News and Announcements

GWYNEDD-MERCY COLLEGE ONCE AGAIN RANKS AMONG TOP IN THE NORTH

Once again, Gwynedd-Mercy College has rated well in the U.S.News & World Report "America's Best Colleges" issue. Overall, Gwynedd-Mercy College ranked 75th among Master's-level Universities in the north.

The College's freshman retention rate of 78 percent and average graduation rate of 76 were comparable to other top schools within the rankings. Such high rates of retention and graduation can be attributed to the College's supportive student service and leadership programs, strong academic offerings, and campus social life.

The College is pleased to once again be recognized in the U.S.News and World Report. In addition to the newsstand edition, the rankings can be found at the U.S.News & World Report web site, www.usnews.com.

WINTER 2008 TODAY MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE

The College has released its winter 2008 issue of Today magazine. To download a PDF of the publication, simply click on the image below and enjoy!

Senator Casey, Congressmen Announce $527,000 Grant for SEPCHE Colleges

Senator Robert Casey and Congressmen Patrick Murphy and Jim Gerlach held a press conference on January 9 to announce a federally-funded $527,000 grant for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium of Higher Education (SEPCHE) Institute for Mathematics and Science. 

Kathleen Owens, PhD, president of Gwynedd-Mercy College, was joined by fellow SEPCHE presidents Dr. Antoinette Iadarola from Cabrini College; Sister Carol Jean Vale from Chestnut Hill College; Dr. Jerry Greiner from Arcadia University; Sister Francesca Onley from Holy Family University; Sister Patricia Fadden from Immaculata University; Dr. Rosalie Mirenda from Neumann College; and Dr. Sharon Hirsch from Rosemont College in thanking the Pennsylvanian politicians for their efforts in securing the funding.

The SEPCHE Institute for Mathematics and Science prepares the next generation of leaders in two critical fields of world competitiveness. Through federal funding, SEPCHE colleges are able to offer summer graduate workshops for K-12 teachers in the Delaware Valley to help enhance the quality of math and science curriculum and teaching resources. Collectively, SEPCHE is the largest provider of master’s degrees in education in the state and the third largest provider of teaching credentials in the Delaware Valley. 

Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, SEPCHE is a consortium of eight independent
colleges and universities in the Greater Philadelphia region who engage in a collaborative approach to the challenges of higher education and work together to promote quality and efficiency of academic programming, student access, faculty development, institutional operations and community outreach through sharing a range of programs, services and technology.

Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Patrick Murphy, Gwynedd-Mercy College President Kathleen Owens, PhD, and Senator Robert Casey.

Graduate Education Open Houses

Meet faculty, staff and students from the School of Education and gain information about Graduate Education Programs on

• Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 7, 2008 at Norristown High School in Norristown, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 12, 2008 at Maple Point Middle School in Neshaminy, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Information about Fast-track Graduate Programs will be available. The programs and classroom locations will be as follows:

• Educational Administration with K-12 Certification - Philadelphia, Norristown and Neshaminy
• Reading with Reading Specialist Certification - Philadelphia and Norristown
• Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction - Neshaminy and GMC campus

Please RSVP by calling 215-646-7300, ext. 647, or e-mailing Watkins.M@gmc.edu.

GMC Receives President’s Honor Roll Award for Service
School Honored for Distinguished Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service named Gwynedd-Mercy College to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth.
 
“We are thrilled to have received this award for the second consecutive year,” stated Kathleen Owens, PhD, president of Gwynedd-Mercy College.

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovativeness of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

More than 800 Gwynedd-Mercy College students participated in more than 13,000 hours of community service during 2007, including working with mentally or physically challenged youths and adults through the Harmony Theater, Best Buddies and Touch of Tennis programs.  In addition to reaching out to the community through concert performances, the College’s Voices of Gwynedd, a 100-member choir, has teamed up with the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure and the March of Dimes for musical support.  Additionally, the College’s off-campus Adult Health Clinic is on call 24 hours a day and provides health care to uninsured and underinsured neighbors in its community.

“College students are tackling the toughest problems in America, demonstrating their compassion, commitment and creativity by serving as mentors, tutors, health workers and even engineers,” said David Eisner, chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “They represent a renewed spirit of civic engagement fostered by outstanding leadership on caring campuses.”

In congratulating the winners, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said, “Americans
rely on our higher education system to prepare students for citizenship and the workforce. We look to institutions like these to provide leadership in partnering with local schools to shape the civic, democratic and economic future of our country.”

Overall, the Community Service Honor Roll awarded six schools with Presidential Awards.  In addition, four schools were recognized as Special Achievement Award winners, 127 as Honor Roll With Distinction members and 391 schools as Honor Roll members.  In total, 528 schools were recognized.  A full list is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

“There is no question that the universities and colleges who have made an effort to participate in and win the Honor Roll award are themselves being rewarded,” said American Council on Education President David Ward.  “Earning this distinction is not easy.  But now each of these schools will be able to wear this award like a badge of honor.”

The Honor Roll is jointly sponsored by the Corporation, through its Learn and Serve America program, and the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation administers Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America, a program that supports service-learning in schools, institutions of higher education and community-based organizations. For more information, go to http://www.nationalservice.gov.

New Softball Field Update

Construction of the new softball field, located at the end of Rhododendron Drive, has been under way since mid-March. Underground drains and infield clay have been installed, and the field is level and ready for sprinklers, fence and sod.