Franciscan University and Chesterton Schools Network Form Educational Alliance

May 16, 2022

The Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, and Chesterton Schools Network, the sponsoring organization for fifty Chesterton Academies around the world including the Chesterton Academy of St Mary’s in St Mary’s County, MD, have entered into an historic partnership which will allow Chesterton Academy students to enroll concurrently at Franciscan University and receive full college credit in select courses.

Under the program which starts in September 2022, Juniors and Seniors enrolled at the Chesterton Academy of St Mary’s will be eligible to enroll in this program and earn in up to twelve college credit-hours at Franciscan University. Junior and Senior high school students who want to get a head start on college will benefit greatly. There is a nominal charge for each enrolled student per course.

Students will cover the material in the Chesterton Academy’s Theology and Philosophy classes. When an enrolled student passes a course, he or she will receive an official Franciscan University 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 in Minnesota. "There is great excitement all around."

Andrew Pudysz, Headmaster of Chesterton Academy of St Mary’s, concurs. “I am very excited about this partnership with my alma mater, Franciscan University. Our students who want to take advantage of this program will receive the best of both worlds – outstanding instruction by our faculty here and academic recognition from one of the leading Catholic universities in the country.”

In time, the program will be expanded to offer a total thirty-six credit hours in a variety of subject areas. “When fully implemented,” added Headmaster Pudysz, “a student could complete their freshman year of college by the time they are graduated from Chesterton Academy of St Mary’s.”

For more information about Chesterton Academy of St Mary’s, please visit www.chestertonstmarys.org or email info@chestertonstmarys.org.

The program begins Fall, 2022.