Gwynedd-Mercy College

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From the College

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Gwynedd-Mercy College (GMC) is a Catholic college offering a strong foundation in the liberal arts. For sixty years, Gwynedd-Mercy College has been “Bringing Futures Into Focus” by preparing students to become top professionals in the fields of allied health professions, arts and sciences, business and computer information sciences, education, and nursing. GMC offers more than forty associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs on a full- and part-time basis. GMC’s academic distinction lies in the intersection of excellent programs in health care, education, and business administration, which prepare students to become leaders in the region’s powerful and growing life sciences industry.

Located just 30 minutes from Philadelphia and with an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, Gwynedd-Mercy College is large enough to offer a vibrant campus life but small enough that professors can develop mentoring relationships with students. The College educates students in the Mercy tradition of service to society, preparing graduates who not only are recruited for jobs but also create lives and careers with deep meaning. In the 2008 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges,” Gwynedd-Mercy College ranks among the top master’s-level universities in the North.

Gwynedd-Mercy College has twenty NCAA Division III athletic teams, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, field hockey, golf, indoor/outdoor track and field, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The men’s baseball and men’s and women’s basketball teams have won various championships. The College also offers a variety of intramural sports.

Students are encouraged to participate in activities and student government so that they can socialize with friends, develop talents, and build leadership skills. The College offers more than thirty clubs and organizations, including the drama club, campus ministry, a nationally renowned choir, the yearbook staff, and social committees. The first Catholic college chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which has been endorsed by former President Jimmy Carter, gives students the chance to help in the actual construction of homes for the less fortunate. Students can write for the College newspaper, the Gwynmercian, which has received a first-place rating with special merit from the American Scholastic Press Association. Through the on-campus chapter of the Mercy Works Program, students can help the poor with fund-raising efforts and adopt-a-family programs at the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Some students decide to give a year of service after graduation to Mercy Volunteer Corps’ nationwide outreach program.

A student lounge dedicated as an International Center for Understanding and Culture (ICUC) gives American students the opportunity to meet, socialize with, and get to know young people from other countries. The College’s diversified international students come from many different countries. The ICUC is a popular campus meeting place for students to confide their hopes and dreams.

On the graduate level, Gwynedd-Mercy College offers a master’s degree program in education (educational administration, reading, school counseling, special education, and a Master Teacher program) and nursing (geriatrics, oncology, and pediatrics).

Gwynedd-Mercy’s idyllic 160-acre campus is located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, a suburb 20 miles from downtown Philadelphia. Old City, South Street, and sports arenas are a 25- to 30-minute car or train ride from the campus. The College is situated just minutes from several major highways, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The immediate area is rich in the history of Colonial America, and two of the oldest homes in Pennsylvania are located on the Gwynedd campus. In addition to the vibrant city life of Philadelphia, students can travel to the New Jersey beaches or the Pocono Mountains, which are only 2 hours from the campus.

Gwynedd-Mercy offers baccalaureate degrees in accounting, behavioral/social gerontology, biology, business administration, business education, computer information technology, criminal justice, elementary education, English, history, human services, mathematics, nursing, psychology, sociology, and special education. Seven certification options are available through the School of Education.

Associate in Science degrees are awarded in the allied health fields of cardiovascular technology, health information technology, and respiratory care. Associate degrees are also granted in accounting, business administration, computer programming, liberal studies, natural science, and nursing.

The school year is divided into two semesters, and most baccalaureate degree programs require the completion of a minimum of 125 credit hours. GMC maintains a strong liberal arts component in all of its degree programs. Whether the student chooses to major in one of the liberal arts or to pursue a professionally oriented degree, courses are required in language, literature and the fine arts, humanities, and behavioral, social, and natural sciences.

Individualized internships and work-experience programs are available and recommended in all majors to give students firsthand experience in their chosen major. Nearby Fortune 500 companies offer a variety of experiences to students in business and accounting. TAP, the Teacher Assistant Program, places every education major in the classroom one day a week beginning in the freshman year. All allied health and nursing programs require clinical experience. The 2-2 programs–those with an associate degree to bachelor’s degree progression–offer allied health and nursing students the opportunity to gain employment in their field while continuing toward the baccalaureate degree. The School of Business and Computer and Information Sciences maintains a successful work-experience semester. Through this paid internship, students earn credit while gaining valuable experience in challenging positions.

Students have the opportunity to come to the Academic Resources Center for free class tutoring and to obtain help in improving their writing skills.

The excellent on-campus laboratory facilities are extended by affiliations with more than 200 hospitals and health-care agencies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, where students may complete their clinical experience. Merck provides a one-semester industrial laboratory experience for qualified biology majors. Gwynedd-Mercy College maintains a close relationship with nearby companies, including Johnson & Johnson, McNeil, and Sun Company, for work-experience programs.

Gwynedd-Mercy has expanded its physical facilities as its student enrollment has increased. The Sister Isabelle Keiss Center for Health and Science opened in 1999 and houses the Schools of Nursing and Allied Health Professions and the Division of Natural Sciences. The 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility offers laboratories for areas such as nursing skills, respiratory care, cardiovascular technology, radiation therapy, health information technology, organic chemistry, and microbiology. The College’s Griffin Complex houses the College’s Student Union–which is equipped with a game room, full gymnasium and track, racquetball court, and weight room. The College offers four residence halls that house 40 percent of the school population. Theaters include the Julia Ball Auditorium, a small in-the-round theater, and a TV production studio. One computer laboratory is reserved for computer majors. A separate facility is maintained for use by the general student body. Both are staffed and open at hours that are convenient to student use. The Valie Genuardi Hobbit House, a private school for preschoolers where students in the School of Education are trained, is situated on campus.

The 2008–09 academic-year tuition (two semesters) for full-time students (12 to 18 credits per semester) is $22,340. The tuition for allied health and nursing students is $23,840. Room and board are, on average, $8880. Professional liability fees for students enrolled in clinical components and lab fees are extra.

Gwynedd-Mercy’s financial aid program is designed to provide financial assistance to academically qualified students whose resources are inadequate to meet the costs of attending the College. The student Financial Aid Committee endeavors to assist as many students as possible, using Gwynedd-Mercy funds as well as federal, state, and other available funds. Aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need, academic proficiency, and responsible campus citizenship.

A financial aid packet is sent, with instructions, to those who request it on their application form. High school students should request the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from their guidance office. In 2007–08, 91 percent of Gwynedd-Mercy College full-time students received some form of financial aid. March 15 is the deadline for freshmen entering in the fall semester. The deadline for Academic Scholarships is February 15.

The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, allowing for personal contact, advising, and after-class instruction. This is a widely acknowledged strength of the GMC experience. For nursing students in the clinical setting, there are never more than 8 students to 1 clinical adviser; in the allied health programs, there often is one-to-one instruction. The quality of teaching is enhanced by the diversified interests of the faculty. The 181 faculty members teach both day and evening classes, allowing students the greatest flexibility in scheduling. Free tutoring is available in all disciplines.

All students are encouraged to take part in the responsibilities of student government. This student participation and shared responsibility for the welfare of the College are promoted through a framework of committees. The student government president and 3 other students are members of the College Council, which is responsible for the continuing self-evaluation of the College and policy formation. In addition, students share membership in the Educational Planning Committee, Faculty/Student Committee, Financial Aid Committee, and Library Committee.

Admission to Gwynedd-Mercy College is based on a student’s high school record, rank in class, SAT or ACT scores, counselor’s recommendation, and choice of major. Entrance requirements vary with the program. For the fall 2008 entering class, the College based admission decisions on the critical reading and mathematics scores on the SAT. The rolling admission policy allows the student to be informed of the admission decision within two to three weeks after the file is complete.

GMC awards College credit for satisfactory completion of Advanced Placement courses. The exam score must be 3 or above.

A minimum 2.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) is generally required to transfer from another college. Gwynedd-Mercy College does, however, retain the right to require a higher GPA for admission to some programs.

GMC selects all students on the basis of academic achievement and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, handicap, or sexual orientation.

All prospective applicants are urged to visit the campus to meet and talk with an admission counselor, a dean, or a program director. To apply for admission, applicants should complete an application form and submit it to the admissions office along with the required nonrefundable $25 application fee. The fee is waived for students who apply online at http://gmc.edu. First-time freshmen must also submit an official high school transcript or equivalency certificate; a written recommendation from a principal, teacher, guidance counselor, or employer; and results of the SAT or ACT (for recent high school graduates). All applicants should verify that they meet the specific requirements and have the necessary high school prerequisites for admission.

Students who wish to transfer to Gwynedd-Mercy College should complete the application form and submit it to the admissions office along with the required nonrefundable $25 application fee, high school and college transcripts, and a letter of recommendation.

For additional information or to schedule campus tours and visits, students are encouraged to contact: