STORIES

This past month, the University of St. Francis (USF) announced the termination of 18 staff positions as part of a broader academic reorganization. This move followed the installation of Ryan C. Hendrickson as the university’s 10th president. According to a statement quoted in the Joliet Patch, Hendrickson said the restructuring was “designed to strengthen the institution for the future” and emphasized the university’s “impressive legacy”.  The layoffs have raised concerns amo

As many students have become aware that The University of St. Francis (USF) has made a series of budget cuts including faculty positions as well as undergraduate programs and departments. While this process has been deemed an academic reorganization, according to the Saints United section on the University’s website, it raises serious questions as to how this process will affect students and their career choices, current and future. During the Student Government Association (

On Oct. 22, the Student Government Association (SGA) held a meeting that discussed the university’s financial status. In the meeting, it was confirmed that due to a decline in enrollment, an increase in operationals costs, budget overestimation and misclassification of grant funding revenue, the University of St. Francis (USF) is in a $6 million deficit. To account for this deficit, President Hendrickson's recovery strategy is an academic reorganization. An announcement was r

There are many changes that have been announced at the University of St. Francis (USF) over the past weeks. Some may know that many staff and faculty members have been terminated, or that the school is around $6 million in debt after it was previously reported that there was only a deficit of $1 million.  One change that has not been widely publicized throughout campus has been the budget cuts that have been made to student clubs. At the Student Government Association (SGA) m

KayJ Hood is a junior Studio Art major who is making an impact with her efforts to change and update SGA legislation and policies. In the last few months, Hood has taken the initiative to write legislation intended to positively impact students as well as clubs and organizations involved in the Student Government Association (SGA). Hood spearheaded three major initiatives to ensure legislation properly reflects the needs of the student body. Starting as a class senator, Hood

Dr. Ryan Hendrickson, chosen as the tenth president of the University of St. Francis (USF) on Feb. 18, was officially inaugurated into...

The Student Success Center (SSC) recently experienced some delays in the building process. This delay was caused by many things,...

Photo credit: University of St. Francis With the excitement surrounding a new addition to the USF campus, the upcoming Student Success...

On Feb. 18, 2025 the USF officially announced the nomination of its tenth president to all of the members of the university. Dr. Ryan...

Of the 47 vacancies, 24 are listed as admin, staff or faculty, and the other 23 are student openings. 

President of the University Arvid Johnson and the University of St. Francis has announced his retirement effective May of 2025.

Budget concerns have risen as of late at the University of St. Francis and its latest casualty has been department spending.

Clare’s Garden, the on-campus food option for the St. Clare campus, closed unexpectedly in early February.

Ceddi Carver and the university’s legal team battled through the last vendor’s attempts at extending the previous contract. 

27% of students were using AI in the spring and that figure ballooned to 49% in the fall.

USF Encounter has learned that all Joliet campuses of the University of St. Francis will be closed Friday, Jan. 12.

On behalf of GSA, Angulo proposed this at a Student Government Association meeting.

The USF Residence Education Department announced at a recent Student Government Association meeting that negotiations had begun for a new...

The SGA holds meetings bi-weekly to discuss different events and legislations they have added to their agenda throughout the year.

USF will be offering an on-campus information table on Monday, September 26th.