Jump to content

University of St. Francis

Coordinates: 41°31′59″N 88°05′44″W / 41.5330°N 88.0955°W / 41.5330; -88.0955
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the university in Illinois. For the university in Indiana, see University of Saint Francis (Indiana). For other uses, see University of Saint Francis.
University of St. Francis
Former names
The Sisters' Normal Institute of Higher Learning (1920–1925)
Assisi Junior College (1925–1930)
College of St. Francis (1930–1998)
MottoPrimo Unctio et Postea Speculatio
Motto in English
Holiness First and Then Learning
TypePrivate university
Established1920; 104 years ago (1920)
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic Church (Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate)
Endowment$22.6 million (2020)[1]
PresidentArvid C. Johnson III
Academic staff
298 (2023-2024)
Students3,185 (2023-2024)
Undergraduates1,306 (2023-2024)
Postgraduates1,879 (2023-2024)
Location
Joliet
,
Illinois
,
United States
CampusMain Campus: Suburban, 22 acres (8.9 ha)
ColorsBrown & Gold
   
NicknameFighting Saints
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – CCAC
MascotBernie the St. Bernard
Websitewww.stfrancis.edu

The University of St. Francis (USF) is a private Franciscan university with its main campus in Joliet, Illinois.[2]

The university has a total enrollment of 3,185 (2023-2024) and an undergraduate enrollment of 1,306.[3]

The university was recognized as one of The Best 390 Colleges by the Princeton Review in the 2025 edition.

History

[edit]

Founding and early history (1865-1930)

[edit]

The University of St. Francis grew out of an earlier high school and Sisters’ Normal Institute (an institution created to train high school graduates to be teachers) by the Congregation of the Sisters of St Francis of Mary Immaculate established on August 2, 1865 by Mother Alfred Moes.

By 1869, a boarding school for high school girls opened in Joliet called the St. Francis Academy. The Institute became a college: The Sisters’ Normal Institute of Higher Learning, in 1920.[1]

The institute became Assisi Junior College, a two-year junior college, in 1925. Mother M. Thomasine Frye, OSF served as first president with an enrollment of 12 students and 8 teachers.

College of St. Francis (1930-1998)

[edit]

In 1930, the school was reorganized with a full college curriculum as the College of St. Francis with bachelor's degree granting authority.

In 1933, the college's Alumni Association was formed.

In 1935, the all-female college began an affiliation with the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing – to create the St. Francis College of Nursing.

In 1938, Sr. M. Aniceta Guyette, OSF was named the second president of the college. Accreditation recognition was received from the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities.

During the Second World War, new programs in science and Spanish were added and in 1945 a student-run radio station, WCSF, was established on campus.

In 1962 Sr. Anita Marie Jochem, OSF, was named the college's fourth president and the last congregational Sister President. The college officially incorporated as its own institution, separate from the congregation, with its own charter and by-laws.

In 1969, Dr. Francis Kerins was appointed as the college’s fifth (and first lay) president.

In 1970, a Bachelor of Science degree program in Health Arts began and a three-year degree program was initiated. Additionally, merger talks began with Lewis University in the hopes to establish a south and north campus of the potential “Lewis-St. Francis of Illinois.” However, the merger ended in May 1972 when Lewis trustees could not agree on naming the new institution’s president.

The college became coeducational in 1971. In 1972, men’s intercollegiate athletics were established and the first male students were admitted to the School of Nursing. Elmer Bell became the first full-time athletic director starting its first athletic programs – baseball and men’s basketball.

In 1974, Dr. John C. Orr was named the college’s sixth president.

In 1982, the Computer Science program began.

In 1993, the Moser Performing Arts Center was built as an addition to Tower Hall.

In 1995, Dr. James Doppke was named the college’s seventh president.

In 1997, Saint Joseph College of Nursing’s affiliation with CSF began effective January 1, 1997.

Later that year, the Board of Trustees of the College of St. Francis voted in May to move to university status, effective January 1, 1998.

University of St. Francis (1998-present)

[edit]

In 1998, the College of St. Francis gained university status and adopted a new name: the University of St. Francis. Colleges within the university were created: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Professional Studies, Saint Joseph College of Nursing & Allied Health, College of Health Arts, and College of Graduate Studies.

A pioneer in online learning, the university started offering online courses and degrees in 1998.

In 2000, physical campus and programs were added in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a newly created Physician Assistant program, and 40 acres were purchased in Joliet on Ridge Road for possible future expansion.

In 2002, Dr. Michael J. Vinciguerra was named the university’s eighth president. In 2003, a new mission statement was adopted by the Board of Trustees.

In 2003, the historic Motherhouse building and adjacent land was acquired by the university from the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. In 2004, the University became the property owner of 17 acres on Wilcox and Taylor Street.

In 2008, College of Education programs were accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In 2009, the University was granted doctoral degree-granting authority and the first doctorate degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice, was established. The University's new Alma Mater, “Our St. Francis,” was composed and first performed by Dr. Robert Kase.

In 2011, the Doctor of Education program was established. The nursing college was re-named “Cecily and John Leach College of Nursing” and the library was named “LaVerne & Dorothy Brown Library.”

In 2013 Dr. Arvid Johnson became the university's ninth president and the university's first overseas graduate program was established with Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic. The University's Art Gallery opened at 25 E. Van Buren Street in Joliet.

In 2014, the St. Bonaventure Campus opened in downtown Joliet with the added dedication of the Robert W. Plaster Center in Joliet’s old Mode Theatre building. The University's Business Incubator opens on the first floor.

In 2016, Guardian Angel Hall opened to students at St. Clare Campus, located at 1550 Plainfield Road (about one mile from the main campus) as the home to the USF Leach College of Nursing.

In 2018 new construction was completed on the LaVerne & Dorothy Brown Science Hall on the main campus.[4]

In 2020, the University celebrated its centennial anniversary by recognizing their 50,000 alumni in 50 states and over 20 foreign countries.[5]

Following 12 years of service, President Arvid Johnson announced that he will be retiring on May 31, 2025. The University Board of Trustees appointed a 20-member search committee to identify and recommend a candidate to be the 10th president.[6]

Colleges and schools

[edit]

The university currently has the following colleges:[7]

  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • College of Business & Health Administration
  • College of Education
  • Leach College of Nursing

The University also offers a Physician Assistant program at a second campus site in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[8]

Athletics

[edit]

The St. Francis (USF) athletic teams are called the Fighting Saints. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and is part of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) for most of its sports since the 1973–74 academic year;[9] while its football team competes in the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).[10]

USF competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading.[11]

Athletics history

[edit]

College of St. Francis (1972-present)

[edit]
  • 1972 – USF begins men's intercollegiate athletics.
  • 1972 – Elmer Bell becomes the first full-time athletic director and CSF starts its first athletic programs – baseball and men's basketball. Both teams employ the nickname “Falcons”.
  • 1972 – Nationally recognized USF man's marathon running team
  • 1973 – Men's cross country becomes CSF's third athletic program.
  • 1975 – CSF becomes the "Fighting Saints."
  • 1976 – Women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis and women's volleyball intercollegiate athletics programs start.
  • 1979 – CSF adds men's golf and softball to its growing list of sports.
  • 1982 – CSF men's soccer and women's cross country begin competition.
  • 1986 – A recreation center constructed for the athletic program and the men's football program created. Tower Hall deeded to CSF.
  • 1987 – Cheerleading added to the list of CSF sports.
  • 1993 – CSF's baseball team claims the school's first-ever NAIA World Series national championship. Head coach Gordie Gillespie becomes college baseball's all-time winningest coach.

University of St. Francis (1998-present)

[edit]
  • 1995 – The USF athletic department adds women's soccer.
  • 2000 – Women's golf and women's track & field programs started.
  • 2007 – USF athletics adds men's track & field.
  • 2012 – Men's cross country wins NAIA National Championship.
  • 2012 – The recreation center is renamed the “Pat Sullivan Center” in recognition of Sullivan, a long-time basketball coach and athletic director.
  • 2013 – USF men and women's bowling begins competition.
  • 2016 – Competitive dance becomes USF's 22nd sport.
  • 2017 – USF women's bowling team wins the NAIA Invitational in its fourth season of competition.
  • 2020 – USF women's cross country team wins the NAIA National Championship.
  • 2021 – USF men's bowling team wins the NAIA Championship.

Notable alumni

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Princeton Review - The Best 390 Colleges". The Best 390 Colleges. The Princeton Review. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Saint Stats". University of St. Francis. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ^ Ferak, John. "University Of St. Francis Brown Science Hall Dedication Nears". Joliet, IL Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Historical Timeline". The USF Centennial. University of St. Francis. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Presidential Search". University of St. Francis. University of St. Francis. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Academics". University of St. Francis. University of St. Francis. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Physician Assistant Studies (M.S.)". University of St. Francis. University of St. Francis. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  9. ^ "CCAC History". Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  10. ^ "MSFA Members". Mid-States Football Association. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Athletics". Go Fighting Saints. University of St. Francis Athletics. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
[edit]

41°31′59″N 88°05′44″W / 41.5330°N 88.0955°W / 41.5330; -88.0955

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_St._Francis&oldid=1244627001"