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

Over the past few months, there have been numerous announcements made regarding the current financial situation at the University of St. Francis (USF). Following a series of budget cuts that have altered job positions as well as undergraduate programs, concern and frustration have carried a cold weight across campus due to the unexpected plot twists filled with a lack of transparency. In an effort to reinforce its financial foundation, USF is currently aiming to restructure p

The Recreation Club (Rec Club) is revamped and ready for an active spring semester. They started the new year on a high note with new board members and two events in January, and will keep the momentum by filling the spring semester with a multitude of exciting events. On Jan. 12 the club posted on Instagram announcing the new board members. This is an entirely new team which is made up of mostly students majoring in Recreation and Sports Management. The team consists of si

Cold cases. Something that pesters many investigators across the United States. Many of these cold cases are tied to one of the most severe crimes of all. Homicide. According to Project: Cold Case, 37% of homicides that happen in the United States go unsolved. One of the most famous of these occurred not too far from the University of St. Francis (USF). On a quiet February morning in Tinley Park, Illinois, tragedy struck at the Lane Bryant store in the Brookhaven Marketplace