One of 16 Mercy colleges and universities across the country, they are participants in a vibrant network that joins more than 43,000 students nationwide and a global community of educators -- from Australia to South Africa to the Philippines. Founded early on to educate women and the poor, Saint Xavier University students today are a microcosm of the 21st century workforce, with a population that is 40 percent minority and among the most diverse in the City of Chicago. Saint Xavier University stresses the importance of smaller classes taught by a highly qualified and dedicated instructional staff. Students have ready access both to instructors and to the information they need throughout their studies. Tutoring by the University is also provided for students free of charge. Saint Xavier University has many active memberships including World Organization of Webmasters (WOW), ACM, IEEE, and MSDN Microsoft Academic Alliance, NCWIT.