University of Saint Katherine
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| University of Saint Katherine (USK) | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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United States | |
| Coordinates | 33°08′18″N 117°09′46″W / 33.1383015°N 117.1628937°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | Inquiry Seeking Wisdom |
| Established | 2010 |
| Closed | 2024 |
| President | Frank J. Papatheofanis, MD, PhD |
| Enrollment | 232 (Fall 2022)[1] |
| Campus type | Large suburban |
| Color(s) | Maroon & Sandstone |
| Athletics | NAIA – Cal Pac |
| Nickname | Firebirds |
| Website | www |
The University of Saint Katherine (USK) was a private university located in San Marcos, California. Founded in 2011 and closed in 2024, USK taught liberal arts and sciences in over 25 fields of study. It was announced on April 25, 2024 that the university would close at the end of the spring semester on May 18, 2024.[2]
History[edit]
The University of Saint Katherine (USK) was founded by Frank J. Papatheofanis, MD, PhD and incorporated on June 30, 2010, as a California not-for-profit public benefit corporation. USK was formerly known as Saint Katherine College. USK was approved for a name change in November 2016 upon addition of graduate studies by the California Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education (BPPE). BPPE approved the university for operations in 2011. When the Western Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) granted accreditation in 2016, authority to issue degrees shifted to WSCUC purview.
The university was originally located in Encinitas, California from 2010 to 2014, and moved to San Marcos, California in August 2014. Since its founding, the university has offered baccalaureate degrees (BA, BS) in liberal arts and sciences. In 2020, it began to offer a Master of Arts (MA) in Organizational Leadership; in 2022, a Master of Science in Kinesiology and an online Master of Arts in Orthodox Theology were added. Classroom instruction began in September 2011.
The university relied on student athletes to build enrollment, with about 85% of students playing on a USK sports team as of the 2022–23 season.[3]
It was announced on April 25, 2024 that the university would close at the end of the spring semester on May 18, 2024. Papatheofanis cited a "steep shortfall in operating cash" as the reason for the closure.[2]
Academic[edit]
Areas of study[edit]
The University of Saint Katherine (USK) taught liberal arts and sciences. USK offered a distinctive set of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in over 25 fields of study.
Affiliated institutions[edit]
The university maintained collaborative partnerships and articulation agreements with the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies (Cambridge, UK), Point Loma Nazarene University (graduate school), and the University of San Diego (teaching credential qualification), as well as others. A partnership with Lake Erie College of Medicine allowed students to apply early and be guaranteed acceptance in medical, dental, or pharmacy school while completing undergraduate study at the University of Saint Katherine.[citation needed]
Distinctions[edit]
The university hosted a chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa national honor society. Students were inducted each year based on academic performance, leadership, and community engagement. A university graduate became its first Fulbright Award recipient in 2020. The university has published the Saint Katherine Review since 2011.[citation needed]
Athletics[edit]
The Saint Katherine (USK) athletic teams were called the Firebirds. The majority of USK students were athletes. The university was admitted as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) since the 2019–20 academic year.[4]
USK competed in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball; while women's sports included basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.
In 2020–21, all but two collegiate teams qualified for post-season championships. Also, in 2020-21, the men's basketball team made history by facing off against 10 NCAA Division I opponents.[citation needed] In 2023, the women's indoor volleyball team achieved a NAIA CalPac record of 20-0 to win the Conference and added two more All-Americans to the program.
References[edit]
- ^ "College Navigator – University of Sait Katherine - Enrollment".
- ^ a b Murga, Tammy; Robbins, Gary (2024-04-26). "The University of Saint Katherine announces sudden closure, filing for bankruptcy". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ Robbins, Gary (November 27, 2022). "Can sports put a tiny new university in San Marcos on the College Map?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "USK official members of NAIA". April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
External links[edit]
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