Dougherty Family College

mentorship

st. thomas

two-year degree

high financial need

small classes

counseling

community

free textbooks

free laptops

tutoring

family collegedoughertythe

YOU

MEET CORI CORI MOORE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE AN UNEXCEPTIONAL

STUDENT. HER FIRST FEW YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL WEREN’T EXACTLY UNDERSCORED

BY ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. THEN DURING HER SENIOR YEAR, EVERYTHING CHANGED. CORI

PULLED IT ALL TOGETHER AND IMPROVED HER GRADES. SHE KNOWS THAT HAVING

FAITH IN HERSELF AND THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN HAVING STRAIGHT A’S ALL

OF HER LIFE.

MEET CORI CORI MOORE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE AN UNEXCEPTIONAL

STUDENT. HER FIRST FEW YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL WEREN’T EXACTLY UNDERSCORED

BY ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. THEN DURING HER SENIOR YEAR, EVERYTHING CHANGED. CORI

PULLED IT ALL TOGETHER AND IMPROVED HER GRADES. SHE KNOWS THAT HAVING

FAITH IN HERSELF AND THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN HAVING STRAIGHT A’S ALL

OF HER LIFE.

The Dougherty Family College gives motivated, hardworking students the opportunity to succeed in college. It’s an uncommon opportunity that gives promising students the support they need to pursue their dreams of becoming extraordinary leaders. Today, only a third of young adults in the United States attain a four-year degree. There are multiple barriers students face in achieving a four-year degree including financial, academic and social obstacles. At the University of St. Thomas, we believe that no barrier should stand in the way of students who have the desire, motivation and aptitude to go to college. That’s why we’re committed to closing the opportunity gap by providing an alternate pathway.

The Dougherty Family College extends a hand to deserving young people and gives them a boost up. We have faith in them. And we ask that you take a leap of faith and show your support with a gift to the Dougherty Family College. Together we can build a bridge to opportunity for generations to come.

leap of faithTO CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP

IT TAKES A

WE CAN MAKE IMPOSSIBLE

The Dougherty Family College offers an academically rigorous two-year college curriculum paired with resources necessary to address financial limitations and life challenges faced by many students and their families.

Students are immersed in a supportive and structured environment that encourages them to succeed. The program features a cohort model of instruction that is proven to build a strong sense of community. They’re taught by 12 dedicated, handpicked faculty members who not only are experts in their fields, but they know how to advise, mentor and coach students from underserved communities. Students also gain workplace skills and experience through courses and paid internships in Twin Cities companies.

Moreover, students are supplied with textbooks, a Metro Transit pass, a laptop, and breakfast and lunch at no cost. After two years, students earn an associate degree in liberal arts with courses that meet the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum guidelines. From there, they can transition seamlessly to St. Thomas or any other four-year college in Minnesota.

Best of all, students graduate with little or no debt, which makes it easier for them to take their next steps. But we need your support to make it happen.

“Our goal is to reduce financial barriers that keep

students from focusing on academics.” – Dean Alvin Abraham

Our goal is to enroll 300 students who qualify for Pell and state grants. Students and their families provide a contribution of at least $1,000 per year. This leaves us with an enormous financial gap to fill. A scholarship is a promise of a better future for these eager, highly motivated students. Your support can change the course of their lives, so they can change the world.

WHAT IF A PERSON WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE WORLD CAN’T AFFORD AN uceducation?

“It’s vital that the Dougherty Family College

has both a strong academic focus and the support for

students to be successful, with the confidence and skills to

eventually graduate with a four-year degree.”

– Dean Alvin Abraham

41HIGH SCHOOLS REPRESENTED

2.84AVERAGE GPA

74%RECEIVED PELL GRANT

“While I’m here, I’m going to be focusing on – building, building, building – becoming well-rounded. The better person I become, the more doors will open up for me.”

– Cin Morris, Freshman Inaugural Class

62%FEMALE

WHO WE ARE

INAUGURAL CLASS 38%MALE

39% 31% 13% 10% 6%

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

HISPANIC/LATINO

CAUCASIAN

ASIAN

TWO OR MORE RACES

“I didn’t want to be that kind of person who lives in their mom’s basement. I’m the first Mikesell to go to college. It’s a really big deal.”– Kyle MikesellFreshman Inaugural Class

YOUR GIFT WILL GENERATE MANY SILENT PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE.

AND EVEN MORE SHOUTS OF

EXCELLENCE FUND The Dougherty Family College Excellence Fund supports programmatic needs, student services, faculty support and other special initiatives aimed at delivering a world-class educational experience.

SPECIAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES In order to meet the funding needs of the overall program, a number of program elements may be fully or partially sponsored.

Meal Sponsor Makes certain that every student receives breakfast and lunch each day. • $825,000 per year

Technology Sponsor Provides every student with the use of a laptop computer. • $120,000 per year

Transit Sponsor Guarantees every student receives an annual transit pass. • $135,000 per year

Summer Program Sponsor Makes sure that every student can participate in a summer enrichment program prior to the first day of school. • $120,000 per year

SUPPORT THE DOUGHERTY FAMILY COLLEGE WITH A GIFT TODAY Your generosity helps St. Thomas continue to live its mission as envisioned by Archbishop John Ireland in 1885, when he founded the university in order to give working-class and immigrant communities access to high-quality Catholic higher education.

The Dougherty Family College fulfills this mission by helping students who wish to better their lives through hard work and education.

To pledge your support, visit stthomas.edu/supportdfc.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Annual ScholarshipsProvide direct support through scholarships.

$12,000 funds one student

for two years, renewable

$60,000 funds five students for two years, renewable

Endowed Scholarships Support a student in perpetuity through

an endowed scholarship.

$150,000 funds one student per year

$750,000 funds five students per year

$1,500,000 funds 10 students per year

General Scholarship Fund Gifts of any size will support Dougherty

Family College

The Dougherty Family College is the first of its kind in Minnesota. Its personalized academic and social support is designed to accommodate promising students who may not succeed at existing colleges and universities.

Many of the Dougherty Family College students come from low-income communities in Minnesota that historically have been underserved by the state’s educational institutions. They are often the first in their families to attend college. We can now prepare these students to become sought-after, skilled professionals possessing well-developed characters.

We are poised to meet the future needs of Minnesota’s dwindling labor force. St. Thomas can play a critical role in increasing the state’s workforce by broadening the population of Minnesotans completing four-year degrees.

made in

“One day, I believe these

students will be giving back to our

community.” – Michael Dougherty

Dougherty Family College is named in honor

of Michael Dougherty, an alumnus and trustee, his wife Kathy and their

two daughters.

MISSION AND CATHOLIC IDENTITY

“Dougherty Family College aligns beautifully with our mission and our commitment to expand

access, reduce student debt and contribute to eliminating

the college education gap in Minnesota.”

– President Julie Sullivan

MISSION INSPIRED BY CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL

TRADITION, THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS EDUCATES STUDENTS TO BE MORALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO THINK CRITICALLY, ACT WISELY AND WORK SKILLFULLY TO ADVANCE

THE COMMON GOOD.

MISSION INSPIRED BY CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL

TRADITION, THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS EDUCATES STUDENTS TO BE MORALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO THINK CRITICALLY, ACT WISELY AND WORK SKILLFULLY TO ADVANCE

THE COMMON GOOD.