Growth and connection: Student Success Center grand opening
On Oct. 7, 2026, the University of St.Francis (USF) celebrated a long-awaited milestone: the grand opening of the Student Success Center (SSC). The SSC has been in the works since the 2025 fall semester. Located in between the two wings of Tower Hall, the building includes a student common area/dining space, the registrar's office, the Academic Resource Center (ARC), the Career Success Center (CSC), and more amenities. The ceremony started off with a prayer from Sister Sue Bruno, from the Order of Saint Francis, and was followed by a state-of-the-university address by USF President Ryan C. Hendrickson.
The new space will encourage growth and collaboration to push achievements on all levels of the university, particularly with students. Before getting to the main event, Hendrickson took some time to highlight recent accomplishments of the school. Three new transfer agreements have been put in place with Joliet Junior College, Kankakee Community College, and Prairie State Community College. These agreements, and other community collaborations with entities like local businesses, school districts, alumni and benefactors are all key parts of the university Integrity 2030 plan; a committee chaired by Provost Elizabeth McDermott.
Undergraduate enrollment has also increased, along with the university’s Dun Scotus Honors program tripling in size; a feat President Hendrickson credited to program director Dr. Brady Jones.
“By reconceptualizing our honors program, we want to become a destination for high achieving, academically strong, honor students. We made that happen this fall. I am grateful to our academic leadership who made this possible, and especially Dr. Brady Jones, our honors program director, who is here today. Dr. Jones, thank you for your leadership, your innovation, and your vision that permitted this growth,” said President Hendrickson.
Jones was not the only faculty member highlighted in the state-of-the-university address. Chair of the Department of Natural and Health Sciences Dr. Jacqueline Wittke-Thompson co-opted five articles and additional peer review manuscripts to be published next year.
“This level of collaboration is uncommon at most universities. When undergraduate students can actually contribute to knowledge creation through their own research, that is truly something special. Thank you Dr. Thompson for working with our students,” said President Hendrickson.
In attendance at the ceremony, Wittke-Thompson expressed hope that the SSC would be appreciated by students.
“I hope students use this space for studying and to become more of a community together, and hangout on campus and learn together,” said Wittke Thompson.
Another faculty member in attendance, associate professor of english Anna Ioanes, also hopes that students will take advantage of all the new building has to offer.
“One thing I am really excited about is the space for the ARC. I think in a lot of ways AI has made peer tutoring all the more important, when you get that human connection, to figure out how to navigate all these technological changes and what your professors are asking of you,” said Ioanes.
Members of local and state branches of government also came to the event. State senator Meg Loughran Cappel made an appearance, having helped USF secure significant funding for the building.
“In addition, in this last legislative cycle, we were so pleased to receive strong support and an additional $300,000 in this year's Illinois state budget, which was made possible through the efforts of state senator Meg Cappel and state representative Natalie Manley,” said President Hendrickson.
State representative Jessica Dixon-Heitman of the 97th district, which USF falls under, expressed how significant she believed the opening of the SSC to be to the USF community.
“Higher education is extremely important to me, and I feel so fortunate to have so many wonderful colleges and universities within my district. And it's really exciting to have this happening too, because students need a place to gather. They need a place to feel comfortable, where they can go and seek out advice,” said Dixon-Heitman.
Towards the end of his speech, Hendrickson took time to highlight the honorary namesake of the SSC’s second floor, the Dorothy A. Ritter, M.D., Ph.D., Center For Learning and Achievement. This is where the student will be able to find the ARC, the CSC, and the registrar's office. Ritter, a 1966 alum of the College of St.Francis, served for many years as a neonatologist at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
“Dr. Ritter excelled in this environment. Yet, she also never forgot her experiences at the college, the now University of St. Francis, and the love she had for learning, achievement, and our Francis commission. Upon her passing the summer, the University of St. Francis was honored to receive a very significant financial gift that helps us close the gap on the remaining financial needs for the Student Success Center,” said President Hendrickson. “In honor of this gift, we are so pleased to name the second floor of this building the Dorothy A. Ritter Center for Learning and Achievement, which captures her love of university education, her desire to see students achieve in her lifelong love of learning.”
Ritter was further honored with her family joining McDermott and President Hendrickson in the ceremonial ribbon cutting. After the ceremony, attendees were free to tour the SSC and explore all of its resources.
With many spaces dedicated to growth and development of USF, the SSC gives students a place to connect and collaborate. It is hopeful that the new building will become an important part of campus life and support the continued success of the university.
Comments