Stream the Spirit of Christmas NOW from Your Office, Car or Home! | |
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From now through noon on January 2, WCSF-FM 88.7 is airing the 31st season of the Spirit of Christmas, a 24-hour, commercial-free, season-long holiday format.
Tune in to FM 88.7 to listen to the Spirit of Christmas on your radio in the Joliet area or tune in right now from your office, car or home by clicking here.
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USF Earns Hispanic-Serving Institution Designation and Grant Worth Close to $3M | |
Earlier this year, the University of St. Francis (USF) earned the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation by the U.S. Department of Education for having an undergraduate full-time equivalent student population that is comprised of at least 25 percent Hispanic students. With that designation, USF was able to apply for and has since been awarded Title V Developing HSIs (DHSI) funding in the form of a grant worth close to $3M over 5 years. The grant will now largely fund a DHSI project titled “Going from Si se Puede to Si se Pudo,” (translated to English as “Going from ‘We Can Do It’ to ‘We Did Do It’ “) designed to support capacity enhancements and innovative strategies to significantly increase retention and graduation rates for all students, and especially those who are Hispanic, from low-income households, or otherwise underserved.
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WalletHub Ranks USF as a 2024 Top Illinois University | |
The University of St. Francis (USF) continues to be recognized by national ranking agencies as one of the top institutions of higher education in Illinois. Most recently, USF was ranked as one of the best schools in Illinois according to WalletHub’s 2024 Best Colleges and Universities rankings.
In this year’s WalletHub report, which was compiled by comparing more than 800 higher education institutions across 30 key measures within seven categories that included Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing and Career Outcomes, USF was recognized as one of the top eight overall colleges and universities in Illinois. WalletHub’s rankings also placed USF at #37 in the Midwest rankings, and ranked USF #1 in Illinois in the “Campus Safety” category for a fourth consecutive year.
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Students Learn the Impact of Random Acts of Kindness Courtesy of Jay It Forward | |
On Monday, September 25, over 200 students at the University of St. Francis (USF) personally experienced the positive impact that random acts of kindness can create. The students were recipients of gifts cards, goody bags and cash – all unannounced and unexpected – courtesy of Jay It Forward, an organization in honor of the late Jay Vana and his fun-loving demeanor and generous personality.
“The spirit of St. Francis is just something you need to experience first-hand on-campus at USF. That spirit was certainly robust when Jay It Forward celebrated with our students this week. The emotions on the faces of USF students, faculty and administrators was powerful as they opened envelopes and shared their plans of what they planned to do with the gifts they received,” said Lisa Sampalis, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of St. Francis.
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Thank You to Our Ambassador Day Attendees! | |
USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., was honored to host the 10th Annual Ambassador Day on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The event, which took place in Assembly Hall on USF's St. Clare Campus, welcomed a variety of business partners, community leaders and elected officials to campus for breakfast and the USF State of the University Address.
To review the 10th Annual State of the University Address, please click here.
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USF Leads the Way for the Annual Light Up the Holidays Parade | |
USF once again kicked-off the holiday season alongside the Joliet City Center Partnership and the City of Joliet with the annual Light Up the Holidays Parade (presented by USF) on Friday, November 24, 2023, in beautiful downtown Joliet.
USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D. participated in the lighting ceremony featuring the downtown Christmas tree, followed by the annual Light Up the Holidays Parade led by grand marshal Bernie the Saint Bernard (USSF mascot). This year's event included over 80 parade entries and culminated with Santa Claus returning to downtown Joliet!
To watch this year's parade, click here.
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Corporate Partner Education Program | |
USF partners with companies and organizations locally and across the country to offer tuition discounts to their employees. Discounts apply to graduate and doctoral programs in business, health care, management, nursing, social work, and training and development.
If your company or employer offers tuition reimbursement, this program is one way to maximize the impact of those funds. Contact Maggie Stevenson, Associate Director of Graduate and Adult Admissions at mstevenson@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-3389 for more information.
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Have You Checked Out the USF Center for Nonprofit Excellence? | |
The USF Center for Nonprofit Excellence provides efficient and value-added professional services to Will County nonprofit organizations with limited financial resources, whose mission is aligned with the Franciscan core values of respect, integrity, service, and compassion. This allows the nonprofit organizations to focus primarily on their core, mission-driven objectives in the community.
With its variety of options, the USF Center for Nonprofit Excellence offers value-added professional services through USF employees, partners and students to Will County nonprofits so that they can focus on best serving their respective client bases.
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Joliet Symphony Orchestra Family Concert
Saturday, January 20, 2024
11 a.m. in the Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center)
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The Joliet Symphony Orchestra (JSO) presents its annual Family Concert & Instrument Petting Zoo. Join us for a captivating musical experience for the entire family! There will be opportunities to sit ‘in’ the orchestra, experience music from a fresh perspective, discuss what defines music and how it is created, and more! Come explore the orchestra and orchestral music with us. This is certain to be an unforgettable and exciting experience for all ages.
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American Red Cross Blood Drive at USF on January 30th | |
The University of St. Francis (USF) is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, January 30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Assembly Hall Gymnasium at USF’s St. Clare Campus, which is located at 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet.
For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org, click on the “Donate Blood” link, and then click on the “Find a Blood Drive” link (enter “60435” when prompted). You can save up to 15 minutes when you donate blood by using RapidPass. Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass for more information.
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The USF Art Gallery hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year and is open to the public.
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The USF Music at Moser Performing Arts Series offers concerts, plays and performances from an array of backgrounds which changes each semester. World-class music and entertainment is available right here in Joliet!
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Engaging Mind & Spirit is the official magazine of USF. Published and mailed to alumni and friends of the university three times each year, the magazine is a collection of the latest USF headlines, including university successes and alumni/student/staff achievements, as well as information about upcoming events.
Click here to view the latest issue of Engaging Mind & Spirit. Click here to view previous issues.
Questions? Contact the USF Community and Employee Relations Office at 815-740-3625.
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University of St. Francis
Dave DiLorenzo, Director of Community & Employee Relations
ddilorenzo@stfrancis.edu
815-740-3625
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