Quincy University

Francis Hall Tower 1860s-1890s A small group of Franciscan friars left Germany in 1858 to serve the German-speaking population in what was then the frontier state of Illinois. On February 6, 1860, they founded the institution as St. Francis Solanus College . This school was established at the corner of 8th and Maine Street. Under the leadership of Fr. Anselm Mueller, who served as president for a total of 37 years beginning in 1863, the institution moved to its current location on what is now College Avenue. [ 5 ] [ failed verification ] Quincy University was involved in educating Army reservists and Navy cadets during World War II, and enrollment grew after the Second World War. The institution first enrolled over 1,000 students in the late 1950s. In response to this enrollment growth, several new buildings were planned and put up during the 1950s and 1960s. From its founding, Quincy University has embraced a deep commitment to the liberal arts while recognizing the importance of professional programs. The earliest course catalogs, from the 1870s, combined a strong focus on the liberal arts with courses in accounting and other "commercial" programs. Quincy University continues to offer majors in the liberal arts and in the professions. [ citation needed ]

Quincy University typically enrolled under 300 students until the 1930s. The first woman enrolled at the institution in the 1920s, [ 5 ] and women were regularly admitted beginning in 1932. From the 1870s until the 1950s, the great majority of campus courses and activities occurred in Francis Hall, a large building renowned for its beauty and strong German architectural influences. [ citation needed ] Following two other name changes during the twentieth century, the current name, Quincy University , was adopted in 1993. [ 5 ] The university name was used in part to recognize the addition of graduate programs. [ citation needed ] The Franciscan friars made up the majority of the faculty until the late twentieth century. The distinctive Franciscan intellectual tradition remains central to the institution's mission and values. Since the founding of the institution, many Franciscan friars in the Midwest have been educated at Quincy University. Today, the institution is home to people of all faiths, who are welcomed in the Franciscan tradition of hospitality. [ tone ]

In 2016 the institution announced that it was having significant financial issues. At the time of the announcement the school was running a $5 million deficit. [ 6 ] A plan was developed to cut costs, and major donors helped get the institution past the crisis. [ 7 ] In November 2018, the institution received $2.25 million from the U.S. Department of Education to expand students' access to science, technology, engineering and math. [ 8 ] In 2020, the institution initiated its distinctive Success by Design program, in which each undergraduate student completes and annually updates an individualized student success plan. The program also emphasizes high-impact learning experiences, such as undergraduate research and internships, along with multiple sources of mentoring and advising. [ 9 ] In 2021, the Oakley family of Quincy announced a $6.5 million gift to the institution which included naming of the Oakley School of Business. This gift is more than double the previous largest gift to the institution. [ 10 ]

John 'Pete' Brown Mock Trial Courtroom Quincy Media Inc. Broadcast Studio at QU's North Campus. Quincy University is organized into five schools: School of Fine Arts & Communication School of Humanities School of Science and Technology Oakley School of Business [ 10 ] School of Education & Human Services At the undergraduate level, QU requires completion of the Bonaventure general education program, which includes a significant service requirement for all students. Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered in 46 major areas of concentration. The institution also supports a variety of non-degree programs and multiple degree-completion options for non-traditional students. Courses are offered in traditional, online, or hybrid formats. At the graduate level, QU offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, a Master of Science in education (M.S.Ed.) degree and a (M.S. Ed) Master of Science in education in counseling degree. The MBA degree is offered entirely online. Classroom technologies and resources are tailored to the needs of specific academic programs. New or updated and renovated laboratories in computer science, cybersecurity, business analytics, biology, and chemistry are available, as is the John “Pete” Brown Mock Trial courtroom. Accreditations Quincy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission . QU also has specialized accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).