Xavier University facts for kids
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| Latin: Universitas Xaveriana | |
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Former names
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Athenaeum (1831-1840) St. Xavier College (1840–1930) |
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| Motto | Vidit Mirabilia Magna (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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He has seen great wonders |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1831 |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic (Jesuit) |
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Academic affiliations
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AJCU ACCU GCCCU CIC |
| Endowment | $259 million (2021) |
| President | Colleen Hanycz |
| Provost | Rachel Chrastil |
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Academic staff
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| Students | 6,016 |
| Undergraduates | 4,758 |
| Postgraduates | 1,258 |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | 205 acres (83.0 ha) |
| Colors | Navy Blue - White - Silver |
| Nickname | Musketeers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – Big East Conference |
| Mascot | D'Artagnan the Musketeer The Blue Blob |
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Xavier University is a private university in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a Jesuit school. This means it is run by a Catholic religious order.
Xavier is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United States. It is the sixth oldest Catholic university and the fourth oldest Jesuit one. About 4,860 undergraduate students and 1,269 graduate students attend Xavier.
The main campus is in Cincinnati. There are also other locations for a special nursing program. These are in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio.
Xavier University focuses on a liberal arts education for its undergraduate students. It follows the Jesuit tradition. This way of learning teaches students through community service. It also connects different subjects and explores faith, philosophy, and ethics.
Xavier's sports teams are called the Xavier Musketeers. They play in NCAA Division I, which is a top level for college sports. They are part of the Big East Conference.
Contents
Xavier University's History
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Xavier University has a long and interesting history. It is one of the oldest Jesuit and Catholic universities in the U.S. The school started in 1831 as a college for men. It was located in downtown Cincinnati.
Back then, it was called The Athenaeum. Bishop Edward Fenwick named it after Saint Francis Xavier. In 1840, the Society of Jesus took over the school. Its name changed to St. Xavier College. This honored St. Francis Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit missionary.
In 1912, St. Xavier College moved to its current location in Evanston, Cincinnati. This new campus is about 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown. The original Athenaeum building is now a seminary.
St. Xavier College and St. Xavier High School became separate schools in 1919. They became financially independent in 1934. In 1930, the college changed its name again to Xavier University.
Women started attending Xavier in 1914 for evening, weekend, and summer classes. In 1969, women were fully admitted to all programs. Another Catholic college, Edgecliff College, joined Xavier University in 1980.
What Can You Study at Xavier?
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 75% |
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| Black | 10% |
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| Hispanic | 6% |
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| Other | 5% |
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| Asian | 3% |
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| Foreign national | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 15% |
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| Affluent | 85% |
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Xavier University offers many different study programs. There are over 90 undergraduate majors. They also have 40 graduate programs. These programs are spread across four colleges.
Some popular majors include nursing, business, and biomedical sciences. You can also study psychology, biology, and exercise science. Other options are sport management, sport marketing, and finance.
Core Classes for All Students
All undergraduate students at Xavier must take a group of required classes. This is called the Core Curriculum. These classes cover many different subjects.
You will take courses in Theology and Philosophy. Other required subjects include Mathematics, Fine Arts, and History. You also study Physical Science, Literature, and a second language. Plus, there are classes in the Social Sciences.
How Xavier Ranks Among Colleges
Xavier University is recognized by several important rankings:
- U.S. News & World Report ranked Xavier No. 166 among national universities in 2022-23.
- Forbes placed Xavier at #492 on its 'Top Colleges in America' list for 2022.
- Princeton Review included Xavier in its 'Best 378 Colleges in America' for 2022.
- Niche named Xavier the #6 Catholic College in Ohio for 2023.
- Xavier's business programs also received high rankings from U.S. News & World Report. This includes Business Analytics (#23), Entrepreneurship (#25), Marketing (#29), and Finance (#36).
- Xavier was also ranked #54 for 'Best Undergraduate Teaching' among national universities.
Special Honor Societies
Xavier has chapters of several honor societies. These groups recognize students who achieve high academic success.
- Alpha Sigma Nu is for Jesuit schools.
- Beta Alpha Psi is for finance students.
- Beta Gamma Sigma is for business students.
- Phi Beta Kappa is an elite honor society.
- Mortar Board recognizes college seniors.
- Eta Sigma Phi focuses on Classical Studies.
Exploring the Campus
Xavier's campus covers about 205 acres (83 hectares) in Cincinnati. The Gallagher Student Center and Bellarmine Chapel are at the heart of the campus. Bellarmine Chapel has a unique "saddle roof" shape. This roof is so strong it would not collapse even without the walls!
Academic Buildings
Six buildings with a castle architecture style face Victory Parkway. These include Lindner Hall (Physics), Logan Hall (Chemistry), and Albers Hall (Biology). Hinkle Hall houses Math, Computer Science, English, History, Philosophy, and Theology. Schmidt Hall has university offices, and Edgecliff Hall is home to the Music Department.
On the other side of the Academic Mall are three more buildings. Walter Schott Hall has admissions and financial aid offices. It also houses Modern Languages, Classics, Communication Arts, Political Science, and Sociology. McDonald Library is the university's library and archives. Alter Hall is a main classroom building.
Our Lady of Peace Chapel was moved to the Academic Mall in 2018. This small chapel seats 22 people. It was built in 1938.
The Academic Quad
The Academic Quad, also known as the Hoff Quad, is east of the Academic Mall. It has three buildings. The Conaton Learning Commons offers academic support. Smith Hall is home to the Williams College of Business. Hailstones Hall is a traditional classroom building.
Where Students Live
The Residential Mall is north of the Academic Mall. It has four dorms for younger students: Brockman, Buenger, Kuhlman, and Husman Halls. The area between Kuhlman, Husman, and Gallagher is called "The Xavier Yard." It is used for student activities and events.
Justice Hall opened in 2011. It is south of the Residential Mall. This building has housing for older students. It also includes the main campus dining center.
West and East Campus Areas
West campus is across Victory Parkway. It has many sports facilities. These include J. Page Hayden Field for baseball and Corcoran Soccer Field. Schmidt Fieldhouse and the Heidt Champion Center are also there.
Academic buildings on West Campus include St. Barbara Hall and the Armory for the ROTC program. Joseph Hall houses the Education and Sports Studies Departments. Elet Hall is home to the Psychology Department.
The Cintas Center is on East Campus, next to the Residential Mall. This is where the Musketeers play their basketball games. It has 10,250 seats. The Cintas Center also has conference and banquet facilities. The A. B. Cohen Center is home to the Art Department and Xavier Art Gallery.
The Health United Building opened in 2019. It has a recreation center and a health and wellness center. It also has classrooms and labs for Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and other health programs.
Xavier's Sports Teams
Xavier's sports teams are called the Musketeers. They compete at the NCAA Division I level. They are part of the Big East Conference. Xavier offers eight sports for men and eight for women.
Xavier is known for its high graduation rate for athletes. About 94% of its athletes graduate. This is one of the highest rates in the nation. Xavier teams have rivalries with local universities. These include the University of Cincinnati and Villanova University.
Xavier was a founding member of the Midwestern City Conference in 1979. This conference is now called the Horizon League. From 1995 to 2013, Xavier was in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They had many successful basketball seasons there. In 2013, Xavier joined the new Big East Conference.
The basketball and volleyball teams play in the 10,250-seat Cintas Center. This arena opened in 2000.
Men's Basketball
The Xavier men's basketball team is very well known. They have had a lot of success recently. They reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament in 2004, 2008, and 2017.
Since 1985, every men's basketball player who played all four years has graduated. Xavier is one of only two schools outside the major college football conferences to be listed among the top 20 most valuable college basketball programs.
Baseball Team Success
The Xavier baseball team has won the Big East Conference Baseball Tournament multiple times. They won in 2014 and 2023. They also won the Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Tournament in 2009. These wins allowed them to play in national tournaments.
Swimming Team Success
The Xavier men's swim team has also been very successful. They won their first Big East Conference Championship in 2014. They have won the Big East Title six times since joining the conference in 2013. These wins were in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Club Sports at Xavier
Xavier University also has a club sports program. This program lets students, faculty, and staff play different sports. These activities can be competitive, recreational, or instructional.
In 2017, the Xavier Men's Rugby Club team made it to the Final Four in Denver, Colorado. They finished 3rd in the country at the National Small College Rugby Championship. The Xavier Rugby Club has been ranked in the Top 20 for 7 of the last 8 years. The Xavier Men's Volleyball Club Team took 2nd place at Nationals in April 2019. In 2022, the Xavier Men's Volleyball Club Team won the national championship.
Xavier's Mascots
Xavier is special because it has two mascots!
- D'Artagnan the Musketeer is the official mascot. He is the reason the school's teams are called the Musketeers. This idea came about in 1925.
- The Blue Blob joined in 1985. The original Musketeer mascot, with his mustache and sword, sometimes scared younger fans. So, a friendlier mascot was needed. The Blue Blob is a furry blue creature. He has been on TV and in magazines. There are even toys and T-shirts made in his likeness. He has appeared in ESPN commercials too!
Faith and Service at Xavier
The Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice is a key part of Xavier University. Its goal is to help students become people who care for others.
Student Programs for Service
When students start at Xavier, the center helps them build a community. This includes students from all backgrounds and faiths. Students are then encouraged to join various service opportunities.
You can help out in the Nexus community garden. The X-CHANGE program offers weekly service with local organizations. Community Action Day is a day when the whole Xavier community helps the wider community. There is also a monthly service opportunity at St. Francis Seraph Soup Kitchen.
Alternative Breaks offer chances to serve in the U.S. and other countries during school breaks. A total of 25 trips are offered. Students perform over 60,000 hours of service each year!
Many programs include time for students to think about their experiences. The center also hosts events like the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice.
More in-depth service experiences include:
- Summer Service Internship: 20 students live on campus and work at a local non-profit.
- Graduate Internship: Graduates work with the center's staff.
- Xavier eRecruiting: A list of non-profit internships across the country.
- GetAway for First Year Students: Opportunities to organize spiritual retreats.
- Graduate School and Year-of-Service Fair: Introduces students to over 50 options for a year of service after graduation. Popular choices include Peace Corps and Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
Famous People from Xavier
Many notable people have attended Xavier University. Here are a few:
- Danny Abramowicz (born 1945), a former NFL wide receiver.
- J. Kenneth Blackwell, a former Ohio Secretary of State.
- John Boehner, who was the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Jim Bunning, a U.S. Senator and Baseball Hall of Fame member.
- Bill Cunningham, a radio talk show host.
- Charles Geschke, co-founder of Adobe Systems.
- Brian Grant, a former NBA forward.
- Tyrone Hill, an NBA All-Star forward.
- John C. Lechleiter, former CEO of Eli Lilly and Company.
- Jack Miles, a Pulitzer Prize winner.
- James Posey, a two-time NBA champion as a player.
- David West, a two-time NBA All-Star.
- Garry Wills, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Notable Teachers at Xavier
Xavier University has also had many important teachers.
- John J. Gilligan, a former Congressman and Governor of Ohio.
- Henry Heimlich, known for the Heimlich Maneuver.
- Boris Podolsky, a physicist.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Xavier para niños
- List of Jesuit sites
- Xavier Newswire
