April 28, 2020 Special Edition
Enrollment Update
Submitted by Lori Edgeworth
I hope that all is well with each of you and you are all staying safe!
The Enrollment team continues to be busy working on recruiting students for both the upcoming Summer and Fall semesters. At this time our enrollment numbers are down slightly for summer and up for the fall semester.
We are in the process of creating a virtual tour of the College for the website. Initially, still photography will be used but as soon as it is feasible, a video tour will be developed. Stay tuned for details on this.
CARES Act
Colleges and Universities will receive funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act (CARES) The first round of funding will be in the form of emergency financial aid grants to students. The College will also receive additional funding that has greater flexibility. The funding is a 50/50 split for students and for the College. Guidance has been received for the student emergency financial aid funding, and we are in the process of applying for these funds.
Tuition Reduction
As you are aware Mercy College has been offering a tuition discount to Mercy Health employees, employees of St. Luke's Hospital, members of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), and our Alumni. This program is continuing however it is now being called a Tuition Reduction. It will be a flat-rate based on the number of credit hours a student is enrolled. This information is being updated on the website.
The Tuition Reduction for Mercy Health employees has been expanded to include Bon Secours employees, so now the discount is being offered system-wide! Plans to share this news have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic reducing access to employee announcements.
The Enrollment team is continuing to find new ways to work in the remote environment and recruit students. As things change, I will keep you updated. If you have questions, please reach out to any of us as we are happy to answer you and provide information.
Stay safe!
Lori
Student Affairs Update
Submitted by Marc Adkins
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
Smarthinking, the College’s 24/7 online tutoring service, is accessible through any online course and through the Student Success Center course in Canvas.
TESTING CENTER
The Office of Testing Services now provides online Accuplacer proctoring. Summer enrollees are being contacted to schedule appointments.
We will continue working with students remotely, and checking phone messages on a regular basis and following up accordingly.
Contact Info: Shelly Clark, Testing Assistant. Call 419-251-2106 and leave message (we are checking twice a day for messages) or email MercyCollege-Testing-Center@mercycollege.edu.
ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
The office of Accessibility Services continues to meet remotely with registered students, as well as students with new requests for accommodations.
Contact Accessibility Services with any questions regarding accommodations while courses are being conducted online or with questions regarding the screen reader program.
Contact Info: Christine Miller, Director AS & Testing. Can call 419-251-1784 (phone is forwarded to remote location or email Christine.miller@mercycollege.edu)
Campus Life on Canvas
From spirituality resources to information about how to get involved to opportunities to contribute to discussions about how we can best support our virtual community, the Campus Life Canvas “course” is here for you!
Coming in early May—Check the Campus Life course for details about how to join us for quality virtual board game time as we play Jackbox.tv.
Mercy College Food Pantry
The Mercy College Food Pantry in Toledo has shelf-stable groceries and household items for Mercy College students, faculty, and staff. If you are struggling to put food on your table, please reach out to us at foodpantry@mercycollege.edu.
You can place an order for the Mercy College Food Pantry through our online form: www.tinyurl.com/MCfoodpantry. Food pickup will take place on an individually scheduled basis so please indicate on the form a few days/times that will work for you, and we will confirm your scheduled food pickup. We are taking extra precautions in the preparation of food orders and will make arrangements with you to provide food curb-side or for pickup at the security desk in the Jefferson Lobby. More information can be found at www.mercycollege.edu/foodpantry.
Pastoral Care
Annie Devine is available by phone and Skype for spiritual support. Please reach out to her about scheduling a time to talk at annie.devine@mercycollege.edu or 419-251-1866 (calls are being forwarded to her cell phone).
Prayer requests will not be emailed out but will be posted here: https://bit.ly/38X8gZ9 If you have a prayer request to share with the College community, please email it to annie.devine@mercycollege.edu
Given that we are not able to gather together in prayer in person, Annie will be posting a video prayer/reflection/meditation every Friday at noon on the Mercy College Campus Ministry & Service Learning Facebook page and her Instagram account.
Facebook Page: fb.me/MercyCollegeCMSL and Instagram: campusminister_annie
Community Support Opportunities
Looking for other ways to support our wider community during this time? There are lots of ways you can still help, even from home! Here’s a list of ideas to get you started: https://bit.ly/39iSS9E
TITLE IX AND COMPLIANCE
The Campus Climate Survey is postponed until further notice.
Contact: Betsy Cardwell
Elizabeth.cardwell1@mercycollege.edu
330-540-0090
Denim Day is April 29, 2020! Show off your denim in support of survivors of sexual assault, by using #MercyCollegeDenimDay. As the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion sense by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.
You are strongly encouraged to make a small donation to your local Rape Crisis Centers if you are participating in the day. If you are unable to make a monetary donation, you can find several other ways to help or donate on their websites.
Youngstown Rape Crisis Center: https://compassfamily.org/donate/
Toledo Y.W.C.A. Hope Center: https://www.ywcanwo.org/get-involved/donate/
Learn more about Denim Day: https://www.denimdayinfo.org/why-denim
Academic Affairs Update
Submitted by Trevor Bates
- On behalf of all Faculty, I want to recognize and thank the Staff in all offices across campus for adapting to the adjustments that were made as your work continued away from campus. We can’t do what we do without you!
- Academic Search Committees
- Ongoing searches in Academic Administration, Nursing, English, and Physician Assistant Studies.
- Process / Document / Contract Review
- Several contracts are currently under review including Proctoring, Placement Testing, and Catalog software/services
- Progress continues on the Undergraduate College Catalog and the Graduate College Catalog as we prepare for the 2020-2021 academic year.
- A new and enhanced review process involving the use of a product from Watermark is anticipated to begin in the next catalog review cycle.
- The Faculty and Staff Handbook will undergo an administrative review during the summer of 2020.
- Any substantive changes to the handbook will be shared with the campus community.
- Assessment & Accreditation
- The developing Master of Physician Studies Program is preparing for a summer ARC-PA accreditation visit.
- In May 2020, a proposal will be sent to the Higher Learning Commission and Ohio Department of Higher Education for the College to transition from a 16-week academic calendar to a 15-week academic calendar beginning in 2021-2022.
- The 15-week calendar will allow more flexibility in course delivery options, support new and existing program needs, and better aligns our College with other colleges/universities calendars to (for example) - enhance our ability to recruit transfer students.
- The College is awaiting approval from the Higher Learning Commission for the RN to MSN program.
- Faculty Assembly
- The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee has approved a new BSN curriculum and changes in the Radiologic Technology Program.
- The Graduate Studies Committee has approved a new provisional admission procedure.
- The new procedure will allow the College to recruit more students into our MSN and MHA programs.
- As a part of Shared Governance, all Faculty Assembly Committees will submit Committee Summary Reports (CSRs).
- CSRs outline committee progress/actions for 2019-2020.
- Academic Council
- Is actively working with faculty and staff to develop and implement necessary changes to areas such as grading policies and procedures, course scheduling changes, and other needs precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic impact on our operations.
- Starting in the summer, we will implement ways to increase our use of Canvas and other educational technologies.
- Invited the Assistant Dean of Student Success and Retention Officer to discuss current and new ways to enhance student retention.
- Many great ideas were shared and several changes will occur, some changes will be enacted immediately!
- Is developing a New Program Proposal Process that will be reviewed an put into place in 2020-2021.
- Is completing the next Academic Program Review (APR) process as required by HLC in Standard 4.A.1.
- Is engaging in discussion regarding enhancing our General Education Philosophy through subsequent curricular changes for all future students.
- Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation – plans continue to move forward regarding space and programming that will be focused on supporting faculty in the ongoing development and integration of innovative pedagogical approaches.
- A Needs Assessment will be developed over the summer months and will be distributed to faculty in late summer /early fall.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated our need to innovate and build resources for teaching and learning.
- Thank you to our Library, IPE/SIM, and Distance Education teams for acutely supporting and leading many of these efforts.
- Is actively working with faculty and staff to develop and implement necessary changes to areas such as grading policies and procedures, course scheduling changes, and other needs precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic impact on our operations.
Please direct any questions or comments about this sampling of Academic Affairs updates to Dr. Bates at trevor.bates@mercycollege.edu.
Finally, please continue to take the recommended precautions that are essential to keeping you and your families safe throughout the summer months.
Blessings,
Dr. Trevor M. Bates, DHSc, AT, ATC
Vice President of Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty
CEO-Gram
Send a message to the Mercy College President using this link.
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