The University of Saint Katherine (USK) was a private college in San Marcos, California. Founded in 2011 and closed in 2024, USK taught liberal arts and sciences in over 25 fields of study. The institution plans to close at the end of the spring 2024 semester, however the president's email to staff and faculty indicated that they were terminated immediately on April 25, 2024.[2][3]
The University of Saint Katherine (USK) was founded by Frank J. Papatheofanis 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 institution for operations in 2011. When the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted accreditation in 2016, authority to issue degrees shifted to their purview.
The institution was originally located in Encinitas, California from 2010 to 2014, and moved to San Marcos, California in August 2014. Classroom instruction began in September 2011, with its focus on liberal arts from an Orthodox Christian perspective. In 2012, Papatheofanis converted the focus to athletics, admitting more than 90 student athletes. Over 95% of the student body in 2024 when the institution closed were student athletes. The institution 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.
The institution relied on student athletes to build enrollment, with about 85% of students playing on a USK sports team as of the 2022–23 season.[4]
The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that the institution's president announced on April 25, 2024, that the institution 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] A different news story from NBC News 7 said that the university was closing immediately with staff directed to pick up their final checks the following day. They also reported that Papatheofanis said that the athletics programs were responsible for the institution being "significantly over budget". Nearly all of the institution's students were athletes.[5]
Academicedit
The University of Saint Katherine (USK) formerly taught liberal arts and sciences and offered undergraduate and graduate degree programs, touting that it offered over 25 fields of study, for a student population of approximately 230.
Distinctionsedit
The university formerly hosted a chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa national honor society. A university graduate became its first Fulbright Award recipient in 2020. The university published the Saint Katherine Review from 2011-2018.
Athleticsedit
The Saint Katherine (USK) athletic teams were the Firebirds. The majority of USK students are athletes. According to 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.[6]
Over 95% of the student body were members of athletic teams.
Referencesedit
^"College Navigator – University of Sait Katherine - Enrollment".
^ abMurga, 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.
^Moody, Josh. "University of Saint Katherine Announces Closure". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
^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.
^Menezes, Shandel (April 26, 2024). "Students, staff confused after University of Saint Katherine's sudden closure". NBC News 7. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
^"USK official members of NAIA". April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
External linksedit
Official website
Official athletics website
January 01, 1970
university, saint, katherine, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jsto. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources University of Saint Katherine news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message The University of Saint Katherine USK was a private college in San Marcos California Founded in 2011 and closed in 2024 USK taught liberal arts and sciences in over 25 fields of study The institution plans to close at the end of the spring 2024 semester however the president s email to staff and faculty indicated that they were terminated immediately on April 25 2024 2 3 University of Saint KatherineMottoInquiry Seeking WisdomTypePrivate collegeActive2010 April 25 2024 2024 04 25 PresidentFrank J PapatheofanisStudents232 Fall 2022 1 LocationSan Marcos California United States33 08 18 N 117 09 46 W 33 1383015 N 117 1628937 W 33 1383015 117 1628937CampusLarge suburbanColorsMaroon amp Sandstone NicknameFirebirdsSporting affiliationsNAIA Cal PacWebsitewww wbr usk wbr edu Contents 1 History 2 Academic 3 Distinctions 4 Athletics 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe University of Saint Katherine USK was founded by Frank J Papatheofanis 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 institution for operations in 2011 When the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted accreditation in 2016 authority to issue degrees shifted to their purview The institution was originally located in Encinitas California from 2010 to 2014 and moved to San Marcos California in August 2014 Classroom instruction began in September 2011 with its focus on liberal arts from an Orthodox Christian perspective In 2012 Papatheofanis converted the focus to athletics admitting more than 90 student athletes Over 95 of the student body in 2024 when the institution closed were student athletes The institution 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 The institution relied on student athletes to build enrollment with about 85 of students playing on a USK sports team as of the 2022 23 season 4 The San Diego Union Tribune wrote that the institution s president announced on April 25 2024 that the institution 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 A different news story from NBC News 7 said that the university was closing immediately with staff directed to pick up their final checks the following day They also reported that Papatheofanis said that the athletics programs were responsible for the institution being significantly over budget Nearly all of the institution s students were athletes 5 Academic editThe University of Saint Katherine USK formerly taught liberal arts and sciences and offered undergraduate and graduate degree programs touting that it offered over 25 fields of study for a student population of approximately 230 Distinctions editThe university formerly hosted a chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa national honor society A university graduate became its first Fulbright Award recipient in 2020 The university published the Saint Katherine Review from 2011 2018 Athletics editThe Saint Katherine USK athletic teams were the Firebirds The majority of USK students are athletes According to 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 6 Over 95 of the student body were members of athletic teams 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 Moody Josh University of Saint Katherine Announces Closure Inside Higher Ed Retrieved 2024 05 01 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 Menezes Shandel April 26 2024 Students staff confused after University of Saint Katherine s sudden closure NBC News 7 Retrieved April 29 2024 USK official members of NAIA April 14 2019 Retrieved April 26 2019 External links editOfficial website Official athletics website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title University of Saint Katherine amp oldid 1222400382, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
