What is the Women with Children Program

The Women with Children Program invites you to participate in our mission of empowering single mothers through educational achievement and personal growth, working toward future professional success only a college degree can provide. Through the gift of free housing, financial assistance, access to quality child care and an array of social, academic and family enrichment programming, Women with Children provides a comprehensive response to the needs of our families. Our students arrive ready to accept the challenge, demonstrate the courage to dedicate themselves to their educational goals, and ultimately, depart from Misericordia University a college graduate, ready to make an impact as a valiant woman, a Mulier Fortis!

Misericordia University was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924. All Sisters of Mercy worldwide trace their roots to their foundress, Catherine McAuley, an Irish Catholic laywoman who recognized the many needs of people who were economically poor in early nineteenth century Ireland. She opened the first House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland on September 24, 1827, a place to shelter and educate women and girls. On August 15, 1924, 50 years after arriving in the Wyoming Valley, the order recognized that a great need was still waiting to be met. The Sisters of Mercy established Luzerne County’s first four-year institution of higher learning, then College Misericordia. Today Misericordia University continues to exemplify the same charisms set forth by Catherine McAuley – core values of Mercy, Service, Justice and Hospitality.

Sr. Jean Messaros, a Sister of Mercy and Vice President of Mission Integration, brought the tradition of empowering women through education and alleviating the barriers of poverty to the forefront in 2000 by establishing the Women with Children Program at Misericordia University. The Women with Children Program continues the mission of empowering the underserved by assisting single women and their children realize their full potential through higher education.

The Women with Children Program is situated within four homes on the University’s lower campus. As a gift from the Program, each family receives free housing for 12 months of the year for up to four years. Housing arrangements include bedrooms to accommodate the size of each family. Families share common living areas including kitchen and dining area, living room, playroom, laundry facilities, and study rooms. Safety and security of our families is a priority and each home is equipped with card access only entries, child safe playground/play areas and 24 hour campus safety support. The current capacity of the program is 18 families. Space availability varies by semester and when at full capacity, students can request to be placed on a waiting list for the program.

Extensive family enrichment programming is offered throughout the year for mothers and children alike. Mothers will receive support through individual goal planning, academic support and tutoring, career services, on-campus counseling, parenting and informational workshops. Mothers are given priority placement for on-campus work study opportunities and assistance with internship placements. Children are offered the opportunity to pursue extra-curricular activities including sports camps, summer camps, swimming lessons, a children’s garden and library and involvement in the Kids on Campus program during the school year. Numerous family events are offered both on and off campus including cultural events, the arts and children’s shows.

A student-driven philanthropy project aims to leave a lasting legacy for the Women With Children program at Misericordia University.

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