John Paul the Great

Catholic University
San Diego, California
www.jpcatholic.com

Overview
John Paul the Great Catholic University may
be situated in San Diego, California, but the
small, specialized university can trace its in-
tellectual heritage to Franciscan University of
Steubenville. It was there in 2000 that a visit-
ing Dr. Derry Connolly had the inspiration to
develop a college in his hometown.
Connolly, an administrator at the Univer-
sity of California, San Diego, decided that he
wanted to replicate the Steubenville religious
fervor on a new campus in the nation’s eighth
quick facts
largest city. With his background in technol-
ogy and business, he also wanted to combine Founded: 2003 (first students in 2006)
evangelization with entrepreneurship, espe- Type of institution: Micro specialized
cially as it relates to what is known as New university
Media. Setting: Urban
Undergraduate enrollment: 35 (2006–07
In the fall of 2006, the first class enrolled academic year)
in two programs: entertainment media and Total undergraduate cost: $24,000 (tuition,
entrepreneurial business. Eventually, this room and fees for 2007–08)
curriculum will expand to six other empha- Undergraduate majors: Two (with six more
ses: entrepreneurial journalism, business of planned)
entertainment, entrepreneurial publishing,
Five Key Points
digital media, computer engineering and
computer science. 1. Solidly faithful to the Magisterium.
The first-year class consisted of 30 stu- 2. Offers new niche majors with
dents, and 63 were enrolled in September evangelization opportunities.
2007. All except one of the 2006–07 students 3. A Senior Business Plan might lead
was Catholic, and the lone exception attended students to create start-up companies.
Catholic schools and apparently fit in well, 4. Small classes offered in a widely
according to a campus official. acclaimed city.
5. Accreditation is in the future.
The current campus is one large, indus-
trial building located in northern San Diego

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John Paul the Great Catholic University
about one mile from student apartments and
one mile from a parish church. During its first
year of operation one classroom was used,
but expansion within the building will oc-
cur during the 2007–08 academic year. Long-
range plans anticipate a campus with up to
1,600 students.
Although the institution is licensed by the
state of California, accreditation by the West-
ern Association of Schools and Colleges could
take six years. It is questionable whether ac-
creditation will be granted before the first
class is graduated, but this is the standard
challenge of all new colleges, regardless of
their quality. Accreditation, once granted, is
retroactive.
President Connolly told us, “Parents
could be understandably nervous about let-
ting their children go to a new college. I tell
them to pray about it. In the six months we’ve
been open [March 2007 interview], I have had
no calls from parents who have any regrets
about their decision.”
The university has two “core commit-
ments”: spiritual and intellectual. The latter
applies to the unique curriculum while the
former is a straightforward dedication to Ca-
tholicism. The university describes this com-
mitment as: “The spiritual development of
all students, faculty and staff, and striving to
put into action, in our lives and in the lives of
those we touch, the teachings of Jesus Christ,
being unapologetic for and uncompromising
with His Word.”
Although the university has a special-
ized curriculum—business and media ma-
jors—it works to provide a Catholic education
through requiring one course every semester
on some aspect of Catholic philosophy, theol-
ogy, history, ethics or culture.
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Governance
John Paul the Great has the consent of Bishop
Robert Brom of the Diocese of San Diego but
is independent of the diocese. It is governed
by an 11-member board of trustees. The chair
of the board is a permanent deacon and bank-
er. The other members include one priest and
several engaged in senior positions at area
businesses. Dr. Connolly, the president and
one of the five founders of the university, also
is a member.
Public Identity
According to the university, “John Paul the
Great Catholic University will intentionally
seek to avoid causing controversy and confu-
sion among its students in matters of faith. JP
Catholic seeks to shape and form solid Catho-
lic leaders and innovators poised to put into
action the teachings of Jesus Christ, and not
to become agitators for change on matters of
doctrine.”
President Connolly adds, “The most im-
portant part of our university is the Catho-
lic dimension. The only type of student who
would want to be here is someone for whom
faith is important.” One faculty member add-
ed, “If our students don’t know the Lord or
the Faith, we haven’t succeeded.”
Bishop Brom celebrated the first Mass in
the small campus chapel in September 2006,
and an Opening Mass was held shortly after
in the neighboring Good Shepherd Catholic
Church. Such a beginning was appropriate
for what one student said was “a Catholic
identity that drives everything that we do
here.”
Speakers on campus have included Steve
McEveety, producer of The Passion of the
Christ; representatives of Sony Online Enter-
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tainment; Act One, a Christian acting group;
the Goretti Group, dealing with chastity; and
freelance scriptwriters. Outside speakers are
vetted for their orthodoxy.
The patron of the university is the 17th-
century Italian St. Joseph of Cupertino. The
Franciscan priest is also the patron of stu-
dents and test takers.
Spiritual Life
Mass is offered every Friday in the campus
chapel. The class schedule is set up so that
students who wish can attend daily Mass at
Good Shepherd parish. The campus chaplain,
appointed by the bishop, hears confessions
every Thursday and by appointment. Adora-
tion also takes place every afternoon on cam-
pus. Students attend Sunday Mass at Good
Shepherd or elsewhere.
Students have become involved in Good
Shepherd and other parishes, and this activ-
ity includes teaching CCD classes, pro-life
work, helping with homeless people and at-
tending Prayer and Worship services.
Classes begin and end with prayer, rein-
forcing what the theology professor told us,
“Everything the university does, every course
and field, is permeated with themes from the-
ology and philosophy.”
Catholicism in
the Classroom
John Paul the Great is emphatic in its fidelity
to the Magisterium. “All teaching faculty,” the
university reports, “will commit to harmony
with Catholic Church teachings (the pope
and bishops) in speech and action. Faculty,
staff, students or volunteers who knowingly
in public speech or actions take positions
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
against the Catholic Church compromise
their relationship with JP Catholic. JP Catho-
lic will expect all trustees, faculty and staff to
celebrate the positive spiritual and entrepre-
neurial components of its mission and eschew
cutting down what the institution is striving
to build.”
The mandatum is required for all faculty
members who teach theology. Currently, the
only theology professor describes himself as
a “biblical Thomist.” Overall, there are three
full-time faculty and eight adjunct professors.
All professors must maintain some part-time
work in their field, whether it is in business
or media.
The business math course, taught by Alan
Lane, is started by prayer and—when appli-
cable—raises Catholic themes such as tithing
and the need to place the acquisition of mon-
ey in its proper perspective. Business moral-
ity themes are addressed in theology.
Tom Dunn, adjunct professor of digital me-
dia production, said to us, “From day one, we
show students the scripture passages that call
us to be perfect, that they should not settle for
something less. No matter what they may end
up being called to do, they must do it in a way
that is truthful and faithful to Christ.”
Although John Paul the Great is not a lib-
eral arts institution per se, it has a 57-credit
core curriculum. This includes four Catho-
lic religious studies courses as well as four
philosophy courses such as “Catholic Social
Teaching” and others that have a Catholic ap-
proach.
The university assumes that most students
will be called to work in business, entertain-
ment and the new digital media. Although
there is a certain evangelization component
present, one student reported, “It doesn’t
mean that everything we end up doing is
openly ‘religious,’ but our faith will be part of
what we do.”
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
In the third and fourth years, students will
participate in teams to develop a Senior Busi-
ness Plan. This project will allow students to
bring their entrepreneurial skills and values
together to create a blueprint for a company.
The university expects that half of the stu-
dents will use these plans to launch their own
businesses after graduation.
In the summer of 2007, high school stu-
dents interested in exploring whether John
Paul the Great is right for them were able to
participate in four different week-long pro-
grams: “Faith, Story & Film,” “Faith, Art &
Film,” “Faith & Film Criticism,” and “Faith
and Business.”
Student Organizations
The fledgling college is just beginning to de-
velop student organizations. In addition to
the local parish-centered activities, there are
informal events such as a monthly Open Mike
or variety program. There is a writing group.
And the university is working to set up some
intramural sports, including volleyball.
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Residential Life
Students live in the Legacy Apartment
Homes complex spread through four
different buildings. Men and women
are kept in separate parts of the com-
plex, and no visitation between men
and women is permitted. Two married
couples who live in the apartments
serve as residential directors who work
with seven residential associates.
The apartments form a typical com-
plex and also house people who are not
part of the university. These residential
units are near the university’s build-
ing, and they usually are reached by way of
a nine-minute bus ride. JP Catholic students
use public buses extensively; cars are discour-
aged on campus.
Related to residential life, the university
encourages chastity through teaching scrip-
ture and St. Francis de Sales’s work on chas-
tity. The university has weekly get-togethers
where participants talk about spiritual life, in-
cluding chastity. The Rosary is recited nightly
in the student residences.
The Community
Sunny San Diego is one of the most attractive
American cities. With a population of about
1.3 million, it presents a broad array of eco-
nomic, social and cultural opportunities. The
diversified economy includes naval, military
and port facilities; tourism; biotechnology;
marine science; and many start-up business-
es, particularly in the area of technology.
Among the cultural offerings are the San
Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Zoo and
a wide range of professional sports teams, in-
cluding those in baseball, football and basket-
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ball. San Diego is one of the safest large cities
in the nation.
The city, located near the Mexican border,
is a major transportation hub. The San Diego
International Airport handles 18 commercial
carriers. Amtrak and other rail and public
bus systems are available. Among the road
systems that traverse the area is Interstate 5,
which runs from Mexico to Canada.
The Bottom Line
John Paul the Great Catholic University is part
of the new breed of small Catholic colleges
born from the crisis in higher education of the
past generation. Its founders have developed
a formidable vision: Create a traditionally or-
thodox institution that prepares students for
21st-century careers in entrepreneurial busi-
ness and media technology.
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
As the college moves into its second year
of matching evangelization with vocation,
they face the usual early challenges. But they
are approaching them with faith as well as
with the start-up enthusiasm they seek to im-
part to their students. The late pope’s admon-
ishment to “Be Not Afraid” might be their
watchword.
JP Catholic is seeking to establish a unique
niche among Catholic colleges. Their ap-
proach has attracted our attention, and stu-
dents with an adventuresome streak would
do well to investigate this opportunity. After
all it brings together three attractive compo-
nents: A strong Catholic identity; an impres-
sive, modern curriculum; and one of the most
livable and appealing cities in the country.
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