Mission and History
Mission Statement
Quincy University stands as a Catholic, independent, liberal arts institution of higher learning in the Franciscan tradition. Inspired by the spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi, we respect each person as a sister or brother with dignity, value, and worth. We work for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. We prepare men and women for leadership and for the transformation of the world by educating them to seek knowledge that leads to wisdom. We welcome and invite all to share our spirit and life.
History and Heritage
Christ said to St. Francis of Assisi, “Go, rebuild my Church which, as you see, is falling into ruin.” From that moment over 800 years ago to the present day, this has been the mission of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as “Franciscans” after the name of their founder, St. Francis. The Order includes many thousands of men and women who take the vows of religious life and many more Christian faithful who belong to the Secular Franciscan Order. The center of their life is to live as St. Francis, bringing aid to those who most need help. The history and heritage of Quincy University began and continues as part of the story of the Franciscan Order, and specifically of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Order.
Franciscan vision channels the power of wisdom in service to others. This vision inspired Franciscan friars from Germany arriving as missionaries to rural Illinois in 1858. Among the first initiatives of these friars of the Sacred Heart Province stands the foundation of a college at Quincy in 1860. The friars, immediately responsive to the need for education in frontier Illinois, served this need by providing liberal arts education in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. They originally named the institution St. Francis Solanus College after a Hispanic missionary hero of the Franciscan outreach in the Western Hemisphere.
Their missionary spirit animates the mission of the University down to the present. Years of growth and development followed. The State of Illinois chartered the college in 1873. In 1917, the institution was renamed Quincy College and Seminary in recognition of the community’s support. The admission of women in 1932 represented another milestone. After World War II, enrollment surged with a corresponding increase in faculty both friar and lay. The College later was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities in 1954.
The college officially adopted the name Quincy College in 1917. And an historic change in 1993 resulted in a new status and a new name: Quincy University - a Catholic, independent, liberal arts institution of higher learning that stands in the centuries old Franciscan, Christian tradition of education.
Recalling the words of one Franciscan friar in recognition of the institution’s 150th Anniversary, Quincy University continues “to prepare women and men who will be instruments of peace, forgiveness, truth, freedom, hope, joy and love for this world.”
General Information
Location and Campus
Nestled within Quincy, Illinois, a city situated on limestone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Quincy University’s local campus includes a Main and North campus, connected by shuttle service. Other programs are offered online.
Main Campus offers a combination of comfortable living, modern technology, and natural beauty. The classic architecture of the main academic building, Francis Hall, includes high ceilings, tall stained glass windows, gorgeous woodwork, a chapel, and tower that is lit at night. The campus is home to the century old St. Francis Solanus Chapel and San Damiano All-Faiths Chapel. North Campus includes academic classrooms, engineering, music and science facilities, auditorium, Quincy Media Broadcast Studio, and the soccer and softball athletic fields. Historic QU Stadium, home of the baseball field and the football and lacrosse complex, lies between Main and North Campus. The campus and surrounding area offer many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The campus is green in the summertime and bursting with color in the fall and spring. With on-campus wireless Internet access, seating and lawn areas provide students an incredible backdrop for those who enjoy spending time outdoors. Every resident room is equipped with high-speed Internet access and students have access to six computer labs on campus.
The county seat of Adams County, Quincy is described as a “small, big city.” With a population of 39,000, Quincy has all the comforts of a small town: safety, security, community pride, friendliness. Serving as the regional hub, Quincy also has big-city benefits: a variety of employers and industries, recreational opportunities, history, art, nature and is accessible by air, train and automobile. One of the oldest cities in Illinois, Quincy is recognized as one of three cities in the state having architecturally and historically significant structures.
The Brenner Library
Brenner Library is the access point for an extensive collection of resources supporting the curricular needs of the Quincy University community. The library provides an environment for group or individual research and study in a space which incorporates the latest technology and extensive print, media and electronic collections. Access to over 30 research databases is available from within the library and remotely. Numerous computer workstations, wireless connectivity, and computing assistance are provided.
Included in the library’s 100,000 volume print collection is a current circulating collection, a 4,000 volume rare book collection dating from the 15th century, an Instructional Materials Center of print and non-print materials to support the teacher education programs, and an extensive recorded music and film collection. Librarians provide research assistance and instruction upon request. The library is a member of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois.
Gray Gallery
The library houses the Gray Gallery, established by Robert Lee Mejer (its first and only curator) in 1968. Its primary purpose is to afford the community an opportunity for direct experience with a variety of media, styles and quality of works of art (both historical and recently more contemporary) as well as visual ideas. Besides featuring national, regional and state exhibitions/artists, the Gallery provides an annual setting for its Art Faculty and Student Art exhibitions, and the Baccalaureate Senior Exhibition. The Gallery also brings in annually a Visiting Artist who presents workshops for the community and Quincy University students.
Faculty
Excellent teaching is the emphasis at Quincy University. To further this end, faculty members are selected from those who show a preference for teaching in a private, liberal arts university. Although research and publishing are encouraged, promotion and tenure decisions are based primarily upon teaching and academic advising. The University is proud of the commitment to students shown by its faculty and dedicates itself to an ever-improving faculty performance.
Pre-Law Center
The Pre-Law Center is a modern learning facility that includes the John “Pete” Brown Mock Trial courtroom. The center is designed to prepare students for advanced study in law school. Quincy’s nationally recognized Mock Trial Team sharpens students’ competitive edge as they try cases against teams from around the country.
Connie Niemann Center for Music
The Connie Niemann Center is comprised of a 270-seat performance space, a reception hall, and a formal atrium. The center, which showcases the original stained glass art of Fr. Tom Brown, OFM, will also serve the spiritual programs of the Franciscan Retreat Center. The center is located on Quincy University’s North Campus.
J. Kenneth Nesbit Student Success Center
The J. Kenneth Nesbit Student Success Center (SSC), located on the lower level of Brenner Library, provides extensive support for student success through tutoring, supplemental instruction, success coaching, career advising, and disability services. The SSC also features a state-of-the-art computer lab, several study rooms, and printers, all available to students at no cost. Additionally, the SSC houses the offices of residence life, new student programs, residential and student experience, and the QUEST Center. The mission of the Student Success Center is to partner with students on their journey of continuous improvement-from good to better to best-during their time at Quincy University.
Quest Center
The QUEST Center (Quincy University Experiential Study Center) supports, coordinates, and implements academic experiential learning, in collaboration with faculty, staff, and the community. Experiential learning connects knowledge, experience, action, and reflection, and engages students in various kinds of transformative activity. The QUEST Center supports Career Services, Credit for Prior Learning (including CARE credit), Internships, Service-Learning, Study Abroad, and Undergraduate Research.
Health and Fitness Center
The Health and Fitness Center features 3 multipurpose gymnasium courts (including 2 pickleball courts), 1 racquetball/handball court, 6-lane swimming pool and whirlpool, elevated running/walking track, a fitness room with 36 Flex and Paramount machines, Iron-Grip plates, and other accessories, a fitness studio, and cardio area featuring a Cardio Theatre and 23 cardio machines. The center also offers a variety of fitness classes, personal trainers, and swim lessons.
Student Advising
Success by Design at Quincy University embodies our Franciscan values and commitment to every individual’s unique journey. We believe success should be intentional and meticulously planned. Our dedication to the college experience is profound, as we collaborate with students to create personalized success plans. This ensures students graduate on time, discover their passions, and are well-prepared for life. Full-time students with declared majors are assigned faculty advisors within their field to assist in planning their degree programs and preparing for employment or advanced education. Undeclared students are assigned a general advisor as their primary academic advisor to help them declare a major. Academic advisors play a crucial role in assisting students in exploring their academic interests, finding additional information and support resources, course selection, and crafting study plans that align with their educational objectives.
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