Former names
|
College Misericordia |
---|---|
Type | Private |
Established | 1924 |
Affiliation | Roman Catholic (Sisters of Mercy) |
Endowment | $30 million |
President | Thomas Botzman |
Dean | Amy Lahart |
Administrative staff
|
257 |
Students | 3,196 |
Undergraduates | 1,958 |
Postgraduates | 546 |
Location |
Dallas, Pennsylvania, USA 41°20′42″N 75°58′18″W / 41.3451°N 75.9716°WCoordinates: 41°20′42″N 75°58′18″W / 41.3451°N 75.9716°W |
Campus | Suburban |
Colors | Blue and Yellow |
Athletics | NCAA Division III – MAC Freedom |
Nickname | Cougars |
Mascot | Cougar |
Affiliations |
ACCU NAICU CIC |
Website | www.misericordia.edu |
Misericordia University is a four-year, Catholic, co-educational liberal arts university located on a 100-acre (0.40 km2) campus in Dallas, Pennsylvania, near the cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton within the Diocese of Scranton. It was founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy on August 15, 1924. The university offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees as well as post-master's and post-bachelor's certificates.
On August 24, 2007 Misericordia achieved university status. It was called College Misericordia prior to August 24, 2007.
The Religious Sisters of Mercy were of the order of Mercy founded in Dublin in 1831. The Sisters vowed to be of service to the impoverished, sick and uneducated. The Sisters of Mercy came to the Wyoming Valley area of Pennsylvania in 1875, continuing their mission of praying, teaching and caring for the sick. The sisters established a school for children and a night school for adults in the coal mining region.
On August 15, 1924, the Sisters of Mercy established Luzerne County’s first four-year institution of higher learning, Misericordia, on nearly 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land in Dallas, Pennsylvania, purchased by the Sisters for this purpose in 1914.
More than 2,500 people witnessed the dedication of Misericordia (whose name means “heart of mercy”). That September, 37 students began their studies.
Misericordia continues to be as a university, a broad-based liberal arts and pre-professional studies institution offering education to those of all faiths. The university has been co-educational since the 1970s and offers graduate programs. Today, Misericordia University is located on the original grounds, but has expanded to 120 acres (0.49 km2), situated in a suburban setting eight miles (13 km) from downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Prior to August 24, 2007, Misericordia operated as "College Misericordia." The process to determine whether or not to become a university began in August 2005 with the introduction of the concept to faculty, staff and students.