Saint Xavier University (or SXU) is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
Roman Catholic university in
Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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. Founded in 1846 by the
Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They ...
, the university enrolls 3,749 students.
History
Saint Xavier University was founded as a women's college by the
Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They ...
in 1846 at the request of
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or offic ...
William Quarter
William J. Quarter (January 21, 1806 – April 10, 1848) was an Irish American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Chicago (1844–1848).
Biography
Early years
William Quarter was born in Killurin, King's County, Ireland ...
. With the City of Chicago less than 10 years old, the
religious sister
A religious sister (abbreviated ''Sr.'' or Sist.) in the Catholic Church is a woman who has taken public vows in a religious institute dedicated to apostolic works, as distinguished from a nun who lives a cloistered monastic life dedicated to pra ...
s, under the guidance of Mother Mary Francis Xavier Warde, R.S.M., 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.
In the year 1846, five sisters of Mercy were sent to the city of Chicago from Pittsburgh to start Catholic work in the new city. The original campus (then referred to as an academy), soon gains, in 1947, the state charter which allowed for the granting on degrees from the academy. After this location (Wabash Avenue between Madison and Monroe in downtown Chicago) was burned down in the
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago during October 8–10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly of the city including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 1 ...
of 1871, the campus was rebuilt on the southern boundary of Chicago.
In 1915 the sisters of mercy's hard work to open a college women becomes reality when the school becomes an official college, teaching "all branches of higher learning"
Academics
Saint Xavier University offers undergraduate majors and graduate programs through their three schools:
* The College of Arts and Sciences
* The Graham School of Management
* The School of Nursing and Health Sciences (a recognized Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing)
Saint Xavier University has one of the most diverse undergraduate student bodies in Chicago and is a federally-designated Hispanic-serving institution.
Campuses
Chicago
Saint Xavier's main campus is located in City of Chicago in the
Mt. Greenwood neighborhood on the corner of 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue. It is in close proximity to the suburb of
Evergreen Park, Illinois
Evergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, the population was 19,943.
History
As early as 1828, a German farming family had settled in the area of what is now Evergreen Park. In the succeeding decades, other Ge ...
.
The university's main campus
Campus map
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
A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common type ...
; the Graham School of Management Building; Andrew Conference Center and Driehaus 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. Residence halls listed below;
* McCarthy Hall (opened 2001)
* Morris Hall (opened 2002)
* O'Brien Hall (opened 2008)
* Pacelli Hall (opened 1959)
* Rubloff Hall (opened 2006)
In 2009, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley recognized Saint Xavier University for its eco-friendly efforts with the opening of the Arthur Rubloff
Arthur Rubloff (June 25, 1902 – May 24, 1986) was an American real estate developer who founded Arthur Rubloff & Co. and is credited with naming and developing North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois into the "Magnificent Mile".
Biography
...
Hall and O'Brien Halls on campus. These residence halls are environmentally friendly, featuring rooftop gardens and clean-source alternative energy.
In 2021, Saint Xavier celebrated its 175th anniversary and received an official stat
resolution
honoring its legacy in Chicago.
Athletics
The Saint Xavier (SXU) athletic teams are called the Cougars. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Its 14 members are located in the Midwestern United States. In many sports, the ...
(CCAC) in most of its sports since the 1973–74 academic year; while its football team competes in the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).
SXU competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track & field and volleyball; women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and dance.
Coaches
The baseball team is coached by Addison Rouse. The football team is coached by Mike Feminis.
Facilities
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.
Accomplishments
In 2011, Saint Xavier won the NAIA Football National Championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Associa ...
.
References
External links
*
Official athletics website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Xavier University
Universities and colleges in Chicago
Educational institutions established in 1846
Sisters of Mercy colleges and universities
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Former women's universities and colleges in the United States
1846 establishments in Illinois
Catholic universities and colleges in Illinois