Saint Xavier University facts for kids
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Former names
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Saint Francis Xavier Female Academy (1846–1873) Saint Xavier Academy (1873–1915) Saint Francis Xavier College for Women (1915–1919) Saint Xavier College (1919–1992) |
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| Motto | Via Veritas Vita (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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(I am) the way, the truth, and the life. |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1846 |
| Founder | Religious Sisters of Mercy |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic (Sisters of Mercy) |
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Academic affiliations
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ACCU CMHE CIC NAICU |
| President | Keith Elder |
| Provost | Saib Othman |
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Academic staff
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366 |
| Students | 3,523 (fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 2,981 (fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 542 (fall 2022) |
| Location |
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Illinois
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United States
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| Campus | Urban, 109 acres (44 ha) |
| Colors | Scarlet & Gray |
| Nickname | Cougars |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA – CCAC |
| Mascot | Cougar |
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Saint Xavier University (or SXU) is a private Catholic university. It is located in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. The university was started in 1846 by a group of nuns called the Sisters of Mercy. Today, about 3,500 students attend SXU.
Contents
Discovering SXU's Past
Saint Xavier University began as a college for women. The Sisters of Mercy founded it in 1846. This happened because Bishop William Quarter asked them to. Chicago was a very new city back then, less than 10 years old.
The sisters, led by Mother Mary Francis Xavier Warde, started the Saint Francis Xavier Female Academy. This academy later became Saint Xavier College, and then Saint Xavier University. It was the first college started by the Sisters of Mercy. It is also the oldest college in Chicago that was officially allowed to give degrees.
In 1846, five Sisters of Mercy came to Chicago from Pittsburgh. They wanted to start Catholic work in the new city. The original school building was on Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago. In 1847, the school received a special permission from the state. This permission allowed the academy to grant degrees.
The original campus burned down in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. After the fire, the school was rebuilt. The new campus was located on the southern edge of Chicago. In 1915, the school opened as Saint Francis Xavier College for Women.
What Students Learn at SXU
Saint Xavier University offers many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's degrees (for undergraduate studies) and master's degrees (for graduate studies). These programs are offered through two main colleges:
- The College of Liberal Arts and Education
- The College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Business
The College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Business is known for its excellent programs. Saint Xavier University has a very diverse group of students. It is also recognized as a "Hispanic-serving institution" by the government. This means it has a large number of Hispanic students.
Exploring the Campus
Saint Xavier's main campus is about 109 acres (44 hectares) in size. It is located in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago. You can find it at 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue. It is also close to the town of Evergreen Park, Illinois.
The main campus has several important buildings. The Warde Academic Center is the oldest building. It holds the main offices and the library. Other buildings include the Shannon Center, McDonough Chapel (a small Catholic church), and the Graham School of Management Building. There are also the Andrew Conference Center and the Driehaus Center.
Close to the main campus are the Visual Arts Center and the O'Grady Center. These buildings house departments that help with university relations and fundraising.
In 2001, more students started coming to the university. Because of this, four new dorms (places where students live) were opened on campus. The residence halls include:
- McCarthy Hall (opened in 2001)
- Morris Hall (opened in 2002)
- O'Brien Hall (opened in 2008)
- Pacelli Hall (opened in 1959)
- Rubloff Hall (opened in 2006)
In 2009, Arthur Rubloff Hall and O'Brien Halls were opened. These dorms were built to be good for the environment. They have rooftop gardens and use clean energy sources.
SXU Sports: The Cougars
The sports teams at Saint Xavier University are called the Cougars. The university is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Most of its sports teams play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). They have been part of this conference since the 1973–74 school year. The football team plays in the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).
SXU has 20 different sports teams for college students.
- Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, esports, football, golf, soccer, track & field, and volleyball.
- Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball.
- There are also co-ed sports like cheerleading and dance.
Sports Facilities
The Shannon Center is a key sports building on campus. It can hold up to 3,500 people. It also has the university's fitness center. This center is where the men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams play their home games. Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field is used for football, soccer, and track events.
The Saint Xavier University baseball team plays its home games at Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field. This field is also on the Chicago campus. The baseball field recently got new brick for its backstop and dugouts. It also added more seats for fans and has a full turf field. The distances to the fences are 330 feet down the lines, 375 feet in the gaps, and 400 feet to centerfield.
Big Wins for the Cougars
In 2011, Saint Xavier's football team won a major title. They became the champions of the 2011 NAIA Football National Championship.
