The Hawk’s nest expanded over the summer with the merger of St. Joe’s and the former University of Sciences.
Now, St. Joe’s shows the “best of both worlds” with one campus straddling City Line Avenue and another campus in the heart of West Philadelphia. Both campuses are connected by a new intercampus shuttle that runs regularly between Hawk Hill and UCity.
When St. Joe’s and USciences announced the intent to merge in February 2021, there was a combination of surprise, confusion and unhappiness. UScience students especially, expressed concern and displeasure at the joining of the universities; including the differences in tuition, the changing of university dynamics, and importantly, joining with a Jesuit institution. On June 1, there was no turning back. Both institutions became St. Joseph’s University.
There is still some residual frustrutration. Much of this is the result of a lack of information when the merger was first announced. Now that we are one institution, we have many opportunities to clear up confusion and address any misgivings and worries that students, faculty and staff may have.
We can help with this transition.
We can show camaraderie with our new nestlings. We can approach conversations with an open mind and heart. We can visit both campuses when we have time to walk and reflect on the changes. We can host and attend forums to understand their perspectives. We should support efforts like that announced by Ross Radish, JD, associate vice president of Student Life and Dean of Students. In an email to UCity campus students, Radish invited students to a listening session on Sept. 9 at 12:30 p.m. in the Science and Technology Center (STC), room 145 on the UCity campus.
We hope that events like this will allow for acceptance, facilitate a desire to connect and unite students, faculty and staff behind a common mission. We can become representations of Cura Personalis, caring for and recognizing the whole persons, who are now on both sides of Philadelphia, bridging a gap between two institutions that have now become one.
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