Petition to Relocate Mercy College of Ohio to the Former Lourdes University Campus

Following the fire impacting Mercy College of Ohio, we urge leadership and community stakeholders to consider relocating Mercy College to the former Lourdes University campus in Sylvania.

With Lourdes no longer operating, the campus presents a rare opportunity to preserve higher education infrastructure in Northwest Ohio while allowing Mercy College to expand and modernize its programs.

Why the Former Lourdes Campus Is the Ideal Solution

1. A Fully Established College Campus Already Exists

Instead of rebuilding from the ground up, Mercy College could utilize:

Existing classroom buildings
Lecture halls
Parking lots
Administrative offices
Student spaces
Campus infrastructure already designed for higher education
This could significantly reduce rebuilding time and costs.

2. Room for Major Program Expansion

The former Lourdes campus offers far more room for growth than a standard rebuild. Mercy College could expand:

Nursing programs
Allied health education
Simulation labs
EMT/Paramedic training
Imaging and radiology programs
Community health initiatives
This would help address the ongoing healthcare worker shortage in Ohio and Michigan.

3. Faster Return to Stability for Students

Using an existing campus could minimize disruption for current students and faculty by:

Allowing quicker relocation
Preventing delayed graduations
Maintaining enrollment
Supporting faculty retention
Preserving academic continuity
4. Revitalizing an Empty Campus

Rather than leaving a closed university campus vacant, Mercy College could breathe new life into the property and preserve it as a center for education and workforce development.

This would:

Prevent property decline
Support local businesses
Maintain jobs in the area
Keep Sylvania connected to higher education
5. Better Long-Term Student Experience

The Lourdes campus provides:

A larger campus environment
Green space and walking paths
More parking availability
Space for future student services
Potential for future residence halls or partnerships
6. Opportunity to Build a Regional Healthcare Education Center

This move could establish one of the premier healthcare-focused college campuses in Northwest Ohio, strengthening partnerships with hospitals, clinics, and healthcare employers throughout the region.

Conclusion

The closure of Lourdes University and the fire affecting Mercy College create a unique opportunity to protect and strengthen healthcare education in Northwest Ohio.

Rather than rebuilding smaller and constrained, relocating Mercy College to the former Lourdes campus would preserve educational infrastructure, support students, and create room for future growth and innovation.

We encourage Mercy leadership, local officials, healthcare partners, alumni, and community members to explore this opportunity seriously for the future of healthcare education in our region.