Project Connect

Project Connect is a free program that equips students from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to achieve success at Mount Mercy.

A Head Start on Your College Experience

Are you a first-generation, low-income, or minority student? Project Connect can empower you to achieve success at Mount Mercy.

This program provides academic preparation, personal growth, community engagement, and leadership development during a three-week, on-campus experience. You’ll get to move to campus before the rest of your classmates, earn credits toward graduation by successfully completing our three-week Psychology of Adjustment course, and build a strong community of support before the fall semester even begins. Project Connect addresses many of the issues that students struggle with the most as they transition from high school to college.

Why Connect?

  • Three-week, summer, residential experience, including a class that will earn you college credit as well as participating in student success workshops, social activities, community-building events, and getting acclimated to the campus environment—all at no cost to you!
  • Free textbooks for your first semester at MMU (after meeting program milestones)
  • A strong support network during your transition between high school and college
  • Increased understanding of helpful on-campus resources
  • Personal growth and leadership development
  • Connections with peer and community mentors for advice and guidance
  • Guaranteed inclusion in the College Success Program during the fall and spring semesters, which includes:
    • Intensive and individualized mentoring to ensure that you get the most out of your college experience
    • Monthly workshops, presentations, and panel discussions to assist in overcoming obstacles and connecting with campus resources
    • Ongoing access to the Project Connect textbook lending library 

Register today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Any new first-year student who is considered low-income (Pell Grant eligible), a racial or ethnic minority, or a first-generation college student (neither parent/guardian has completed a four-year college degree). Your FAFSA must be completed prior to July 1, and you also must be planning to live on campus during the fall and spring semester.

Project Connect is a free program for all those who are eligible. Participants will also receive their fall textbooks for free so you’ll even save some money!

Yes, an essential aspect of this program is that you live on campus and participate in all of the included activities and programming.

Because there are so many experiences that we’ll be sharing with you AND because you’ll also be taking a 3-credit hour college course during this time, working during the summer program is not realistic. Every day of the program, including weekends, is filled with scheduled activities.

While there is no absolute deadline, we encourage students to apply for the program before July 1. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are only a limited number of spots available.