Franciscan University of Steubenville and Chesterton Schools Network Form Historic Educational Alliance

Pictured (L to R)

Mr. Andrew Youngblood, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the CSN, Dale Ahlquist, President of the Society of G.K. Chesterton, Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. James Mello, Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Innovation & Extension, and Mr. Thomas Costello, FUS liaison to the CSN.

Hopkins, MN. April 12, 2022

On April 8, 2022, Dale Ahlquist, President of the Society of G.K. Chesterton and representing the Chesterton Schools Network (CSN), and Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS), entered into a historic partnership that will allow students at all 50 Chesterton Academies around the world to be concurrently enrolled at FUS and receive college credit upon successful completion of FUS courses.

What does this mean for the students attending a Chesterton Academy?

Juniors and Seniors who attend a CSN Academy can choose to concurrently enroll in a college level class at FUS with a similar scope and sequence.

This fall, Junior and Senior students will be eligible to enroll in twelve credit hours. These courses will be similar to the CSN Theology and Philosophy classes, and the agreement is open to growing to 36 credit hours. Although there is a charge per course, it is extremely cost effective for the older high school students who wish to earn college credits.

The Chesterton Academy school experience will not change as the students will enroll remotely with FUS. Juniors and Seniors will learn the material in their Chesterton Academy environment and with the CSN curriculum. But through these courses they will have the opportunity to complete college assessments. If the student passes the course, they will have an official FUS transcript.

"This partnership will be of great benefit to both the University and the Chesterton Schools Network," said Dale Ahlquist, President of the Chesterton Society. "There is great excitement all around."

Many thanks to Fr. Dave Pivonka, President, and Dr. James Mello, Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Innovation & Extension, and Dr. Cory Maloney, Director of Online Programming, Andrew Youngblood, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the CSN, Thomas Costello, FUS liaison to the CSN, and all those who helped bring about this collaboration with the Chesterton Schools Network.

The program began in the fall of 2022.