Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private and coeducational Catholic university located in Steubenville, Ohio, 40 miles (64Â km) west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . The university had 2,716 students as of fall 2015, including 2,454 students on campus, in 40 undergraduate and 8 graduate degree programs. The student body is 97 percent Catholic, and the university has the greatest number of students majoring in theology, catechetics, and philosophy of any Catholic university in the United States.
The school was established as the College of Steubenville in 1946 by the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular at the request of Bishop Mussio, the first bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville. In 1974, Fr. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., became President and began a series of major reforms to restore the school to its Catholic heritage. The school changed its name to the University of Steubenville upon achieving university status in 1980, and adopted the current title Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1986.
History
In 1946, the first Bishop of Steubenville, Anthony John King Mussio, invited the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular to establish a Catholic college in the diocese to serve local students and especially World War II veterans. In June 1946, the friars accepted the offer, purchased the Knights of Pythias Building in downtown Steubenville, and invested $350,000 in establishing the College of Steubenville. Enrollment grew, and more buildings were purchased, but the college was still cramped. The friars bought a 40-acre property overlooking the city, and accreditation was provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1960.
The College of Steubenville was successful during the early years, under the tenures of presidents the Rev. Daniel W. Egan, the Rev. Kevin R. Keelan, and the Rev. Columba J. Devlin. By the end of Keelan's second term in 1974, the school was suffering from social upheaval and declining enrollment. For some time, it looked like the college would close. The Rev. Michael Scanlan was chosen to fill the position of president. As president, Scanlan instituted a charismatic renewal similar to the one he had started at St. Francis Seminary. Only this time he had learned from his mistakes. Scanlan took over the Sunday liturgy on the campus, incorporating charismatic praise and worship and passionate preaching into the Mass. He instituted households, small groups of men and women devoted to personal and communal growth, and required students to join one. Scanlan also created a renewal center on the campus, which organized retreats and seminars to further instruct students in the Roman Catholic faith. The center began holding religious conferences in the summers, which attracted many young people to the college. Scanlan often spoke at these conferences.[18]
Even with these revolutionary changes, the college struggled to stay open. The first year after Scanlan instituted the changes, the incoming freshman class was the smallest that the college had ever seen.[19] Five of the top administrators at the college left or were dismissed.[20] The remaining faculty began to lose hope in Scanlan’s leadership. Despite these difficulties, Scanlan continued to make changes, especially to the curriculum. Scanlan reintroduced a theology program. It quickly became the top major at the college. Scanlan also oversaw the development of graduate programs in business and theology, which helped the college win the title of university in 1980. In addition, the nursing program rose to distinction. It was chartered by the state government of Ohio in 1984 and then received accreditation from the National League of Nursing in 1985.[21]
Scanlan also orchestrated many other changes at the university. He instituted an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium, which was required of the theology professors at the university. Under his guidance, the undergraduate theology program became the largest of any Catholic university in America. He also created the Human Life Studies minor, the only one of its kind in America. By 2000, Scanlan’s leadership and changes had helped the university to increase dramatically in size; there were more than 2,100 students, nearly double the number in the early 1970s.
List of presidents and chancellors
Academics
The university offers 41 majors (seven pre-professional programs), 34 minors, 6 special minor programs (not available as majors), and seven graduate degree programs. The University maintains a 15:1 student-faculty ratio.
Students need a minimum of 124 credits for graduation. The number of electives varies with each major program. The University operates on the American semester system. Three summer sessions also are available.
Franciscan University of Steubenville participates in the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Internationas.
Associate degree programs
Associate degrees are awarded in accounting, business administration, child development, general studies, and theology.
Undergraduate programs
New Core Curriculum: In the fall of 2013, the university implemented a newly adopted, "more rigorous" core curriculum for students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs of 45 and 42 credits, respectively. Students in these programs are now required to take the following courses: Foundations of Catholicism, Christian Moral Principles, Scripture and Tradition, Foundations of Ethics, Philosophy of the Human Person, Metaphysics, Epic and Self, and Lyric and Dramatic Voices. The remaining core requirements are to be chosen and earned from a list of specified courses in other disciplines.
Bachelor of Arts degrees are awarded in biology, catechists (formerly known as religious education), chemistry, classics, communication arts (multimedia, journalism, and TV/radio), drama, economics, English (drama, British and American literature, Western and world literature, and writing), French, German, history, humanities and Catholic culture, legal studies, music (sacred music), philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, and theology. The most popular BA programs are theology, catechetics, and elementary education, with theology and catechetics comprising 23% of declared undergraduate majors. [Note: statistics include double majors]
Bachelor of Science degrees are awarded in accounting, anthropology, biology, chemistry, international business, economics, finance, management, marketing, computer information science, computer science, education (with 14 different licensure programs), mathematical science, mental health and human services, nursing, and social work. The most popular BS programs are nursing, business administration, and psychology. The nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing and the Ohio State Board of Nursing Education and Nurse Registration and represents 10% of the undergraduate study body.
In 2012 the Social Work curriculum included a course called SWK Deviant Behavior 314, which examined behaviors such as: murder, rape, robbery, prostitution, homosexuality, mental illness and drug use. Noting that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) had removed homosexuality as an illness, two Franciscan graduates tried to get the course description changed. In a written statement to NPR, the school said, "Franciscan University follows Catholic Church teaching in regard to homosexuality and treats homosexual persons with 'respect, compassion, and sensitivity' ... while holding homosexual acts as 'intrinsically disordered.' "
The Council on Social Work Education has accredited Franciscan University since 2001, and there is no history of problems. Stephen Holloway, director of the office of accreditation at CSWE noted, "Understanding diversity and difference and their dynamics in society is critical for social workers to be effective in working with diverse populations."
SWK 314 is now described as examining "the complexity of defining deviance and the influences on individuals engaged in deviant or diverse behaviors". Social work majors at the university represent just 2% of the student body, with the numbers slightly, steadily increasing over the past six years.
Special programs
In 2014, Franciscan University introduced a dual-degree undergraduate engineering program, partnering with the University of Notre Dame, Gannon University and University of Dayton to offer an array of different engineering disciplines. Through the Dual-Degree program, students matriculate into Franciscan's rigorous quantitative and liberal arts curriculum for the first two years of undergraduate study, and are able to directly transfer into Engineering programs at any of the partner schools for an additional two to three years. Upon culmination of the program, the student will obtain a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts from Franciscan University (contingent on the program and credits elected), and a Bachelor in Science conferred by one of the partner schools.
In order to maintain eligibility of admission to Notre Dame, students must maintain a minimum of a 3.3 GPA throughout the entirety of the Franciscan bachelor's degree program.
The program offers nine different concentrations. Additional information pertaining to the program is found here: http://www.franciscan.edu/Engineering/ The Army ROTC program, approved in 2010, currently has 13 cadets. The AROTC cadets are a member of the Three Rivers Battalion's Foxtrot company [4] Air Force ROTC classes are also offered through the University of Pittsburgh.
The university offers pre-professional programs in dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. For undergraduate business majors, a 4+1 program allows accelerated completion of an MBA.
There is also an honors program in the Great Books of Western Civilization
The Priestly Discernment Program offers human, academic, spiritual, pastoral and fraternal formation for men considering the priesthood.
Graduate programs
The university offers Master of Arts degrees in Counseling, Philosophy, Theology and Christian Ministry; Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Education; Master of Science in Educational Administration, and Nursing. The Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry is offered both on campus and through the Distance Learning Program, with most courses available via audio-taped lectures.
In 2011, the university began to offer an online MS in Education. In January 2012, an online MBA in Business Ethics and Law and an online MBA in Managerial Accounting were added. The university plans to have all MBA-related classes available by the end of the 2012-2013 academic year.
Franciscan University has launched a Master of Arts in Catechetics and Evangelization program online starting in 2014.
Austrian program
Since 1991, up to 180 students per semester study at the university’s program in Gaming, Austria. The campus is located in a renovated fourteenth-century Carthusian monastery, known as the Gaming Charterhouse, in the foothills of the Austrian Alps.
The old monastery serves as a hotel during summer months.
The Austrian Program features a four-day class schedule, Monday through Thursday, so students may spend extended time visiting religious, cultural, and historical sites throughout Europe. The program sponsors trips throughout Europe.
In 2011 Franciscan University launched a summer mini program in Austria. The session lasted from May 21 to June 30, 2011.
Student life
Household life
Students are encouraged to join in faith households, groups of three or more students of the same sex, whose members study, recreate, and pray with one another. Typically, these student groups are attached to a particular dormitory on campus and are centered around particular devotions or charismatic gifts. As of March 2015, there were 24 men's households and 26 women's households. In 2014, Franciscan University celebrated 40 years of household life on campus.
There is one nationally recognized fraternity, though not recognized by the school, Alpha Phi Delta.
There is one nationally recognized sorority active on campus, Theta Phi Alpha. It is a historically Catholic Fraternity.
The campus is known for its liturgies, retreats and spiritual talks. Many students make a weekly commitment to Eucharistic adoration in the Portiuncula chapel, and Masses are well-attended. Masses have standing room only, even on weekdays.
The Works of Mercy Program places students shoulder-to-shoulder with the poor and marginalized in inner city and rural communities. Over breaks, students volunteer to help others and preach in the United States and in countries such as Ecuador, Haiti, Jamaica, and Thailand. Students join the pro-life group, Students for Life, while others sign up for evangelization and Christian outreach activities spearheaded by the Student Life Office, households, and other campus groups.
Athletics
- Varsity
The university sponsors 14 sports, six for men and eight for women. The athletics teams, nicknamed the Barons, compete in NCAA Division III as a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The men's rugby team is a member of the National Small College Rugby Organization and competes in the Three Rivers Rugby Conference. In 2001 Franciscan became the second college in the nation, of any division, to have a varsity rugby club. In July 2011, Franciscan signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with Adidas.
- Intramurals
The university offers intramural sports throughout the academic year: flag football and volleyball are held during the fall semester, and basketball and ultimate Frisbee in the spring. A co-ed Sunday futsal soccer league runs through both semesters, and there are several one-day tournaments.
Directors of Athletics
- none (1980â€"2005)
- Mr. Christopher Ledyard (2005â€"present)
Other activities
There is a 28-member student government.
Student-run clubs and academic organizations include Computer Science Club, Tennis Club, Students for Life, Francis Films, Philosophy Club, St. Jerome Debate Society, Ut Unim Sint club for ecumenism, and Biology Club.
Campus
The academic buildings on campus include Egan Hall, Stafford Hall, Saints Cosmas and Damian Hall, and the Saint Joseph Center.
Egan Hall houses classrooms, a theater, television and radio studios, special laboratories for the education and psychology departments, and computer workstations on each floor.
In the newly remodeled Stafford Hall, there are classrooms, offices, and a simulated clinic for nursing students.
Saints Cosmas and Damian Hall, the main science building, houses biology and chemistry laboratories, classrooms, the campus' largest lecture hall, and two computer science labs with advanced software for programming.
Starvaggi Hall is the main administrative building on campus housing Admissions, Financial Aid, Career Services, and the Registrar.
The St. John Paul II Library’s collection includes more than 230,000 books and bound periodicals, and more than 390 current periodicals. The OPAL Catalog and OhioLINK Network provide access to many research databases and more than 7 million books and journals.
There are 12 residence buildings on campus: Saint Francis Hall, Trinity Hall, Marian Hall, Saint Thomas More Hall, Saint Louis Hall, Saint Elizabeth Hall, Kolbe Hall, Clare Hall, Padua Hall, Saint Bonaventure Hall, Vianney Hall, and Scotus Hall. Assisi Heights, a small neighborhood of apartments, is also available for upperclassman and graduate student housing.
The University of Steubenville has two soccer fields, a rugby field, a baseball field, and a field designated primarily for intramural sports. In 2007, the university purchased the golf course which borders the main campus from the city of Steubenville for future development. It is currently used by the cross country team for practice.
Christ the King Chapel is the center of the spiritual life of the campus. There are three Masses every weekday while classes are in session, four Masses on Sundays, vespers on Sunday evening, praise & worship every Tuesday, and confessions held at least four times per week. Weekday Masses are routinely standing room only, while Sunday Masses during the school year require extra chairs to be arranged in the foyer and the Eucharistic chapel.
The Portiuncula chapel, a replica of St. Francis' original chapel, sits on the edge of the main campus. It is home to perpetual adoration (at least two students volunteer to be present and adore the Blessed Sacrament during every hour of the week throughout the fall and spring semesters). Outside of this chapel are the Tomb of the Unborn Child, which contains the remains of seven aborted fetuses, a Creche, Stations of the Cross, and Marian Grotto. In 2009 the Vatican designated the Portiuncula as a place of pilgrimage where the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence on five certain days through the year and under certain conditions of prayer and a detachment from sin.
The J.C. Willams Center is the student center, which houses the Tom and Nina Gentile Gallery containing numerous works of art donated to the University.
The Finnegan Fieldhouse is home to a basketball court, two racquetball courts, a weight room, one room for aerobic classes, a cardiovascular room, and the campus health and counseling center, as well as classrooms.
At the far north end of campus is the Steel Cross. This cross, made of two steel I-beams, is 35 feet tall and visible from afar.
Reputation
The University is ranked in the top tier in its category (Masters Colleges in the Midwest) in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Best Colleges. Young America's Foundation rates Franciscan as one of the top 10 conservative colleges in the nation, and the Cardinal Newman Society ranks it as one of the 21 top Catholic colleges and universities in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. Franciscan was also recently featured for the first time on The Forbes Top College List, receiving a national ranking of 364 out of 4,500 colleges and universities. It placed 266th in private colleges, and 87th among Midwest colleges and universities. This puts it in the top 7% of all colleges and universities in The United States.
Alumni
- Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg â€" Princess of Luxembourg
- Prince Sebastien of Luxembourg â€" Prince of Luxembourg
- David DeWolf â€" Founder / CEO 3Pillar Global.
- Regina Doman â€" Catholic fiction writer
- Jason Evert â€" Founder of the Chastity Project, Totus Tuus Press, and prominent chastity speaker
- Chris Stefanick â€" Founder of Real Life Catholic
- Curtis Martin â€" Founder of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)
- Dr. Edward Sri â€" Foundering leader of FOCUS, notable theologian, author and speaker
- Dr. Tim Gray â€" President of the Augustine Institute. Notable theologian, author and speaker
- Dr. Peter Murphy â€" Executive Director for USCCB Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis
- Jeff Fortenberry â€" United States Congressman from Nebraska, received a Master of Arts in Theology
- Father Jeffrey Kirby â€" Vicar of Vocations for the Diocese of Charleston
- Father Jonathan Morris â€" Contributor and analyst for the Fox News Channel
- Father Dave Pivonka â€" Speaker, Author, and founder of The Wild Goose ministries
- Michael Rodak, Jr. â€" Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Bishop Cornelius Sim â€" Bishop of Brunei
- Anna Song â€" California politician
- Andrew Bremberg â€" Director of the Domestic Policy Council for President Trump
- Timmy Selenski â€" Director of Russian Relations for President Trump and bartender of the year at, Franks Place.
- Rajeev Jacob - Actor <rev>http://m.imdb.com/name/nm6724707/</rev>
See also
- Franciscan University murders
- Gaming Charterhouse
References
External links
- Official website
- Official athletics website
- Fact Book 2008-2009
- The Troubadour (Franciscan's Newspaper) Website