THE MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT

Mercyhurst University impacts our community in many positive ways. As a leader in postsecondary education, Mercyhurst provides a high-quality educational experience to more than 4,200 students each year. Last spring, the university graduated 936 traditional and adult students, who are fully prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference. Mercyhurst transforms lives.

In addition to baccalaureate and graduate programs of regional and often national reputation, Mercyhurst also provides a variety of programs to help meet the regional need for affordable and accessible postsecondary education. In addition to the academically distinguished baccalaureate and graduate programs available at the campus in Erie, Mercyhurst offers cost-effective, nearly “open-admission,” associate degree and certificate opportunities at four locations in Erie County: North East, Corry, downtown Erie (at the Booker T. Washington Center) and Girard, Pa. The tuition rates at all of these locations are significantly less than the tuition rate at the Erie campus in order to provide low-income students with the opportunity to pursue a university education for very little out-of-pocket expense.

The associate and certificate programs annually enroll nearly 1,200 students. Typically, 75% are from Erie County, about 25% are students of color, 33% are over 23 years of age and 70% are eligible for Pell Grants. These campuses provide academic programs that facilitate employment opportunities as well as allow for credit transfer for baccalaureate degrees and beyond. In fact, students who perform well in these programs are eligible to receive annual scholarships allowing them to continue their education at the Mercyhurst University Erie Campus at the lower tuition rate.

The impact of Mercyhurst University on Erie County reaches beyond the classroom. Economically and socially, Mercyhurst offers a tremendous impact on the quality of life here with:

• $101.1millionboosttotheErieCountyeconomyeachyear

• Employmentfor524full-timeand100part-timeuniversity employees who contribute to the local tax rolls as well as the social and cultural vitality of the region

• Continuingandcertificateeducationfor141nondegreestudents

• Partnershipsthatstrengthenlocalorganizationsandgroups

• Affordable,entertaining,inspiringandthought-provoking arts and cultural events

• Developmentofcommunityinfrastructureandjobs throughconstructionprojects

• Leadershipindevelopingenvironmentallyfriendlyand sustainable services and programs

Employing Erie Residents Mercyhurstemploys524full-timeand100part-timeemployeeswho are members of the Erie community, which represents an increase of 40%overthepastdecade.Additionally,theuniversityemploysmorethan100adjunctfacultymembersand800studentseachyear.Payrollexceeds$22.9millioninafter-taxsalariesandwages.Thewagesandsalariespaidto university employees multiplies as it moves through the economy. In all, the university’s impact, using a conservative multiplier of 1.5, equatestoa$34.3millionfinancialinjectionintoErieCounty.In2011alone,staffandfacultypaid$345,000inlocaltaxes.

The university directly contributes financially to local governments. Mercyhursthaspaidmorethan$164,000intaxesoncitypropertyit ownssurroundingcampus.Since2006,theuniversityhasmadean annual financial contribution to the City of Erie. The 2011 gift of $100,000broughtthetotalto$650,000.

Additionally,MercyhurstUniversityfacultymembersdomorethanteach.Manyofthefacultyarerecognizednationalleadersintheirrespectivefields and are called upon by local and national figures to share their expertise.Morethan$6.3millioninfederal,stateandfoundationgrantswereawardedforfaculty-directedresearchandprojectslastyear.Itcouldbe said that the knowledge base of Mercyhurst University faculty and staff makes the greatest positive impact on our community.

Capital Projects and Local Purchases In order to provide the community with an educational resource, Mercyhurst spends millions of dollars annually on capital improvement projectsandlocalpurchases.Thecampushasmadesignificantstridesin enhancing the surrounding neighborhoods through housing and apartment renovation and development. Mercyhurst is committed to not only investing in the university community, but also in the Erie community.

Student Spending Besides university tuition, room, board and fees, studies indicate that studentsspendanaverageof$361permonthondiscretionaryitems. ThatmeansMercyhurststudentscontributeanadditional$8.3milliondirectly into the local economy.

Visitor and Tourist Impact Mercyhurst welcomes thousands of visitors annually to Erie and the region. Throughout the year, potential students and families visit the campus as guests of the admissions department while alumni come back to celebrate their alma mater for many reasons. The annual Career Fair and College Fair brings 100 representatives from recruiting companies anddozensofuniversitiestoErieforovernightvisits.

Twenty-fourNCAADivisionIandIIathleticteamsontheMercyhurstcampusinvitemorethan4,000athletesinthePSACtoErieforcompetitive events throughout the year.

DozensofperformingartistsandtroupesstayovernightinErieasaresultoftheMaryD’AngeloPerformingArtsCenter’sscheduledevents.

Graduationbringsthefamiliesof936graduatestoErieeachyearforovernight visits while thousands of parents and friends of students visit multiple times during the year, staying overnight, dining out and shopping in Erie during their stay.

Economic Impact of Mercyhurst Overall, Mercyhurst University pumps more than $101.1 million into the Erie County economy each year from several significant investment areas.

Mercyhurst Saves Pennsylvania Taxpayers $20,000 per graduate In2009,thetaxpayercostforafour-yearuniversitydegreebestoweduponaPennsylvaniaresidentwhograduatedfroma statecollegeoruniversityinthecommonwealthwas$23,768.Thatyear,thetaxpayercostforafour-yeardegreefromaprivatecollegeoruniversityinthecommonwealth(MercyhurstUniversity)wasonly$3,700.

Additionally,full-timestudentsinthePennsylvaniastatesystemandstate-relateduniversitieseachreceiveataxpayer-subsidized“scholarship”of$4,000annuallythroughstateappropriationfunds.ThatmeansMercyhurstUniversity’sPennsylvaniastudentssavestatetaxpayersmorethan$10.9millionintax-basedscholarshipseachyearbyattending our private institution of higher education.

MERCyhuRST unIVERSITy, ERIE CounTy DIRECT IMPaCT InDIRECT IMPaCT ToTaL

Faculty and staff impact $22,903,659 $11,451,829.50 $34,355,488.50

Property taxes and community gift $264,000 $132,000 $396,000

Institutional expenditures $10,707,771 $5,353,885.50 $16,061,656.50

Construction expenditures $24,339,000 $12,169,500 $36,508,500

Student discretionary impact $8,378,521 $4,189,260.50 $12,567,781.50

Visitor and tourist impact $823,005 $411,502.50 $1,234,507.50

ToTaL MERCyhuRST IMPaCT $67,415,956 $33,707,978 $101,123,934

• In2010,theuniversityawardedmorethan$52,000indiversitygrants touniversityclubs,organizationsordepartments.Thegrantsfund activities aimed at fostering diversity awareness and action.

• Theuniversityisplayingapivotalroleincombatingpoverty. Mercyhurst financially supports and serves as a lead partner agency withGECACandtheUnitedWayintheErieTogetherinitiative, acollaborationbetweenarealeadersandconcernedcitizenswho are working to address poverty in the region in relation to individuals, neighborhoods and our entire community.

• Athree-year,$1.5milliongrantfromthePennsylvaniaDepartment ofEducationenablesMercyhurstUniversitytolaunchCarpeDiem Academy–anafter-schoolenrichmentprogramatsevenofErie’s neediestelementaryschools.CarpeDiemAcademywillbenefitmore than400ofthemostvulnerablekindergartenthroughsecond-grade students and their parents.

• TheMaryD’AngeloPerformingArtsCenteratMercyhurstshowcases a broad array of cultural events, music and dance each year. Mercyhurst’ssupportofthePerformingArtsCentermeanslower ticket prices, enabling many members of the community who may have found it financially unfeasible to experience the arts do so.

Sinceitsinception15yearsago,Mercyhursthassubsidizedthe operationsofthePerformingArtsCenterwithover$2.5million. This support will continue with the recently created Mercyhurst InstituteforArtsandCulture.

• NearlyeverymajordepartmentatMercyhursthasorganized projectsthatpositivelyaffectthecommunity.Facultyandstudent efforts reinforce the university’s core values and commitment to the dignity of work by working to effect positive change in the Erie community.ThefollowingarejustafewexamplesofhowMercyhurst students, faculty and employees give back to the community.

academics• Mercyhurstcontractswithlocalparochialschoolstoplacegraduate assistant(GA)certifiedteachersinclassrooms,savingtheschools money.MercyhurstGAstudentsannuallysaveparochialschools $14,311perclassroomascomparedtotheratesofcontracted teachers.

• Eachyear,Mercyhurstawardsmorethan$30millioninPresidential scholarships, athletics and other institutional aid to students.

• MercyhurstUniversityandtheBookerT.WashingtonCenter (BTWC) developed a partnership in 2010 by opening a new campus in the city. The BTWC campus removes barriers to attaining a university degree for inner-city students and provides vital financial resources, reliable childcare and transportation.

• Eachyear,seniorsintheWalkerSchoolofBusinessatMercyhurst University present their group findings from their Business Policy & Strategy capstone and Strategic Communication courses to local businesses,forwhichtheycompletecasestudies.GraphicDesign studentsprovideclientsattheSBDCwithmorethan1,450hours of pro bono design work annually. Collectively, these students provideupwardsof$293,250annuallyinstrategicservicestoErie nonprofitandfor-profitorganizationsandbusinesses.

Community Impact of Mercyhurst Mercyhurst has a strong history of carrying out its vision through charitable giving, cultural attractions, neighborhood revitalization and community service.

• Similarprobonoworkisconductedforareafor-profitbusinesses eachyearbystudentsintheIntelligenceStudiesDepartment,with avalueofupwardsof$250,000peryear.

athletics and healthy Lifestyles• MercyhurstUniversitystudent-athletesvolunteertheirtimetobenefit dozensoforganizationsandindividualsinthecommunity. Their impact reaches the lives of those who are not afforded many opportunities.

• Themen’sandwomen’shockeyteamsannuallyvolunteertheirtime with Gliding Stars, a program that teaches the physically challenged how to skate.

• Fooddriveshavebeencoordinatedforcharitableorganizations, andsubstantialfundshavebeenraisedforcancer-relatedprojects each year.

Sustainability and Conservation• MercyhurstUniversitypurchases100%ofitselectricityfrom wind power sources.

• MercyhurstUniversityWestCampushousesagreenhouseandacres of organic community gardens. The greenhouse is powered by solar panels purchased by the university’s “Green Team.”

• MercyhursthasledasustainabilityinitiativeinWestCounty,which will be instrumental in the development of trails, bike paths and linkages to the area’s farm markets.

• Since2001,theLakeErieRegionConservancy—housedat Mercyhurst—hasledeffortsthathaveprotectedmorethan1,100 acres of open space in Erie County and have procured relationships and funding that have been earmarked towards conservation studies.

Mercyhurst Institutes• Thirteeninstitutesarehousedhere,providingexpertiseanddirection for our community in areas such as arts and culture, civic policy, sustainability issues, teaching excellence, religious and ethical issues, public health, forensics, archaeology and public safety, among others.

• TheMercyhurstCenterforAppliedPoliticshasbecomealeaderin public opinion polling at the state and local levels. They have worked with agencies to help gauge public opinion on cyberbullying, civic engagement, nature and the environment, and a host of other issues.

• TheCenterforMercyandCatholicStudiesworkstoenhancethe mission and Catholic identity of the university by promoting the values of caring for the poor, caring for immigrants, caring for the elderly, promoting nonviolence and combating racism.

• TheEvelynLincolnInstituteforEthicsandSocietyfacilitatesdialogue that engages an exchange of ideas pertaining to ethical inquiry. Its primaryfocusesareSociallyResponsibleBusinessPractices,Science and Emerging Technologies, and Ecology and Sustainability. In March2011,aco-sponsoredeventwiththeRotaryClubofErie brought 125 students from 12 northwestern Pennsylvania high schools to campus for a full day of lectures and activities focused on“EthicalTheoryandPracticeRegardingHumanRelationships.”

Mercyhurst Global ambassadorsThis year, Mercyhurst welcomed students from more than 30 states andterritoriesand43internationalcountries.Inthe2011-2012academicyear,theMercyhurstinternationalstudentpopulationincreasedto220— afull9%oftheundergraduatepopulation.Asaresult,theuniversityisrankednumber15forinternationalstudentsintheTopRegionalUniversities (North) category of the U.S.News & World Report University Guide.

Mercyhurst students from Erie, other parts of Pennsylvania or from the other side of the world all serve as global ambassadors wherever they travel, creating favorable impressions of our region and sharing potential economic opportunities with families and friends around the world. The university has developed strong relationships in support of and involvementwithErie’ssistercitiesofDungarvan,Ireland,andLublin,Poland.

Mercyhurst students give back as well. Volunteerism is the backbone of strong, caring communities, and Mercyhurst takes pride in its contribution to the Erie community.

• Lastyear,Mercyhurststudentscompletedmorethan39,450service hours;attheminimumwageof$7.25anhour,thisequatestomore than$286,000indonatedtime.

• Studentsareplacedinservicescholarprograms,suchas Community Fellows and Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania. These students help to rebuild communities and lives.

• DozensofMercyhurststudentsforgotheirfallandspringbreaks to visit impoverished regions of our country, volunteering their timetohelptheirfellowAmericansinneed.Throughthese endeavors, Mercyhurst students become more civically aware and engaged, expanding their world view in the process.

• MercyhurstworksintandemwithAmeriCorpsVISTAtooffer daily tutoring and mentoring services to underprivileged children in the Erie area.

43 CounTRIES aRE REPRESEnTED aT MERCyhuRST unIVERSITy

1. Afghanistan

2. Bhutan

3. Brazil

4. Canada

5. China

6. Costa Rica

7. Ecuador

8. El Salvador

9. Ethiopia

10. Finland

11. France

12. Germany

13. Ghana

14. Guatemala

15. Honduras

16. Hungary

17. India

18. Ireland

19. Jamaica

20. Kenya

21. Latvia

22. Liberia

23. Mexico

24. Montenegro

25. Nepal

26. Netherlands

27. Nicaragua

28. Norway

29. Pakistan

30. Panama

31. Peru

32. Poland

33. Rwanda

34. Serbia

35. Slovakia

36. Spain

37. Sweden

38. Thailand

39. Tunisia

40. Turkey

41. United

Kingdom

42. Vietnam

43. Zimbabwe

The Mercyhurst Family - Proud to Serve our CommunityMercyhurst University faculty, administrators and staff donate their time, talent and treasure to more than 100 local nonprofit agencies and organizations.Thefollowingisapartiallist:

AcademicSportsLeaguejudgefortheErieSchoolDistrict

AfterDinnerOperaCompany

Alzheimer’sWalk

AmericanCancerSocietyNWPA

AmericanHeartAssociationNWPA

AmericanRedCross

ArtsErie-CultureSpark

AsburyWoods

AssociationofFundraisingProfessionals

Barber National Institute

Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies

Bayview Toastmasters

Books for Kids

Breast Cancer Foundation

Cathedral Preparatory School

Catholic Charities

Cody’sWheelsofHope

Community Shelter Services

DioceseofErieReviewBoardmember

EasternParalyzedVeterans-NWPA

EdinboroAreaHistoricalSociety

Emmaus Ministry: Kids Café

Emmaus Soup Kitchen

ErieArtMuseum

Erie City Mission

Erie Community Foundation

Erie County Criminal Justice Coalition: member

ErieCountyJuvenileProbation:ACT33study

Erie County Neighborhood Watch Council

Erie County Prison

ErieCountyTechnicalSchool’sHealthAssistantProgram

ErieDistrictGolfAssociation

EriePhilharmonicOrchestra

ErieHomeforChildrenandAdults

Erie Maritime Museum

Erie Playhouse

ErieRegionalChamber&Growth Partnership-Ambassador

Erie Together

Erie Times-News in Education

ErieYouthSoccerAssociation(EYSA)

Erie Zoo

Family-to-FamilyInstructorNAMI

FlagshipNiagaraLeague

FortLeBoeufLittleLeague

FriendoftheErieCountyLibrarybooksale

HarborcreekYouthServicesAcademy (AlternativeEducation):AdvisoryBoard

HarborcreekYouthServices:BoardofDirectors

HighmarkCaringPlace

HookedonBooks

HouseofMercy

HumaneSociety

JuvenileDiabetesResearchFoundationofNWPA

KanziusCancerFoundation

KnightsandLadiesofSt.Patrick

Koinonia of Erie County

LakeErieRegionalConservancy

LeadershipErie

MarchofDimes

McDowellAthletics

MentalHealthAssociation(MHA) ofNWPABoardofDirectors

Mercy Center for Women

MercyCenteroftheArts

MercyhurstChildLearningCenter

Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

MuscularDystrophyAssociation

NationalAlliancefortheMentallyIll(NAMI)

NeighborhoodArtHouse

Neighborhood Watch

North East Chamber of Commerce

NorthEastVolunteerFireDepartment(CherryFestival)

OperationChristmasChild

OurLadyofMountCarmel

PresbyterianHomes

PABoardofProbation&Parole,ErieDistrict.

RotaryClubErie

SafeNet

SaintGeorgeRCChurch

Saint Peter’s Cathedral

SaintVincentHealthSystem(Corporator)

SaintVincentHealthSystem (RegionalTelemedicineNetwork)

SalvationArmy

SaveTheVillaChapelProject

Shawl Ministries

Sisters of Mercy

Sisters of St. Joseph

St.GeorgeRCChurch|School

St.JamesRCChurch|School

St. John the Baptist Church

St.John-HolyRosarySchool

St.JudetheApostleChurch

St.LukeChurch|School

St. Martin’s Center

St.Mary’sHome

St. Peter Cathedral

TheAchievementCenter

TheSightCenterofNWPA

The Sunshine Group

Times-NewsOpenBowlingTournament

Times-OldNewsies-fooddrive

Trinity UM Church

United Way of Erie County

UPMCHamot(Corporators)

Veterans of Foreign Wars

VillaMariaAcademy

Voices for Independence

Wayside Presbyterian Church

Women’sRoundtableNWPA

WQLN

YMCA

Methodology Notes: Where figures are derived

• DataSources:Mercyhurstfinancialanddepartmentalrecords;CivicInstitutestatisticalresearch calculations; campus-wide survey of employees.

• ThelineitemsandfiguresutilizedinthetablebelowarerecommendedbytheAssociationofIndependent CollegesandUniversitiesofPennsylvania(AICUP)tobeusedineconomicimpactstudies.Thesearethemost consistentareastoutilizeandarefoundinotherconductedstudies.

• DirectImpactfiguresarethoseareasthatarespentdirectlyingivencategories.

• IndirectImpactfiguresarethosethataregeneratedasdollarsspentandsubsequentlyfurtherdispersed throughouttheeconomy.AICUPutilizesamultiplierfigureof2.2forstatewidefiguresandrecommends usinganeconomicmultiplierof1.5forcounty-levelinitiatives.Forthisreport,1.5hasbeenutilized.

Faculty and staff impact: Directfaculty/staffimpactwascalculated by(GrossSalariesandWagesof$31,367,198x97%,theestimatedpercentageofMercyhurst employees who reside in Erie County)–($8,463,546inFederal,State andLocaltaxespaid).

Institutional expenditure and construction expenditures: Purchases made by Mercyhurst University locally and money spent by the university on construction of new facilities and buildings.

Student discretionary impact: 2010studycompletedbythe360Youth/HarrisInteractiveCollegeExplorerGroup found the average college student spendsanaverage$361permonthondiscretionary items (spending on anything otherthantuition,room/board,rent/mortgage,books/schoolfees).

This figure only includes the discretionary dollars spent and DOES NOT include books, fees and other campus-related expenses,whichareusedinotherAICUPreports.Figureisgeneratedby$361x9monthsxstudentbodypopulation(4,298).Thisisthenmultipliedby.6tocomeupwith a conservative figure of dollars spent locally.

Mercyhurst saves taxpayers money: The$10.9millioninsavingsisderivedforthe$4,000x2,722PAresidentsattendingMercyhurst.

Savings of $14,311 per classroom for parochial schools: Mercyhurst contracts with local parochial schoolstoplacegraduateassistant(GA)certified teachers in classrooms, saving the schoolsmoney.MercyhurstGAstudentsannuallysaveparochialschools$14,311per classroom as compared to the rates of contracted teachers.

Visitor and tourist impact: CalculatedbyutilizingtheU.S.governmentdaily travel expenditure rates for tracked overnight stays for campus recruitment, athletics and miscellaneous visits (career fairs, graduation, family visitations and estimated number of drop-offs and pick-ups for out-of-town students).

Recruitment: (1,300dayvisitsx$43dailyM&IErate)+(761overnightvisitsx$84hotelrate)+(2,600overnightdaysx$43M&IErate)AthletictourismcalculatedbynumberofM&IE days for non-overnight stays (2,011 x$43dailyrate)+costsassociatedwithovernightstayathletes(1,542athletesx2daysx43rate)+hotelcost,threetoaroom(1,542/3x84rate).

Othermiscellaneouscalculatedby numberofovernightstays(1,936x84 rate) + M&IE day.

MERCyhuRST unIVERSITy, ERIE CounTy DIRECT IMPaCT InDIRECT IMPaCT ToTaL

Faculty and staff impact $22,903,659 $11,451,829.50 $34,355,488.50

Property taxes and community gift $264,000 $132,000 $396,000

Institutional expenditures $10,707,771 $5,353,885.50 $16,061,656.50

Construction expenditures $24,339,000 $12,169,500 $36,508,500

Student discretionary impact $8,378,521 $4,189,260.50 $12,567,781.50

Visitor and tourist impact $823,005 $411,502.50 $1,234,507.50

ToTaL MERCyhuRST IMPaCT $67,415,956 $33,707,978 $101,123,934

The Mercyhurst University Mission Vision StatementMercyhurst University seeks to be a leading higher educational institution that integrates excellence in the liberal arts, professional and career-path programs, and service to regional and world communities.

Mission StatementConsistent with its Catholic identity and Mercy heritage, Mercyhurst University educates women and men in a culture where faith and reason flourish together, where the beauty and power of the liberal arts combine with an appreciation for the dignity of work and a commitment to serving others. Confident in the strength of its student-faculty bonds, the University community is inspired by the image of students whose choices,inlifeandwork,willenablethemtorealizethehumanandspiritual values embedded in everyday realities and to exercise leadershipinservicetowardajustworld.

Core ValuesWe are...

Socially merciful, Mercy restores human dignity, expands our social relations, and empowers us to reach out in compassion to others.

Globally responsible, Globalizationchallengesustolearnhowtostewardtheresources of the Earth wisely and to act in solidarity with its diverse peoples.

Compassionately hospitable, Mercy hospitality begins with self-acceptance, welcomes peoples of different faith, ethnic, and cultural traditions, and thus builds communities that transcend mere tolerance.

Intellectually creative, Generous, inquiring, and critical habits of mind, which support the aspirations for excellence manifested within the academic community, encourage us in our lifelong search for what is true, good, and beautiful.

Reflectively aware, OurChristianenvironmentencouragesself-reflectionandcontemplationof human behavior, promotes balance of mind, body, and spirit, and ultimately offers the opportunity to develop a moral compass for a life of integrity.

Ambassadors of service.

501East38thStreet,Erie,PA16546mercyhurst.edu