History
Xavier University was the first Catholic institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory and is the fourth oldest Jesuit University and the sixth oldest Catholic university in the United States. The school was founded in 1831 as a men's college in downtown Cincinnati, adjacent to St. Francis Xavier Church on Sycamore Street. The Athenaeum, as it was then called, was dedicated to the patronage of Saint Francis Xavier by Bishop Edward Fenwick. Upon Bishop John Baptist Purcell's request, the Society of Jesus took control of The Athenaeum in 1840, and the name was changed to St. Xavier College in honor of the 16th century Spanish Catholic. St. Xavier College moved in 1912 to its current North Avondale location, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown, after the purchase of 26 acres (0.11 km2) from the Avondale Athletic Club. St. Xavier College and St. Xavier High School officially split in 1919, though did not become financially independent until 1934. The name of the school was changed a second time to its current name, Xavier University, in 1930.
The Williams College of Business was established in 1961 and Xavier's first Doctoral Program in Psychology was initiated in 1997. Xavier fully admitted women in 1969, but women began attending the college in 1914 in the evening, weekend, and summer school divisions. Edgecliff College, another Catholic college in Cincinnati, merged with Xavier University in 1980 due to financial troubles.
In 2000, Xavier opened its doors to its new "living room" in the Cintas Center, an on-campus home for the Musketeers. Xavier also opened in 2002 the Gallagher Student Center.
A new residential complex named Fenwick Place opened in the fall of 2011 as part of current campus expansion plans. Smith Hall and the Conaton Learning Commons opened in 2010 as part of the James E. Hoff, S.J, Academic Quadrangle. Fr. Hoff was the University's 33rd President, 1991–2000. Fr. Michael J. Graham, S.J., Hoff's successor and 34th President, still serves Xavier today.
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