University of Scranton Press
Encyclopedia
The University of Scranton Press is the university press
of the University of Scranton
, headquartered on its campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania
. The Press published more than 200 books and other publications between 1988 and 2010. The majority of the University of Scranton Press' catalog are scholarly works dealing with religious issues, such Catholicism
, Judaism
and the Jesuit tradition, as well as regional issues specifically related to Northeast Pennsylvania. The University of Scranton Press published approximately 24 publications annually at its height.
, who served as the chairman
of the University's Department of Theology
and Religious Studies
at the time. In the mid 1990s, Father Richard Rousseau hired Trinka Ravaioli, a graphic designer
, to design the covers for its publications. Ravaioli continued to design most of the covers for the books published by the University of Scranton Press from the mid-1990s until the Press ceased publication in 2010.
Aprroximately one-third of the Press' books and other publications dealt directly with issues related to Northeast Pennsylvania, including its history
, culture and economy
. Many of the books were written or submitted by local authors and writers based in the region. Titles related to Catholicism, with an emphasis on Jesuit issues, constituted most of the rest of the Press' catalog.
The Press is housed in the University of Scranton's Smurfit Art Center, a former Universalist church purchased by the university in 1987. The University of Scranton Press is a founding member of the Association of Jesuit University Presses
, but was not a current member of the Association of American University Presses
as of 2010.
Some of the University of Scranton Press' most recent publications included a biography
of Edith Stein
and a book exploring the lives of early 20th Century European immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania
.
and vice president for academic affairs, Harold Baillie, announced that the Press would close at the end of summer 2010. Baillie cited cost-cutting measures and changing financial priorities for the decision to close the university's scholarly publisher, "Basically, it was a budgetary decision. We are a tuition
-driven institution, and these are tough economic times...Our main priority is the education of our students, and that takes precedence in the distribution of our resources."
University press
A university press is an academic, nonprofit publishing house that is typically affiliated with a large research university, and publishes work that has been reviewed by scholars in the field. It produces mainly scholarly works...
of the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
, headquartered on its campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. The Press published more than 200 books and other publications between 1988 and 2010. The majority of the University of Scranton Press' catalog are scholarly works dealing with religious issues, such Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and the Jesuit tradition, as well as regional issues specifically related to Northeast Pennsylvania. The University of Scranton Press published approximately 24 publications annually at its height.
History
The University of Scranton Press was founded in 1988 by Reverend Richard W. Rousseau, S.J.Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, who served as the chairman
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of the University's Department of Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Religious Studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
at the time. In the mid 1990s, Father Richard Rousseau hired Trinka Ravaioli, a graphic designer
Graphic designer
A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures and...
, to design the covers for its publications. Ravaioli continued to design most of the covers for the books published by the University of Scranton Press from the mid-1990s until the Press ceased publication in 2010.
Aprroximately one-third of the Press' books and other publications dealt directly with issues related to Northeast Pennsylvania, including its history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, culture and economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
. Many of the books were written or submitted by local authors and writers based in the region. Titles related to Catholicism, with an emphasis on Jesuit issues, constituted most of the rest of the Press' catalog.
The Press is housed in the University of Scranton's Smurfit Art Center, a former Universalist church purchased by the university in 1987. The University of Scranton Press is a founding member of the Association of Jesuit University Presses
Association of Jesuit University Presses
The Association of Jesuit University Presses is an association of North American university presses which are members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The AJUP is composed of eleven charter members....
, but was not a current member of the Association of American University Presses
Association of American University Presses
The Association of American University Presses is an association of mostly, but not exclusively, North American university presses...
as of 2010.
Some of the University of Scranton Press' most recent publications included a biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of Edith Stein
Edith Stein
Saint Teresia Benedicta of the Cross, sometimes also known as Saint Edith Stein , was a German Roman Catholic philosopher and nun, regarded as a martyr and saint of the Roman Catholic Church...
and a book exploring the lives of early 20th Century European immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Closure
The University of Scranton Press began declining the submission of new works in early 2010. In August 2010, the University of Scranton's provostProvost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
and vice president for academic affairs, Harold Baillie, announced that the Press would close at the end of summer 2010. Baillie cited cost-cutting measures and changing financial priorities for the decision to close the university's scholarly publisher, "Basically, it was a budgetary decision. We are a tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
-driven institution, and these are tough economic times...Our main priority is the education of our students, and that takes precedence in the distribution of our resources."