The University offers just the right balance of challenge, support, and hands-on experience to meet students’ educational goals.
University of Detroit (founded in 1877) and Mercy College of Detroit (founded in 1941) consolidated in 1990 to become University of Detroit Mercy, the largest and most comprehensive Catholic University in Michigan. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus and the Religious Sisters of Mercy, the University is committed to quality education, service of faith, promotion of justice and compassionate service to persons in need, in order to establish future generations of students as leaders in the 21st Century. The University offers more than 100 academic degrees and programs of study through their School of Architecture, School of Dentistry, School of Law, College of Business Administration, College of Engineering & Science, College of Liberal Arts & Education, and College of Health Professions. Women students make up 59 percent of the student body.
Promoting Research and Empowering Women’s Education
University of Detroit Mercy received two major grants designed to help improve the number of under-represented populations in the STEM fields.
The first is a $21-million grant from the National Institutes of Health which provides training, mentorship and other student support that would promote research as a career. The grant was received in 2015 to be shared among four institutions, and with Detroit Mercy as the primary investigator. Since then, two of the four institutions are no longer supported by the grant and Detroit Mercy has welcomed the students of those institutions to their campus.
In 2017, the University received a five-year, $476,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Clare Boothe Luce Program, which is dedicated to increasing the participation of women in the sciences and engineering in higher education. The University hired Megan Conrad, Ph.D., as the Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Engineering. Her goals are to serve as a role model and recruiter of female Engineering students. As part of that, she will also expand their Assistive/Biomedical Technology programming.
About the President of Detroit Mercy
Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the 25th President of the University of Detroit Mercy. Recognized as a national scholar in higher education, Garibaldi’s career spans more than 35 years as a tenured professor, accomplished researcher, and educational administrator. Prior to assuming his post at Detroit Mercy in 2011, he served for nine years as president of Gannon University in Erie, Penn. Under his leadership, the University has seen an increase in enrollment, a stronger presence in metropolitan Detroit and a major boost in donations. He has built ties with the challenged neighborhoods surrounding the University’s three campuses to help them realize and capitalize on their potential.
Education and Infrastructure
The University of Detroit Mercy comprises seven colleges and schools: School of Architecture; College of Business Administration; School of Dentistry; College of Engineering & Science; College of Health Professions/McAuley School of Nursing; School of Law; and College of Liberal Arts & Education
The University has three campuses in the city of Detroit namely The McNichols Campus, The Riverfront Campus, and The Corktown Campus
Aside from Detroit Mercy’s own campuses, the University offers undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs at Macomb University Center in Clinton Township, Mich. and at the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) University Center in Harper Woods, Mich. Detroit Mercy has also partnered with Aquinas College and St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich. to offer a nursing pre-licensure program.
A former campus at 8200 West Outer Drive in Detroit was home to Mercy College of Detroit from 1941 until consolidation in 1990. As part of University of Detroit Mercy, the Outer Drive Campus hosted Detroit Mercy’s Dentistry Clinic starting in 1997 till 2003. Eventually, the Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and Clinic moved to the Corktown Campus in January 2008.
Distinguished Alumni
Many notable alumni of the university are actors, writers, educators, and judges. The University’s alumnae have won Tony Awards, and have broken ground in traditionally male fields like finance, accounting, and engineering. They hold positions of substantial power in international businesses; have helped change the face of health care in the United States; and have become philanthropists and leaders in their fields and their communities. Some prominent alumni of the university include Marlena Peleo-Lazar, Chief Creative Director for Mc Donald’s Corporation, and Rick Sylvain, print and news media publicity director for Walt Disney World.
Financial Assistance
The university provides significant financial support to the students along with providing quality education and 97 percent of all full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. The university recently lowered its advertised annual tuition rate from $41,000 a year to $28,000, so more students would give a closer look to Detroit Mercy and see it as an option that is within their means.
Career Opportunities and Exposures
Detroit Mercy has one of the United States’ oldest co-op and internship programs, and many academic programs have mandatory internships that have been set up with metro Detroit companies, many in the auto industry. Their Architecture School maintains two unique study abroad programs, in which students live in and study ancient cities in Europe.
