Franciscan University of Steubenville

Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private Catholic university in Steubenville, Ohio.[4] The university had 3,040 students as of fall 2019, including 2,317 students on campus, in 40 undergraduate and 8 graduate degree programs.[5] 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.[4]

Franciscan University of Steubenville
MottoFortitudo et Prudentia
Motto in English
Fortitude and Prudence
TypePrivate
Established1946
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
(Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance)
Endowment$54.5 million (2016)[1]
ChancellorTerence Henry, TOR
PresidentDavid Pivonka, TOR
Academic staff
285[2]
Students3,040[2]
Undergraduates2,243
Postgraduates797
Other students
723 (Online/Distance)
Location
Steubenville
,
Ohio
,
U.S.
CampusSuburban
Colors          Forest Green and Vegas Gold[3]
AthleticsNCAA Division III – AMCC
NicknameBarons[3]
AffiliationsAFCU, ACCU, NAICU, CIC, NCA
MascotBaron von Steuben
Websitefranciscan.edu

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[6]

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.[8] 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.[8]

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.[8] For some time, it looked like the college would close. The Rev. Michael Scanlan was chosen to fill the position of president.[9] Incorporating knowledge from his experience in starting a charismatic renewal movement at St. Francis Seminary, Scanlan worked to institute a similar renewal at Steubenville. He took over the Sunday liturgy on the campus, incorporating charismatic praise and worship and more 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, one benefit of which was attracting many young people to the college. Scanlan often spoke at these conferences.[10]

Even with these changes, the college struggled to stay open. The first year after Scanlan instituted the changes, the incoming freshman class was the smallest in the College's history.[11]:160 Five of the top administrators at the college left or were dismissed, and the remaining faculty expressed discontentment with Scanlan's leadership.[11]:161 Despite this, Scanlan continued to make changes, especially to the curriculum. Scanlan reintroduced a theology program, which quickly became the top major at the college, and also oversaw the development of graduate programs in business and theology, which helped the college obtain the title of university in 1980. In addition, the nursing program rose to higher distinction. It was chartered by the state government of Ohio in 1984 and then received accreditation from the National League of Nursing in 1985.[11]:169

Scanlan 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.[9]

List of presidents and chancellors
President Tenure Chancellor Tenure
Rev. Daniel W. Egan, TOR 1946–1959 none 1946–2000
Rev. Kevin R. Keelan, TOR 1959–1962
Rev. Columba J. Devlin, TOR 1962–1969
Rev. Kevin R. Keelan, TOR 1969–1974
Rev. Michael Scanlan, TOR 1974–2000
Rev. Terence Henry, TOR 2000–2013 Rev. Michael Scanlan, TOR 2000–2011
Rev. Sean O. Sheridan, TOR 2013–2019 Rev. Terence Henry, TOR 2013–present
Rev. David Pivonka, TOR 2019–present

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.[12] The University maintains a 15:1 student-faculty ratio.[13]

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.

Academic treatment of homosexuality

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.' " In an interview with Inside Higher Ed, university vice president Daniel Kempton stated, "that principles of academic freedom apply to the course and that the view that homosexuality is deviant is a legitimate perspective for the course."[14]

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.[15]

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.

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[16]

The Priestly Discernment Program offers human, academic, spiritual, pastoral and fraternal formation for men considering the priesthood.[17]

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.[18]

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,[19] in the foothills of the Austrian Alps.[20]

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.[21]

In 2011 Franciscan University launched a summer mini program[22] in Austria. The session lasted from May 21 to June 30, 2011.[23]

Student life

Household life

Originally, campus life consisted of fraternities and sororities starting at Franciscans' founding in 1946. Under the leadership of Father Michael Scanlan, households (small groups of men and women devoted to personal and communal growth) were instituted and a once blossoming Greek life began to wilt, ending in 2016 when the final chapters, Theta Phi Alpha and Alpha Phi Delta were extruded from campus life. Though not recognized by the school, Alpha Phi Delta a nationally recognized fraternity, has remained active (as of 2019).

Instead, 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.[24][25] In 2014, Franciscan University celebrated 40 years of household life on campus.[26]

The campus is known for its liturgies, retreats and spiritual talks. Most 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.[27]

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 members of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference,[28] but are currently transitioning to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The Barons joined the PAC for men's and women's lacrosse in 2018–19. For 2019–20, Franciscan added women's golf, plus indoor and outdoor track & field for both men and women, to its PAC membership. Finally, the school will become a full PAC member in 2020–21.[29]

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.[30]

Men's

  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Lacrosse
  • Rugby. The Men's rugby club has made it to the Conference Championship match every year for the past five years, winning three conference titles and qualifying for post-season play three times. In 2010-2011, they were conference champions and Midwest Territory Runners-up finishing 13th in the nation overall. In 2011-2012, Franciscan Rugby had its most successful season in history when they won their conference as well as the Central regional tournament, going on to compete at the NSCRO National Championship and placing 3rd nationally. In 2012-2013, the team was Conference Champions runners-up. In 2013-2014, Franciscan won their conference yet again earning a spot in the Central regional tournament finishing third place and earning the 10th position in the NSCRO national rankings. In the fall of 2014 FUS Rugby had a 9-game winning streak and finished with another Conference Championship appearance, taking second place in the conference. In the fall of 2015 FUS Rugby went 5-2 in the regular season and again finished with another Conference Championship appearance, taking second place in the conference, falling to Robert Morris University for the second year in a row. In the fall of 2016, FUS Rugby won their conference with a 6-4 record earning a spot in the Central regional tournament finishing fourth place and earning the 10th position in the NSCRO national rankings for a second time in four years.
  • Soccer
  • Tennis. The 2012-2013 Men's tennis team earned entry into the NCAA DIII national tournament, making them first Baron team in any sport to qualify for NCAA postseason play. This was followed by successive trips back to the postseason from 2013-2015. The Woman's tennis team also made it to the NCAA DIII National tournament during the 2014-2015 season, making them the first Woman's Baron team to qualify for the NCAA postseason play. Recognizing the strength of tennis program, and also in the spirit of Michael Scanlan who was an avid tennis player, the University hopes to bring a Tennis facility to campus in the near future in order to ensure a year-round practice place, and to further solidify the teams recent success.
  • Track & Field (Indoor)
  • Track & Field (Outdoor)

Women's

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 (1980–2005)
  • Christopher Ledyard (2005-2016)
  • Mike Florak (2016-2017)
  • Mike Holmes (2017-2019)
  • Scott Greve (2019-present)

Other activities

There is a 28-member student government.[31]

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, Debate Team and Biology Club.[32]

Campus
A panorama photo of the 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.[33]

There are 13 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, Saint Junipero Serra Hall, and Scotus Hall. Assisi Heights, a small neighborhood of apartments, is also available for upperclassman and graduate student housing.

Franciscan 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.[34]

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.[35] Young America's Foundation rates Franciscan as one of the top 10 conservative colleges in the nation,[36] 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.[37] 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.[38]

Notable alumni

See also

References
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  2. "Fact Book 2019-20 Franciscan University of Steubenville".
  3. "Franciscan Athletics Quick Facts". franciscanathletics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  4. "Franciscan University of Steubenville". The Cardinal Newman Society.
  5. "Fact Book 2015-16 Franciscan University of Steubenville".
  6. "The History of Franciscan University of Steubenville". franciscan.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-11-26.
  7. Benne, Robert (2006). Quality with Soul: How Six Premier Colleges and Universities Keep Faith with Their Religious Traditions. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
  8. "Fact Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-07.
  9. "Fr. Scanlan Retires". Archived from the original on 2011-04-10.
  10. Drake, Tim. "Setting the World Ablaze". Franciscan Way (Summer 2011): 14.
  11. Scanlan, Michael (1986). Let the Fire Fall. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Books.
  12. "2010-2011 Factbook: Quick Reference". Archived from the original on 2011-12-15. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  13. "2006-07 Factbook: Quick Reference". Archived from the original on 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  14. "Dispute at Franciscan U. over course calling homosexuality deviant". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  15. "Engineering". franciscan.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  16. "2006–2007 Course Catalog: Honors Program". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  17. "Priestly Discernment Program". Archived from the original on 2011-07-31. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  18. "Franciscan University of Steubenville Launches Online Graduate Degree Programs". Franciscan University of Steubenville Launches Online Graduate Degree Programs. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  19. the Kartause Maria Thron
  20. "Kartause Maria Thron History". Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  21. "Gaming, Austria - Study Abroad Program". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  22. "summer mini program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  23. "Summer Austria Session" (PDF). Franciscan University. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  24. "Franciscan University of Steubenville", Women's Households Archived 2016-05-10 at the Wayback Machine. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
  25. "Franciscan University of Steubenville", Men's Households List Archived 2016-04-14 at the Wayback Machine. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
  26. "Franciscan University of Steubenville." 40th Anniversary of Household Life Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. Franciscan University of Steubenville, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
  27. "Roman Catholicism: 'Hail Mary' Is More Than a Football Play". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2006-06-17. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  28. Brown, Gary (June 30, 2011). "DIII Membership Committee recommends four new active members". NCAA. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  29. "PAC adds Franciscan as full member" (Press release). Presidents' Athletic Conference. April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  30. press/Adidas
  31. "fusgovern". fusgovernment.com.
  32. "Residence Halls Content Filtering Policy". Archived from the original on 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  33. "John Paul II Library - Franciscan University of Steubenville". Archived from the original on 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  34. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-08-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. "USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2011: Franciscan University of Steubenville: At a glance". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  36. "Top Conservative Colleges". Young America's Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  37. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2010-08-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. "FORBES Ranks Franciscan University Among America's Top Colleges". franciscan.edu. 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  39. "David DeWolf - CEO". 3Pillar Global. Retrieved 27 December 2018.

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