University of Illinois Chicago history

These Chicago-based health colleges became fully incorporated in 1913 as the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.

In 1925 the General Hospital opened as the university's teaching and research facility.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School was founded in 1933 as an independent, freestanding educational institution dedicated to providing a quality educational opportunity to non-traditional or adult learners, and to other significantly underserved segments of Georgia citizenry.

As early as 1937, a law school had been planned as part of Seton Hall University.

The state legislature then created the Medical Center District in 1941, with the university's health colleges and hospital forming key components.

In June 1950, the administration of John Marshall gave its library and many of its assets to Seton Hall.

On February 5, 1951, Seton Hall University School of Law opened on the old John Marshall site, 40 Journal Square, Jersey City with an entering class of 72 students, 16 full-time and 56 part-time faculty members.

The University of Illinois at Chicago Circle – named for the nearby ultra-modern freeway interchange – opened in February 1965. “Circle,” as it was called, was a degree-granting institution, with ambitions to become a great university.

When Dean Loftus retired in August 1971, John F.X. Irving was hired with a mandate to move forward in building better physical facilities and further expanding the faculty.

In the fall of 1978, Reverend Daniel A. Degnan succeeded Dean Irving.

The new UIC was created in 1982 and within five years had attained Carnegie “Research I” classification.

When Dean Degnan's successful tenure ended in June 1983, he was succeeded by Elizabeth F. Defeis.

Under the strong leadership of Dean Defeis, who served until June 1987, the law school's scholarly reputation in the world of legal academia grew along with the law school itself.

In July 1988 when Dean Ronald J. Riccio took the helm, he assumed the mammoth task for arranging for financing and beginning construction of the magnificent $37 million facility located in the heart of Newark's business district which is home to Seton Hall Law School today.

By 1998 UIC enrolled 25,000 students in 15 colleges, making it the largest university in the Chicago area.

When Dean Riccio stepped down in 1999, Dean Patrick E. Hobbs stepped in, building on a solid foundation and setting a course for recognition among the nation’s top Catholic law schools.

In 2001, the M.S. J. degree in Health Law was expanded to include tracks in science and technology.

In 2002, Seton Hall Law School partnered with New Jersey Institute of Technology to offer a combined educational program whereby students earn a bachelor’s degree and a J.D. in six years instead of the traditional seven.

UIC becomes greener every year — through plantings that have led to its designation as a Tree Campus USA each year since 2011 as well as its commitment to LEED-certified buildings, recycling, active transportation and public transit.

In August 2019, UIC acquired the John Marshall Law School and formed Chicago’s only public law school.

Sparky, introduced in January 2021, embodies the spirit, passion and grit of the UIC Flames and his hometown of Chicago.