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 Leadership and Education Sciences(new building currently under construction), the School of Law, the School of Nursing & Health Science, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.

History

Immaculata Parish Church at USD showing the architectural style of the campus.

Chartered in 1949, 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 Rev. Mother Rosalie Hill, RSCJ superior vicar of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 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.
Arguably, the most dramatic growth since the 1972 merger has occurred since the mid-1980s. 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 2002 and 2003, 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 parish 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.

Environment and location

The Alcalá Park campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

The Alcalá Park campus sits atop the edge of a mesa overlooking Mission Bay and other parts of San Diego, California. The school's founder believed that studying in beautiful surroundings could improve one's educational experience. The university's buildings are designed in 16th-century Spanish Renaissance architecture style, paying homage to San Diego's Spanish Catholic heritage and the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain. Many students and faculty choose to live on campus and immerse themselves in the university's architectural atmosphere and setting.
The University of San Diego is located approximately two miles north of downtown San Diego, on the north crest of Mission Valley in the community of Linda Vista. From Alcalá Park the San Diego communities of Mission Hills, Old Town San Diego, Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Bay Park, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach can be seen. Also, vistas of the Pacific Ocean, Mission Bay, San Diego Harbor, the Coronado Islands, and La Jolla are also prominent throughout the campus.

Administration

Though a Catholic university, the school is no longer governed directly by the Diocese or any religious order. Today, a secular board of trustees oversees the University's operations. However, the Bishop of San Diego, currently the Most Rev. Robert H. Brom, retains a seat as a permanent member of the board of trustees.

Academics

The University of San Diego offers more than 60 degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. USD is divided into six schools and colleges. The College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law are the oldest academic divisions at USD; when it is opened the Kroc School of Peace Studies will be the university's newest school. USD offers a honors program at the undergraduate level, with approximately 300 students enrolled annually.

★ ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranks USD 104^th among national universities, and the ''Princeton Review'' includes USD in its guidebook of the 351 best universities.
For potential applicants, the average GPA of admitted freshmen for fall 2006 was 3.74. The average SAT I score was 1174 and the average ACT score was 25.5.^[1]

Arts and Sciences

The 'College of Arts and Sciences' is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. The university is also a member of Mortar Board national honors society for college seniors, and participates with the National Society of Collegiate Scholars in recognizing the superior academic achievements of first and second year students. Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater and Strauss finalists and scholars have earned their undergraduate degrees at USD.

Law

The 'School of Law' is a member of the Order of the Coif, an honor society of that includes 80 of the top 190 ABA-accredited law schools. Legal educators ranked USD law 22nd in the nation in a 2003-04 survey, however, the school placed 85th based on the 2008 U.S. News & World Report Rankings
[1]. In San Diego, one out of every four practicing lawyers graduated from USD law.

Nursing and Health Science

The 'Philip Y. Hahn School of Nursing & Health Science' is among the top ten percent of graduate-level nursing programs according to the ''U.S. News & World Report''. USD Nursing was the first Ph.D. nursing program in California, and today is one of only

Leadership and Education

Business administration===
The 'School of Business Administration' is one of only a handful of schools with AACSB business program accreditation and ABET engineering degree accreditation. The School is also home to the Ahlers Center for International Business, one of the few private endowments for international business in the world.
USD's undergrad business school was ranked #46 in the country in a BusinessWeek study released in March, 2007.

Peace Studies

The 'Kroc School of Peace Studies' is currently under development. The 'Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice' was established thanks to Mrs. Kroc's gift of $75 million in-all "to not only teach peace, but make peace". The first master’s level graduate students enter the Kroc Institute in 2002.

Social justice, ethics, and spirituality related programs

The University of San Diego has a special commitment to issues of social justice, ethics, and spirituality. It has several programs, centers, and institutes that deal with a wide variety of these issues: 'Center for Community Service Learning', 'Center for Latino/a Catholicism', 'Center for Christian Spirituality', the Character Development Center, 'Ethnic Studies Program', the 'Romero Center', the 'Social Issues Committee', the 'Trans-Border Institute', and the 'Values Institute'.

Athletics

San Diego Toreros logo

USD athletes compete in the West Coast Conference at the Division I level of the NCAA. The football program does not offer scholarships, and competes at Division I-AA in the Pioneer Football League. The women's softball program competes in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, and in 2004-05 the women's swimming and diving teams began to compete in the Western Athletic Conference. USD athletes and teams are known as the 'Toreros', which is Spanish for "Bullfighters". Team uniforms and jerseys are in university's colors: navy blue, columbia blue, and white. Facilities include the Jenny Craig Pavilion, McNamara Fitness Room, Varsity Weight Room, Erg Rowing Room, Golf Team Room Sports Center Gym and Pool, East and West Tennis Courts, Torero Stadium, Cunningham Baseball Stadium, Torero Softball Complex, USD Mission Bay Boathouse, and two intramural fields. The student spirit club is referred to as ''The Bull Pit''.

★ Men's programs: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Rowing, Soccer and Tennis.

★ Women's programs: Basketball, Cross Country, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, and Volleyball.

★ USD's cheerleading squad and dance team are open to men and women.

★ Club Sports: Cycling, Equestrian, Judo, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Surfing, Ultimate, Men's and Women's Volleyball, and Water Polo.

★ Intramurals: Basketball, Flag football, Softball, Speed Soccer, Tennis, and Ultimate.

Notable students

★ Theo Epstein ’00 (J.D.), General Manager of the Boston Red Sox

★ Eric Musselman ’87 (B.A.), (former) Head Coach, Sacramento Kings (NBA)

★ Thomas Barrack Jr. ’71 (J.D.), CEO of Colony Capital

★ Mike Brown '92 (B.A.), Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers

★ Bill Bavasi ’80 (B.A.), General Manager of the Seattle Mariners

★ Bernie Bickerstaff Sr. ’68 (B.A.), General Manager and Head Coach, NBA Charlotte Bobcats

★ John Shaw ’73 (B.A.), President of the St. Louis Rams

★ John Redmond ’80 (B.B.A.), President and CEO of MGM Grand Resorts

★ Kevin Reese ’99 (B.A.), Outfielder, New York Yankees

★ Rev. Monsignor Joe Carroll ’70 (M.A.), President, St. Vincent de Paul Villages of San Diego

★ Brady Clark ’96 (B.B.A.), Outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres (Currently)

★ Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone ’78 (B.A.), Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego

★ Alison Cox ’01 (B.A.), Medalist in the Olympics-Women’s Rowing

★ Maggie Dixon ’99 (B.A.),Army Black Knights women's basketball coach

★ Jeff Miclat, Financial Officer of JMIC Jung-Miclat Co.Ochemplate

★ Lorenzo Fertitta ’91 (B.B.A.), President of Station Casinos Inc.

★ Andrew Firestone ’98 (B.B.A.), Reality TV Star-The Bachelor

★ Joseph Ghougassian ’77 (M.A.), ’80 (J.D.), Chairman, Persian Gulf Consultants, Former Deputy Senior Advisor for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, Former US Ambassador to Qatar

★ Juan Vargas ’83 (B.A.), (former) San Diego City Council, (former) California State Assembly

★ Steve Poltz ’85 (B.A.), musician.

★ James D. Power VI, (B.A) Senior Vice President & GM, J.D. Power and Associates

★ Ken Zampese ’89 (B.B.A.) Quarterbacks Coach, Cincinnati Bengals

★ Mark Diver ’89 (B.B.A.) Founder, Diversified Equipment Solutions

★ Lowell McAdam ’83 (M.B.A.) President & CEO, Verizon Wireless

★ Garry Ridge ’01 (M.S.E.L.) President & CEO, WD-40

Greek life

The University Of San Diego has been host to many Greek organizations. In 2000, nearly a quarter of the undergraduate student body belonged to a fraternity, sorority, or coeducational Greek house. First semester students are not allowed to join Greek organizations. The Interfraternal Council, Panhellenic Council and Greek system have their own websites that explain policies and much more in detail.

Fraternities and sororities that have been chartered at the University of San Diego:

Sororities

★ Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Lambda

★ Alpha Delta Pi, Zeta Pi

★ Alpha Phi, Eta Rho

★ Gamma Phi Beta, Epsilon Gamma

★ Kappa Alpha Theta, Eta Iota

★ Kappa Kappa Gamma, Eta Gamma

Fraternities

★ Alpha Kappa Psi

★ Beta Theta Pi, Zeta Omega

★ Delta Sigma Pi, Lambda Pi

★ Delta Tau Delta, Theta Zeta

★ Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Kappa

★ Sigma Phi Epsilon, California Beta Beta

★ Tau Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Pi 'Inactive

★ Sigma Pi, Epsilon Chi 'Inactive

★ Sigma Chi 'Inactive

★ Phi Kappa Theta

Other

★ July 22, 1961, the AFL's San Diego Chargers open training camp at USD, their first training camp following their move from Los Angeles.

★ In the Portuguese soap opera ''Saber Amar'', Diana Alfarroba, the show's protagonist, returns to Portugal after studying marine biology at USD.

★ In one episode of 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter, Bridget asks Paul to let her attend USD because of the beach and the Men's Basketball team.

★ The university played host to a nationally televised debate between Republican Bob Dole and Democrat Bill Clinton in the 1996 U.S. Presidential election.

★ Noted graduates of USD include novelist Robert Clark Young.

★ Fall 2004, Los Angeles Lakers held training camp on the USD campus, utilizing the new Jenny Craig Pavilion for their camp.

★ Spring/Summer 2006, USD played host to both Men's and Women's National Team Soccer matches

★ For the Class of 2009, USD had 7000 applications. For the Class of 2010, USD had over 10,000 applications, a 40% increase. The Freshman class is just over 1,100 students.

★ The University of San Diego campus is used for several scenes for the movie Almost Famous.

★ The University of San Diego campus is used for multiple scenes for the television program Veronica Mars.

References

'The First Forty Years: A History of the University of San Diego 1949-1989'' (1990) by Iris Engstrand

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