Current Students

Students, alumni, employees, family, fans and friends are all invited to join in the festivities at the University’s annual Homecoming, set for Sept. 26-27 on the McNichols Campus.

This two-day event offers something for everyone—from exciting games and tours to informative sessions and even tasty barbecue wings to enjoy throughout the day on Saturday.

Among the highlights are the annual bike tour of the historic areas surrounding the McNichols Campus, a pickleball clinic and competition, a taping of Detroit Mercy’s long-running show, “Ask the Professor” and a performance in the newly established Black Box Theatre in the Student Union.

Attendees can also cheer on men’s lacrosse alumni Titans at Titan Field as they take on the 2025-26 men’s lacrosse team in a friendly game at noon on Saturday.

The main event is the Fall Festival which is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. It features laser tag, arts and crafts, bubble soccer, yard and casino games, food trucks, scavenger hunt and many more family friendly activities, all located inside or near the Student Fitness Center. After dusk, a bonfire will be lit to celebrate all Titan Athletic teams!

Also included in the weekend’s events and numerous reunions are the College of Health Professions Research Symposium, a Golden Jubilee reunion for the Class of 1975 and the presentation of 2025’s Alumni Achievement Spirit Award honorees.

Wondering if your AP, IB, dual enrollment or summer courses count for credit? Stop by the lower level of the Student Union on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 12:30-4:30 p.m. to chat with the Registrar’s Office team. We’ll help you figure it out — and sweeten the deal with free candy while you’re there.

Founders Week celebrates both Catherine McAuley and St. Ignatius of Loyola with a number of special events beginning Friday, Sept. 19, and running through Sunday, Sept. 28. All are invited to attend.

Highlights include a talk and roundtable discussion on the issue of immigration with a courageous and caring Sister of Mercy, an intercultural tea party, an interfaith panel sponsored by Thomas Moore Society, Homecoming Mass and more.

Founders Week also celebrates the approval from Rome of the organization of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola on Sept. 27, 1540.

Check out the full list of events to help celebrate Founders Week:

• Friday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. — Mission Deep Dive 201 (Student Union, Room 208)
• Monday, Sept. 22, 1 and 4 p.m. — Presentation and roundtable discussion with Sr. JoAnn Persch
• Tuesday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m.— Law School Red Mass (Riverfront Campus)
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. — Comfortable Cup of Tea (Health Professions Building Lobby)
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, noon — Mercy Day Mass (St. Ignatius Chapel, Commerce & Finance Building)
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, 4:30 p.m. — Intercultural Tea Party (Fountain Lounge, Student Union)
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m. — Interfaith Panel sponsored by Thomas Moore Society (Riverfront Campus Atrium)
• Thursday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. — Spirit Awards (Student Union Ballroom)
• Saturday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. — Homecoming Mass, Founders Day for the Society of Jesus (St. Ignatius Chapel)
• Sunday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. — Founders Mass (St. Ignatius Chapel)

Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture & Community Development and College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences will offer a joint spring break trip to Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico, in March 2026. This opportunity is open to students in all disciplines, as well as faculty and staff. Coursework is offered in architecture, community development and Spanish language during the winter semester.

Join an upcoming information session to learn more about the trip, courses offered, as well as costs, itinerary, orientation schedule and travel grant opportunities available to help offset costs.

Info sessions are as follows:

• Virtual — Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. Register for Zoom in advance here.
• In-person — Friday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. in Briggs Building Room 301
• Virtual — Thursday, Oct 2, at 6 p.m. Register in Zoom in advance here.

For more information, contact Lara Wasner at wasnerle@udmercy.edu.

Join Titan men’s soccer in the fight against childhood cancer during their fundraiser match in support of the Wreck-It Like Beckett Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Titans will battle Green Bay in a match at 2 p.m. from Titan Field on the McNichols Campus.

As part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the men’s soccer program will raise funds for this foundation through T-shirt sales and more during the match.

The Wreck-It Like Beckett Foundation is dedicated to supporting families affected by pediatric cancer, inspired by young Beckett’s courageous battle with brain cancer and his love of monster trucks. The foundation aims to “wreck” the barriers and challenges faced by families dealing with pediatric cancer.

Come out, cheer on the Titans and help make a meaningful impact in the lives of children battling cancer.

The entire Detroit Mercy community is invited to walk together to support mental health awareness at the upcoming NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Walk on Saturday, Sept. 20 on the McNichols Campus. The walk begins at 10 a.m. with registration starting at 9 a.m.

Unique UDM swag will be provided for the first 150 Detroit Mercy students, faculty, administrators and staff that register and participate in the walk.

The NAMI Walk is more than just a walk—it’s a powerful opportunity to:

• Show support for individuals and families impacted by mental illness.
• Raise awareness about the importance of mental health on campus and in our community.
• Take action to reduce stigma and advocate for resources that make a difference.

Some 2,000 supporters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness are expected to participate in a 5K walk on UDM’s campus to raise funds and awareness of the organization, which is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Titans, student organizations, residence hall floors, come together to champion mental health for all by creating or joining a team, raising money and walking together. Wear your Titan gear and comfortable shoes. If you cannot join the walk, support the Detroit Mercy Titans team or a student group. Participants receive special Detroit Mercy swag.

According to NAMI, one in five adults in the United States experience mental illness each year and nearly 1.5 million adults in Michigan has a mental health condition.

“This is very exciting for the University because it is the second time the walk has been held at Detroit Mercy,” said Dean of Students Monica Williams. “We are participating because too often mental health issues are not spoken about, and these walks are a way to open up discussions. It is the mission of this University to work within the community to help make it stronger for everybody.”

Supporters who want to participate but can’t attend the event can make a difference by supporting a team through making a donation.

All are welcome to join the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and Martin Park community in celebrating our bustling garden before the end of the season. Come for an afternoon of food, harvesting and community building on Tuesday, Sept. 16. This free event is set to begin at 5 p.m. at the garden located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

The church is located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.

To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.

Looking for a way to feel better connected with our neighbors? The Martin Park District Association invites all Detroit Mercy students, faculty and staff to participate in the annual Martin Park Walk on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 12-1:30 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to build community spirit, enjoy a refreshing walk and strengthen the bond between Detroit Mercy and our surrounding neighborhood.

Those interested in joining the Martin Park Walk will gather at noon at the pavilion behind Good Shepherd Lutheran Church located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit. From there, the group will walk through the neighborhood, learning about its rich history along the way. The walk will conclude by 1:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu, Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu or Shane Hisner at hisnersj@udmercy.edu.

Please Note: Prior to the Martin Park Walk, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be hosting its monthly community outreach. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please contact Pastor Blanton Banks at bboy10ppn@gmail.com for details.

Detroit Mercy students are invited to explore global issues and propose bold solutions with a chance to win cash prizes.

Students in good standing can participate in the College of Business Administration’s PRIME Center‘s Business Ethics & Sustainability Case Challenge, which focuses on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Finalist teams will present before a panel of judges from the business community and receive cash prizes. The winning team will be sponsored to compete in the International Business Ethics & Sustainability Case Challenge (IBESCC) in April hosted by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

The objective of this competition is for students to develop a plan in line with one or more of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals to address a real-world problem involving a business. Students will:

• Form a team of 3-5 students.
• Win cash prizes
• Prepare a report intended for senior leadership

Submission deadline is Dec. 1.

For more information, please contact Chair of Business Administration & Director of Undergraduate Business Programs Evan Peterson at petersea@udmercy.edu.

A $2.22-million gift from Jonathan D. Rose (“Dr. Rose”) will help the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law launch a fully online juris doctor degree in fall 2026.

The Online J.D. Program (OJD) will be the first in Michigan and just the 21st in the nation. Applications for the four-year program are now being accepted at law.udmercy.edu. It has been accredited by the American Bar Association.

For UDM President Donald B. Taylor, this new program further enhances the University’s academic tradition of innovation and excellence.

“This is an extremely important gift by a very generous alumnus because it allows Detroit Mercy to make a difference in the lives of many students to come,” Taylor said. “Support for programs like this are crucial to preserving and building on the UDM brand of education, which continues to be recognized nationally for the quality of our offerings, commitment of faculty and staff and dedication to student success.”

Dean of Detroit Mercy Law Nicholas Schroeck agreed. “Detroit Mercy Law has long been a leader in innovation and increasing accessibility in legal education. From our earliest classes, we have welcomed students of all backgrounds, in a variety of innovative programs,” Schroeck said. “Building on our storied tradition in the heart of Detroit, our Online J.D. will allow us to reach people who have a passion for justice but currently lack the access to a legal education due to life circumstances or location.”

Detroit Mercy’s OJD can be completed fully online and will replace Detroit Mercy Law’s evening part-time residential program. Classes will be offered asynchronously for the most part, with some upper-level courses such as the award-winning clinics taught synchronously.

Enrollment in the program is capped at 25 for the first class, which begins in fall 2026. The cap will then increase each year until the fall of 2030, when it will reach a maximum of 45 students. Schroeck says there is a great deal of interest in the program already.

“Students in this program will receive the same impeccable legal education that Detroit Mercy Law is known for. We’re leaders in experiential education and not just teaching the law but teaching students how to be lawyers,” Schroeck said. “The Online J.D. will mirror our residential J.D. program, and I think that is why we have already started to see strong interest in the online program. Students know the high-quality education they will receive from Detroit Mercy Law, whether they’re physically on our campus or in our online classrooms.”

The $2.22-million donation, which is the largest gift given directly to the School of Law, came from Dr. Rose ’81, ’82 and will offset startup costs including instructional design, videography and faculty hiring.

“This is an important gift because it helps the University move forward on a project we have long been working on,” Schroeck said. “It’s forward-thinking Detroit Mercy supporters like Dr. Rose who are helping us spread the Detroit Mercy message of innovative educational opportunities across the country and making UDM a leader in higher ed.”

For Schroeck, this program has the potential to open doors to many who thought a career in law is not an option because it targets people who cannot attend law school during conventional hours and those who live too far from a law school campus to participate in person.

“An online program will allow us to reach a pool of, and provide a legal education to, a group of students in parts of Michigan that we have not traditionally been able to reach, such as non-traditional students in Northern, Central, and Western Michigan, and students in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as well as out-of-state students,” Schroeck said.

He added that the typical online J.D. student is older than those of students in traditional law programs and brings years of experience in business, management, nonprofit and other fields.

For more information about the Detroit Mercy Online J.D. Program, including how to apply, visit law.udmercy.edu or call 313-596-0264.