Saint Xavier University

Not to be confused with Xavier University.

Saint Xavier University

File:Saint Xavier University.png Saint Xavier University seal
Former names	Saint Francis Xavier Female Academy Saint Xavier College
Type	Private
Established	1846
Affiliation	Roman Catholic (Sisters of Mercy)
President	Christine Wiseman, J.D.
Academic staff	194
Students	5,028
Undergraduates	3,084
Postgraduates	1,944
Location	Chicago , Illinois , USA
Campus	Urban
Colors	Scarlet and gray
Nickname	Cougars
Affiliations	CMHE ACCU NAICU CIC
Website	www.sxu.edu

Saint Xavier University (SXU) is a four-year, coeducational institution of higher learning located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States.

History

Saint Xavier University was founded as a women's college by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846 at the request of Bishop William Quarter. With the City of Chicago less than ten years old, the Sisters of Mercy, under the guidance of Mother Mary Francis Warde, RSM, established Saint Francis Xavier Female Academy. The Academy, which would later become Saint Xavier College, and finally Saint Xavier University, was the first Mercy College in the world and is the oldest chartered College in the city of Chicago.

The original campus, which burned down in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, was located on Wabash Avenue between Madison and Monroe in downtown Chicago. Soon after, the campus was rebuilt on a 5-acre (2.023 ha) site on the southern boundary of Chicago.

Campuses

Chicago

Saint Xavier's 109 acres (44.1 ha) main campus is located in City of Chicago in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood on the corner of 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue.

The university's main campus is made up of several buildings, including the Warde Academic Center, which is the oldest building on campus and houses administrative offices and the library; the Shannon Center; McDonough Chapel, a small Catholic chapel; the Graham School of Management Building; Andrew Conference Center; Driehaus Center; and Pulaski Center. Within a mile of the main campus are the Visual Arts Center and O'Grady Center, which houses the departments of University Relations and University Advancement.

In 2001, an influx of students to the University led to the opening of four new dormitories on campus. McCarthy, Morris, Rubloff, and O'Brien Halls are apartment-style suites that accommodate students on campus.

In 2009, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley recognized Saint Xavier University for its eco-friendly efforts with the opening of the Arthur Rubloff Hall and O'Brien Halls on campus. These residence halls are environmentally friendly, featuring rooftop gardens and clean-source alternative energy.

Orland Park

Saint Xavier also has a campus located in Orland Park located off I-80 and LaGrange Road. The Orland Park Campus houses the School of Continuing and Professional Studies programs as well as a Fast-Track Business Administration program.

Gilbert, Arizona

In September 2015, Saint Xavier University opened their third campus with technology that allows its students improved educational capabilities. It had a full simulation center for advanced nursing careers as well as numerous huddle spaces and an auditorium.

In May 2016, it was announced that Saint Xavier was closing the Gilbert campus after the fall semester.

Academics

Recognized as number 46 of comprehensive master's universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2016, Saint Xavier University offers more than 43 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate programs through their five schools:

• The College of Arts and Sciences
• The School of Education
• The Graham School of Management
• The School of Nursing (a recognized Center of Excellence by the National League of Nursing)

Saint Xavier University has one of the most diverse undergraduate student bodies in Chicago, and qualified as a Hispanic-serving institution in 2015.

In addition to undergraduate programs, the Graduate School at Saint Xavier University offers master's degrees in Applied Computer Science, Education, Nursing, Business Administration, Speech and Language Pathology, and more.

Saint Xavier University surpassed more than 1,200 distance education degree programs across the country to earn the No. 3 ranking on U.S. News & World Report's "2016 Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs" list.

Athletics

The Saint Xavier Cougars are the athletic teams of Saint Xavier University. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. Its football team competes in the Mid-States Football Association under head coach [[Mike Feminis. More importantly, the baseball team is ran by Rocco Mossutto, an alumni of SXU.

Athletic facilities on campus include the Shannon Center, which holds up to 3,500 students and houses the university fitness center. It is home to both men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field is home to football, soccer, and track.

In 2011, Saint Xavier won the NAIA Football National Championship.

External links

• Official website
• Official athletics website
• About SXU
• National League for Nursing - Centers of Excellence
• Visual Arts Center at Saint Xavier University
• Conference for Mercy Higher Education
• Online programs