Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• September 11: Ask MarCom drop-in support set for Sept. 17

  Thursday September 11, 2025
  

  Do you have questions about how to promote your organization or event? Do you want to create more effective fliers or digital slides? Maybe you wonder why Marketing & Communications won’t let you make up your own logo. If so, Ask MarCom is for you.

  Representatives from the University MarCom team will answer questions outside the Student Union Ballroom on a drop-in basis from 12:30-2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17.

  “MarCom is here to help you succeed in getting your message out,” said Ron Bernas, UDM’s director of Communications. “Though MarCom members are always available for conversations, we believe that everyone’s work gets stronger when they understand the whys and hows behind MarCom’s policies and procedures.”

  MarCom is the University’s in-house strategic partner to help you reach out and influence alumni, prospective students, community and corporate customers.

  The answers to many questions commonly asked of MarCom are always available on our webpages. A helpful list is below.

  • General information about MarCom: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/index.php
    • General policies about copyright, video captioning and others: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/policies/index.php
    • Campus announcements, press releases, social media posts, Campus Connection posts and digital signage: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/requests/announcements.php
    • Graphic design: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/requests/communication.php
    • Brand Standards—please pay special attention to the approved identity guidelines: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/brand/index.php
    • Web toolbox and requests for updates: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/web/index.php
    • Photography requests: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/requests/photographer.php
    • Rebranding ongoing work—look for updates on this site soon: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/brand/rebrand.php
    • Website accessibility guidelines/federal requirements: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/web/web-access-policy.php
    • Writing Style: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/writing/index.php
    • Pre-branded flier and poster templates: https://www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/brand/downloads.php

  As always, should you have questions, please speak with a MarCom colleague or email marcom@udmercy.edu.

• September 11: Connect with Detroit Mercy neighbors at Martin Park walk, Sept. 13

  Thursday September 11, 2025
  

  

  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.

  

• September 11: Detroit Mercy to host mental illness awareness walk, Sept. 20

  Thursday September 11, 2025
  

  

  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.

  Join or donate here.

  

• September 11: TENN hosts garden party for the community, Sept. 16

  Thursday September 11, 2025
  

  

  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.

  

• September 11: Mission Formation Retreat schedule now available for all campuses

  Thursday September 11, 2025
  

  

  The Office of Mission Integration is hosting Mission Formation Retreats for 2025–26 on all campuses.

  These half-day retreats are designed to create space for reflection, dialogue, and connection to the University of Detroit Mercy’s mission in ways that enrich both professional and personal life.

  Each retreat provides time for participants to step back from daily routines and engage with colleagues across the University community, deepening our shared commitment to the values of our Jesuit and Mercy traditions. A light breakfast is served at all of the morning retreats, and a lunch is also served at all retreats.

  Retreat Dates:

  • Wednesday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Lansing-Reilly Hall (McNichols Campus)
  • Friday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Lansing-Reilly Hall (McNichols Campus)
  • Friday, Oct. 24, 1-4:30 p.m. – Novi Campus
  • Wednesday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Corktown Campus
  • Friday, Jan. 23, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Riverfront Campus
  • Thursday, Jan. 29, 1-4:30 p.m. – Corktown Campus
  • Thursday, March 19, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Lansing-Reilly Hall (McNichols Campus)
  • Thursday, March 26, 1-4:30 p.m. – Lansing-Reilly Hall (McNichols Campus)
  • Friday, April 17, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Riverfront Campus

  Register to reserve your spot.

• September 11: Community engaged learning reflection workshop set for Sept. 18

  Thursday September 11, 2025
  

  As Detroit Mercy’s Institute for Leadership and Service proceeds with the Community Engaged Learning (CEL) 2030 initiative, reflection has become crucial for successful CEL pedagogy. As a result, the Institute is dedicated to exploring different aspects of reflection.

  Mike Martin, a Detroit Mercy alumnus and retired IBM consultant, who works closely with the Institute and assists with the CEL 2030 initiative, will host a session on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 9 a.m., to discuss possible reflection outcomes and explore how AI can enhance the approach to assessing reflection. Strategies for integrating reflection into CEL courses will also be explored.

  Please contact Director of Service Learning Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu regarding availability for in-person or virtual options.

• September 10: Detroit Mercy Law to launch state’s first online J.D.; major gift from alumnus Jonathan D. Rose will fund startup

  Wednesday September 10, 2025
  

  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.