University of Detroit Mercy

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University of Detroit Mercy
Image:UDM logo.gif

Motto: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and Maria, Sedes Sapientiae ("Mary, Seat of Wisdom")
Established: 1877
Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic (Jesuit / Sisters of Mercy)
President: Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J.
Students: 5,600
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Campus: Urban
Nickname: Titans
Affiliations: Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities,Conference for Mercy Higher Education, Horizon League
Website: www.udmercy.eduMain Campus www.law.udmercy.eduLaw School

University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), located at 4001 West McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48221, is a comprehensive university in Detroit, Michigan, created in 1990. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university in Michigan. UDM is one of the twenty-eight member Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States. Located across three campuses in Detroit, the school offers close to a hundred academic degrees and programs of study, including liberal arts, business, dentistry, law, engineering, architecture, nursing and allied health professions.

UDM was ranked in the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report "America's Best Colleges" 2007 edition. Athletically, the University sponsors 16 NCAA Division I level varsity sports for men and women, and is a member of the Horizon League. UDM is the host institution for the 2009 NCAA finals.

Contents

[edit] History

The University of Detroit Mercy's origin dates back to 1877 with the founding of Detroit College by the Society of Jesus. The college expanded into the University of Detroit, and in 1927 established a second campus. In 1941, the Sisters of Mercy opened the Mercy College of Detroit. In 1990, University of Detroit and Mercy College of Detroit consolidated to become "University of Detroit Mercy".

[edit] Mission and Vision

The University of Detroit Mercy strives to articulate to its students and community partners a mission and vision statement founded on their collective religious traditions. Unlike a public university, or a private institution of higher learning, UDM integrates into its teaching and research, principles consistent with the Mercy and Jesuit orders.

Through its previous name as the "University of Detroit", the Roman Catholic purpose of the university was not always recognized by the general public.

Entrance to Architecture Building on McNichols Campus.
Entrance to Architecture Building on McNichols Campus.

The mission statement claims:

The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, exists to provide excellent student-centered undergraduate and graduate education in an urban context. A UDM education seeks to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development of our students.

The vision statement proposes:

The University of Detroit Mercy will be recognized as a premier private university in the Great Lakes (North America) region, distinguished by graduates who lead and serve in their communities.

Like all universities, UDM strives to offer quality higher education, but it also is committed to service of faith and promotion of justice and compassionate service to persons in need, as articulated in the Jesuit worldview. Accordingly, the university, its students, staff and alumni aim to take an active role in strengthening Detroit, through community outreach and partnership with like-minded organizations.

[edit] Colleges and campuses

Library on McNichols Campus has a cartouche by Corrado Parducci.
Library on McNichols Campus has a cartouche by Corrado Parducci.

UDM comprises seven colleges and schools: the School of Architecture, College of Business Administration, School of Dentistry, College of Engineering and Science, College of Health Professions/McAuley School of Nursing, School of Law, and College of Liberal Arts and Education.

The University has three campuses. The McNichols Campus is located on the southeast corner of McNichols and Livernois in northwest Detroit near the Pilgrim Village-University District neighborhood. The majority of the University's undergradutae and graduate programs are offered on this campus, as well as the university's main administration and athletic facilities like Calihan Hall. It is also the location of all six student residence halls.

The Riverfront Campus is home to UDM's School of Law in downtown Detroit at 651 East Jefferson across from the Renaissance Center.

The Corktown Campus, which is located at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, houses UDM's School of Dentistry and clinic. The former Outer Drive Campus has been sold to the Wayne County Community College District.

[edit] Detroit Titans

See also: Calihan Hall
Detroit Titans logo.
Detroit Titans logo.

The Titans compete in NCAA Division I's Horizon League. The men's basketball team has consistently contended for the Horizon League title. On April 12, 2008, UDM announced the hiring of Ray McCallum as Men's Basketball Coach. Former Men's Coach Perry Watson led a successful program at Detroit's Southwestern High School before coming to UDM and maintained strong recruiting ties within the city's public league. In 14th seasons as head coach, Perry Watson has guided Detroit to 10 winning seasons, three league titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Final Four. The Titans two NCAA appearances also included victories over St. John's and UCLA. Between 1997-98 and 2000-01, the Titans had four straight 20-victory seasons.

Dick Vitale, ESPN's most well-known college basketball commentator, was the Detroit men's basketball Head Coach for four seasons (1973-1977) before becoming the school's Athletics Director for 1977-78. The following year he left to coach the Detroit Pistons. In his final year as a college head coach in 1977, "Dickie V." led the Detroit Titans to a school record 25 victories and the Round of 16 in the 1977 NCAA Tournament before losing to Michigan, 86-81. Vitale rolled up a 78-30 career record as head coach of the Titans. Vitale went on to coach the Detroit Pistons before beginning his broadcasting career with ESPN in 1979. As its lead college basketball analyst, he helped make the network an integral part of the game's popularity. An author of six books chronicling his love affair with basketball, Vitale received the Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy electronic media award (1988) and won the NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award in 2000. [1]


Since 1996-97, Detroit Titans athletic teams have won 14 league championships and 15 teams have competed in NCAA championships. The men's soccer team was the 2005 Horizon League champions. The University is the host institution for the 2008 NCAA Midwest Regional and 2009 NCAA Final Four men's basketball tournament at Ford Field in Detroit.

All home basketball games feature the Titan Pep Band which serenades audiences throughout the game.

[edit] Fight Song

The fight song for the University of Detroit-Mercy is The Titan Way. The lyrics are:

Fight for the Titan Way!
Detroit is here to stay!
Red, White and Blue,
We know what to do,
Vic'try is ours today! U-D-M!

Come hold your heads up high!
Heed to the Titan cry!
Roll on to win,
Never give in,
Our spirit will never die! U-D-M!

Come hold your heads up high!
Heed to the Titan cry!
Roll on to win,
Never give in,
Our spirit will never die!

U-D-M, U-D-M, Go-o-o-o-o Titans!
U-D-M, U-D-M --Go Titans!

[edit] Notable professors

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Photo galleries

[edit] McNichols Campus

[edit] Downtown Law School

[edit] See also

  • The Titan Pep Band is the University's primary instrumental ensemble.

[edit] References and further reading

  • Muller, Herman Joseph (1976). The University of Detroit 1877-1977: A Centenniel History. University of Detroit. ASIN B0006CVJ4S. 

[edit] External links