Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

Open All | Close All

• January 07: Poetry submissions due Feb. 6 for 2026 Dudley Randall poetry competition

  Wednesday January 07, 2026
  

  Dudley Randall

  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.

  Submit your poem here.

• January 07: Service in the City returns for winter semester, signup deadline Jan. 26

  Wednesday January 07, 2026
  

  

  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.

  Sign up here.

  

• January 07: New Year’s Rec-Solutions event offers URec fun, Jan. 13

  Wednesday January 07, 2026
  

  

  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.

  

• January 07: McNichols Campus bookstore open; buy books before semester’s start

  Wednesday January 07, 2026
  

  

  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:

  January 5-11

  • 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

  January 12-18

  • 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

  January 19-25

  • 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.

  Full bookstore info.

  

• January 07: Explore careers in arts & entertainment law, discussion on Feb. 12

  Wednesday January 07, 2026
  

  

  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.

  Register here.

  

• January 07: Women’s and Gender Studies student grant accepting nominations until Jan. 23

  Wednesday January 07, 2026
  

  The Women’s and Gender Studies Program has announced the 2025-26 Jane Schubert Student Grant with nominations being accepted until Jan. 23, 2026. Grants support community and academic projects and activities related to women’s and gender issues.

  Current undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as University-recognized students organizations are welcome to apply using an online application.

  Past grants have been awarded in support of a wide range of activities, community projects, as well as academic projects, such as:

  • Bringing an international poet to UDM to recite her work and speak on trauma, journey and the modern stories of Muslim women.
  • The publication and performance of a student chapbook of written and visual art that engaged issues of gender.
  • A Ph.D. capstone project on vicarious trauma and its effects on sexual assault nurse examiners.
  • Travel to an academic conference to present research on mental health interventions for Black women.
  • The Chemistry Club’s Women in Science Symposium.

  Students should complete the online application form.

  Please direct any questions to Lee Eshelman (eshelmlr@udmercy.edu), Women’s and Gender Studies affiliate faculty and chair of the WGS Grants Subcommittee.

• January 05: Titan Winter Blast returns Jan. 24, featuring chili cook-off, Titan basketball and more

  Monday January 05, 2026
  

  

  The annual Titan Winter Blast, Detroit Mercy’s signature winter event, returns Saturday, Jan. 24, followed by a UDM men’s basketball contest with Oakland University, all taking place on the McNichols Campus.

  All Titans — students, alumni, staff, faculty, friends, family and guests — are invited for the winter festivities, camaraderie and fun inside of the Whitty Student Fitness Center from 12-3 p.m.

  Various teams of chili chefs from across the University’s campuses will turn up the heat at the wildly popular chili cook-off! Snuggle up for some horse-drawn trolley rides and have an indoor winter blast playing cornhole and games, participating in activities and cookie decorating, and more! Refreshments will be provided by Eastern Market Brewery.

  Following the fun, head over to Calihan Hall to cheer on men’s basketball as they battle rival Oakland at 3 p.m.

  Cost for attendance is $5 for students and $20 for alumni, faculty, staff and guests. Children 12 and under are free. Admission includes tastings at the chili cook-off, food and refreshments, all games and activities plus a ticket to the men’s basketball contest.

  Register for TWB.