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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
A mudslide that has shut down both lanes on Highway 150 between the College’s California campus and Santa Paula. Although the California Department of Transportation has begun preparations for clearing the roadway, officials do not expect to finish the work before sometime this summer. Therefore, if you will be traveling to campus from points south, please be sure to give yourself enough time to navigate the detour route, which will take you along Highways 126, 101, and 33. Directions to campus
A mudslide that has shut down both lanes on Highway 150 between the College’s California campus and Santa Paula. Although the California Department of Transportation has begun preparations for clearing the roadway, officials do not expect to finish the work before sometime this summer. Therefore, if you will be traveling to campus from points south, please be sure to give yourself enough time to navigate the detour route, which will take you along Highways 126, 101, and 33. Directions to campus
In Memoriam: Clifford Paul Hackett, 1930 – 2022
“Cliff Hackett had great passions and was devoted to the mission of Thomas Aquinas College,” reflects College General Counsel Quincy Masteller, a longtime friend. “His participation in the life of the College was wide and deep and truly was a blessing from God.”
It is perhaps only fitting, then, that when Mr. Hackett passed away earlier this week at the age of 91, it was on March 7, the feast of the College’s patron, St. Thomas Aquinas. “He became good friends with many of us here over the years,” Mr. Masteller adds. “He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”
A graduate of Saint Louis University, a onetime USIA foreign service officer, and the father of eight, Mr. Hackett was predeceased by his wife, Beatrice, and son Roger. “He was an eternal optimist always looking on the bright side of things,” says Mr. Masteller. “I don’t think I ever heard Cliff say a bad thing about anybody — except maybe an intransigent former tenant, but even then he cloaked his frustration with his natural charity.”
Mr. Hackett began attending the College’s Summer Seminar Weekends nearly 20 years ago and was a frequent attendee ever since. He was especially enthusiastic about the opening of the New England campus in 2019, taking it upon himself to research and write an extensive history of Northfield, Massachusetts. “I will most remember Cliff,” says Mr. Masteller, “for his happy nature, his loyalty, and especially his kindness and charity.”
A member of the College’s Washington, D.C., Board of Regents, Mr. Hackett was also a generous benefactor. Among his many gifts over the years was establishing the Clifford P. Hackett Endowment for Faculty Development, which sustains the annual tutor development program on both campuses. As a member of the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Legacy Society, he even continues to support the College’s students after his death, having included Thomas Aquinas College in his estate plans.
“Cliff was a good man and a great man,” observes Mr. Masteller. “He has finished the race. He kept the faith. May Our Lord, the Good Shepherd, grant him eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him.”