The number of universities calling the East Valley home is going up again with Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Penn., signing on as the fourth college in downtown Mesa. Wilkes joins Westminster and Albright colleges in the new Mesa Center for Higher Education, 245 W. Second St. Benedictine University will have its own campus at 225 E. Main St.

More important, the four schools join A.T. Still University Medical School and ASU Polytechnic, Mesa Community College, Carrington College, Everest College and a branch campuses of the University of Phoenix.