Foreseeing Double

A groundbreaking event at USF Crown Point paves the way for an expected doubling of footprint and enrollment at the northwest Indiana site. The new facility is expected to be completed in time for Fall 2021.

As University of Saint Francis President Rev. Dr. Eric Albert Zimmer lifted a shovel filled with dirt on Sept. 18, the symbolic gesture heralded the beginning of major growth at USF Crown Point.

USF Crown Point’s footprint in northwest Indiana and its enrollment (currently 202 students) are both expected to double with the completion of a $7 million building project. The project begins this fall and is slated to be ready for the 2021-22 academic year. The university will add associate degree paths in radiologic technology and surgical technology for Fall 2021.

Fr. Zimmer was joined at the ceremony by administration, faculty and staff of the university and representatives of Franciscan Alliance, which contributed a gift to the project. The university also recently received news of the awarding of a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., which will be put toward the expansion at USF Crown Point.

“Northwest Indiana has shown an ever-increasing demand for quality healthcare professionals and USF is excited about preparing our students to meet that need.” Fr. Zimmer said. “We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Franciscan Alliance, an organization dedicated to excellence and caring in all that it does.”

Fr. Zimmer gave the blessing and delivered remarks of celebration and excitement over the growth expected with the project. Other speakers were Sister Jane Marie Klein, Franciscan Alliance Chair of the Board of Trustees; Dr. Marsha King, Dean of USF Crown Point; Melissa A. Gonzalez, USF Crown Point student; Dave Uran, Mayor of Crown Point; Jon Gilmore, President and CEO of Tonn & Blank Construction; Dan Klein, USF Board of Trustees member; and Sandie Phalen, USF Crown Point Director of Marketing, Development and Enrollment.

King expects the expansion of USF Crown Point to have an impact in many ways on the Franciscan Health facilities in northwest Indiana.

“The expansion of our student population will impact Franciscan Health, our communities and those we serve,” King said. “Our current students and our future students will assist in filling those critical healthcare career vacancies for our Franciscan Health hospitals and organizations.”

The new building will house classrooms, a biology laboratory and a significantly expanded Nursing Resource Center. There will also be new student areas to encourage collaboration.

The Franciscan values at the heart of USF will also continue to make an impact on the healthcare community, King said.

“Our students are knowledgeable and skilled and will go out and render exceptional care to their patients,” she said. “But what makes our students stand out is the embedding of our Franciscan values in their educational preparation here, embedded in the syllabi and courses, embedded in how we treat each other, embedded in their student experiences with

Left to right: Dan Klein, USF Board of Trustees member; Dr. Marsha King, Dean of USF Crown Point; Rev. Dr. Eric Albert Zimmer, University of Saint Francis President; Dave Uran, Mayor of Crown Point; Sister Jane Marie Klein, Franciscan Alliance Chair of the Board of Trustees; Jon Gilmore, President and CEO of Tonn & Blank Construction.

patients. Each one of those Franciscan values is part of our everyday life at USF Crown Point.”

Franciscan Alliance Chair of the Board of Trustees Sister Jane Marie Klein expressed her appreciation for USF during the ceremony.

“Through all the change and growth, one thing has remained consistent and that is the mission of Catholic, Franciscan faith within faith and reason,” she said. “We are happy at Franciscan Alliance to be next to you. We need nurses. We need technicians. We need your services. We are excited for this growth.”

Fr. Zimmer is certain the expansion will be of wideranging benefit.

“The faculty and staff at our Crown Point site and our Fort Wayne campus have great expectations for the growth to come with this expanded facility,” he said. “The University of Saint Francis has earned a strong reputation for the quality of our healthcare programs, and expanding in Crown Point reflects our commitment to becoming even better. This is a great day for our current and future USF Crown Point students and for the northwest Indiana healthcare community.”

With the facility expansion at the University of Saint Francis Crown Point expected to double enrollment, students will have a chance to pursue associate degrees in surgical technology and radiologic technology.

These highly respected programs have served the Fort Waynearea healthcare community well and are expected to have a similar effect in northwest Indiana. The programs create opportunities for students to pursue degrees and take advantage of strong USF connections and partnerships with healthcare facilities, including Franciscan Health in Crown Point.

The program directors–Theresa Sorgen-Burleson (left) in surgical technology and Heather Lortie in radiologic technology (right)–are enthusiastic about increasing the impact of their programs.

“I am excited to watch our program grow and expand to the Crown Point area with the new distance and evening clinical track options,” Lortie said. “Since our program’s beginning, we have had a reputation for educating professional and competent radiographers. Because of this, graduates are often the first choice to potential employers. My hope is that our program will further develop this reputation in the northwest Indiana region.”

Faculty at both locations will be teaching students through a mix of traditional on-ground classes and virtual teaching methods.

“I am excited to be a part of the expansion opportunity and bring the USF Surgical Technology Program to the northwest Indiana region,” Sorgen-Burleson said. “The longstanding reputation of the program has enabled us to exceed in accreditation benchmarks and provide exceptional graduates to many healthcare facilities in Indiana and across the country.”