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).