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• January 26: Upcoming Cybersecurity Club speaker series

  Wednesday January 26, 2022
  

  The Detroit Mercy Cybersecurity Club is kicking off the winter semester with a pair of speakers for the first two meetings on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. The club meets weekly with the first two being virtual from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

  The first meeting of the semester on Jan. 31 will feature guest speaker Sanjay Rai, president and CEO of Securely Yours LLC, who will speak on threat hunting and being a SOC analyst.

  On Feb. 7, Stephanie Benkhalifa and Josiah McMillin of CyberForce|Q are set to be guest speakers to discuss cybersecurity careers.

  For more information or for an invitation to attend the meetings, please email Thomas Mueller at muelletr@udmercy.edu.

• January 25: Detroit Mercy observes Black History Month with variety of events

  Tuesday January 25, 2022
  

  

  February is Black History Month and Detroit Mercy is celebrating with a series of in-person and virtual programming on the McNichols Campus.

  Dorothy Stewart, associate dean of students and chair of Detroit Mercy’s Black History Month planning team, hopes members of the University community gain a better appreciation for the surrounding community through these events.

  “We designed Black History Month activities to allow an exploration of Black-owned businesses through the food truck experience and learn more about the cultural diversity of the community through the tours,” Stewart said. “Professor Finkenbine will explore historical perspectives and provide an author to broaden our current perspectives.”

  Below are details for Detroit Mercy’s Black History Month events. Stay up to date with other University programming by visiting Detroit Mercy Live.

  Black History Month events

  Tuesdays and Wednesdays in February
  Food truck lunches
  Sacred Heart Square (location on McNichols Campus subject to change)

  Enjoy a tasty lunch as local, Black-owned food trucks visit the McNichols Campus. Multiple trucks will be included, headlined by On The Run food truck on Tuesdays and Durden’s Catering’s The Gripper food truck on Wednesday.

  Tuesday, Feb. 1
  Observing World Hijab Day

  World Hijab Day was first celebrated in 2013 to encourage religious tolerance, as women of all religions and backgrounds are invited to wear and experience the hijab for a day. University Ministry and the Muslim Student Association, co-sponsors for Detroit Mercy’s observance of World Hijab Day, will host a photo challenge on Instagram, where the University community can submit photos of themselves wearing a hijab, and a virtual discussion about the meaning of the hijab.

  Monday, Feb. 7
  Virtual book talk: Clint Smith on How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
  7 p.m.

  Clint Smith, a staff writer at The Atlantic, will talk in a webinar about his recent book, which examines how the collective history and memory of the United States’ slaveholding past shapes our nation today. The book has been recognized as one of the 10 best books of 2021 by The New York Times, and bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi says it “frees history, frees humanity to reckon honestly with the legacy of slavery.”

  The webinar is free and open to the public. Those interested in participating must register in advance.

  Smith’s talk is co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts & Education, African American Studies, the Black Abolitionist Archive and the Student Life Office.

  Thursday, Feb. 10
  Make an African mask
  4:30-6:30 p.m.
  McNichols Campus Library, first floor

  Detroit Mercy students and employees can create their own African masks for an arts and crafts contest. Creators of the top three masks, voted on by the Black Student Union, will receive a $50 gift card. All African masks created and submitted for competition will be displayed in the McNichols Campus Library’s first floor lobby from Feb 21-28.

  This event is co-sponsored by Student Life and the Black Student Union.

  Monday, Feb. 14
  Love Stories from the Underground Railroad
  12-1 p.m.
  Bargmann Room, McNichols Campus Library, second floor

  Professor of History Roy E. Finkenbine recounts the lives of Caesar and Sally, one of the many so-called Black Indian families created because of the Underground Railroad. In 1774, Caesar, an enslaved Virginian, sought sanctuary in the Shawnee villages in the Ohio country. There, he met and married Sally, a Shawnee woman, and produced several children. Caesar fought with other Shawnee warriors to hold onto the land in the face of white settlement. Two of their sons later fought with Tecumseh in the early 19th century to do the same.

  Those attending the live talk will be provided refreshments to take with them at the end of the program. A virtual option will be available to those who register in advance.

  Now in its ninth year, Love Stories is co-sponsored by the Black Abolitionist Archive and Student Life.

  Thursday, Feb. 17
  Movie night: The Best Man Holiday
  7 p.m.
  Ford Life Sciences, room 113

  Join fellow Titans for a viewing of The Best Man Holiday, an American comedy-drama film chosen by the Black Student Union and Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN). The film, released in 2013, received numerous accolades, including nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards.

  Sunday, Feb. 20
  Ecumenical Service
  4 p.m.
  Student Union, Fountain Lounge, first floor

  Pastor Teamos Hogan Jr. of Frontline Christian Church will lead the service. Refreshments will be provided and all are welcome to attend. The ecumenical service is co-sponsored by University Ministry, Student Life and the McNichols Campus Library.

  Tuesday, Feb. 22
  Detroit tours: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
  2:30-4:30 p.m.

  Students and employees can tour the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, led by historian and tour guide Jamon Jordan.

  Those interested in attending should meet at the Livernois gate on Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus at 2 p.m. Capacity is limited to 40 people, which includes a bus trip from the University to the museum. Participation is limited to just one of the two tours.

  Jordan is the founder of the Black Scroll Network History & Tours, which specializes in tours that focus on African American history in Detroit.

  Register in advance for the tour.

  Thursday, Feb. 24
  Detroit tours: Detroit Historical Museum
  2:30-4:30 p.m.

  Students and employees can tour the Detroit Historical Museum, led by historian and tour guide Jamon Jordan.

  Those interested in attending should meet at the Livernois gate on Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus at 2 p.m. Capacity is limited to 40 people, which includes a bus trip from the University to the museum. Participation is limited to just one of the two tours due to limited capacity.

  Jordan is the founder of the Black Scroll Network History & Tours, which specializes in tours that focus on African American history in Detroit.

  Register in advance for the tour.

• January 25: Updates made to Face Covering (Mask) policy

  Tuesday January 25, 2022
  

  Starting Jan. 31, surgical or higher-grade face masks must be worn on all Detroit Mercy campuses. This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to all our campuses. The best protection is offered by N95, KN95, KF-94 or equivalent masks. Disposable surgical masks that fit snugly over your nose, mouth, and chin are also acceptable. The CDC recommends wearing a cloth mask on top of surgical masks to ensure a better fit. Per further CDC guidelines, masks with exhalation vents are not acceptable. Please review the Mask Guidelines in Titans Together.

• January 25: Booster clinic to be held Feb. 4

  Tuesday January 25, 2022
  

  Detroit Mercy is offering COVID-19 booster shots at a clinic Friday, Feb. 4, at the Fitness Center on the McNichols Campus.

  The clinic will be held from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on February 4. Students and employees will be allowed to attend their scheduled appointment regardless of work or class schedule.

  To receive a booster-dose, you must complete the Sign-Up for the February 4th Booster Clinic. The sign-up will remain open until all spots are filled. You will receive an appointment time in the days prior to the clinic.

  Those interested in receiving a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine should review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for eligibility.

  Booster-dose clinic FAQs:

  • Only the booster dose will be administered at the Feb. 4 clinic. You must have already received full vaccination and meet the CDC criteria for the booster. Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for eligibility.
  • This clinic is for University of Detroit Mercy students and employees only. At this time, there are no plans to extend the clinic to friends and family or members of the community. If you are unable to attend that date, remember most medical facilities and pharmacy locations offer the booster dose.
  • Our clinic partner, RiteAid Pharmacy, will administer the vaccine. They will not have a copy of your current vaccination card, so you will need to bring proof of vaccination with you to the clinic.
  • You will receive further instruction and information on what to bring with you to the clinic appointment after you have registered.

• January 24: Research by Detroit Mercy professor, student shows electrician need for BEV adoption

  Monday January 24, 2022
  

  

  Research conducted by Detroit Mercy Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Alan Hoback and student Brendan Lubiarz has determined that there needs to be 25% more electricians by 2050 to handle battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) adoption.

  The research, titled “Electrician Demand for Battery Electric Vehicle Charger Installation,” was published as a technical paper by SAE International, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers. The report analyzed human behavior and market projections for BEV adoption to determine the number of electricians needed to support the development of BEV infrastructure.

  Hoback and Lubiarz, an Architectural Engineering student from Warren, Mich., surveyed hundreds of homes in southeast Michigan to determine how easily they would be able to install electric vehicle chargers. They also interviewed electricians about installation times for various chargers, and compared the responses to published information on how to estimate construction times.

  “Most people want fast chargers, but they are more expensive to buy and install,” Hoback said.

  However, costs and installation times aren’t limited to consumers desiring a faster charger. Other factors include location of the charger, electrical grids, new electrical lines and ordinances.

  Once the surveying and interviewing were complete, Hoback and Lubiarz created a labor forecast based on the projected total work hours required to install the chargers.

  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electricians is projected to grow 9% between 2020-30. The projections note that more electricians will be required with the growth of alternative power sources, however, Hoback argues that they are not accounting for the sudden need for the installation of BEV chargers.

  “Many of these projections neglect to include or mention the need for help installing a charger at home or anywhere else in public,” he said. “If unaddressed, this could cause a massive labor shortage when the work is needed most.”

  Lubiarz conducted the research through an Electrical Building Systems honors class with Hoback.

  “I’ve been really fortunate to work on a project that can give me a different outlook on my career,” Lubiarz said. “Through this research, I’ve realized how different factors can affect the demand for labor and completely reshape a field.

  “This research is important because it identifies a crucial issue while it can still be addressed. If we begin now, programs can be altered before the demand for labor reaches its maximum.”

  To counter the need for electricians to support BEV infrastructure, Hoback and Lubiarz’s conclusion suggests altering training and education programs.

  “Becoming even an apprentice electrician is a lengthy process that discourages many potential workers, who may be interested in the other benefits if the training time is reduced,” Hoback said. “Until we develop a more attractive training program, it will be a constant struggle to maintain the current number of electricians, let alone grow them.”

• January 24: Becoming A Better U returns March 19

  Monday January 24, 2022
  

  Becoming a Better U returns to campus this spring as the Alumni Relations team invites all faculty, staff, alumni and students to a half day devoted to your personal and professional development.

  The half-day event is set to be held Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the McNichols Campus. Registration opens 8:30 a.m. the morning of the event.

  Workshops cover a wide variety of topics and are sure to have something for everyone.

  Breakfast and free professional headshots are included with the registration fee.

  Click the below link to see a full list of the workshops, as well as to register:

  Register for Becoming A Better U.

• January 21: Updates made to student quarantine and returning processes

  Friday January 21, 2022
  

  The University recently made updates to the Student Quarantine and Isolation Protocol and the Return to in-person activity clearance process.

  Students are strongly encouraged to review these new processes and guidelines.