1860
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1860
February 6, 1860 – St. Francis Solanus College begins classes in building at 8th and Maine Street.
1871
1871: After being held in three different locations, classes move to new building which is currently the eastmost wing of Francis Hall.
1873
1873: College granted charter by the State of Illinois to grant degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts.
1878
1878: Father Augustus Tolton, who would become the first black priest in the United States, enters college as student.
1895
1895: Quincy College Baseball team begins play.
1911
1911: Bowling alleys are built under the study hall.
1912
1912: QU Chapel is completed and dedicated.
1915
1915: Varsity Basketball program begins play.
1916
1916: Varsity Football program begins play.
1917
1917– College name changed from St. Francis Solanus College to Quincy College and Seminary.
1926
1926: City renames Vine Street as College Avenue.
1929
1929: QU’s student newspaper, The Falcon, begins publication.
1932
1932: Women first admitted as full-time day students.
1941
1941-1945: World War II greatly reduces the male enrollment; Quincy survives by training naval cadets and army reservists.
1948
1948 – Quincy College Foundation created, the beginning of the College Endowment.
1950
1950: Memorial Gym (now Pepsi Arena) completed.
1954
1954 – College achieves first accreditation by the North Central Association (now Higher Learning Commission).
1957
1957-58: Augustine Hall and Woods Hall are constructed.
1958
1958: Men’s Varsity Golf program started
1958
1958: Men’s Varsity Cross Country and Track Programs started
1958
1958: Men’s Varsity Tennis program started
1959
1959: Enrollment reaches 1,000 for the first time.
1960
1960: Centennial Hall (now Helein Hall) opens on University’s centennial year
1963
1963: Garner Hall completed
1964
1964: Men’s Soccer is introduced to the college.
1965
1965: The opening performance at Machugh Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew, occurs.
1965
1965: Women’s Varsity programs in Basketball, Tennis and Volleyball started
1966
1966: Soccer wins its first of 11 NAIA National Championships.
1966
1966: Padua Hall opens.
1967
1967: Brenner Library is constructed.
1969
1969: University purchases its first computer
1971
1971 – Franciscan Province Cedes Control of College
1972
1972: Women’s Softball started at QU.
1974
1974: Sports Hall of Fame induction of first 10 members
1978
1978: New soccer field, now Legends Stadium, built at North Campus.
1983
1983: Women’s Soccer team begins play.
1984
1984: Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program begins.
1985
1985: Softball wins NAIA National Championship.
1985
1985: Men’s Varsity Volleyball started
1986
1986 — QU Football returns after 33-year hiatus
1991
1991: Master of Science in Education Degree approved.
1993
1993: College is renamed to Quincy University.
1994
1994: Windows to the Future sculpture dedicated.
1994
1994 — Quincy University opens its first-ever Internet-accessible computer lab
1996
1996 — Quincy University launches its first website
1997
1997: College adopts policy allowing fraternities and sororities on campus once again
1998
1998: Women’s Varsity Tennis and Golf programs started
2000
2000 — Quincy dedicates statue of St. Francis in Francis Hall courtyard
2001
2001: Health and Fitness Center Opens
2005
2005: Mart Heinen Softball Complex opens at North Campus
2006
2006: Wireless Internet is offered all throughout campus
2010
2010 — Quincy University Marching Band returns after 60+ year hiatus
2010
2010– QU celebrates its 150th anniversary.
2011
2011 — Student Living Center opens becoming the campus’ first new residence hall since 1970
2011
2011 — Rich Niemann ’53 and the Niemann Foods Foundation gift $1,000,000 to establish the Connie Niemann Center for Music. The gift is the largest in University history by a living donor.
2012
2012 — An anonymous donor gifts $2,000,000 to renovate the QU Center for Science
2014
2014 — Student Success Center opens under Brenner Library
2014
2014 — Quincy University dedicates St. Clare statue
2015
2015: QU Announced $4 million renovation to QU Stadium to bring football back to campus.
2019
2019: QU receives nearly $3 million gift from anonymous donor to establish the John Mahoney Scholarship.
2021
2021: The Oakley Family presents Quincy University with the largest gift in the university’s history. The School of Business is renamed the “Oakley School of Business.”