Mount Mercy University

Last updated
Mount Mercy University
2012-0610-MtMercyCollege02.jpg
Warde Hall
Former names
Mount Mercy College (1928–2010)
MottoPacem et Veritatem Diligite
Type Private university
Established1928;96 years ago (1928)
Religious affiliation
 Roman Catholic
(Sisters of Mercy)
Academic affiliations
 ACCU
CIC
NAICU
Endowment $27.7 million [1]
President Todd A. Olson
Students1,600 (1,178 full-time)
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
,
U.S.
CampusUrban, 40 acres (16 ha)
Colors   
Navy Blue & Gold
Nickname Mustangs
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – HAAC
MascotMustang Sally
Website www.mtmercy.edu

Mount Mercy University is a private Catholic university in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1928.

Contents

Students take a core of liberal arts courses as a foundation for areas of study including English, fine arts, history, mathematics, multicultural studies, natural science, philosophy, theology [2] and social science. [3] The university offers more than 40 undergraduate programs and nine graduate programs. [4]

Campus

Mount Mercy University's 40-acre (16 ha) campus is in a residential neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (population 134,268). It contains the Our Mother of Sorrows Grotto, which is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. [5]

History

Mount Mercy University was founded as a two-year college for women in 1928 by the Sisters of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. These sisters, whose order was founded in 1831 by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, have been active in Cedar Rapids since 1875. The college was an outgrowth of their concerns about the education of women.

In 1957, Mount Mercy became a four-year institution and awarded its first bachelor's degree in 1959. The college received accreditation as a baccalaureate institution by the North Central Association in 1960. In 1968, the Sisters of Mercy transferred their legal authority and responsibility to a self-perpetuating independent board of which three members would always be Sisters of Mercy. Mount Mercy College became coeducational in 1969. While integrating a strong liberal arts component, the college has always emphasized professional development from its early involvement, as a junior college, on business courses and teacher education. The departments of nursing, education, and social work were accredited in the 1960s and 1970s as the four-year programs developed. Initiated in 1997, the Adult Accelerated program, a joint Mount Mercy University/Kirkwood Community College accelerated degree completion program for working adults meets an important community workforce development need.

On August 23, 2010, the institution was re-designated as a university.

In May 2024, the university announced a partnership with fellow Catholic institution St. Ambrose University in Davenport that would allow students from both institutions to freely take classes at them. At the time of the announcement, a merger was "being explored for the future." [6] Three months later, in August 2024, it was announced that the university would merge with St. Ambrose. [7]

Presidents

Catholic identity

Mount Mercy is sponsored by the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, through the Conference for Mercy Higher Education. The Campus Ministry operates daily mass, retreats, and service-learning opportunities.

Athletics

The Mount Mercy athletic teams are called the Mustangs. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 2016–17 academic year, after spending a season as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) during the 2015–16 school year. The Mustangs previously competed in the defunct Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) from 1988–89 to 2014–15 (when the conference dissolved).

Mount Mercy competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, lacrosse, [11] track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include competitive cheer and competitive dance. Varsity and junior varsity programs are available in several sports.

Intramural activities include basketball, volleyball, golf, flag football, softball and cross country.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of America Athletic Conference</span> College athletic conference

The Heart of America Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Mount Union</span> Private university in Alliance, Ohio, US

The University of Mount Union is a private liberal arts university in Alliance, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1846, the university was affiliated with the Methodist Church until the spring of 2019. In the fall of 2020, Mount Union had an enrollment of 1,958 undergraduate and 220 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian University (Indiana)</span> Catholic university in Indianapolis, Indiana, US

Marian University is a private Catholic university in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1851 by the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, the college moved to Indianapolis in 1937. Marian was known as Marian College from 1936 until 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Xavier University</span> Private Roman Catholic college in Chicago, Illinois, US

Saint Xavier University is a private Roman Catholic university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, the university enrolls 3,749 students.

Northwood University (NU) is a private university focused on business education with its main campus in Midland, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1959, more than 33,000 people have graduated from the institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viterbo University</span> Private Catholic University in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States

Viterbo University is a private Catholic university in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Founded in 1890 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Viterbo is home to three colleges with nine schools offering 48 academic programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlow University</span> Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Carlow University is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy. The university’s athletic teams are known as the Celtics, reflecting its Irish heritage. As of 2017–2018, Carlow's student body was predominantly female, with women comprising 84% and men 16% of the student population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simpson University</span> Private university in Redding, California, U.S.

Simpson University is a private Evangelical Christian liberal arts college in Redding, California. Originally founded in 1921 in Seattle as Simpson Bible Institute, the institution relocated to San Francisco in 1955 and then to Redding in 1989. It is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwest Collegiate Conference</span>

The Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) was a college athletic conference, consisting of colleges and universities located in Iowa and Wisconsin. Founded in 1988, the conference's member schools competed on the NAIA level in 15 different sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College</span> Private Catholic college near Terre Haute, Indiana, US

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, US. Originally a college exclusively for women, it is now coeducational. It is the oldest Catholic college in Indiana and is known for the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis</span> Private university in St. Louis, Missouri, US

The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis is a private university focused on the health sciences that is located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It was founded in 1864 as the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. The university includes St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the third-oldest and tenth-largest college of pharmacy in the United States, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Global Population Health, the College of Graduate Studies. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Aloysius College</span> Catholic college in Cresson, Pennsylvania, US

Mount Aloysius College is a private Catholic college in Cresson, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1853 and is conducted under the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy. The college is located on a 193-acre campus in the Allegheny Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of the Lake University</span> Private university in San Antonio, Texas

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), known locally as the Lake, is a private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, a religious institute originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the institute still sponsors the university. Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation and its Worden School of Social Service is the oldest Social Work school in Texas.

The University of Sioux Falls (USF) is a private university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. In fall 2014, the university enrolled a total of 1,142 undergraduate students and 311 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coe College</span> Private college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US

Coe College is a private liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was founded in 1851 and is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The college is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Ambrose University</span> Catholic university in Davenport, Iowa, US

St. Ambrose University (SAU) is a private Catholic university in Davenport, Iowa. It was founded as a school of commerce for young men in 1882.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand View Vikings</span> Athletic teams of Grand View University, Iowa

The Grand View Vikings are the athletic teams that represent Grand View University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 2015–16 academic year. The Vikings previously competed in the defunct Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) from 1989–90 to 2014–15.

Briar Cliff University is a private Franciscan university in Sioux City, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Mother of Sorrows Grotto Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

Our Mother of Sorrows Grotto Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located on the Mount Mercy University campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. It consists of a lagoon and five structures dedicated to the Virgin Mary. They include two arched entryways, a bridge, a ten-column structure representing the Ten Commandments, and a canopy enclosing a marble statue of the Virgin Mary. It was built by William H. Lightner, a self-trained architect, between 1929 and 1941. He utilized 12 tons of stone and 300 varieties of Italian mosaic glass that he acquired in his travels of more than 40,000 miles (64,000 km).

References

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2021. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2009 to FY 2010" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Theology < Mount Mercy University". catalog.mtmercy.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  3. ↑ "Curriculum < Mount Mercy University". catalog.mtmercy.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  4. ↑ "Program Directory". www.mtmercy.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  5. ↑ Vanessa Miller (April 30, 2015). "Mount Mercy grotto makes National Register". The Gazette . Cedar Rapids. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  6. ↑ Draisey, Brooklyn (May 16, 2024). "St. Ambrose, Mount Mercy explore course sharing with possible future combination". Iowa Capital Dispatch . Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  7. ↑ Miller, Vanessa (August 1, 2024). "Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose to combine into single university". The Gazette . Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  8. ↑ "Mount Mercy College". www.mtmercy.edu. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Howell, Michael (2020-09-09). "New president announced at Mount Mercy University". KGAN. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  10. ↑ "Mount Mercy University Announces Presidential Change". www.mtmercy.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  11. ↑ "Women's Lacrosse". Mount Mercy University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-02-10.

42°0′8.08″N91°39′5.49″W / 42.0022444°N 91.6515250°W / 42.0022444; -91.6515250

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.