In 1999, a
committee of the Legionaries of Christ teamed up with top American
academics to explore the possibility of founding a new university
in the United States, to join the Legionaries´ global university
network. The project accelerated in 2000 when the first full-time
staff was hired. Most of 2001 was dedicated to finding
the right location for the university. After a variety of
demographic and market studies, the analyses put Sacramento at the
top of the list. Since then progress at the University has
been rapid and steady.
Pope John Paul II blesses the
cornerstones and plans of the University (November 2004). University President
Fr. Robert Presutti personally presented the items to the Pope
for his blessing.
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopts
resolution to welcome University of Sacramento (December 2004). The County
is supportive of the vision of a major private university
in the Sacramento area and the positive impact it will
have on the economy of the region.
The University of
Sacramento is born with the launch of several academic programs including
a Masters of Arts in Eduction. Enrollment goals are exceeded
right from the start (January 2005).
Downtown Sacramento campus opens,
with special collections library (March 2005). As of the end
of May 2006, the library boasts over 8,000 volumes, almost
all of which have been donated.
Trustees and faculty gather
for the University’s first academic convocation (March 2005). Community leaders and
students join them to celebrate the beginning of the first academic
year in University history.
First academic conference draws experts
and participants from around the globe on the theme of
bioethics and the culture (June 2005). Establishes University as a
resource to the community for scholarly conferences and symposia in
the future.
The University’s first annual international tour visits Europe,
centering on Rome (February 2006). Future excursions will include formal
educational components to augment the informal education inherent to cultural
tours.
Classical music concert at newly renovated cathedral in Sacramento
draws an audience of 1,000, setting the stage for the
University as a resource to the community for cultural events
(March 2006).
Site visit and evaluation by State of California
results in full approval for the University of Sacramento (April
2006), clearing the way for accreditation.
The University of Sacramento
proudly holds its first commencement exercises. Bishop Weigand is on
hand to present degrees to the first two graduates of
the Masters of Arts in Education program (January 2007).
A site for the permanent campus is realized! The University
accepts a generous gift of 200 acres in Cordova Hills
from Conwy LLC. Construction is slated to begin in 2010
and the first phase of undergraduate academic programs will start
in 2012 (June 2007).
Declan Murphy, Ph.D., M.B.A., is
hired as the inaugural dean of the School of Business
Administration. The founding of the school was blessed with an
endowment from the Mary S. Carey Foundation. Starting in Fall
2008, the first business program offered will be a global M.B.A.,
utlilizing the Legionaries´ global network of universities (August 2007).
Expanding to serve a large demographic in northern California, the
University opens an extension in Chico. The course offered is
the extremely popular "Introduction to the Catechism of the Catholic
Church" (September 2007).
