As a new semester begins, students in the College of Arts and Sciences will notice a change to the nameplate on the Dean's office. Previous Dean Beth McDermott is transitioning to Provost while Professor David Veenstra is settling in as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Previously, Veenstra served as the department chair of the History, Political Science, and Criminal and Social Justice Department. “I do love teaching,” Veenstra said, “but I also foun

Students and faculty have found themselves learning how to renavigate campus as construction continues to complete the Student Success Center. While there will be a major benefit in the near future by having this new space on campus, it currently brings a lot of readjustments for everyone involved. All across campus, students and staff are feeling the changes in a variety of ways. Staff have to adjust to new workspaces and students have to figure out where their professors, a

This fall semester at the University of St. Francis (USF), students are witnessing a noticeable shift within the dining landscape as Bernie’s Pub is officially closed and the Saint’s Snack Shop makes a comeback. For years, Bernie’s Pub has served as a central afternoon, late-night dining, and social spot for students; making this closure quite notable. While Bernie’s Pub has closed its doors, the space still lives on through the return of the Saint’s Snack Shop. Deriving it

At the beginning of March, the University of St. Francis (USF) and Joliet Junior College (JJC) officially announced their partnership project that is intended to make higher education more accessible to all students. This partnership, called “The Bridge Forward Partnership,” is intended to encourage current JJC students to continue their education locally at our four-year institution. This partnership is making an effort to alleviate the stress of transferring from a two-yea

As construction continues on the long-anticipated student center addition to Tower Hall, the project has encountered a small hiccup marked less by underground surprises and more by unpredictable spring weather. While last semester’s delays came from old piping, electrical rerouting and the “mystery tunnel,” the more recent setback came from something more simple: rain. “Right now we’re dealing with rain delays,” said Vice President of IT & Planning, Terry Cottrell, who has o

On March 18 the President of the University of St. Francis (USF), Dr. Ryan C. Hendrickson, provided an update on the academic reorganization process to the USF community. Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, the University of St. Francis has worked to restructure academically with the focus to strengthen academic excellence, enhance student support, sustain financial stability, while upholding Franciscan values. To implement this academic reorganization, President Hendric

Over the past year, immigration enforcement has become one of the greatest concerns all around the country. It has created uncertainty for students and has led to planned walkouts in many schools to advocate for their rights. While no one hopes to experience a situation where immigration enforcement is present on campus, understanding what to do and knowing the available resources can help students feel more prepared and supported. According to the Dean of Student Life, Cedri

As of next year, the University of St. Francis (USF) is sunsetting four majors: political science, English, theology and substance abuse counseling, a decision that has left many USF students frustrated, confused and unsure about their academic future. For Noah Daufenbach, a double major in psychology and substance abuse counseling, the news felt abrupt. He had never imagined that the program he chose, which is one rooted in service and community impact, would be on the chopp

This past weekend, staff from the Encounter attended the annual Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) conference in downtown Chicago. The attendees this year included Editor-in-Chief Rodolfo Flores, Assistant and Sports editor Scarlett LaBuda as well as Head of Public Relations and Feature and Entertainment editor Kathleen Norton. The ICPA conference features all college press across the state of Illinois coming together for two days to share work, attend sessions run by

This past week, excitement has been buzzing as the Archway Review held its launch party, celebrating the publication of its fifth issue! Such a milestone truly highlights the hard work and dedication from students and faculty alike that brought this magazine to where it is today. However, this success did not come overnight, but rather through the advocacy and vision of Dr. Anna Ioanes and Dr. Elizabeth McDermott, who both wanted to establish a platform that would be able to