Distance Education and Teaching Resources Department
The Distance Education and Teaching Resources Department at Mercy College of Ohio provides leadership and support to the College community in the development of innovative, engaging, and high-quality learning experiences, on-campus or online. The department strives to promote excellence in teaching through the evaluation of instructional technologies and pedagogies that improve learning outcomes within all types of learning environments.
The department strives to accomplish its goals by:
- Collaborating with academic divisions in the design, development, and evaluation/review of both new and existing online/hybrid courses and programs.
- Educating faculty in innovative teaching strategies based on best practices in distance education.
- Promoting a culture that encourages faculty development, training, and collaboration.
- Making effective use of instructional technologies to develop and deliver engaging content that supports student-centered learning.
- Assisting the Student Success Center by providing online learners with advising, tutoring, writing, counseling, etc., to support student retention efforts through the learning management system, Canvas.
- Supporting the Division of Student Affairs with training and online orientation.
The learning management system (LMS), Canvas, is used to deliver fully online and hybrid courses, and to enhance traditional land-based coursework. All students have access to Canvas and resources on how to use the LMS.
Online classroom instruction is formalized instruction where the instructor presents an educational experience to students, applying any combination of instructional methods. The online, distance education courses require the Internet to deliver instruction either synchronously or asynchronously. However, the use of other media such as video or voice conferencing may be used to supplement the online environment.
System and software requirements can be found on the Mercy College website: https://mercycollege.edu/academics/distance-education/system-software-requirements
Questions regarding distance education or teaching resources should be directed to distanceeducation@mercycollege.edu.
Honor Societies
Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society (Gamma Delta Chapter)
The Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society recognizes the academic excellence of students in the study of Associate Degree Nursing. This society encourages the pursuit of advanced degrees in the profession of nursing as well as continuing education as a lifelong professional responsibility. Additionally, the society participates in the recruitment of qualified individuals into the profession of nursing.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa was founded in 1918 and is the official honor society for two-year college programs. Phi Theta Kappa is now an international organization and the largest honor society in U.S. higher education. The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. Mercy College chartered the Beta Pi Xi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in 2008. Since that time, more than 300 members have been inducted.
Sigma Theta Tau
Sigma Theta Tau, or Sigma, is the second largest nursing organization in the world with approximately 135,000 active members residing in more than 90 countries. It was founded in 1922 at what is now the Indiana University School of Nursing. The Zeta Theta-at-Large Chapter, founded in 1982, includes the University of Toledo/Bowling Green State University Consortium, Lourdes University, and Mercy College of Ohio. Sigma’s purpose is to recognize outstanding achievement and development of leadership qualities, foster high professional standards, encourage creative work, and strengthen commitment to the ideals and purposes of the profession.
Library
Toledo
The Mercy College of Ohio Library provides materials and services that support the informational needs of students, faculty, staff, and alumni; promotes information literacy; encourages lifelong learning; and collaborates with faculty to further the academic success of students.
The Library is located near the Madison Avenue entrance and maintains a collection of books, audiovisuals, and print journals that support the programs offered at Mercy College. Computers in the Library provide access to online resources, the Internet, OhioLINK, Mercy College email, and software programs, including Microsoft Word, to help students with their coursework. Rooms/spaces with large tables are available for individual and group study, and a color printer is available.
The Library provides free online resources where students can search academic databases and locate electronic journal articles, e-books, and videos. These resources are available 24 hours,7 days a week, from on or off-campus and can be accessed through the Library Resource Bookshelf in Canvas and through the Library Proxy Page at me.opal-libraries.org. A library barcode number, which allows access to Library resources, is provided to new students the first week of the semester.
Professional librarians and experienced staff are available to assist as needed.
In addition, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library is located at 325 North Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43604 and is available for student use.
Youngstown
The Mercy College online resources and Toledo library staff are available to Youngstown faculty, staff, and students. A library barcode number, which allows access to Library resources, is provided to new students the first week of the semester.
Students at the Youngstown location are also welcome to use the library located on the second floor of Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. This library provides materials and services that support the educational, professional, and informational needs of Mercy College students, attending physicians, staff, faculty, and all hospital employees.
In addition, the main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is located at 600 South Raccoon Rd, Youngstown, OH 44515 and is available for student use.
Office of Student Records
The Office of Student Records conducts itself in accordance with college policy, state law, and federal law.
Services and Responsibilities Include:
- Building and posting the schedule of classes with the assistance of academic departments
- Maintaining the College online registration, grade processing, and student class schedule generation program (EMPOWER ME)
- Posting student academic standing (President’s List, Deans' List, Honor’s List, Academic Probation, and Academic Dismissal) in conjunction with the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty
- Certifying degree completions, posting degrees, and processing diplomas
- Processing Student Change of Address/Name Requests, Undergraduate and Graduate Change of Program of Study once a student is enrolled Enrollment Verification Requests for insurance and student loan purposes, and Credit by Examination requests (https://mercycollege.edu/academics/student-records/credit-by-examination).
- Issuing academic transcripts for Mercy College of Ohio (formerly Mercy College of Northwest Ohio), Mercy School of Nursing, St. Vincent School of Nursing, and St. Vincent School of Radiography
- Evaluating transfer credit
- Generating the Academic Calendar (https://mercycollege.edu/academics/academic-calendar), add/drop/withdrawal dates, and final exam schedule
- Planning commencement ceremonies
- Enforcing state, federal and institutional policies and procedures such as FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974), and
- Gathering data required by state and federal agencies, as well as, internal institutional data.