The 1940s
1942
Bishop Charles F. Buddy invites Mother Rosalie Hill to open a college for women adjacent to his proposed men's college in San Diego. Mother Hill accepts, but plans for the colleges are delayed by World War II. Sacred Heart sisters begin to gather books for the eventual library and furnishings for the chapel.
1945
Mother Hill selects Spanish Renaissance architecture as the style for the buildings. She and Mother Suzanne de Leon begin planning the college buildings using illustrated books from Spain and stacks of quadrille paper.
1946
Sacred Heart sisters suggest the name "Alcalá Park" for the campus to honor the university's - and the city's - namesake, San Diego de Alcalá. Bishop Buddy agrees. San Diego is also the patron saint of the San Diego diocese.
1947
Bishop Buddy launches a $2.5 million capital campaign, The University Foundation Fund, to raise money for the development of the university, and for other charitable efforts within the diocese. Bishop announces that the two colleges will be open to students of all faiths.
1948
Ceremonial groundbreaking is held.
1949
The State of California grants charters for the San Diego College for Women and San Diego University, comprising the College for Men and School of Law (later known as the University of San Diego).