Saint Xavier University was founded as a women's college by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846 at the request of BishopWilliam Quarter. With the City of Chicago less than 10 years old, the religious sisters, 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. 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 site on the southern boundary of Chicago.
Academics
Saint Xavier University offers undergraduate majors and graduate programs through their three schools:
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. 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 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. 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.
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, competing in most sports as a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. In football, the Cougars are affiliated with the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer and track & field; women's sports include basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, dance, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. The baseball team is coached by Rocco Mossuto, an alumnus and record holder of Saint Xavier University baseball. The football team is coached by Mike Feminis. 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.
