STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville today launched the public phase of the most ambitious fundraising effort in its 75-year history—a $75 million capital campaign to help Franciscan University continue to respond to God’s call to “Rebuild My Church.”

Over the past year, generous donors have already committed $65.2 million during the quiet phase of the campaign, leaving $9.8 million to be raised during the public phase.

“I am awed by how many of our alumni and friends consider Franciscan their spiritual home and by their eagerness to support what God is doing in and through Franciscan University,” said Franciscan University President Father Dave Pivonka, TOR. “This past year, they helped us reach 87 percent of our campaign goal. For that, we are humbled and grateful beyond words.”

Father Pivonka explained that the campaign theme, Rebuild My Church, comes from the call St. Francis of Assisi heard over 800 years ago.

“‘Rebuild my Church’ is also the call Franciscan University is hearing and answering today with a new strategic plan and capital campaign that will breathe new life into our sacred mission,” he said.

The 75th anniversary campaign for Franciscan University aims to strengthen Franciscan University’s mission in three crucial areas:

Enhance and Expand Academics—$48 million. The “bricks and mortar” centerpiece of the campaign is the new Christ the Teacher academic and conference building.

Constructed with two wings, Christ the Teacher will visibly convey the union of reason and faith enshrined in Franciscan University’s mission. The first new academic building in more than 20 years, it will include more than 110,000 square feet of learning space, making it the largest building on campus.

Christ the Teacher will help Franciscan respond to steady enrollment growth and will provide much-needed room for the expanding business, engineering, and nursing programs.

Features include a new welcome center for Admissions, a new boardroom, a conference center, a tiered lecture hall, a state-of-the-art nursing skills lab, and eight specialized engineering laboratories.

Increase Financial Aid and Scholarship—$18 million. To continue attracting smart, capable, faithful young people, many of whom come from large families with limited means, Franciscan must increase the scholarship and financial aid it offers to current and future students.

Build Outreach and Evangelization—$5 million. Franciscan University is known worldwide for its summer youth and adult conferences, for the work of the Catechetical Institute, and other evangelical outreaches to dioceses, parishes, and schools. This campaign component will expand Franciscan’s efforts to revitalize Catholics and their parishes.

Other identified campaign needs include $2 million for the Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (now fully funded) that will ground students in Catholic social teachings and equip them with the business and leadership skills they need to run their own nonprofit and for-profit enterprises.

Another $1 million (fully funded) goes toward a new eight-bed skills lab and four simulation labs with lifelike patient simulators used by the Nursing Department to practice real-world nursing scenarios.

Finally, $1 million (fully funded) supports the development of new courses in Franciscan’s fast-growing Criminal Justice Program.

Paul M. “Mickey” Pohl, JD, chairman of the Rebuild My Church Campaign, said, “I have watched Franciscan University grow from a small, regional college, whose survival was not clear 40 years ago, to a Catholic university that is now recognized as one of the great Catholic universities in the world.”

With the help of the Holy Spirit, Pohl said, the goal is to take Franciscan University to “the next level” with new buildings and new programs so it can continue to fulfill its mission in Catholic higher education.

Bob Hickey, vice president for Advancement, said he is “grateful for those donors who have put their faith in us and provided the momentum needed to move the campaign forward. Our primary goal is to fully fund these campaign initiatives and support Franciscan’s unique mission to educate and send forth graduates who can help transform the culture for Christ.”

Hickey added that “prayerful discussions are underway” about other initiatives to support should the campaign exceed its $75 million goal.

The Rebuild My Church Campaign for Franciscan University launched on December 10, 2021, to commemorate 75 years since the then-College of Steubenville opened its doors on December 10, 1946.

Franciscan University expects to break ground on the Christ the Teacher building in fall 2022 and to raise the remaining $9.8 million by fall 2023.

Donors can designate which component of the campaign they want to support.

For more information and to donate, go to giving.franciscan.edu.