University of Saint Joseph (Connecticut)

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For other schools of the same name, see Saint Joseph's College (disambiguation).
University of Saint Joseph
Former name
Saint Joseph College (1932–2012)
TypePrivate university
Established1932; 92 years ago (1932)[1]
AccreditationNECHE
Religious affiliation
Catholic Church
Endowment$34.8 million (2019)[2]
PresidentRhona Free
Academic staff
127
Students1,816 (fall 2024)
Location
West Hartford, Connecticut
,
U.S.

41°46′52″N 72°43′50″W / 41.78111°N 72.73056°W / 41.78111; -72.73056
CampusSuburban, 84 acres (34 ha)
Colors   
NicknameBlue Jays
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division III – GNAC
MascotJoey the Blue Jay
Websitewww.usj.edu
Academic rankings
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[3]1st Overall in CT, Regional Universities North (2025)

The University of Saint Joseph is a private Roman Catholic university in West Hartford, Connecticut. It was founded in 1932 as a women's college by the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut and began admitting men to its undergraduate programs in 2018.[4] The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.[5] There are 857 undergraduate and 959 graduate students (fall 2024).

USJ has more than 30 bachelor's degree programs and more than 30 graduate programs including master's programs and two doctoral programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Pharmacy).

History

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When it was founded in 1932, USJ was the first college for women in the Hartford area.

Psychology Professor Pamela Trotman Reid became the first African-American president of the university when she was appointed in 2008;[6] she retired in 2015.[7][8]

Becoming co-educational

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In November 2016, the University of Saint Joseph began its comprehensive research and review of becoming a coeducational institution. Based on this review, the university began admitting male students to all full-time undergraduate programs in the fall of 2018.[9]

Notable alumni

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Facilities

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McDonough Hall

The University of Saint Joseph has maintained a distinctive Georgian brick architecture in most of its 19 buildings, including six residence halls, a library, student life building, administration and classroom buildings, and an arts center with a theater and art gallery, among others.

The buildings are arranged around two tree-lined quadrangles on an 84-acre (340,000 m2) campus designed by the Olmsted Brothers. Approximately 73 percent of first-year students live on campus and USJ offers university sponsored off-campus housing at the Millennium in downtown Hartford.[10]

O'Connell Athletic Center

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The O'Connell Athletic Center features a newly renovated fitness center, indoor track, six-lane pool, two gymnasiums, a varsity weight room, and newly renovated locker rooms. The OC's outdoor complex includes six tennis courts, a turf soccer/lacrosse/field hockey field, turf softball field, and grass practice field.[11]

Nursing Education and Simulation Center

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This lab is a combination classroom, clinical practice area, and study space, and provides a high-quality simulation-based health care education. The unit includes an array of medical technology such as an electronic medication system, a Pyxis machine for dispensing medications, and high-fidelity manikins that enable students to practice a broad range of skills.[12]

Art Museum

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USJ’s on-campus Art Museum houses a collection of more than 2,800 works of fine art.

MakerspaceCT

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In April 2024, USJ announced its partnership with MakerspaceCT, a 28,000-square-foot workshop and skills development center in Hartford, offering the community support and resources to learn and create. Through this partnership, USJ’s engineering science students will have access to those resources and the opportunity to apply for internships with MakerspaceCT.[13]

Athletics

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Jim Calhoun

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In September 2018, the university made headlines by signing Jim Calhoun, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, as head coach of the newly formed men's basketball team.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "History, Mission, & Core Values of University of Saint Joseph | USJ West Hartford, CT".
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2019. "U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised)". National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  3. ^ "2023-2024 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 18, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "About Us". usj.edu.
  5. ^ Connecticut Institutions – NECHE, New England Commission of Higher Education, retrieved May 26, 2021
  6. ^ "Pamela Trotman Reid to Retire as University of Saint Joseph President at Conclusion of Academic Year". 3 October 2014.
  7. ^ "APA Profile". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Retirement Announcement". University of Saint Joseph. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  9. ^ University of Saint Joseph (June 14, 2017). "University of Saint Joseph Opens Full-Time Undergraduate Programs to Men". Archived from the original on 2017-06-17. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  10. ^ "Suburban CT university expanding housing into city downtown. 'We want to be a part of the growth.'". Hartford Courant. 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  11. ^ "About Athletics". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ "Nursing Education and Simulation Center | USJ West Hartford, CT". University of Saint Joseph. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  13. ^ report, Staff (2024-04-15). "University of St. Joseph, MakerspaceCT partner in workshop in CT city to benefit students". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  14. ^ "Jim Calhoun Officially Named Head Men's Basketball Coach". Saint Joseph CT. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
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