Fred Burns, Wortham Foundation chair, points out view of campus from his office atop the Wortham Tower overlooking downtown Houston.

"Our original goal was $65 million," Ghrist notes. "But that is only phase one of a long-range strategic plan for academic and physical development of the campus in the footprint of nearly 20 contiguous blocks." Within the boundaries of Montrose Boulevard, Alabama, Richmond and the adjacent Menil property, the University continues to acquire and build needed facilities according to the 2020 Master Plan.

"We are blessed with so many wonderful benefactors," said Ghrist, "who drive the vision for making St. Thomas a magnificent academic village and one of the nation's finest universities. Our "Shining Star" campaign has made great impact, but there are many more needs for which funds must be raised. "We must look ahead to phase two as this campaign nears conclusion. A new academic building is needed to replace the inadequate houses where faculty and programs now reside."

While the new buildings and landscaping capture the most attention, Ghrist is proud of the academic funds raised. "Thanks to numerous gifts, we have added scholarships to benefit our fine students and new chairs for outstanding faculty," reports Ghrist.

Steve Dunn, Dunn Foundation president, tours campus with President Robert Ivany.

"The Dunn Foundation has modernized our science labs for our outstanding premed students. And The Houston Endowment has provided more than $2 million to the outstanding education programs for the benefit of teacher development in Houston area schools."

"I am delighted that thanks to my good friends George and Cynthia Mitchell, UST now has the Mitchell Environment Sciences Fund for the benefit of Houston. Jack Blanton and Mike Stude have made magnificent sculpture gifts so appropriate to a university in the heart of our wonderful Museum District. I hope that more art will grace the campus as others follow the example of these benefactors who are truly making St. Thomas a 'Shining Star in the heart of Houston.'"

This broad-based planning process enabled the University to discern the call to build on the solid foundation of excellence attained over the past half century and to become one of the great Catholic universities in America, one genuinely worthy of America's fourth largest city. St. Thomas has embraced the responsibility of becoming such a university, with a focus on undergraduate education. The University is prepared to take the steps necessary to hand over such an institution to the next generation.

George Mitchell and Campaign Chair Liz Ghrist.

UST's vision of building a great Catholic university for the future entails making a firm commitment in the present. During the next five years the University will focus on four strategic initiatives that will guide all its activity.

First, UST will assert its identity, academic brand, and image as a Catholic university imbued with the Basilian tradition.

The University will define, develop, and market its strengths as a diverse and welcoming academic community unified by its spirit of inquiry, love of knowledge, and respect for religious and moral truths.

Second, UST will commit to achieving academic excellence, especially by enhancing the academic qualifications and measurable outcomes of all students, academic programs, and the teaching skills and scholarly activity of its faculty.

The excellence of programs will continue to hinge on one-to-one engagement between faculty and students. The University will take great care to improve the academic qualifications of its entering students, integrate the core curriculum; foster learner-centered teaching, and advance its undergraduate research and service learning programs. St. Thomas will identify and give high fiscal priority to excellent academic and non-academic initiatives throughout the University.

Third, the University will foster community and collegial spirit among students, faculty and staff in all academic and co-curricular activities.

To provide the infrastructure for a great Catholic university, UST will increase its undergraduate enrollment by concentrating on its incoming freshman class. Crucial to our intention of building a more engaged campus community is establishing among the undergraduate student body small, active collegiate communities that will link students with faculty, staff, and administrators in mutually supportive relationships. These communities will celebrate and foster the emergence of UST traditions, serve as centers for academic and social interaction and curricular and co-curricular programs, and encourage student and alumni engagement. As a further step, the University will plan and develop a more residential campus to support a growing regional and national student body.

Fourth, UST will continue to expand the influence of our mission beyond the boundaries of our campus by creating cooperative relationships with the wider community.

The University will cultivate further partnerships with local corporations, nonprofit organizations and Greater Houston Area educational institutions of every level and type.

All planning is directed to one end. The University of St. Thomas will make every effort to be counted, within a generation, among America's great Catholic universities.