A year of change and innovation at Opus College
Celebrating our 2021 Milestones
As 2021 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on all that Opus College has accomplished.
It’s been another year to remember for the Opus community. We enjoyed a wonderful (and safe) fall semester that included more opportunities to engage in person. We expanded our graduate program portfolio to keep up with new technologies, and the college received increased recognition for our excellence and dedication to student success. While we continue to face a confluence of health, justice, and economic challenges – our students, staff, faculty, and partners are committed to advancing business for the common good.
As we prepare to take on a new year, we look back at our top milestones in 2021 to get ready for a positive start to 2022.
Celebrating 30 Years of Business 200
The Business Learning Through Service program— a long-standing tradition at St. Thomas — celebrated 30 years of community service.
Generating over 5.7 million dollars worth of work at over 300 nonprofits in the Twin Cities, the program has made a splash since it was added to the university's curriculum in 1991. In 2021, students provided over 26,000 hours of volunteer service to 300 different nonprofits.
Opus Retains Prestigious AACSB Accreditation
Opus College earned reaccreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) through 2025. Only 5% of all business schools globally have the designation, a worldwide marker of quality in business education. St. Thomas is the only private university in Minnesota accredited by AACSB.
Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge
In June, the University of St. Thomas hosted student entrepreneurs in the Fowler Social Innovation Challenge. Students from 15 countries and 28 universities – including two teams from St. Thomas - competed for a chance to win a share of $50,000 in seed funding. Inspiring ideas ranged from ecological bricks made from plastic waste to a robotic walker for the visually impaired.
Powered by the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas and the Center for Peace and Commerce at the University of San Diego, the Fowler GSIC invites students to engage with one or more of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by developing an innovation that responds to an environmental or social problem.
Newly Renamed Center for Principled Leadership
In August, a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the Melrose and The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership on the Minneapolis campus. The Center aims to reach students, scholars, and the business public through activities focusing on three main themes – the liberal arts and leadership, meaningful work, and the role of business in society.
New Omnichannel Strategy Graduate Certificate
We introduced a new Graduate Certificate in Omnichannel Strategy, developed in partnership with industry experts in retail, health care, and financial services. The certificate allows students to follow industry-specific tracks and gain practical experience through hands-on project work with a real-world client.
The pandemic has accelerated major changes in both consumer behavior and online shopping, and omnichannel strategy is becoming increasingly important in the post-COVID economy.
St. Thomas Nationally Ranks in Top 25 for Entrepreneurship
The university’s Schulze School of Entrepreneurship jumped ten spots to No. 23 in the latest Princeton Review list of top undergraduate schools in the country. For the third year in a row, the school ranks #1 in Minnesota and #1 among the nation’s Catholic universities and colleges for entrepreneurship.
2021 Competition Winners
