Университет Святого Франциска в Форт-Уэйне: История и современность

Private university in Fort Wayne, Indiana, U. S.

The University of Saint Francis (USF) is a private Catholic university in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The university promotes Catholic and Franciscan values. The school's 2022–23 enrollment was 1,903 undergraduate and graduate students, the majority of whom come from states in the Midwest, primarily Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio.

The University of Saint Francis was founded in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1890, when the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration founded Saint Francis Normal School, a teacher training school, to provide better training for members of the congregation teaching in parochial schools. It operated as a junior college until 1937, when it became a four year school. The school became Saint Francis College in 1940. The college moved to its current Fort Wayne location in 1944, to the estate of the former industrialist John H. Bass. Trinity Hall was completed in 1947. The school has remained in Fort Wayne and gradually expanded, adding a graduate school in 1960. Increased athletic programs for the Cougars, primarily football, as well as construction of athletic fields and residence halls and acquisition of the Lutheran College of Health Professions in the 1990s produced remarkable enrollment growth. It was renamed University of Saint Francis in 1998.

The university's Fort Wayne, IN campus covers with an additional 4.3 acres in downtown Fort Wayne and nearly seven acres at the university's Crown Point in Crown Point, Indiana.

Brookside Mansion, a castle like mansion that was originally the home of the John H. Bass family, is a focal point of the university and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building originally housed the entire college, and has served as the university's library, as well as dorms and a dining area. The mansion is now primarily used for offices, although special events and meetings often take place in the building as well. In 2009, the building was renovated, including interior and exterior touch ups of the original artwork and design.

The Pope John Paul II Center is also a main place of activity at the university. Completed in 2006, the building houses the Lee and Jim Vann Library, Registrar's Office, faculty offices, the Campus Shoppe, and classrooms.

In the summer of 1998, the university purchased the former property of the Standard Oil warehouse, which had become polluted with oil residue. In the spring of 1999, the university—with a grant from the City of Fort Wayne and the State of Indiana—cleaned the ground, water, and surrounding area.

This building, expanded and renovated in 2019, is a modern, sustainable, collaborative and innovative science learning center that embodies the Franciscan values that lay at the foundation of the University. Its location on the banks of Mirror Lake creates a connection to nature and establishes the building as a beacon on campus, welcoming students and community beyond the science majors. New active learning classrooms allow for a variety of teaching styles—from lectures to group projects. The building features collaboration nooks and benches allowing students to take advantage of tons of natural light and exterior views. Outdoor learning spaces are also included with blackboards and seating on the first level, and a rooftop terrace that can be used for planetary observation.

The College of Health Sciences is located within the Doermer Family Center for Health Sciences Education. Programs housed in the building include nursing, physical therapist assistant studies, surgical technology, radiologic technology, health services, social work, diagnostic medical sonography, advanced medical imaging, and physician assistant studies. Many of our programs have access to specifically designed labs with multiple simulators to act as real patients in hands on education.

Bishop John M. D’Arcy Stadium on the west side of the campus is home to the only collegiate football program in Fort Wayne and became the first collegiate field in Indiana to utilize Sporturf in 2004. Bishop D’Arcy Stadium is a versatile venue not only for football but also USF men’s and women’s soccer, community youth football, soccer and lacrosse programs. It also serves as home for the Fort Wayne Football Club. Football offices are located in the Tom Jehl Football Complex, along with home and visitor locker rooms.

The USF Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center, formerly known as the Scottish Rite Auditorium, houses an auditorium for stage performances and other events. USF Downtown also houses the Music Technology Program and a variety of rooms for classes, meetings and events.

The university maintains a satellite site in Crown Point, Indiana, about 120 mile (193 km) northwest of the main campus in Fort Wayne. In 2021, USF Crown Point completed a $7 million expansion project, which doubled the size of the facility. USF Crown Point expects a subsequent doubling in enrollment in the coming years. New programs at the site this fall include surgical technology, radiologic technology, diagnostic medical sonography and advanced medical imaging.

The Saint Francis (USF) athletic teams are called the Cougars. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Crossroads League (formerly known as the Mid Central College Conference (MCCC) until after the 2011–12 school year) for most of its sports since the 1994–95 academic year (which they were a member on a previous stint from 1966–67 to 1980–81); while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid States Football Association (MSFA). USF competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co ed sports include cheerleading and eSports.