Mercy University has been awarded an $875,000 grant from the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap) to create a centralized hub for student services and modernize campus facilities at its Westchester campus.
The grant, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), will fund common area furnishings such as seating and tables, state-of-the-art technology equipment and residence hall furnishings for the Mercy Hall/Founders Hall complex as part of a comprehensive renovation project designed to streamline student support services and enhance student engagement.
The centerpiece of the renovation project is a new One-Stop Center that will bring together essential student services under one roof. Students will have streamlined access to Student Registration, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, the Professional Advising and Coaching Team (PACT) and Opportunity Programs personnel, all in a welcoming, centralized location.
The renovations will create updated event, meeting and classroom spaces and multi-use activity spaces, including the Rotunda, where students can attend classes, participate in campus events and gather for informal study sessions, along with refreshed residence hall accommodations in Founders Hall with new beds, furniture and appliances.
Technology upgrades will equip students with modern learning tools, including new computers in common areas, enhanced audiovisual systems with large video screens and projectors, and improved network infrastructure to support digital learning.
“These renovations will enable Mercy University to better serve the needs of our students as lifelong learners, in modern multi-functional spaces that blend socializing, services along main street, digital connections, and active learning, " said Thomas Simmonds, vice president of operations and facilities at Mercy.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2029.
Significant State and University Investment
Mercy University is investing $2.625 million from its capital funds to meet the program's required 3-to-1 match, bringing the total project cost to $3.5 million. The university is one of 32 independent colleges and universities across New York to receive a HECap award this year.
"New York's colleges and universities prepare the next generation of workers, innovators and leaders," Governor Kathy Hochul said in her press release announcement. "These investments will modernize campuses, strengthen workforce training opportunities and ensure students have access to learning environments that reflect the demands of today's economy."
Dormitory Authority President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said the program delivers “lasting benefits for students, institutions and communities across the state.”
“Through HECap, New York State is making strategic investments that strengthen higher education, expand workforce development, and create learning environments where innovation can thrive,” added Rodriguez.