Current Students

Celebration of Scholarly Achievement & Community Engagement (CSACE) is a University-wide event featuring research posters, artistic displays, performances, lightning talks and much more. This year’s CSACE symposium is set for Thursday, April 9.

CSACE is an opportunity to recognize the exemplary work across all campuses throughout the academic year and to learn about and support the research achievements of fellow colleagues and students.

All students, staff and faculty from all disciplines are encouraged to register for an opportunity to display or present their academic achievements, scholarly research and publications, community service, artistic creations and talents.

Presenter registration is required to secure a position at the event.

The deadline to register to be a presenter is Monday, March 9, by 6 p.m.

Students who are December 2025 graduates or preparing to graduate in May or August 2026 with a minimum GPA 3.80 may apply to be selected as the Detroit Mercy 2026 Valedictorian.

While the tradition of valedictorians calls for academic excellence (a minimum of 3.80 GPA) and instructional involvement, the role also calls for a graduate who has a meaningful message. Other important characteristics of Detroit Mercy’s Valedictorian:

• Well-rounded
• Strong leadership skills
• Organized
• Team player
• Excellent writing and speaking skills
• Flexible
• Versatile
• Sensitive towards others
• Able to accept constructive criticism
• Able to meet deadlines

The deadline for submitting your application and nomination(s) is Monday, March 2.  There will be no exceptions to the submission date. 

Access additional information, including application and nomination form here.

If you are a December 2025 graduate or have applied for graduation in May/August 2026 and have a minimum GPA of 3.30, you may be interested in membership in Kappa Gamma Pi, a national Catholic graduate honor society.

A Detroit Mercy nominee must be:

• completing sufficient coursework to have attained a point-standing required for graduation with honors;
• a leader in extracurricular on-campus or off-campus groups and activities; a volunteer for college, community or faith-based service projects;
• one of not more than 15% of the students being graduated from your institution during the current academic year;
• willing to accept membership, knowing the responsibility for continued individual leadership in faith-based, civic and Kappa-sponsored activity that membership implies.

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in membership, complete the online Kappa Gamma Pi Application Form.

Your application and $75 fee must be received NO LATER than Friday, Feb. 13. 

Once you are a member of KGP, you will be eligible to apply for the 2026 Kappa Gamma Pi Cornaro Pi Scholarship for Graduate Studies.  Two recipients will receive $3,500.00 each to be applied as needed for graduate expenses at any accredited college or university. This is a non-renewable grant.

Learn more about Kappa Gamma Pi organization here.

Detroit Mercy’s English Department kicks off its annual Triptych series with poet Cate Marvin, who will read her work on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Triptych is a virtual reading series featuring award-winning authors in conversation with Detroit Mercy’s Poet-in-Residence Stacy Gnall. Triptych events are free and open to the community.

Cate Marvin is the author of four books of poetry: World’s Tallest Disaster, winner of the 2000 Kathryn A. Morton Prize; Fragment of the Head of a Queen, for which she received a Whiting Award; Oracle, which was named by The New York Times as one of “The Best Poetry Books of 2015”; and Event Horizon, which appeared from Copper Canyon Press in 2022.

A recipient of the Kate Tufts Discovery Prize, she also co-edited with poet Michael Dumanis the anthology Legitimate Dangers: American Poets of the New Century (Sarabande Books, 2006). Marvin teaches poetry writing in the Stonecoast M.F.A. Program at the University of Southern Maine and is professor of English at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York. A recent Guggenheim Fellow, she lives in Scarborough, Maine.

SAVE THE DATE for authors Ross Gay (Feb. 19) and Ilya Kaminsky & Katie Farris (March 19). Triptych events are held via Zoom on third Thursdays in January, February and March, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Welcome to the winter 2026 semester, Titans! Kick off the new semester with a week packed full of exciting events Jan. 12-16 on the McNichols Campus, sponsored by the Student Life Office.

From making your own “Zlipperz” to keep you cozy during those long Michigan winter months to the cosmic Bowling Bonanza at the Garden Bowl, you don’t want to miss out on the fun this week!

The schedule of events is as follows:

• Monday, Jan. 12, 3-5 p.m. — Make Your Own Zlipperz: Student Union Lower Level
• Tuesday, Jan. 13, 5-6:30 p.m. — New Years Rec-Solutions: Fitness Center
• Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2:30-5:30 p.m. — Soup’s On!: Student Union Lower Level
• Thursday, Jan. 15, 12:45-2 p.m. — SGA Meet the Senators: Fountain Lounge
• ALSO Thursday, Jan. 15, 6-8 p.m. — Karaoke: Ballroom
• Friday, Jan. 16, 6-8 p.m. — Bowling Bonanza: Garden Bowl

Mark your calendars, bring a friend (or meet new ones) and join the fun!

Titans, start the New Year off strong by volunteering for Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and get to know UDM’s wonderful neighbors.

Get in on the action and sign up for bi-weekly Wednesday deliveries from 1:30-3 p.m. or weekly Friday deliveries from 10-11:45 a.m.

Produce deliveries start Friday, Jan. 9.

Join the fun and community building as TENN packs fresh produce and delivers it to the doors of the University’s neighbors.

With any questions, please email Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu.

Each year, the Detroit Mercy English Department honors Dudley Randall, the late poet, publisher and University of Detroit librarian and poet-in-residence, by sponsoring a poetry competition in his name.

Now in its 56th year, the prize continues Randall’s legacy of amplifying creative voices within the Detroit Mercy community.

Detroit Mercy undergraduate students are eligible to submit one poem of 55 or fewer lines. All topics and poetic forms are welcome. The winner of the first prize must be available to read the poem at the annual CHASS Honors Convocation on Sunday, March 22.

The deadline for submissions is Feb. 6. First prize is $150 with second prize of $100 and third prize of $75. The judges of this year’s contest are:

• Melba Joyce Boyd, MI Poet Laureate
• Joanna Fuhrman
• Molly Barlow

Find out more about the Dudley Randall Poetry Prizes and read winning poems from previous years here.

For questions or more information about this year’s contest, please contact Stacy Gnall, Detroit Mercy’s poet-in-residence, at gnallsc@udmercy.edu.

Service in the City, sponsored by University Ministry, is back for winter 2026. This program connects UDM students with local education-focused nonprofits in Detroit, giving students the opportunity to make a real impact in the community with a commitment of just one hour per week.

Through this integrated immersion program, students can earn 10-plus service hours and participate in formation opportunities that deepen understanding of community engagement. The deadline to sign up is Jan. 26.

Service opportunities are designed to help students get to know the local Detroit community, and learn how resilient community leaders are supporting each other and co-creating a better future.

Loyola High School, Brilliant Detroit and La Casa Guadalupana are educational non-profits impacting Detroit youth. With just one hour per week, UDM students build relationships in the community, support the next generation and fulfill class requirements, all while developing new skills.

This program is especially popular with students in the Leadership Minor, Honors Program and CEL-integrated classes, but all students who want to make the world a better place are encouraged to sign up.

Please contact Gray La Fond at glafond@udmercy.edu with any questions.

Start 2026 with a bang at University Recreation’s New Year’s Rec-Solutions! Save the date for this fun event to help usher in the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 5-6:30 p.m. inside of the Whitty Student Fitness Center.

Free food is available to the first 100 participants. Also included will be giveaways, raffles, vendors, interactive demos, sports and fitness challenges, music, inflatable games and a few surprises! Stay tuned for more.

The spirit store/bookstore on the McNichols Campus is open all week ahead of the start of the winter semester on Monday, Jan. 12. Students are able to buy books ahead of that time all week inside of the Student Union.

Hours for the first few weeks of the semester are as follows:

• Monday, Jan. 5 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 6 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 7 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 8 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 9 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 10-11 — Closed

• Monday, Jan. 12 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 13 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 14 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 15 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 16 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 17 — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 18 — Closed

• Monday, Jan. 19 (MLK Day) — Closed
• Tuesday, Jan. 20 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 21 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 22 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 23 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Detroit Mercy Law will hold a candid conversation on “Careers in Arts & Entertainment Law,” hosted by the Arts, Communication, Entertainment & Sports Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

This discussion will take place on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 5-7 p.m. at the Riverfront Campus inside Room 226. A reception will follow in the atrium.

Featured Speakers:

• Paul Rosenberg ’96 is a globally recognized force in the music industry, known for being a longtime manager of Eminem, founder of Goliath Artists and president of Shady Records. He is also the former chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings and has produced acclaimed projects such as “8 Mile” and “How Music Got Free.”
• Howard Hertz received his law degree from Wayne State University in 1976 and formed the law firm of Hertz Schram in 1979. He specializes in entertainment law and has represented numerous artists and entities in the entertainment field. He is a member of the Board of Directors and president of the Detroit Music Awards Foundation and a former member and advisor of the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy Chicago Chapter (Grammys).

These distinguished professionals will share insights on arts and entertainment law, including career paths and industry opportunities. Please contact Brittany Dawson at dawsonba2@udmercy.edu with any questions.