Search

The Online Encyclopedia and Dictionary
 
     
 

Encyclopedia

Dictionary

Quotes
   
 

University of San Francisco


The University of San Francisco is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university in the United States. Located in San Francisco, California, it was founded by the Society of Jesus. Today, the university is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The University is known for its high standard and serious academic rigor.

Contents
1 History
2 Structure and degrees
3 The Campus
4 Miscellany
5 Notable alumni
6 External links

History

Founded as Saint Ignatius Academy by the Italian Jesuits Anthony Maraschi and Michael Accolti in 1855, USF began life in a wood frame building along Market Street in what later became downtown San Francisco. A charter from the state of California in 1859 changed the school's name to Saint Ignatius College and granted it the power to confer degrees. The original curriculum included Greek, Spanish, Latin, English, French, Italian, algebra, arithmetic, history, geography, elocution, and bookkeeping.

A new building was constructed in 1862 to replace the first frame building and the first degree was awarded a year later. In 1880, the college moved from Market Street to a new site on the corner of Hayes Street and Van Ness Avenue (currently occupied by the Davies Symphony Hall). The third Saint Ignatius College was destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1906 and the campus moved further westward to the corner of Hayes and Shrader Streets, close to Golden Gate Park. The college moved to its present site, a 51 acre (206,000 m²) campus on the south slope of Lone Mountain, in 1927.

To celebrate its diamond jubilee in 1930, Saint Ignatius College became the University of San Francisco. A male-only school for most of its history, USF became fully coeducational in 1964.

Today USF is organized into six academic divisions, with 7,487 students and 506 faculty members. The university also operates five regional campuses around northern California. USF is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Structure and degrees

The university's academic divisions (with dates of establishment):

  • College of Arts and Sciences (Originally the whole university; became a distinct entity in 1926, reorganized 1982)
  • College of Professional Studies (1981)
  • School of Business and Management (1947, reorganized 1999)
  • School of Education (1972)
  • School of Law (1912)
  • School of Nursing (1954)

The university offers the following degrees:

As of Fall 2003, university enrollment is 4,031 undergraduate students and 3,456 graduate students.

The Campus

  • Campion Hall - Currently houses classrooms, the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Academic Support Services, Academic Services, Business and Finance, Bursar, Personnel Services, several liberal arts departments, and Public Safety. It is named after English Jesuit martyr Edmund Campion.
  • College of Professional Studies - Formerly Lincoln University, the University acquired the building in 1999 and made it the new home of the College of Professional Studies.
  • Cowell Hall - Named after San Francisco philanthropist Samuel Cowell, Cowell Hall houses offices and classrooms for the School of Nursing and other departments.
  • Gillson Hall - Named after University benefactor George Gillson, Gillson Hall provides housing for 325 students.
  • Gleeson Library - The university library, containing the Geschke Learning Resouce Center. It is named for former university professor and prefect, Richard Gleeson, SJ.
  • Harney Science Center - Houses classrooms, the offices of the College of Arts and Sciences and the departmental and faculty offices of the Sciences departments.
  • Hayes-Healy Hall - Was built through donations given by Ramona Hayes Healy and John F. Healy in honor of their parents. Originally housing only females, it now is a coed dorm for 350 students.
  • Koret Health and Recreation Center - Built on the site of the old Saint Ignatius High School, this is USF's main student gym, containing exercise and recreation facilties, including an Olympic-sized pool.
  • Koret Law Center - Home of USF's School of Law, containing both the Dorainne Zief Law Library and Kendrick Hall, the original law school building.
  • Lone Mountain - Formerly the San Francisco College for Women, Lone Mountain now houses faculty offices, classrooms, and housing for 180 students. It also houses the offices of the Universty President and Vice-Presidents.
  • Loyola House - Residence for the 24 members of the USF Jesuit Community.
  • Loyola Village - Built in 2002, this residential complex of 136 units for faculty, staff, and students.
  • Negoesco Stadium - Named after Stephen Negoesco, who graduated from the university in 1951 and who coached the school's championship soccer teams. It is used as USF's soccer stadium.
  • Pedro Arrupe Hall - This building was originally residence for nurses' at the old French Hospital. USF acquired the building in 2000 and renovated. It now currently residence for 110 students. Named for Pedro Arrupe, SJ, former Superior General of the Society of Jesus. It is located a few blocks west of campus.
  • Phelan Hall - Named after USF alumnus and benefactor James D. Phelan, former U.S. Senator from California and mayor of San Francisco. It provides housing for 450 students as well as the school radio stations KDNS (AM) and KUSF (FM), the University Bookstore, the San Francisco Foghorn, and the University Ministry Office. The building's west wing is known as McLaren Center and houses the School of Business and Management (SOBAM).
  • School of Education - Houses the administrative offices of the School of Education as well as classrooms and Presentation Theater. Formerly Presentation High School until it was purchased by USF.
  • Ulrich Field - This athletic field was named in honor of Max Ulrich who left his estate to the school. It contains Benedetti Diamond, home field for USF's baseball team.
  • University Hall - Houses departmental and faculty offices, as well as ASUSF offices and facilties and the main student cafeteria.
  • Xavier Hall - Provides housing for 175 female students and is named after St. Francis Xavier.
  • War Memorial Gym - Home court for the volleyball and men and women's basketball teams. Also houses the athletic department offices and training facilities. Named for USF students killed in action in various wars.

Miscellany

Notable alumni

External links

Last updated: 05-22-2005 00:29:57
 
 
     
 
Arts and Culture Entertainment People Science Social Sciences Geography
Maths Nature Knowledge All Categories
Copyright 2005 Fact Archive.com, All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use