Gwynedd Mercy University
| File:Gwyneddmercy.png | |
| Motto | Veritas et Misericordia (Truth and Mercy) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1948 |
| President | Dr. Kathleen Owens |
Academic staff | 81 full-time, 196 part-time |
| Undergraduates | 2020 |
| Postgraduates | 627 |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Suburban, 160 acres (0.65 km2) |
| Colors | Red and gold |
| Website | www.gmc.edu |
Gwynedd-Mercy College is a baccalaureate and masters-level catholic college located in Gwynedd Valley of Lower Gwynedd Township, PA, 25 miles (40 km) northwest of downtown Philadelphia. Offering degrees in traditional and accelerated formats, Gwynedd-Mercy College has more than 17,000 alumni throughout the United States and around the world.[1]
Founded in 1948 by the Sisters of Mercy as a junior college, Gwynedd-Mercy College was rechartered in 1963 as baccalaureate institution. As of 2012 Gwynedd-Mercy College has a student enrollment of 2700 and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report's "America’s Best Colleges" publication as one of the top master’s-level colleges and universities in the north region.
Academics
In the 2008 issue of U.S. News & World Report's "America’s Best Colleges" publication, Gwynedd-Mercy ranked 75 among the top master’s-level colleges and universities in the north region, with a 76% graduation rate.
Espousing the ideals of a liberal education, the College offers baccalaureate and associate degrees in more than 50 programs. Gwynedd-Mercy is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
| Programs of Study and Degrees Offered |
|---|
| Bachelor of Arts Behavioral and Social Gerontology | Biology | English | History | Human Services | Mathematics | Psychology Bachelor of Science |
|
Associate Degree |
|
Teacher Certification |
|
Certificates |
|
Master of Science |
Center for Lifelong Learning
Designed to meet the needs of busy working adults, the Center for Lifelong Learning offers four accelerated programs based on the value-centered principles traditional to the college. Degrees include: Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Bachelor of Health Science Degree in Health Care Leadership and Supervision, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Requires RN License). A Masters of Science in Management is also offered.
Facilities
Lourdes Library houses nearly 100,000 volumes and 10,000 media titles and receives over 700 current periodical subscriptions in print and microfilm. Several hundred additional periodical titles are available full text online. The library is open seven days (including four evenings) a week during the fall and spring semesters, with a reduced schedule during the summer and inter-sessions. A currently validated student ID is required for students to borrow materials.
The Academic Resource Center - equipped with state-of-the-art computers, tutorial software and a video library - offers professional tutoring in writing, and math and workshops for test-taking, skill-development and resume writing.
The Lincoln Library in Assumption Hall contains a large adjunct collection of books on Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War.
Theaters include the Julia Ball Auditorium, a small-in-the-round theater.
Keiss Hall, 46,000-square-foot (4,300 m2) health and science center, is home to the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing, the School of Allied Health Professions, natural science, and math and computational science.
Four residential-halls, Alexandria (built in January 2006), Siena, St. Brigid and Loyola, provide on-campus housing to students.
Athletics
Gwynedd-Mercy is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) with 19 sports teams that compete at NCAA Division III level. In the Spring of 2009 Gwynedd-Mercy College opened its doors to a new turf athletic multi-purpose stadium and the addition of Men's Lacrosse to their athletic department. The Griffins most successful athletic program is Women's Basketball, which captured the CSAC championships in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2012. Men's Basketball captured the title in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2009. The Gwynedd-Mercy Women's Soccer team won their only title in 2001. The Griffin Baseball team has had back-to-back championship seasons in 2000 and 2001, then again in 2007 and 2008. Men's Cross-Country team has won four consecutive league championships from 2008 to 2011. The Women Griffins ran to a title in 2009 in Cross-Country. The Women's Tennis team has gone on to win four consecutive league championships from 2009 to 2012.
The 160-acre (0.65 km2) campus has outdoor tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, and playing fields for softball, lacrosse, baseball, soccer and field hockey. The Griffin Complex, the college's multi-million dollar sports facility, contains a full-size collegiate basketball court; an indoor track; an aerobics room; racquetball, volleyball and wallyball courts; a weight room; and saunas.
Student Life
The Voices of Gwynedd
The Voices of Gwynedd is a 100-member choir composed of full- and part-time students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Gwynedd-Mercy College. Directed by Carol Evans, a seasoned soprano and assistant professor of music in the College's School of Arts and Sciences, the choir has developed into a highly professional choral ensemble presenting quality programs representing many different genres. Performances by the choir and its musical collaborators are establishing the college as a strong cultural presence in Southeastern Pennsylvania and the entire Tri-state area.
Enriching the campus and the region, the Voices of Gwynedd provide on-campus concerts and events throughout the year, currently attracting its largest audiences ever. In addition, the ensemble has represented the College at a number of high profile regional events. Their most recent regional events include performances at Longwood Gardens and the Philadelphia Phillies games, and in August 2008 the Eagles! In addition, for the past four years the Voices have been joining hundreds of Breast Cancer Survivors in their search for a cure by performing at the opening ceremonies at the Race for the Cure on the steps of the Art Museum in Philadelphia. Other notable performances include performing with Barry Manilow on The Ultimate Manilow Concert Tour, Jo Dee Messina on her Christmas Tour, Broadway singer Linda Eder on her Holiday Tour, and as the featured choir with Judy Collins on her Christmas Tour in 2002.
The group has expanded its repertoire with concert tours in England, Italy, Canada, Alaska, Nashville, San Diego, Washington D.C., Virginia, the American Southwest and performances for Spanish Missions, U.S. Naval Bases and most recently Ireland where they sang at the Mercy International Centre in Dublin, home of the Sisters of Mercy. The Voices of Gwynedd were also selected to perform at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida where ensemble members worked one-on-one with Disney's professional singers, providing music enhancement and motivation. The group was invited to New York City to perform at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts "Music Makers" program in March 1998. In spring 2003 the Voices of Gwynedd sang at Carnegie Hall performing the Mozart Requiem.
To help commemorate Gwynedd-Mercy College's 60th Anniversary, the ensemble accompanied the Ireland Heritage Tour, performing for a variety of concert venues throughout Ireland. The Voices traveled to San Diego, CA in the spring 1999 and performed at Spanish Missions, the U.S. Naval Base, and Walt Disneyland in Los Angeles. During recent summers, the choir successfully completed international concert tours to England, Italy and Ireland.
The Voices were honored in 1999 when they were asked to sing at the world premiere grand finale of Leslie Burr's opera Vanqui, at Opera Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. Subsequently the Voices have participated in additional presentations of Vanqui at the National Opera Association convention in Philadelphia in 2002 and at the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture in New York City in 2004. The Voices again served as the Opera Chorus for Opera North's production of Vanqui in May 2005 at the Prince Theater in Philadelphia. This past spring the Voices collaborated with Mr. Burrs in a production of Vanqui in affiliation with the Philadelphia Opera Company, and the premiere of Egypt’s Nights, in affiliation with Opera North.
The Griffin
The Griffin is an annual literary journal sponsored by Gwynedd-Mercy College. It prints poetry, short stories, short plays, and essays. It comes out in the spring.[2]
Special Programs and Services
Valie Genuardi Hobbit House
Located in the college's Trocaire building, the Hobbit House preschool extends hands-on experience to early childhood development and nursing majors currently enrolled at the college. Fulfilling its mission to raise a child’s awareness of his/her surrounding natural environment, the Hobbit House opens all field trips and special occasions to Gwynedd-Mercy students and parents who wish to attend.
Upward Bound
A comprehensive, pre-college preparatory program designed to aid high school students interested in higher education, Gwynedd-Mercy offers eligible, Diocensan-city-schooled participants a five-week, summer residential stay on-campus. Program offerings include academic instruction in mathematics, science and English; tutorial and counseling services; PSAT/SAT workshops; financial aid information; visits to colleges; and cultural and social activities.
References
External links
Template:Colonial States Athletic Conference navbox
- Universities and colleges in Pennsylvania
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- Roman Catholic universities and colleges in the United States
- Educational institutions established in 1948
- Council of Independent Colleges
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities members
- Gwynedd–Mercy College
- Universities and colleges in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania