University of Saint Joseph

Type	Private university
Established	1932; 91 years ago (1932)[1]
Accreditation	NECHE
Religious affiliation	Catholic Church
Endowment	$34.8 million (2019)[2]
President	Rhona Free
Academic staff	144
Students	2,467 (fall 2016)
Location	West Hartford, Connecticut , U.S. 41°46′52″N 72°43′50″W / 41.78111°N 72.73056°W / 41.78111; -72.73056Coordinates: 41°46′52″N 72°43′50″W / 41.78111°N 72.73056°W / 41.78111; -72.73056
Campus	Suburban, 84 acres (34 ha)
Colors	Blue, gold, white
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III
Mascot	Blue Jays
Website	www.usj.edu

The University of Saint Joseph is a private Roman Catholic university in West Hartford, Connecticut. It was founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut.^[3] The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.^[4]

History

In 2004 psychology Professor Pamela Trotman Reid became the first African American President of the university when she was appointed in 2008. She served the university until her retirement in 2014.^[5][6]

In November 2016, the University of Saint Joseph began its comprehensive research and review of becoming a coeducational institution. Based on this review, the university began admitting male students to all full-time undergraduate programs in the fall of 2018.^[7]

Facilities

McDonough Hall

The University of Saint Joseph has maintained a distinctive Georgian brick architecture in most of its 19 buildings, including five residence halls, a library, student life building, administration and classroom buildings, and an arts center with a theater and art gallery, among others. The athletic complex features a six-lane pool, gymnasium, suspended jogging track, dance studio, fitness center, outdoor track, softball field, and tennis courts.

The buildings are arranged around two tree-lined quadrangles on an 84-acre (340,000 m²) campus designed by the Olmsted Brothers. Approximately 45 percent of the full-time undergraduate students live on campus. There are 1,039 undergraduates in the Undergraduate Programs.

The School of Pharmacy is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education; it is located in the XL Center complex in downtown Hartford, CT.

Athletics

Saint Joseph College teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Blue Jays are a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). Women's sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, softball, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball. There are also eight club sports.^[8]

In September 2018, the university made headlines by signing Jim Calhoun, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, as head coach of the newly formed men's basketball team.^[9]