University
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University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit and Catholic University in San Francisco, California, United States. USF was established as San Francisco's first institution of higher learning in 1855.
USF rests on a hilltop in a quiet, 51-acre setting between the Presidio and Golden Gate Park and is equidistant from the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in California.
USF's MBA program was ranked among the Top 100 in 2004 by the Wall Street Journal and the Princeton Review ranked it among the Top 143 in 2005. USF's 8,500-member student body is composed of students from 75 countries, and are ranked in the Top 15 national universities for student diversity and international student enrollment. USF's thousands of alumni span the globe and provide an invaluable career mentoring network for both current students and new graduates.
USF is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the School of Business and Management (SOBAM) is accredited by the AACSB. Because of its location on Lone Mountain, one of San Francisco's major hills, USF's nickname is "The Hilltop." Reflecting its close historical ties with the City, the university's motto is Pro Urbe et Universitate.
History
Founded as Saint Ignatius Academy by the Italian Jesuits Rev. Anthony Maraschi, Rev. Joseph Bixio, and Rev.
Michael Accolti in 1855, USF began life in a wood frame building along Market Street in what later became downtown San Francisco. A charter from the state of California in 1859 changed the school's name to Saint Ignatius College and granted it the power to confer degrees.
The original curriculum included Greek, Spanish, Latin, English, French, Italian, algebra, arithmetic, history, geography, elocution, and bookkeeping. Father Maraschi, apart from being the college's first president, was also a professor and the college's treasurer; and served as Saint Ignatius Church's first pastor. A new building was constructed in 1862 to replace the first frame building and the first degree was awarded a year later.
In 1871, Joseph Neri S. J., professor of natural philosophy, displayed an electric arc light from the Market Street church. Five years later, Neri would illuminate Market Street with electric lamps for the centennial of American independence. In 1880, the college moved from Market Street to a new site on the corner of Hayes Street and Van Ness Avenue (currently occupied by the Davies Symphony Hall).
1863 saw the founding of the College Players, USF's student theater group, the oldest continuous theater group operating west of the Mississippi River and the second oldest in the United States. The third Saint Ignatius College was destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1906 and the campus moved further westward to the corner of Hayes and Shrader Streets, close to Golden Gate Park.
The college moved to its present site on the south slope of Lone Mountain, in 1927. San Francisco as it appeared in 1855, the year of Saint Ignatius Academy's foundation San Francisco as it appeared in 1855, the year of Saint Ignatius Academy's foundation To celebrate its diamond jubilee in 1930, Saint Ignatius College changed its name to the University of San Francisco.
A male-only school for most of its history, USF became fully coeducational in 1964. In 1969, the high school division became wholly separate from the university and became St. Ignatius College Preparatory. Today USF is organized into six academic divisions, with 7,487 students and 506 faculty members.
The university also operates five regional campuses around northern California. USF is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the School of Business and Management (SOBAM) is accredited by the AACSB.
In September 2005 USF admitted 161 students from Loyola University New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, Tulane University, Dillard University, University of New Orleans, and University of Southern Mississippi who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. October 2005 marked the 150th anniversary of the university's founding.
The Campus
USF's main campus occupies 51 acres immediately east of the Golden Gate Park Panhandle, on the southern slope of Lone Mountain.
It lies on the boundaries of three San Francisco neighborhoods: Haight-Ashbury, the Western Addition, and the Richmond District.
* Campion Hall - Named after the English martyr Edmund Campion, S. J., it formerly housed classrooms, the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Academic Support Services, Academic Services, Business and Finance, Bursar, Personnel Services, several liberal arts departments, and Public Safety, most of which have since moved permanently to Lone Mountain. It is currently under extensive renovation expected to end in 2007. When renovation is complete it will be renamed Kalmanovitz Hall, named after brewing magnate Paul Kalmanovitz.
* College of Professional Studies - Formerly Lincoln University, the University acquired the building in 1999 and made it the new home of the College of Professional Studies.
* Cowell Hall - Named after San Francisco philanthropist Samuel Cowell, Cowell Hall houses offices and classrooms for the School of Nursing and other departments, such as the school's Learning and Writing Center.
* Fromm Hall - Home to the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning and provides housing for 175 female students. The building also houses XARTS, the school fine arts program's facility, with two computer labs, two studios, and offices in what used to be the building's large garage.
Formerly named Xavier Hall after St. Francis Xavier, S. J., it was renamed after university benefactors Alfred and Hanna Fromm in 2003.
* Fulton House - Upper-class housing adjacent to the USF campus that offers fully furnished living space for 12 students. The larger house accommodates nine students including one residence life staff member, the smaller house known as "the Cottage," houses three students.
* Gillson Hall - Named after University benefactor George Gillson, Gillson Hall is a freshmen dorm that provides housing for 325 students.
* Gleeson Library and Geschke Learning Resource Center - The university library, named for former university professor and prefect, Richard Gleeson, S. J. It contains a learning and research center named for Charles Geschke, university benefactor and co-founder of Adobe Systems, and his wife Nancy.
As of the end of the 2005 school year, the library had 695,862 books, 132,316 bound volumes of periodicals, 740,863 microforms, 23,953 electronic resources (including e-books, e-journals, and reference databases), and thousands of maps, AV materials, CDs and DVDs.
The library is limited to students, staff, and faculty, with some exceptions.
* Harney Science Center - Houses classrooms, the offices of the College of Arts and Sciences and the departmental and faculty offices of the Sciences departments.
* Hayes-Healy Hall - Was built through donations given by Ramona Hayes Healy and John F. Healy in honor of their parents. Originally housing only women, it now is a coed freshmen dorm for 350 students.
* Koret Health and Recreation Center - Built on the site of the old Saint Ignatius High School, this is USF's main student gym, containing exercise and recreation facilities, including an Olympic-sized pool.
* Koret Law Center - Home of USF's School of Law, containing both the Dorainne Zief Law Library and Kendrick Hall, the original law school building.
* Lone Mountain - Formerly Lone Mountain College, the Lone Mountain campus now houses faculty offices, classrooms, and housing for 180 students. It also houses the offices of the University President and Vice-Presidents.
* Loyola House - Residence for the 24 members of the USF Jesuit Community. It was completed in 1999 and is located on Lone Mountain. The house was named after Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits (the Society of Jesus).
* Loyola Village - Built in 2002, this residential complex of 136 units for faculty, staff, and students.
* McLaren Center - Formed from Phelan Hall's west wing, McLaren houses offices and classrooms for the School of Business and Management (SOBAM). McLaren Center includes Malloy Hall, USF's newest addition.
* Negoesco Stadium - Named after alumnus Steve Negoesco, who coached four championship men's soccer teams. It is USF's soccer stadium.
* Pedro Arrupe Hall - Originally a nurses' residence for the old French Hospital, USF acquired and renovated the building in 2000. It now currently a residence for 110 students. Named for Pedro Arrupe, S. J., former Superior General of the Society of Jesus, it is located a few blocks west of campus.
* Phelan Hall - Named after USF alumnus James D. Phelan, former U.S. Senator from California and mayor of San Francisco. It provides housing for 450 first and second year students of which are as well as the school radio stations KDNS (AM radio) and KUSF (FM radio), the University bookstore, the San Francisco Foghorn, and the University Ministry Office.
* School of Education - Houses the administrative offices of the School of Education as well as classrooms and Presentation Theater. Formerly Presentation High School until it was purchased by USF.
* Saint Ignatius Church - Often mistaken as San Francisco's Roman Catholic cathedral, Saint Ignatius was completed in 1914 and is the University's spiritual home as well as a parish church for the surrounding community.
* Ulrich Field - This athletic field was named in honor of Max Ulrich who left his estate to the school. It contains Benedetti Diamond, home field for USF's baseball team.
* Underhill Building - Located between Lone Mountain and the School of Education, Underhill houses offices and training facilities for USF's Army ROTC unit.
* University Center - Houses departmental and faculty offices, as well as ASUSF offices and facilities and the main student cafeteria.
* War Memorial Gymnasium - Home court for the volleyball and men and women's basketball teams. Also houses the athletic department offices and training facilities. Dedicated to USF students and faculty killed in action in various wars.
Athletics
The university mascot is the Don and USF's athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I with the West Coast Conference. USF is one of the charter members of the WCC, along with local rivals Santa Clara University and Saint Mary's College of California.
USF's athletic teams were previously known as the Gray Fog. USF's colors are green and gold.
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