Founding member, 1971-Present
University President Terrence Murphy, Founder and Signer of Articles of Incorporation
As a founding member of the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, the University of Saint Thomas has been a leader throughout the consortium’s history. Saint Thomas faculty, administrators, and alumni have been active participants in both HECUA programs and initiatives.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105
Rooted in the Catholic tradition, the University of St. Thomas seeks to prepare students to be moral and responsible leaders, capable of thinking critically and working skillfully toward the common good. A founding member and continuing leader of HECUA, the University has worked together with HECUA to embody the civic mission of higher education and foster intentional learning and collaborative action, education that helps students build the skills to become active and responsible citizens.
Special services HECUA provides to the campus:
• Over several summers HECUA has co-developed and led a faculty and staff development seminar on topics in urban and intercultural education. Seminars provided participants with the opportunity to experience and practice community-based teaching and learning methods, and to develop new coursework and programs.
• HECUA and the Center for Intercultural Learning and Community Engagement (CILCE) have collaborated in hiring and supporting student advisers who assist St Thomas students interested in HECUA and community-based learning.
• HECUA conducted an immersion program on homelessness for UST students interested in sampling MUST: Poverty, Inequality and Social Change. Randy Hade (JPS/Sociology ’10) collaborated with HECUA to design and lead the day-long program.
• HECUA has conducted workshops for University of St. Thomas student leaders engaged with the Center for Community Partnership, the Service Learning Office, Reading Buddies, Tutor/Mentor, Volunteers in Action, and the VISION program. The workshops prepared student leaders to work effectively with urban communities and nonprofit organizations by providing critical frameworks and analytic tools for community engagement.
Application Process
HECUA follows St. Thomas' deadlines for all programs. All pieces of the HECUA application, international or domestic, are submitted to St. Thomas' International Education Center along with any additional pieces for on-campus approval. After the application is approved on campus, the International Studies Center staff sends the application to HECUA.
International Education Center
44 N. Cleveland Avenue, across from O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library
(651) 962-6450
[email protected]
| Term | Fall | January | Spring | Summer |
| Deadline: International Program | March 15 | October 3 | October 1 | March 15 |
| Deadline: Domestic Program | March 15 | October 3 | October 1 | March 15 |
Need more assistance?
As you begin the application process and for more information about available programs, requirements, and fees, a HECUA Program Representative is always available:
| Kari Pederson Behrends [email protected] 651-287-3317 |
Lauren White [email protected] 651-287-3311 |
The following students have also agreed to respond to questions about their specific HECUA experience:
- Ciara Parks, participated in Democracy & Social Change in Northern Ireland Spring 2015, [email protected]
- Brooke Davies, participated in Writing for Social Change Fall 2014, [email protected]
- Emma Haas, participated in Northern Ireland Spring 2014, [email protected]
- Johnnay Leenay, participated in Making Media, Making Change Spring 2014, [email protected]
- Alejandra Nagel, participated in Inequality in America Spring 2014, [email protected]
- Hannah Ramsey, participated in Inequality in America Spring 2014, [email protected]