GMercyU Celebrates 75th Anniversary, Looks Ahead to 2024
Gwynedd Mercy University kicked off its 75th anniversary celebrations in 2023, a year marked by history-making achievements for this hometown University.
Celebrating 75 Years
Mercy Week kicked off GMercyU’s 75th Anniversary, filled with events to celebrate the long-cherished history of the University. In November, GMercyU shared the 75th Anniversary commemorative TODAY magazine with the campus community and friends. Learn more about GMercyU’s history and future outlook by visiting the 75th Anniversary commemorative magazine.
Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Groundbreaking
In September, GMercyU hosted the celebratory groundbreaking ceremony for the new Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Center, a 63,000-square-foot state-of-the-market facility designed for students in nursing and health professions programs. The project was made possible in part by a transformative $10 million gift from The Maguire Foundation in 2022. The space will feature immersive simulation and laboratory facilities where students across multiple majors will have the opportunity to work in interprofessional teams to practice real-world skills and address complex patient scenarios. Learn more here.
Highest Ever Ranking on U.S. News & World Report
After being recognized as a nationally-ranked university for the first time in its history in 2022, GMercyU achieved its highest-ever ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best College Rankings in 2023. GMercyU jumped 71 spots, the largest increase of any institution in the commonwealth and the sixth largest increase in the country.
U.S. News & World Report’s change in methodology worked to GMercyU’s advantage by placing increased importance on how well schools do at graduating students of various backgrounds, including first-generation students, and how well those students do after graduating.
GMercyU is proud that 60% of students identified as first-generation in 2022 and 97% of recent graduates were employed or in graduate school six months after graduation (2023 survey results). Learn more here.
Comprehensive Campaign Announced
The Mercy in Motion Campaign supports an ambitious vision to expand the University’s reputation for preparing professionals who can navigate a changing world and make that world a better place. Driven by three strategic goals, fuel healthcare innovation, invest in student success, and sustain our mercy mission, this campaign elevates GMercyU's commitment to fostering positive, global change through higher education firmly rooted in Mercy values. Learn more here.
Campus Transformations
The year 2023 also marked the beginning of several campus transformations for GMercyU, including the newly renovated Loyola Hall; the new Frank O. Genuardi Legends Baseball and Softball Fields; M.E.R.V.’s Market in University Hall; and the Evans Road Campus Entrance.
At the start of the 2023 fall semester, the original residence hall and newly renovated Loyola Hall reopened for first-year students. The residence hall now features new air conditioning units, micro-fridges, and new furniture and floors. Other updates include new lighting fixtures, new interior paint, improved lounge areas, and super-fast Wi-Fi. Outdoor spaces will be renovated as the next phase of the project.
The Frank O. Genuardi Legends Baseball and Softball fields officially reopened in fall 2023, with a ceremonial opening to take place in spring 2024. Renovations include new scoreboards, bullpens, batting tunnels, dugouts, backstops, fencing, and a new synthetic field for the baseball team (softball will keep their preferred dirt field). The softball team also received a new warning track.
M.E.R.V.’s Market, located in University Hall, is the new hot spot on campus. Need a quick bite in between classes? Stop by M.E.R.V.’s Market to pick up snacks, drinks, sweet treats, meals-to-go, and more with an easy self-checkout option.
Now in the final stages of the project, the Evans Road entrance to campus has been revamped for convenience and safety. The entrance features improved traffic flow and a new walking trail.
Read more about GMercyU’s campus transformations here.
Highest NCLEX Pass Rate in Program History
GMercyU received its highest-ever NCLEX exam first-time pass rate in BSN program history this fall. The NCLEX exam is the nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States. For more than 60 years, GMercyU has been a leader in preparing highly skilled nurses who are experts at providing compassionate care in our diverse society. Learn more here.
Women in Leadership Panel
The 2023-2024 University theme of “Visionary Women: Mercy Makes the Difference” was brought to life during GMercyU’s Women in Leadership Panel in October hosted by 6ABC’s morning show anchor Tamala Edwards. Panelists included Donna Dorozinsky, registered nurse, entrepreneurial business consultant, President/CEO of Just in Time Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and proud GMercyU alumna; Jie Du, PhD, Founder of JDP Therapeutics, accomplished entrepreneur, research scientist, and philanthropist; and Ellen Stang, MD, Founder/CEO of Progeny Health, board-certified pediatrician, entrepreneur, and recognized leader in improving health outcomes for premature newborns. Learn more here.
Respiratory Care Award Recognition
GMercyU’s Respiratory Care program has been in the spotlight several times over the course of the year, first receiving The American Association for Respiratory Care’s (AARC) Apex Recognition Award for 2023-2024. The award highlights best practices in the professional education of respiratory therapists and emphasized that GMercyU’s program enhances the quality of patient care, elevating the profession and meeting the urgent great need for more respiratory therapists. GMercyU was one of 10 universities across the nation to receive the award.
The Respiratory Care program also received The President’s Award for Excellence in Credentialing Success by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The award recognizes schools that achieved a 100% pass rate on the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam from 2019 to 2021. GMercyU’s program is one of four schools out of 415 programs across the nation to receive both awards. Learn more here.
Amazon Prime’s The College Tour
Gwynedd Mercy University launched its episode of Amazon Prime’s The College Tour in November. A streaming series found on Amazon Prime, The College Tour's award-winning TV producers visited GMercyU's campus over the summer to film 10 students who shared their college journeys in their own words. View GMercyU’s full episode here.
GMercyU will continue its 75th anniversary celebration with events this spring. Check gmercyu.edu for more information.