University Facilities

Cross Country/Nature Trail

The cross country/nature trail on the former Belleview Golf Course is available for recreational and athletic use. The following regulations apply:

  • The trail is open during daylight hours only.
  • Trail users must remain on the trail at all times.
  • The trail is for walking and running only. Other activities such as picnicking, camping, biking, and ATV riding are prohibited.
  • Any off-trail activity on the former golf course property is prohibited and will be considered trespassing.

Finnegan Fieldhouse

740-283-6313

Home of NCAA Volleyball and Men's & Women's Basketball

Intramural Programs Volleyball, Basketball, Futsol & Wallyball

Finnegan Fieldhouse is a multi-purpose facility designed to provide University students and staff with a variety of athletic and health-related activities.

The facilities available for use in the Fieldhouse include: two full-size basketball courts, four volleyball courts, two racquetball courts, a fitness center, an aerobics room, a stretch and flexibility room, and 4 locker rooms.

Certified personal trainers are available in the weight room for students, staff, and faculty. The trainers are present during most operating hours on weekdays to assist with workouts.

Field Usage

Varsity Athletic Fields

Varsity athletic fields are for the express use of the respective varsity teams. General recreational use of varsity fields is prohibited unless permission is given by the Athletic Office. No pets are allowed at any time on the fields or in the spectator vicinity of the fields. Pets are allowed in the general spectator area of Vaccaro Baseball Field.

Memorial Field

Home field of the Baron Varsity Rugby and Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse teams.

Vaccaro Field

Home field of the Franciscan Baron Baseball team, the Steubenville “Big Red” High School baseball team, and Steubenville Post 33 Legion baseball team.

Softball Field

Home field of the Lady Baron Softball team.

Upper Soccer Field

Home field of the Men’s and Women’s Baron Soccer teams.

Lower Soccer Field

Practice field for the Men’s and Women’s Baron Soccer teams.

Intramural Athletic Fields

Used for Intramural Flag Football and Ultimate Frisbee seasons. Also open for general recreational use throughout the year.

J. C. Williams Center

740-283-3771

The J. C. Williams Center is the “living room of the campus,” providing many opportunities for fun and relaxation as well as several services for our University community.

The Information Desk is the hub of the building, housing the campus switchboard.  Lost and Found, Fax Service and change are a few of the services provided. Rooms may also be reserved through the Information Desk (see separate heading). The remotes for the TVs are available for use by presenting a picture ID. Campus maps and local tourist attraction brochures can be found here as well.

The J. C. Williams Center is also home to the University Bookstore, Campus Mail Center, Student Life offices, and several student organization offices: Franciscan University Student Government, Exc!te (Office of Student Activities), The Troubadour (the student newspaper), San Damiano (the yearbook), Students for Life, Missions of Peace, and the Knights of Columbus. Enjoy a bite to eat or your favorite coffee beverage at the Pub or Cupertino's Cafe.

St. John Paul II Library

740-283-6366

The St. John Paul II Library offers a collection of books, videos, journals, newspapers, and an online catalog. The library provides access to over 200 online and full-text research databases.  The library’s collections, along with public-access computers, a wireless network, archival resources, private study areas and a computer lab, are available throughout the two floors of the library. The library is open over 90 hours a week. 

Reference materials and periodicals are available for use in the library; circulating books may be checked out for three weeks and audio-visuals for one week. You may renew materials online by accessing the library’s website. A link for your library account can be found on the library website. The library website also includes current hours and library policies. You can also access your account through AccessFUS. Library barcode numbers are embedded on the back of student identification cards. 

Additional material is provided through the library’s membership and participation in statewide academic library consortia, OhioLINK (Ohio Library and Information Network), and OPAL (Ohio Private Academic Libraries).  OhioLINK membership includes the State Library of Ohio, public university libraries, independent college libraries, two-year college libraries, regional campus libraries, law school libraries and medical school libraries located throughout Ohio. OhioLINK provides access to:

  • over 46 million books and other library materials,

  • more than 150 electronic research databases,

  • over 25 million electronic journal articles, and

  • over 250,000 e-books.

Popular online full-text databases include: 

  • ATLA, Religion and Philosophy Collection, Philosopher’s Index, JSTOR

  • America – History and Life, Historical Abstracts

  • Lexis-Nexis, ERIC, Educational Research Complete

  • PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE

  • Academic Search Complete (World’s Largest Academic Online Database)

In addition, the Library provides interlibrary loan services, nationally and internationally, for materials unable to be borrowed through OhioLINK or other sources. Drop-in or by-appointment research and reference assistance is available in-person, online, and via email or phone. 

Library instruction and information literacy classes are available to introduce students to print and database sources and to teach and enhance searching skills. One-on-one instruction is also available by contacting the library.


University Bookstore

740-283-6271

Located on the ground floor of the J. C. Williams Center, the University Bookstore is a full-service college bookstore. In addition to the full range of academic textbooks for University classes, the bookstore offers an extensive variety of classic as well as contemporary Christian literature. The store also offers Catholic gifts, statues, jewelry, clothing, videos, and cards. Regular hours are 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. The bookstore remains open all year long, serving the conference guests and students throughout the summer.

The Bookstore website can be accessed at franciscan.edu/bookstore.