Mercyhurst University
Alumni Ambassador
Training Manual
Revised: 09.16.2014
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What is Expected?
On behalf of the Office of Admissions and Office of Alumni Relations I would like to extend
our thanks for taking the opportunity to represent your alma mater as an Alumni
Ambassador. The donation of your time to spread the word about Mercyhurst will not go
unnoticed and is a priceless contribution.
You have the opportunity to represent Mercyhurst in a multitude of different ways. Our
main goal moving forward is for you, the alumnus, to share your unique story with the
Lakers of tomorrow. You can do this through interactions at college fairs, high school visits,
or via an email or phone call. Your story is the most facet you can bring to the table,
however, this packet will allow you to brush up on some of the facts and figures. Regardless
of whether you graduated this past spring, or 20 years ago, Mercyhurst is continually
evolving to ensure that we offer students the ultimate educational experience.
As stated in the introductory letter, you can keep up to date on unrepresented college fairs
at http://hurstalumni.org/get-involved/alumni-recruitment-team/alumniambassadorcollege-fairs/. You can also alert us to any events that you hear of in your region.
You also have the opportunity to visit your old high school, or any high schools in your
region. At these visits, we usually interact with students and/or college counselors. I can
help to arrange meetings for you at particular schools in your area or you can undertake
the task yourself.
Calling and/or emailing prospective students to share your story and answer any potential
questions students may have will most likely occur early in the New Year.
At this time I encourage you to contact anyone you might consider to be a good candidate
for Mercyhurst and ensure that they apply or get into contact with their respective
counselor; you can find this information at http://www.mercyhurst.edu/admissions/
meet%20the%20staff.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions!
Thanks,
Danny Mudd '09
Undergraduate Admissions Counselor
Mercyhurst University
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Facts and Figures
Location:
Founded:
Erie, PA (280,000 People; 4th largest city in Pennsylvania)
1926
Affiliated:
Size:
Catholic Church through the Sisters of Mercy
75 Acres
Enrollment:
Approximately 3,000 traditional undergraduates
Average Student:
Faculty:
3.4 GPA (unweighted) / 1070 SAT (best two sections) / 24 ACT
170 full-time
Majors:
Minors/Con.:
50 Majors
67 Concentrations
Gender Ratio:
Ethnic Ratio:
40% Male, 60% Female
82% Caucasian, 5% Minority, 7% Non-Resident Aliens, 6% Other
Geographic Ratio:
40 states and 44 countries
Alumni:
Career Placement:
Approx. 15,000
95% employed or graduate school 6 months after graduation
Cost of attending: $42,500 (based on more expensive housing assignment)
Student to faculty: 14 to 1
Avg. Class Size:
20
Academic Calendar: Traditional semesters with a J-Term (January term)
Athletic Teams:
24 Varsity – 2 DI and 22 DII
National Rank:
Mercyhurst University is ranked in the top tier of its “new” category in
The U.S. News & World Report 2009 Edition of “America’s Best
Colleges.”
Unique Programs: Intelligence Studies, Archaeology/Anthropology, Dance,
Hospitality Management, Applied Forensic Sciences, Fashion
Merchandising, Athletic Training, and Sports Medicine.
Co-Ed in:
Retention Rate:
1969
86% (Freshman to Sophomore)
Percentage Catholic: 55%
Meal Plans:
Mandatory for freshman; Allows for unlimited access to the Egan
Hall Cafeteria during operating hours. Upperclassman may
choose to have a plan but have kitchens in their apartments.
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Facts and Figures Continued
Housing:
Guaranteed for all four years. Residence halls for Freshman.
Mercyhurst-owned apartments and townhouses for sophomores,
juniors, and seniors. Required to stay on campus through sophomore
year.
4-year Grad Rate: 76%
Financial aid:
Security:
95% of freshmen receive some sort of institutional aid
36 Cameras on campus; blue light system; 8 Full-time officers
Email/text message alerts
Clubs & Orgs.:
Study Abroad:
Over 80 Registered Clubs and Organizations
Yes, numerous countries (branch campus in Dungarvan, Ireland)
Scholarships:
Merit- based ($8k - $20k); Need-based (FAFSA required)
On Campus:
Liberal Arts Core:
85% of students live on campus all four years
18 courses (54 credits) total in common + distribution core
Admissions:
Acceptance Rate:
Rolling admissions (no deadline); Common Application member
76%
Tours:
Available by appointment M-F at 9, 10, 11, 1, and 2
Call 1-800-825-1926 ext. 2202
Website:
www.mercyhurst.edu
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College Fairs
College fairs are organized either by specific organizations such as PACAC (Pennsylvania
Association for College Admission Counseling), or by individual high schools or groups of
high schools (districts). They present opportunities for students to speak with counselors
from various institutions in one area, and usually in a somewhat local environment.
The basic guidelines to abide by at these events are as follows:

Arrive early
o Give yourself time to set up your table prior to students arriving
o There are usually refreshments provided by the organizers

Make the table look neat and presentable
o Make sure the tablecloth is straight
o Display materials in a way that looks neither too sparse nor too cluttered

Stay behind the table at all times
o Do not approach students, let them approach you

No giveaways
o Aside from informational material, it is prohibited to give incentives

Try and encourage students to take materials
o Inquiry cards will put them on our mailing list
 They can fill these out and hand them to you or mail them for free
o Offer our main student handout that will acquaint them further with us

Make eye-contact, smile, and try and engage everyone who visits your table

If you had good conversation with a student (or family) make a note
o Pass these “hot” prospects on so that we can email them

Try not to be the first to leave, but don’t feel like you have to be the last
o We appreciate any time you can volunteer to our cause
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High School Visit
If you arrange a high school visit, there is a possibility that any student(s) interested in
Mercyhurst may be invited to attend. If this is the case, the counselor will either leave you
alone to discuss the information you have to share with the student(s). They may also
decide to sit in on the discussion to learn more about Mercyhurst, if they don’t, encourage
them to talk with you after the visit.
High school visits are a great way to have an informative conversation with any student(s)
and/or guidance/college counselors. There are no strict guidelines to these meetings, just
be enthusiastic and informative.
You can direct students to their appropriate admissions counselor based on the region that
you are in, below is a list to help identify which counselor is the appropriate one:
Andrea Coughlin
Erie County
(814) 824-3021
agrady2@mercyhurst.edu
Megan Diffendaffer
New England & Metro NY
(814) 824-2270
mdiffendaffer@mercyhurst.edu
Jaime McCaslin
Transfers
(814) 824-2739
jmccaslin@mercyhurst.edu
Pat LaFuria
OH, MI, WV, & IL
(814) 824-2546
plafuria@mercyhurst.edu
Dana McMillin
Greater Pittsburgh & Western PA
(814) 824-3125
dmcmillin@mercyhurst.edu
Daniel Mudd
All remaining regions
(814) 824-2978
dmudd@mercyhurst.edu
Elizabeth Bross
Upstate NY
(814) 824-3364
ebross@mercyhurst.edu
Eric Evans
International Admissions
(814) 824-2478
eevans@mercyhurst.edu
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Selling Points
We all have experienced the great qualities that Mercyhurst has to offer and this is the
opportunity to explain everything that you loved about the ‘Hurst. However, below is a list
of selling points that will appeal to various students:

A Beautiful Campus - we tend to take our campus for granted, but it is one of the
best in the region

A Safe Environment - Residential, suburban neighborhood with a full-time security
staff and blue light system.

Unique Majors - Intelligence Studies, Archaeology/Anthropology, Dance, Sports
Medicine, Hospitality Management. Look over the course catalog for more

24 NCAA Sports - Even if you’re not on the team, there’s plenty of great action

Residence hall to apartment - a great housing situation free of leases,
maintenance, utilities, etc.

A Growing Reputation - The word is out… we’re a great school with a strong
student profile. We now attract students worldwide

A Competitive Price Point - We’re actually one of the better priced private
institutions around. After financial aid we CAN compete with state schools.

Admissions and Financial Aid as One - one contact person for prospective
students. Admissions Counselors work with all students throughout the entire
financial aid process

A Competitive School with a Cooperative Feel - There will be plenty of students,
staff, faculty and administration willing to help you get where you want to go.

Global Awareness- We want students to make a difference in the world. The doors
are there to walk through- study abroad, mission trips, international diversity

Erie - A great college town, an hour and a half from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo,
and Niagara Falls. There are arts, recreation, entertainment, sports, shopping and
food throughout Erie

Job Placement - Mercyhurst University boasts a 95% job/graduate school
placement rate.

Career Services - Helps coordinate internships/co-ops, resumes and portfolios.
They also conduct two job fairs on campus each year, and provide transportation for
others

Over 80 clubs and organizations - Whether community service, student
government or other academic program related interests, Mercyhurst offers a club
or organization that will fit you
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Admissions Process
Although students can learn about the admissions process online, here are some valuable
tips that you can give students with regards applying to Mercyhurst:

We are rolling admissions
o We have NO deadlines
o It is FREE to apply

There are two ways to apply:
1. Mercyhurst application
2. Common Application

Additional materials required as well as the application are:
o An official high school transcript
o SAT or ACT scores
 We super-score with both exams
 SAT is the best two sections (we do look at the writing section)
o A 250-word personal essay
o 1-3 letters of recommendation
 These can come from anyone (besides family)

Students should expect a decision in 4-6 weeks
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Thanks!
Thank you, once again, for taking the opportunity to volunteer your time to further spread
the word about Mercyhurst. Your contribution is invaluable!
If you have questions, or would like materials mailed to you for any of the aforementioned
events, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Lindsay Cox, details can be found
below:
Admissions Office
Alumni Relations Office
Daniel Mudd `09
Alumni Liaison in Admissions
(814) 824-2978
dmudd@mercyhurst.edu
Lindsay Cox `12
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations &
Annual Giving
(814) 824-2330
lcox@mercyhurst.edu
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