University of San Diego

The University of San Diego, frequently referred to as USD, is a Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor?s, master?s, and doctoral programs. The university consists of six schools, namely: the School of Business Administration, the School of Education, the School of Law, the School of Nursing & Health Science, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies (currently under development).

History

The University opened its doors to its first class of students in 1952 as the San Diego College for Women. Most Reverend Charles F. Buddy, then bishop of the Diocese of San Diego and Mother Rosalie Hill, superior vicar of the Society of the Sacred Heart, chartered the institution from resources drawn from their respective organizations on a stretch of land known as "Alcalá Park," named for San Diego de Alcalá. In 1954, a separate school for men, then known as San Diego University was chartered on the same campus. For nearly two decades, both schools co-existed on Alcalá Park, but merged in 1972 to form the University of San Diego. Since then, the University has grown quickly and dramatically increased its assets and academic programs with the financial capital coming primarily from the student body. The community, including local patrons and businesses, has also been integral to the University's success.

Related Topics:
Diocese of San Diego - Vicar - Sacred Heart - San Diego de Alcalá

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Arguably, the most dramatic growth since the 1972 merger has occurred in the past decade. In 1998, Joan B. Kroc, philanthropist and wife of McDonald's financier Ray Kroc, and a strong advocate for World Peace, endowed USD with a gift of $25 million for the construction of the Institute for Peace & Justice. USD further benefited from the general trend of yearly, unprecedented tuition increases among private Universities, as well as multi-million dollar gifts from weight-loss tycoon Jenny Craig, inventor Donald Shiley, investment banker and alumnus Bert Degheri, and an addition $50 million Mrs. Kroc left the IPJ upon her passing. These gifts made possible, respectively, the Jenny Craig Pavilion (an athletic arena), the Donald P. Shiley Institute for Science and Technology, the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, and the Degheri Alumni Center. Consequently, USD has been in the media spotlight hosting the West Coast Conference (WCC) basketball tournament in 2003 and 2004, and has been able to host prestigious functions such as the Kyoto Laureate Symposium at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. Shiley's gift has provided the University with some of the most state-of-the-art teaching laboratories in Southern California. In 2005 the university broke ground on an expansion of the Colachis Plaza from the Immaculata Church along Marian Way to the east end of Bishop Leo T. Maher Hall, which effectively closes the east end of the campus to traffic. Also in 2005, the student body approved plans for a renovation and expansion of the Hahn University Center made possible by a $30 million gift from an anonymous alum.

Related Topics:
McDonald's - Ray Kroc - Jenny Craig - Donald Shiley - Kyoto

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