Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• April 28: Tuesday summer food truck series begins May 5

  Tuesday April 28, 2026
  

  

  Looking to mix up your lunch routine on McNichols Campus? Stop by Food Truck Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Sacred Heart Square.

  The schedule is always expanding, but as of now:

  • May 5 – Pablo’s Tacos
  • May 19 – Unique Eats
  • June 30 – Sassy Z’s
  • July 14 – Buck N Dink’s BBQ
  • August 11 – Detroit Panzerotti

  

• April 28: Donations needed for Little Red Food Pantry

  Tuesday April 28, 2026
  

  

  At Detroit Mercy, caring for the whole person is central to our mission.

  Financial Aid Office’s Little Red Food Pantry, located in the Student Union, supports our Titan family by providing quick, accessible food options for students who need something to get through the day.

  The pantry is primarily stocked with snacks and grab-and-go items, with some meal options available, to help students stay energized and focused between classes.

  How You Can Help

  • Donate nonperishable snacks and easy, grab-and-go items
  • Help ensure students have access to quick nourishment during busy days
  • Contribute anytime — your support makes an immediate impact

  Drop-Off Locations

  • Financial Aid Office
  • Pantry location in the Student Union

  Every donation helps make sure no Titan has to navigate their day hungry.

• April 28: Titan Taxi with Provost Pam Zarkowski

  Tuesday April 28, 2026
  

  

  Episode 17 of the Titan Taxi is now out featuring Provost and host Pam Zarkowski driving students around the McNichols Campus for the final drive of the 2025-26 academic school year. Click on the YouTube link below to watch the full episode!

• April 28: Making emails accessible (without overthinking it) 

  Tuesday April 28, 2026
  

  

  Email is one of the easiest ways to connect with people — as long as everyone can actually read and understand what you send. Accessible emails make sure your message works for all recipients, including people using screen readers, mobile devices or assistive technology.

  The good news? A few thoughtful habits go a long way.

  Don’t put information inside images 

  It might be tempting to design a beautiful graphic and send it as your email. However, doing so creates major accessibility barriers, and many of your own colleagues won’t be able to read your message.

  If your key message lives inside a graphic, some recipients may never receive it. Why?

  • Screen readers can’t read text inside an image.
  • People with low vision may not be able to zoom in enough to discern the content.
  • People with colorblindness may not be able to distinguish the text from the background.

  Instead:

  • Put all essential information as actual text within the email
  • Use images to support or enhance your message—not replace it
  • Keep alt text short and meaningful for any images you include

  Images are great for adding personality and visual interest—but they shouldn’t be the only way your message is delivered.

  Quick check: If you removed every image, would your email still make sense?

  Add alt text to images 

  Alt text is a short description of an image.

  • Describe the purpose, not every detail
  • Keep it brief but meaningful
  • Example: Instead of “image,” write: “Students working together in a chemistry lab.”

  Why it matters: People using screen readers rely on alt text to understand images.

  Quick check: If the image disappeared, would your message still make sense?

  Use clear, simple structure 

  • Use short sections with clear headings
  • Break up long paragraphs
  • Keep your message focused

  Why it matters: Screen readers often scan emails by headings. If everything is one big block of text, it’s much harder to navigate.

  Use meaningful links 

  Avoid generic phrases like:

  • “Click here”
  • “Read more”

  Instead, describe the destination:

  • “View the event schedule”
  • “Download the camp packing list”

  Why it matters: Screen reader users often navigate by links alone. “Click here” gives them no context.

  Quick check: Ask yourself—would this link make sense out of context?

  Make your email easy on the eyes, choose Readable Fonts and Colors

  • Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, etc.): Any text you use should be 12 point or larger for on‑screen readability and use sans-serif fonts, like Arial, Calibri or Verdana.  Sans-serif fonts don’t have the little decorative lines on the ends of letters, making them easier for most people to read.
  • Keep text large enough (at least ~12–14px)
  • Ensure strong contrast (dark text on light background works best)

  Why it matters: Low contrast or tiny fonts make reading difficult for many people, not just those with visual impairments. 

  Quick check: If you must squint, it’s probably not accessible.

  Don’t rely on color alone 

  If you’re highlighting something important:

  • Don’t rely only on color (like plain red text)
  • Add text cues or symbols (like making it bold or italic)

  Example: Instead of just red text, write: “Important: Registration closes Friday.”

  Why it matters: Some users can’t distinguish certain colors.

  Keep it mobile-friendly 

  Most people read emails on their phones.

  • Use short paragraphs
  • Leave space between sections
  • Make buttons easy to tap

  Why it matters: Accessibility and mobile usability go hand in hand.

  Final thought 

  Accessible emails aren’t about perfection—they’re about intention.

  If your message is clear, well-structured and thoughtful, you’re already doing most of the work. These small choices help ensure that everyone—no matter how they access email—can read, understand and engage with what you send.

  Related Links

  • Make your Outlook Emails Accessible 
  • Find out more about digital accessibility 

• April 28: Volunteers needed for 2026 Commencement, May 9

  Tuesday April 28, 2026
  

  

  

  The Detroit Mercy Commencement Planning Committee is seeking dependable student and employee volunteers to help make 2026 Commencement Day a special event for graduates and their families.

  Two McNichols Campus Commencement ceremonies, as well as Baccalaureate Mass, will take place on Saturday, May 9 on the McNichols Campus.

  Please see sign-up below for volunteer opportunities and available time slots. Whether you have availability for one shift or for multiple shifts, your help is greatly appreciated! Breakfast and lunch are provided to all volunteers.

  Volunteer Meeting
  All volunteers are required to attend a mandatory meeting on Tuesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. via Teams. For more information, please contact Alysa Jackson (ouelleal@udmercy.edu).

  Dress Code
  Employee volunteers are asked to dress in business casual and/or Detroit Mercy gear. A volunteer name badge will be provided at check-in, which is located in the Athletics Office in Calihan Hall.

  Thank you for supporting graduating Titans on this special and exciting day!

  Sign up here!

• April 27: Explore UDM summer camps and pre-college programs

  Monday April 27, 2026
  

  

  

  UDM is set to deliver a lineup of summer camps and pre-college programs that offer students from elementary school through college a ticket to academic discovery, career exploration and athletic development this summer.

  • Beginners Investment Camp, June 22-26
  • Youth Exploration Camp, July 20-24 and July 24-31
  • Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), July 13-24
  • NOMA’s Project Pipeline, July 27-31
  • Dentistry Summer Enrichment Program, May 27-June 26
  • Nike Soccer Camp, June 29-July 3 and July 13-18
  • Summer Reading programs throughout summer
  • Special Needs Basketball camp, dates TBD
  • Tennis Program, dates TBD

  Hosted across UDM’s campuses and online, the University’s summer programming reflects its longstanding commitment to community engagement in conjunction with academic excellence, with camp opportunities in health sciences, business, architecture, engineering, literacy and athletics.

  Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors can explore basic investment and financial concepts at the free Beginners Investment Camp, scheduled for June 22–26 on the McNichols Campus. Participants will also hear from industry professionals about career opportunities in the field.

  Building on its 60-year legacy of educating high-quality health professionals to meet growing workforce demands, the University’s immersive Youth Exploration Camp aims to inspire the next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals. The camp offers two free, hands-on sessions, July 20-24 and July 24-31. Middle and high school students will be introduced to essential clinical and healthcare skills, including CPR training and emergency response procedures, and will take part in simulation-based escape room challenges at the University’s Simulation, Technology and Research (STAR) Center.

  The College of Engineering & Science (CES) has once again partnered with the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) to offer a series of interactive STEM camps for students in grades two through eight, along with a digital advertising camp, at the McNichols Campus from July 13-24. CES and DAPCEP have partnered for more than 30 years to inspire and prepare hundreds of underrepresented minority students for careers in engineering and science.

  Aspiring young architects can attend Project Pipeline Camp, hosted by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), July 27-31 on the McNichols Campus. Designed for students in grades 6-12, the program connects underrepresented youth with design professionals and uses the city as a classroom to empower them to be advocates of change through design.

  The Dental Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a fully funded, four-week residential early admissions program May 27-June 26 on the Corktown Campus for college juniors, seniors and recent college graduates. Through academic enrichment, mentorship, professional development and hands-on dental experiences, the program prepares students for the transition to dental school. SEP expands access, supports students facing systemic barriers and helps build a diverse, community-focused dental workforce.

  Led by Steve Shelton, head women’s soccer coach at UDM, and the Titan coaching staff, the Nike youth soccer camp offers high quality training for ages 6–16 in a fun, challenging and supportive environment. Two sessions run on the McNichols Campus, June 29-July 3 and July 13-17, where players build strong fundamentals, elevate their game and learn to compete at their best.

  Among other athletic camp offerings are a tennis camp and special needs basketball camp, with camp dates to be determined.

  The University will also continue its partnership with the Institute of Reading Development, offering online summer reading programs for students from pre-K through 12th grade. The program focuses on building reading skills and cultivating a lifelong love of books.

  Camp dates, age requirements and registration details vary by program. Learn more about Detroit Mercy summer camps or sign up for a session.

   

• April 27: Faculty and staff needed for reimagined PTV, Aug. 26-27

  Monday April 27, 2026
  

  Interested in being part of an exciting new approach to the engagement portion of Prologues, Transitions and Viewpoint  (PTV) — the orientation program for incoming first-year students on the McNichols Campus?

  We are reimagining the engagement portion using the “Immersion Day” model developed by University Ministry. While service remains an important component of PTV, the new approach will include community engagement elements to introduce students to Detroit and the amazing organizations and creative ideas used to address particular challenges.

  We are seeking faculty and staff willing to assist on one or both mornings of PTV, August 26 and/or 27.

  Faculty and staff who participate may use Mission Leave to get paid for their involvement. Learn more about Mission Leave. 

  A planning meeting will be held between May 5 and May 15 to explain the new approach and begin developing plans. If you are interested in attending, please share your availability during that time frame.

  If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Fr. Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu or 313-993-2003.