FACULTY & STAFF
Monday, November 12, 2025
Dear USF Community,
Today, I held a Town Hall meeting with our University of St. Francis employees and a number of student leaders.
Among the topics addressed was the creation of a new task force: the USF Strategic Initiatives Task Force. This initiative is designed to strengthen USF and build the foundation for a vibrant, sustainable future—one that honors our Catholic, Franciscan heritage while positioning us for academic excellence, enrollment growth and financial vitality.
The USF Strategic Initiatives Task Force will be co-chaired by Sudipta Roy, Academic Assembly Chair and Annette Jelinek, Administrative Staff Council Chair. There will be three groups formed within the task force, which will be populated by USF staff and faculty to reflect the diversity of our campus community.
The three task force groups include:
Academic Programs & Enrollment Growth
Exploring our undergraduate and graduate program offerings, honors curriculum, and new ways to infuse Franciscan values across disciplines while enhancing double majors, transfer pathways, and student retention.
- Institutional Organization
Evaluating our academic and administrative structure to ensure it reflects our current size, supports our students, and maintains fiscal stewardship. - Policy Manual Reconsiderations
Reviewing policies and benefits to promote flexibility, innovation, and long-term financial health.
As these groups evaluate these areas of our university, we remain committed to all of our current students and ensuring that they will be able to complete the degrees they seek at the University of St. Francis.
Change at USF must be a shared endeavor guided by dialogue, consultation and care. Reorganization is not merely about efficiency, but about deepening mission alignment and ensuring that we continue to form students who will engage the world with respect, integrity, service and compassion.
I thank you for your continued commitment, support and partnership as we move forward together.
With gratitude,
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
President, University of St. Francis
Monday, October 13, 2025
Dear University of St. Francis Community,
Following this morning’s campus Town Hall meeting, we write to share an update with you regarding the academic reorganization process currently underway at USF. This initiative is part of an intentional effort to strengthen the university for the future and ensure that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our current and future students, while remaining competitive in a very challenging market. Similar communications are being sent to our students, alumni, and external supporters today.
As Dr. Hendrickson shared with the campus community, this strategic reorganization will entail operational and workforce reductions. We anticipate that staff employment notifications will occur by Tuesday, October 28. Faculty non-renewal notifications will occur on Wednesday, October 15 in compliance with our Policy Manual.
We remain committed to being open, respectful and thoughtful as we navigate this change, coupled with promoting the well-being of our employees, students and entire campus community. Throughout this process, we will maintain and strengthen our Catholic and Franciscan mission.
Dr. Hendrickson will conduct another Town Hall meeting with the campus community on Wednesday, November 12. That meeting will include updates and strategic discussion regarding the reorganization process and how the University will be positioned for future growth.
With gratitude,
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
President, University of St. Francis
Steve Hernandez, J.D.
Chair, University of St. Francis Board of Trustee
STUDENTS
Monday, November 12, 2025
Dear USF Community,
Today, I held a Town Hall meeting with our University of St. Francis employees and a number of student leaders.
Among the topics addressed was the creation of a new task force: the USF Strategic Initiatives Task Force. This initiative is designed to strengthen USF and build the foundation for a vibrant, sustainable future—one that honors our Catholic, Franciscan heritage while positioning us for academic excellence, enrollment growth and financial vitality.
The USF Strategic Initiatives Task Force will be co-chaired by Sudipta Roy, Academic Assembly Chair and Annette Jelinek, Administrative Staff Council Chair. There will be three groups formed within the task force, which will be populated by USF staff and faculty to reflect the diversity of our campus community.
The three task force groups include:
Academic Programs & Enrollment Growth
Exploring our undergraduate and graduate program offerings, honors curriculum, and new ways to infuse Franciscan values across disciplines while enhancing double majors, transfer pathways, and student retention.
- Institutional Organization
Evaluating our academic and administrative structure to ensure it reflects our current size, supports our students, and maintains fiscal stewardship. - Policy Manual Reconsiderations
Reviewing policies and benefits to promote flexibility, innovation, and long-term financial health.
As these groups evaluate these areas of our university, we remain committed to all of our current students and ensuring that they will be able to complete the degrees they seek at the University of St. Francis.
Change at USF must be a shared endeavor guided by dialogue, consultation and care. Reorganization is not merely about efficiency, but about deepening mission alignment and ensuring that we continue to form students who will engage the world with respect, integrity, service and compassion.
I thank you for your continued commitment, support and partnership as we move forward together.
With gratitude,
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
President, University of St. Francis
Monday, October 13, 2025
We want to share an update about an academic reorganization process at the University of St. Francis that was recently discussed with our faculty and staff. This effort is part of our commitment to strengthening USF for the long-term future so we can continue offering programs that meet current and future student needs, reflect today’s opportunities, and prepare you for lives of service and leadership in the spirit of our Catholic and Franciscan mission.
Like many universities, we are adapting to changes in higher education. We are taking proactive steps to address immediate challenges at USF, which will entail workforce reductions. We remain focused on your education, your success, and the entire campus community at USF.
The University of St. Francis is fully committed to ensuring that you complete your chosen degree and to keep communication open as plans develop. Dr. Hendrickson will be meeting with the Student Government Association leadership on Wednesday, October 22, when he will discuss next steps. He has also had personal communication regarding this issue with student leadership prior to this notification.
We value you as a member of the USF community and thank you for the care, patience and respect you’ve shown to one another during this time of change. Together, we continue to build a strong and supportive future for all our students at the University of St. Francis.
With gratitude,
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
President, University of St. Francis
Steve Hernandez, J.D.
Chair, University of St. Francis Board of Trustees
ALUMNI & DONORS
Monday, November 12, 2025
Dear USF Community,
Today, I held a Town Hall meeting with our University of St. Francis employees and a number of student leaders.
Among the topics addressed was the creation of a new task force: the USF Strategic Initiatives Task Force. This initiative is designed to strengthen USF and build the foundation for a vibrant, sustainable future—one that honors our Catholic, Franciscan heritage while positioning us for academic excellence, enrollment growth and financial vitality.
The USF Strategic Initiatives Task Force will be co-chaired by Sudipta Roy, Academic Assembly Chair and Annette Jelinek, Administrative Staff Council Chair. There will be three groups formed within the task force, which will be populated by USF staff and faculty to reflect the diversity of our campus community.
The three task force groups include:
Academic Programs & Enrollment Growth
Exploring our undergraduate and graduate program offerings, honors curriculum, and new ways to infuse Franciscan values across disciplines while enhancing double majors, transfer pathways, and student retention.
- Institutional Organization
Evaluating our academic and administrative structure to ensure it reflects our current size, supports our students, and maintains fiscal stewardship. - Policy Manual Reconsiderations
Reviewing policies and benefits to promote flexibility, innovation, and long-term financial health.
As these groups evaluate these areas of our university, we remain committed to all of our current students and ensuring that they will be able to complete the degrees they seek at the University of St. Francis.
Change at USF must be a shared endeavor guided by dialogue, consultation and care. Reorganization is not merely about efficiency, but about deepening mission alignment and ensuring that we continue to form students who will engage the world with respect, integrity, service and compassion.
I thank you for your continued commitment, support and partnership as we move forward together.
With gratitude,
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
President, University of St. Francis
Monday, October 13, 2025
Dear University of St. Francis Alumni and Friends,
We write to share an update with you regarding an academic reorganization process underway at the University of St. Francis that was recently discussed with our faculty and staff. This effort is part of our commitment to strengthen USF for the long-term future and ensure that we continue to serve our students and our community with excellence and purpose, while maintaining our Catholic and Franciscan mission.
Guided by our mission, we are aligning our programs with student interests and workforce needs to remain strong, relevant and purposeful for the future. As Dr. Hendrickson has shared with the campus community, this reorganization will entail some difficult steps, including operational and workforce reductions.
This process is guided by the same values that have defined USF for more than a century with care for each individual, stewardship of our resources, and a deep sense of responsibility to the students and communities we serve. Our mission remains to prepare students for lives of service and leadership. We approach this work with openness, respect, and gratitude for the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Together, we will build a more vibrant future for USF and those we serve.
Thank you for your commitment to the University of St. Francis.
With gratitude,
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
President, University of St. Francis
Steve Hernandez, J.D.
Chair, University of St. Francis Board of Trustees
