Tag: MBA

USF News

U.S. News & World Report Names USF Online MBA Program the Best in Illinois

Joliet, Ill. – U.S. News & World Report released its 2021 Best Online Programs rankings today, and the University of St. Francis (USF) is proud to announce that its online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program has been ranked as the top program of its type in Illinois.

The publication also recognized four other online programs offered by USF, including two named as the best private programs in the State.

Recognized USF programs included:

  • Online MBA Program – #1 ranked program in Illinois (one of the top 43 percent in the US);
  • Online Graduate Education Program – #1 ranked private program in Illinois (top 28 percent nationally);
  • Online Graduate Business Program (excluding MBA) – #1 ranked private program in Illinois (top 44 percent nationally);
  • Online Bachelor’s Program – #3 ranked private program in Illinois (top 16 percent nationally), and;
  • Online Nursing Program – #4 ranked private program in Illinois (top 43 percent nationally).

Throughout 2020, USF celebrated its centennial and the many significant milestones that have contributed to the University’s success to date. Among those celebrated milestones was USF first introducing online courses and degree programs in 1998. Last spring, USF’s vast experience administering high quality, academic programs remotely was of high benefit and played a key role to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For over twenty years, USF has continued to expand its comprehensive online programs and is now recognized for offering many of the State’s top private, online programs. The University’s experience in this area played an important role in the call to pivot to remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as with the programs recognized by U.S. News & World Report, we largely credit the success of this pivot to a faculty committed to high-quality teaching via all delivery methods,” USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., said.

While colleges and universities across the country are developing a larger presence in world of online learning in higher education, as well, USF continues to stand out among its peers. One primary reason for this, according to Eric Wignall, USF Vice President of Admissions, Enrollment Services and Marketing, is the University’s student-first focus.

“They need to learn about our world and be prepared to join a profession, start a business, care for a patient, teach in a classroom, or explain ideas in a boardroom. These rankings are a wonderful validation of those efforts,” said Wignall.

“At the core, USF focuses on students. Yes, we concentrate our efforts on their safety and pay close attention to making our campus a great place to live, but we start and end with student learning. Our mission is to prepare women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership,” said Wignall.

“High rankings are nice, but our student’s success is the real measure of what we are doing. Their high graduation rate, the internships, and the great jobs they land after graduation are the best ‘grades’ we can earn for USF.  When our students learn more they can do more, and they get real value from what St. Francis offers,” Wignall added.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on the place for quality online options, web-based education was already gaining momentum in higher education, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“Nearly 3.3 million higher education students enrolled exclusively in distance education programs in fall 2018, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Whether a student is just starting a degree program or switched to online learning due to these unprecedented circumstances, online colleges can provide the flexibility to study from anywhere. Students with family responsibilities or full-time jobs may also be able to work around their own schedules. Whether a student is just starting a degree program or switched to online learning due to these unprecedented circumstances, online colleges can provide the flexibility to study from anywhere,” usnews.com reported.

Visit stfrancis.edu/admissions-aid/online for more information on USF’s online programs.

Visit usnews.com/education/online-education for more information on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Online Programs rankings.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

Veronica Gloria Earns New Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship

Joliet, Ill. – Earlier this year, the University of St. Francis (USF) announced its Will County Access Initiative, which offers a full-tuition scholarship to benefit academically-talented but economically-challenged commuter students from under-served populations who dream of earning a college degree.  In another demonstration of its investment in the Joliet area, USF is now introducing its Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship.

“The Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship is designed for local, not-for-profit agency directors and leaders who serve the greater Joliet community and assists them with earning their MBA through USF.  As Joliet’s university, this is a direct way to impact Joliet community members,” said Tracy Spesia, Ed.D., USF professor and Spanish Community Center board president.

At least one scholarship will be awarded annually – subject to demand and external funding support.  Recipients must commit to maintaining board-approved leadership position at their respective agency for two years beyond degree completion.

While future recipients of the scholarship will be determined through an application-based review process, the inaugural recipient of the Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship is Veronica Gloria, Spanish Community Center Executive Director.  As the inaugural recipient of the scholarship, Gloria sees the opportunity the scholarship presents and the lasting impact it, in turn, can create within the local community.

“What excites me most about this opportunity is that it creates sustainable access to higher education for myself and other professionals dedicated to the public good in Joliet. The more prepared we are as a sector, the more we can strategically make a difference in our local community. A quality education at USF can provide us with essential tools to creatively face challenges as change agents in our institutions, communities, and broader systems,” Gloria said.

“Although Spanish Community Center has many successes to celebrate, there are many serious challenges ahead, from devising our first strategic plan, to an impending recession, to the societal challenges that our agency and the underprivileged community we serve face,” she added. “Earning an MBA is a critical towards gaining new skills, insights, and tools to overcome whatever challenges lay ahead for our agency and community. Sharpening my business acumen will help me ask the right questions and seek the best answers to ensure that Spanish Community Center is sustainable and continues to weather the many complex storms ahead.”

Gloria began her MBA studies at USF this fall with a goal of completing the program within two years.

The idea for the scholarship originated with Spesia and her connection to the Spanish Community Center and Gloria.

“Veronica is a gifted and talent young professional and I knew she wanted to further her education.  She has her undergraduate degrees from Harvard University and she is already on the Illinois Board of Higher Education (appointed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker).  I approached (USF President) Arvid (Johnson) with the idea and that we can strengthen the positive impact our University has on the Joliet community by investing in one of its talented leaders.  Arvid immediately agreed, and the idea continued to build from that point,” Spesia said.

Community Investing in Community

The Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship is offered under a shared-cost structure with financial responsibilities assigned as approximately 25% to the recipient personally, 25% to the Joliet-area agency sponsoring the recipient, and 50% to the University of St. Francis – with the expectation that half of USF’s commitment will be donor-/business-funded.  To that end, USF is proud to announce that the first community business sponsor of the Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship is Joliet-area business owner and philanthropist Terry D’Arcy.

“Terry D’Arcy has long been a strong supporter of the University of St. Francis and so many other important organizations and causes in the Joliet area,” USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D., said. “Through his support of the Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship this year, Terry is continuing to invest in the ongoing growth and development of the greater Joliet region by partnering with USF to help one of our bright, young leaders to advance her education.”

Additional details on the Joliet Agency Leadership Scholarship will be made available to local service and community agencies in early 2021. For more information on the scholarship, please contact Eric Wignall, Vice President of Admissions, Enrollment Services, and Marketing at ewignall@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-3444.

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Currently celebrating 100 years of higher education rooted in Franciscan values, the University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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