Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
In October, new University President Ryan Hendrickson revealed USF had been running at a $6 million deficit for a minimum of three years. JOLIET, IL —In October, the University of St. Francis's new president Ryan Hendrickson announced that Joliet's private university on Wilcox Street will undergo college restructuring and at least three dozen employees are losing their jobs as the university grapples with its newly discovered financial problems. A former long-time Eastern Illinois University administrator, Hendrickson, 56, started in his new role in Joliet this past summer, following the retirement of Arvid Johnson, who spent 12 years as USF president. Last week, in another exclusive, Joliet Patch revealed that according to its 2024 fiscal report listing highest compensated employees, Arvid Johnson was paid $680,013, drawing in $623,682, plus another $56,331 in other compensation from the organization and related organizations. A year prior, Johnson made $630,799, drawing $578,250, plus an additional $52,549 in other compensation, according to the 990 forms filed by the University of St. Francis from October 13, 2023. The 990 forms posted online for USF only go back the past four fiscal years. On Oct. 13, Hendrickson conducted his first Town Hall meeting on the USF campus, attended by 150 to 200 people. According to one person in attendance, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Hendrickson revealed USF had been running at a $6 million deficit for a minimum of three years. The new university president also explained that he was not aware of USF's financial challenges when he took the job nor was the USF board of trustees aware. "He said that cash reserves were depleted and additionally, substantial grant money did not come through," the source informed Joliet Patch on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the University of St. Francis website contains a glowing feature story posted on July 1, headlined, "Farewell to USF’s Ninth President, Dr. Arvid C. Johnson." "Fiscally, Arvid and USF’s Administration & Finance team substantially improved USF’s financial position and fiscal viability including building cash reserves, increasing net assets to an all-time high, more than doubling the university’s endowment, and raising over $50 million—including state and federal grants," the feature story reads. "Led by USF’s University Advancement team, USF saw two of its most successful fundraising years in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, in which over $6 million was raised in each respective year." Meanwhile, Joliet Patch learned that Oct. 23-24 marked the last day of work for 18 USF staff while another 18 faculty will be out of a job at the end of the school year. In regard to the faculty job eliminations, the University of St. Francis announced that "while selected for involuntary separation as part of this program, the separation date for the faculty members selected is expected to be on or about May 15, 2026, at the end of their current contract with St. Francis." A copy of the staff and faculty reductions sent to USF employees, obtained by Joliet Patch, indicates the following 36 staff and faculty positions have been eliminated or will be eliminated at the close of the 2025-2026 school year: Department Safety & Security: 6 positions Security officer, part-time, 29 years old Security officer, 59 years old Security officer, 56 years old Security officer, 53 years old Security officer, full-time, 49 years old Security officer, 45 years old College of Education: 4 positions Associate Dean, 61 years old Graduate program advisor, 52 years old REAL Partnership Coordinator, 74 years old Program coordinator, 58 years old Career Success Center: 1 position Employment and intern support specialist, 69 years old Library Services: 2 positions Acquisitions specialist, 69 years old Library Reference and instruction manager, 52 years old Art: 1 position Art Gallery Director and Collection Manager, 51 years old Communications And Media Arts: 1 position Radio station manager, 56 years old College of Business and Health Administration: 1 position Special programs coordinator, 56 years old Business Office: one position Grant manager, 37 years old College of Arts and Sciences: 1 position Lab safety manager, 62 years old Faculty: 18 reductions College of Education: three faculty Associate professor, 58 years old Teaching instructor, 31 years old Assistant professor, 60 years old Leach College of Nursing: three faculty Associate professor, 70 years old Assistant professor, 46 years old Assistant professor, 49 years old College of Arts and Sciences: 10 faculty Professor, 50 years old Professor, 70 years old Assistant professor, 33 years old Teaching instructor/SA program coordinator, 32 years old Teaching instructor, 29 years old Professor, 65 years old Associate professor, 63 years old Assistant professor, 37 years old Professor, 45 years old Assistant professor, 67 years old College of Business and Health Administration: two faculty Professor, 61 years old Associate professor, 61 years old At the Oct. 13 USF Town Hall, Patch's source noted that Hendrickson was asked by the audience what was being done to hold people accountability for the university's financial problems. Hendrickson answered the question, by remarking that it was his job to look to the future, not to the past, and so is the board of trustees, the source noted. While at least three dozen staff and faculty are out of a job, the source said they were perturbed to learn that Hendrickson was not imposing any major layoffs or job reductions at the University of St. Francis leadership level, including no layoffs on his Executive Council or Cabinet members. "The people who were responsible for making the decisions that allowed for deficits weren't affected," the USF source pointed out. "No paycuts, nor layoffs, nothing. But the rest of us who provide student services, who teach or student programming are affected." At the Town Hall, Hendrickson told everyone he would absolutely not allow any pay cuts for the upper administration, which includes the vice presidents, deans and provost, the source noted.
