Sacred Heart Convent Becomes Part of Mount Mercy & St. Ambrose Universities

Leaders at Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose Universities announced today that the Sacred Heart Convent has been acquired by the universities from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, marking a significant investment in the future of the Mount Mercy campus.

The acquisition builds on the formal partnership between the two institutions announced last June, when St. Ambrose University became the parent organization of Mount Mercy University as the universities pursue full combination. At that time, St. Ambrose University President Dr. Amy Novak emphasized a commitment to maintaining and strengthening vibrant student life and facilities on Mount Mercy's campus. The addition of Sacred Heart delivers on that commitment, expanding space for student housing, activities, and academics at Mount Mercy.

With support secured through an upcoming capital campaign, Sacred Heart will become a residential home for approximately 75 Mount Mercy students beginning in Fall 2026, with renovations to support that transition launching this month. The new residence hall will offer a welcoming and comfortable home for upper-class students and Honors students.

The main floor of Sacred Heart will be used for student programming and has the potential to support new graduate or undergraduate academic programs in the future. Decisions regarding these academic uses will be made in the months ahead.

"The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have been an excellent steward of this property and a valued partner throughout these negotiations," said Mount Mercy University President Dr. Todd Olson. "We are grateful for their continued commitment to our campus and to Mercy higher education."

Sacred Heart Convent was home to the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids for decades, from its construction in the 1960s until the remaining Sisters moved to HallMar Village in September 2023. The Sisters have an even longer legacy on the hill at Mount Mercy, having first arrived to expand their school for girls in 1906. They opened Mount Mercy Junior College in 1928 and have provided transformative leadership for the education landscape of Cedar Rapids ever since.

Olson says that he and Novak are committed to honoring the Sisters of Mercy and their legacy through the renovation and new uses of the building.

For more information on the combination of St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy Universities, visit https://mtmercy.edu/edutogether/ or https://sau.edu/education-together/.