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Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• June 03: CES named University Partner of the Year by Engineering Society of Detroit

  Tuesday June 03, 2025
  

  糖心logo入口’s College of Engineering & Science has been named the University Partner of the Year for 2025 by the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD).

  The school was nominated for its support of the ESD, in particular for its plans to host its Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA) and Boys in Engineering Academy (BEA), programs designed to empower rising sixth graders to pursue STEM fields. Detroit Mercy Engineering students and faculty members will assist with instruction, designing hands-on projects for the students in the Academy.

  鈥淲e鈥檙e honored to be recognized by the Engineering Society of Detroit,鈥� said Katherine Snyder, dean of the College of Engineering & Science. 鈥淭his partnership reflects our shared commitment to empower the next generation of engineers, and we鈥檙e proud to support programs like GEA and BEA that help develop the engineering talent in our community.鈥�

  As in the past, the College will partner with Detroit-based construction company Walbridge on the two academies.

  The award will be presented during the ESD Annual Dinner on June 24.

• June 03: Volunteers need for TENN summer deliveries

  Tuesday June 03, 2025
  

  Titans, we need YOU! The Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) deliveries take place all summer long, and volunteers are needed to help deliver fresh produce to our neighbors.

  Please consider lending a hand with your muscles and cheerful personalities while bringing some smiles to the Detroit Mercy neighboring communities.

  Tap on the links below to sign up for bi-weekly Friday and Wednesday deliveries. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

  For questions please email Chelsea Manning at听mannincp@udmercy.edu.

  

• June 03: UDM summer reading program returns for 2025

  Tuesday June 03, 2025
  

  The ‘s Summer Reading Program is back for summer 2025.

  Since 1996, Detroit Mercy has partnered with the Institute of Reading Development, a nationwide leader in reading instruction, to help students in every grade鈥攆rom pre-K through high school鈥攂uild the reading skills they need to succeed.

  Did you know students can lose two to three months of reading progress over summer break? These summer reading programs turn potential setbacks into real gains and send students back to school confident and ready to excel!

  Unlock your child’s potential with fun programs that have already helped more than 3 million students gain confidence and skills.

  Enrollment is now open! Limited spots are available.听UDM employees receive a $99 DISCOUNT for enrolling their children.

   

• May 28: UDM鈥檚 Marketing & Communications Department pilots new communications fellowship

  Wednesday May 28, 2025
  

  Detroit Mercy鈥檚 Marketing & Communications Department recently rolled out a new communications fellowship.

  The charter fellows, Aliz茅 Tripp and Jenny Raptoplous, were selected in late April and will focus their work on capturing and sharing stories of community engagement in Detroit and abroad. Tripp majored in Communication Studies and graduated this year. Raptoplous graduated in 2024 and is currently a freelance journalist.

  鈥淐ommunity engagement animates this exciting new communications fellowship which focuses on making visible the less visible stories that truly reflect UDM鈥檚 mission,” said Jocelyn Boryczka, dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS).

  “Jenny and Aliz茅 graduated from the Communication Studies Department in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. As fellows, they will carry their outstanding academic learning out into the world to make an impactful difference.鈥�

  Raptoplous traveled to India with a UDM group in May during a service immersion trip and engages in community service work.

  Gary J. Erwin, associate vice president of MarCom, expressed enthusiasm about this new pilot.

  “The fellowship affords Jenny and Aliz茅 an opportunity to work closely with Brian Rolling, founder of Let’s Roll, learning the finer points of human-interest storytelling,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to engage our students in telling this aspect of the UDM story and critical to the future of the evolving University brand.鈥�

  Erwin said that as part of their work, Tripp and Raptoplous will develop a story budget, conduct and shoot interviews throughout Detroit and elsewhere, and edit long and short pieces for social media, including TikTok and YouTube.

  鈥淭he media fellowship is an exciting opportunity,鈥� Raptoplous said. 鈥淚 get to highlight what makes UDM special – the sincere care for one another; from students, to professors, faculty, staff and individuals within the broader Detroit Mercy community.鈥�

  Tripp, who played guard for UDM鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team, applied for the fellowship program because she wanted to gain more experience in the field of film and storytelling.

  鈥淚 get to work closely with team members on assignments, while also having a little bit of creative freedom鈥攚hich I think is super important in the marketing realm,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ore importantly, I hope to increase my interpersonal skills with others and create great relationships.鈥�

  For more info about the comms fellowship, contact MarCom at听marcom@udmercy.edu.

• May 28: UDM to welcome first cohort for accelerated 7-year Doctor of Optometry program

  Wednesday May 28, 2025
  

  糖心logo入口鈥檚 new School of Optometry welcomes its first class in August, while at the same time accepting applications for its accelerated program that allows a first-year student to graduate with a Doctor of Optometry in seven years.

  鈥淥ur program stands out because students will earn their bachelor鈥檚 degree after three years of undergraduate work in Biology or Chemistry at the University鈥檚 McNichols Campus and then transition to the Novi Campus for four years of focused study in the School of Optometry,鈥� said Sulman Hans, executive associate dean for Detroit Mercy Optometry.

  According to Hans, this seven-year route saves students valuable time, thousands in tuition and guarantees qualified students a seat in the School of Optometry in their fourth year at Detroit Mercy. It joins other popular accelerated UDM programs like the seven-year program in the School of Dentistry, the five-year Physician Assistant program and the five-year MBA.

  With its first student cohort entering the program this fall, Detroit Mercy is stepping up to meet this pressing demand for optometrists, one driven by an aging population requiring more vision care, rising awareness of eye health and a growing number of retiring professionals.

  Over the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% growth in optometry jobs, or about 2,200 job openings each year, which is better than average for all other occupations. The new Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from UDM opens the door for students to a prosperous career in vision care with a median annual income of $132,000 for optometrists in 2023.

  鈥淲hat sets UDM鈥檚 program apart is the way we combine clinical excellence with a mission-driven approach rooted in the values of compassion, service and academic rigor,鈥� said Pablo De Gracia, the director of Research and an associate professor in the School of Optometry.

  De Gracia noted that a distinct advantage of UDM鈥檚 program is the requirement of an introductory Optometry course consisting of 10 hours of clinical shadowing during the undergraduate part of the program. This is designed to help students understand the profession while fulfilling their clinical requirements.

  This early clinical exposure will take place at the Detroit Mercy Eye Institute, housed on the Novi Campus. Optometry students will then participate in direct patient care during the last four years of the program, gaining valuable hands-on experience at this state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the diverse needs of metro Detroit.

  De Gracia also said a small cohort of 44 students allows instructors to provide highly personalized attention and mentoring in a curriculum that combines foundational sciences with early and continuous clinical exposure. This means students will benefit from advanced digital learning tools and practical experience with conventional equipment.

  鈥淒etroit Mercy isn鈥檛 just preparing students to enter the profession; it鈥檚 preparing them to lead it, through innovation and groundbreaking research,听as early as their freshman year,鈥� De Gracia said. 鈥淪tudents are involved in research in virtual reality, visual performance, contact lens design and the growing field of myopia control.鈥�

  鈥淭hrough collaboration with industry partners, students are exposed to cutting-edge technologies and real-world innovation that will help them make a difference in the future of eye care,鈥� he explained.

  Above all, a Detroit Mercy Optometry education transcends academics. Students learn the value of service in a program where听dedication to community wellness is embedded into the curriculum and where service is more than just volunteering. Meeting real needs and building relationships through ethical and inclusive community connections, like providing affordable care to the uninsured and those with limited access to eye care, is central to UDM鈥檚 Jesuit and Mercy mission.

  鈥淥ur community is one where students are seen, supported and challenged to become the best version of themselves鈥攑rofessionally and personally,鈥� said De Gracia. 鈥淲e are not only training future clinicians, we are forming leaders who will advocate for patient care, equity and advancements in vision science.鈥�

  To learn more about the new 7-year Doctor of Optometry program, please visit . For more about the School of Optometry, visit .

• May 27: University Ministry launches blog highlighting student reflections on service immersion

  Tuesday May 27, 2025
  

  University Ministry is excited to launch a highlighting stories from student experiences of service immersion with UDM.

  Titled “Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly,” after the biblical passage Micah 6:8, this blog serves as a record of students’ experiences, a way of sharing their thoughts with the larger UDM community and a place for students to learn from one another as people seeking justice.

  Service immersions are key experiences of a transformative Mercy and Jesuit education, rooted in service and social justice. These experiences include serving in shelters, soup kitchens, after school projects, urban farms and many other important community-based projects. They integrate cultural learning, relationship building, presentations from local community leaders, prayer and reflection. They offer a life-long path for our students to become 鈥渕en and women with and for others,” and we believe that these experiences form student leaders who have critical minds and compassionate hearts.

  The first blog post comes from senior Tevon Conrad, reflecting on his spring break trip to Montgomery, Ala.鈥攁 historic hub for both slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.

• May 27: Student Success Center open for summer hours

  Tuesday May 27, 2025
  

  Do you need a tutor or a place to study this summer? Come visit the Student Success Center (SSC), located on the third floor of the McNichols Campus Library!

  The SSC is open for students and faculty during the summer terms, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tutoring appointments can be made on TutorTrac by logging into your MyPortal account.

  If you cannot find a tutor for your summer course, email or call the SSC at ssc@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1143.

  Other services, including the Testing Center, College Life Coaching and Academic Advising, are also available.

  For a full list of services, please visit the SSC website.