Mount Saint Mary College is proud to announce that it has joined the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU).
CUMU is the longest-running and largest organization committed to serving and connecting urban and metropolitan universities and their partners. In becoming a member of the organization, the Mount joins more than 100 member colleges and universities across the U.S.
The coalition is dedicated to the creation and dissemination of knowledge on the issues that face urban and metropolitan campuses and the communities they serve. CUMU’s mission ensures sustained attention to the exchange of information and ideas among member institutions about higher education’s role in urban and metropolitan settings; engenders a unified approach to the resolution of common challenges; and develops a clearer understanding within the higher education community and among public policy makers and the public about the distinctive roles played by urban and metropolitan institutions.
CUMU’s objectives are achieved through strategies, programs, and activities that support research and information exchange, institutional engagement and service, and public information and advocacy.
The Mount’s membership in CUMU was made possible through the efforts of the staff of the Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness.
Funded in part by grants from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and New York State’s Higher Education Capital (HECap) program, the Desmond Center will provide accessible and equitable educational, health, and wellness services for community members and families in the local area, including the uninsured, while also creating learning opportunities for Mount students. The college expects the center to serve more than 4,000 residents per year.
Although construction of the center’s new home on campus is expected to continue through December 2022, Desmond Center programming is already underway. Recent events included a COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinic, online health equity talks discussing healthcare disparities faced by women of color, and more.
Future Desmond Center offerings will include a smoking cessation program, a program designed for young women of color centered around self-esteem and empowerment, service provider training on mental health topics, and health education events.