomas also host speaker events with professionals related to the industries that collaborate with St. Thomas.

Regional and Local Economic Development

The University is dedicated in engaging with regional and local economic development efforts. They have a dedicated office, the office of community engagement, focusing on course-based community engagement that responds to the region’s most pressing needs. The office of community engagement partners with over 100 global, national, and local organizations and the Philips Scholar Program as well as the Clinton Global Initiative, which are student competitions for global and community engagement, run out of that office. Course-based engagement is a key way St. Thomas demonstrates its mission statement, “all for the common good”.

Related Links

Spring 2017 Leadership Circle: 

Annabelle Hamilton

Hannah Brodersen

Murad Abduselam

Paige Huschka