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College of Saint Rose
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The College of Saint Rose was a private college in Albany, New York, United States. It was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as a Catholic women's college, and it became fully coeducational in the 1969–1970 academic year. The following year, the college added laypersons to its board and became an independent college sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The college was located in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany. It was a Division II member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Key Information
In June 2023, after many years of financial difficulties, the college's accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, publicly warned the college that it was in danger of losing its accreditation. The college closed in June 2024.
History
[edit]The idea for The College of Saint Rose was conceived by Joseph A. Delaney, the vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, in 1920. Delaney contacted Blanche Rooney, a member of the local chapter of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet in the Provincial House on Eighth Street in Troy, New York. Rooney and her sisters were receptive to the idea and, with the permission and support of Bishop of Albany Edmund F. Gibbons and Rooney, Delaney purchased the William Keeler estate at 979 Madison Avenue. The College of Saint Rose was established as a Catholic college for women with a liberal arts curriculum in Albany, New York when it received a provisional charter from the Board of Regents on June 28, 1920.[1] In the fall semester of 1920, the college opened for classes. At that time, the Albany-focused Times Union stated that the "'sweeping lawns, a grove of pines, and a tennis court, make the site an ideal one for its new purpose.'" The Sisters of St. Joseph were responsible for the college; Rosina was named its first dean, while Edmund Gibbons was named its honorary president.[2]
The college's founders selected its name to honor the first canonized saint in the Americas, Saint Rose of Lima. Initially, emphasis was placed on the professional training of teachers, but it quickly expanded to include preparation for business and other professions.[3][4][better source needed]
The college created an evening division in 1946 to serve World War II veterans. By 1950, the college opened a graduate school.[3][better source needed] The college became fully coeducational in the 1969-1970 academic year.[2] In 1970, 10 laypersons were added to the board of trustees, and the college became an independent college that was sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet but was no longer under the Sisters' control.[5] Campus housing was made available to male students in the 1970s.[3][better source needed]
Financial challenges
[edit]Between 1999 and 2015, the college purchased 68 properties, tripling the size of its campus. These purchases cost $12 million. During the same period, the college spent an additional $100 million upgrading and improving the properties it acquired, taking on significant debt.[6] Between 2008 and 2015, enrollment at the college decreased by 16 percent.[2]
In December 2015, the college announced plans to eliminate 27 academic programs and 23 faculty positions.[7][8] Two months later, the faculty of the college passed a "no confidence" motion in regard to college president Carolyn J. Stefanco.[9] Also in 2016, the college announced its largest-ever incoming class of 658 students.[2] An investigatory committee of the American Association of University Professors concluded that the college's layoffs "violated shared governance and undermined tenure and academic freedom" and "violated the association's principles and standards".[10]
Stefanco left her post as president in 2020.[11] That same year, the college made $8 million in administrative budget cuts[12] to address a COVID pandemic-related budget gap.[2] In December of that year, college leaders announced that they would eliminate 16 bachelor's degree programs, six master's degree programs, and three certificate programs as a cost-saving measure. In October 2022, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division dismissed a lawsuit filed by four professors who had been laid off by the college in 2020.[13]
In June 2023, the college's accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, warned the college that its accreditation was "in jeopardy" due to financial difficulties. The commission gave the college six months to address the commission's concerns.[14] By October, Fitch Ratings assessed the school's bond rating as "BB",[15] which is described as "non-investment grade speculative". In November, the college asked state lawmakers for emergency funding to avoid a closure.[16]
Closure
[edit]On November 30, 2023, the Albany Times Union reported that the board of trustees had voted to close the College of Saint Rose following the spring semester of 2024.[17][18] College president Marcia White stated that various challenges were affecting many small independent institutions of higher education, particularly in the Northeastern United States; according to White, those challenges included years of declining enrollment and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] Students protested the planned closure.[20]
The college held its final commencement ceremony on May 11, 2024.[2] The last day of instruction was June 21, 2024, with all operations scheduled to cease by the end of December 2024.[21] The closure of the college led to 87 properties in Albany sitting vacant.[17]
On October 10, 2024, the college filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[22] On March 13, 2025, the college's campus was sold to the Pine Hills Land Authority, a quasi-public entity created by Albany County, for $35 million.[23][24] The former president's house was sold separately for $625,000.[25]
Presidents
[edit]Source:[26]
- Edmund Gibbons (1920–1949)
- Rose of Lima Dolan (1949–1953)
- Catherine Francis Soulier (1953–1966)
- Margaret Keeshan (1966–1970)
- Alfonse R. Miele (1970–1972)
- Thomas Manion (1973–1983)
- Louis Vaccaro (1983–1996)
- R. Mark Sullivan (1996–2012)
- David Szczerbacki (2012–2013)
- Carolyn J. Stefanco (2014–2020)[11][27]
- Marcia White (2020–2024)[28]
Campus
[edit]The campus of The College of Saint Rose was located in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany, the capital city of New York. The 46-acre (19 ha) campus was bounded by Western Avenue to the north, Partridge Street to the east, Morris Street to the south, and Main Avenue to the west, and included additional properties north of Western Avenue and east of Partridge Street. Over the years, the college acquired many of the Victorian-era homes adjacent to the main campus. Many of these structures were converted into offices and student housing.[29] The expansion of the college into the surrounding neighborhood occasionally led to conflict with local neighborhood and historic conservation associations.[30][31]
St. Joseph Hall is a four-story English brick building with limestone trim fronted by six Corinthian columns. It is located at 985 Madison Avenue between the Science Center to the west and Moran Hall to the east. The structure was built in 1922 at a cost of US$500,000 (equivalent to $9,400,000 in 2024) due to a need for classroom and dining space to house the growing student body.[32]
The Massry Center for the Arts features the Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall, the Esther Massry Gallery, and the William Randolph Hearst Music Wing. This building served as the primary venue for concerts and exhibitions by the college's students and faculty, and as a performance and exhibition space for artists, musicians, vocalists, and orchestras. The Massry Center received an LEED gold award for being one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the Capital Region.[33]
Athletics
[edit]The College of Saint Rose was a Division II member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), offering 19 varsity intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division II level.[34][better source needed] Shortly before 2000, Saint Rose became a member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10). The school's primary colors were white and gold, but black and gold were the colors used for marketing purposes. The school's NCAA Division II sports teams were referred to as the Golden Knights. Controversy arose when the Vegas Golden Knights joined the National Hockey League in 2017. At that time, the college raised objections that led to the denial of Vegas's trademark application. Vegas's trademark application was later approved on appeal.[35]
In 2009, the Saint Rose women's soccer became the third team in Northeast-10 Conference history (1985) to win three consecutive postseason league titles. The team's season record was 24–1, and it was ranked fourth in the United States at season's end.[36]
Sports complex
[edit]The college's Christian Plumeri Sports Complex was constructed at a cost of $4.7 million.[37] The college's funding for the complex included a $1 million challenge contribution from Joe Plumeri, chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings and the college's 2006 commencement speaker. The complex was named in honor of Plumeri's deceased son.[38][39][40]
Notable alumni
[edit]- Glen Barker, Major League Baseball player and scout[41]
- Mary Daly, American radical feminist philosopher and theologian[42]
- Paige DeSorbo, influencer and TV personality
- Jimmy Fallon, comedian, actor, and host of The Tonight Show. Left the college before graduating, but completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009.[43] Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the college[43]
- Marilee Jones, dean of admissions at MIT who resigned due to scandal[44]
- Elizabeth O'Connor Little, member of the New York State Senate[45]
- Brian Patneaude, jazz saxophonist and band leader[46]
- Loretta A. Preska, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York[47]
- Robert Reilly, member of the New York State Assembly for the 109th district (master's degree)[48]
- James Nicholas Tedisco, member of the New York State Senate and former New York State Assembly Minority Leader (2005-2009) (master's degree)[49]
- Marcia White, president and executive director of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and president of The College of Saint Rose[28]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Manory, RoseMarie. Of Glory, Of Praise: A 75-Year History of The College of Saint Rose. Albany, New York: The College of Saint Rose, 1994. pp. 4-5.
- ^ a b c d e f Johnson, David (May 15, 2024). "A look at the history of The College of St. Rose". timesunion.com.
- ^ a b c "Student Handbook" (PDF). March 24, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ "History & Mission – The College of Saint Rose | Office of the President". Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Manory, Of Glory, Of Praise, p. 147
- ^ Moore, Kathleen (December 28, 2023). "The choices over 20 years that led to Saint Rose's closure". timesunion.com.
- ^ Bump, Bethany (December 12, 2015). "Saint Rose cuts 23 faculty jobs, slashes academic programs". timesunion.com.
- ^ "Saint Rose Cuts 23 Faculty Jobs, 27 Programs". Inside Higher Ed. December 14, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ Bump, Bethany (February 10, 2016). "Saint Rose faculty vote "no confidence" in president". Times Union. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ Schmidt, Peter (May 4, 2016), "AAUP Investigators Slam College of Saint Rose Over Faculty Layoffs", The Chronicle of Higher Education
- ^ a b Levulis, Jim (March 3, 2020). "Saint Rose President Stefanco To Step Down In June". www.wamc.org.
- ^ "Citing Financial Struggles, College Of St. Rose Ending Academic Programs". WAMC. December 8, 2020.
- ^ Gavin, Robert (October 20, 2022). "Appeals court reinstates layoffs of tenured Saint Rose professors". Times Union. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
- ^ Moore, Kathleen (June 30, 2023). "College of Saint Rose accreditation 'in jeopardy'". Times Union.
- ^ "Fitch Affirms and Withdraws College of Saint Rose's (NY) 'BB' Ratings". Fitch Ratings. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Herbert, Geoff (November 29, 2023). "Struggling Upstate NY college asks state for emergency funds (report)". syracuse. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Moore, Kathleen; Hughes, Steve (November 30, 2023). "College of Saint Rose board votes to close school". www.timesunion.com. Albany Times Union. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Lucas, Dave (November 30, 2023). "College of Saint Rose in Albany to close in 2024, according to reports". WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Albany, NY. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "President White's Message to the Saint Rose Community" (Press release). The College of Saint Rose. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "Saint Rose students protest college closure, demand answers". WSYR. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Closures of Degree-Granting Institutions". New York State Education Department. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "College of Saint Rose files for bankruptcy after closure". Times Union. October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ "Albany County plans revitalization as purchase of shuttered College of Saint Rose campus advances". WAMC. March 13, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ "The College of Saint Rose – 1920 – 2024". Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Herbert, Geoff (December 13, 2024). "Former Upstate NY college campus sold for $35 million, well below total debts". syracuse. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
- ^ "Saint Rose Archives – College Presidents Exhibit". faculty.strose.edu. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ Orchard, Jackie (July 7, 2020). "Interim President White Responds To Black At St. Rose Social Media Bias Complaints". www.wamc.org.
- ^ a b Silberstein, Rachel (March 18, 2020). "Marcia White named interim president of Albany's College of Saint Rose". Times Union. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ Quinn, Emma (August 7, 2023). "College of St. Rose is selling 8 buildings on, near campus". WRGB. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Benjamin, Ian (March 2, 2011). "At Common Council Community in Favor of New Dorm". The Saint Rose Chronicle. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (November 4, 2012). "College expansion concerns neighbors". Times Union. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ Manory. Of Glory, Of Praise. pp. 7–8.
- ^ "St. Rose building springs up one of the greenest". Troy Record. January 12, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "History and Knowledge Brochure". The College of Saint Rose. Retrieved July 25, 2012. p. 9
- ^ Carp, Steve (August 9, 2017). "Vegas Golden Knights get approval for name trademark". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- ^ Purks, Scott (December 4, 2009). "Sports report". Albany Times-Union. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ Santillo, Andrew (September 14, 2010). "Field of golden opportunities". troyrecord.com.
- ^ Woodruff, Cathy (September 26, 2010). "New complex a home run". timesunion.com.
- ^ Crow, Kelly (December 29, 2006). "In Bonus Season, a Cut for Charity". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- ^ "Citigroup executive, jazz pianist to get honorary Saint Rose degrees". The Business Review. May 1, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Driver, David. "Albany High grad Glen Barker returns to pro baseball; Former Houston Astros outfielder works as hitting coach for Somerset Patriots", Albany Times Union, July 14, 2016.
- ^ Fox, Margalit (January 7, 2010). "Mary Daly, a Leader in Feminist Theology, Dies at 81". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Gottlieb, Jane (February 13, 2014). "Good to Know: Jimmy Fallon '09, Saint Rose was his muse". The College of Saint Rose. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ Lewin, Tamar (December 7, 2009). "Former Dean Resurfaces, Leaving Scandal Behind" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Lake Placid Hall of Fame to induct Dmitry Feld, Betty Little". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. October 1, 2024.
- ^ Collar, Matt. "Brian Patneaude". AllMusic.
- ^ "Preska, Loretta A." fjc.gov. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ "Reilly New Track Coach At Siena". The Troy Record. New York, Troy. September 15, 1970. p. 16. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tedisco officially sworn in as senator". saratogian.com. July 22, 2021.
External links
[edit]College of Saint Rose
View on GrokipediaFounding and Early Development
Establishment as a Women's College
The College of Saint Rose was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, a Catholic religious order known for its commitment to education and service, as a private Roman Catholic institution exclusively for women in Albany, New York.[1] [9] The initiative addressed the limited access to higher education for Catholic women in the region, building on the order's prior establishment of elementary and secondary schools.[10] Sister Mary Blanche Rooney played a key role in co-founding the college, motivated by the need to extend advanced learning opportunities beyond basic instruction.[10] The institution's name honored Saint Rose of Lima, the first canonized saint of the Americas, reflecting the founders' emphasis on spiritual and cultural heritage.[9] Located initially in Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood, the college opened for its inaugural semester in the fall of 1920 as a four-year liberal arts school, with classes commencing in modest facilities adapted for higher education.[3] Its curriculum from the outset prioritized a broad foundation in humanities and sciences, alongside preparation for teaching—a field aligned with the era's opportunities for educated women—while integrating Catholic values of unity and community service.[11] Early enrollment consisted of a small cohort, including the first registered student, Sister Mary Rosaleen, underscoring the college's origins as an intimate, faith-based endeavor.[3]Transition to Coeducation and Mid-Century Growth
The College of Saint Rose initiated its partial transition toward coeducation in the mid-1940s amid postwar educational demands. In 1946, the institution established an evening division to accommodate World War II veterans returning under the GI Bill, marking the first admission of male students to non-daytime programs.[11][9] Three years later, in 1949, a graduate school was added, also open to men, further broadening access while the undergraduate day program remained women-only.[1] These developments reflected pragmatic responses to demographic shifts and federal funding opportunities, enabling enrollment expansion from modest early figures of around 58 students in the 1920s to over 100 by the late 1950s.[12] Mid-century growth accelerated through infrastructural and programmatic investments. The 1960s saw construction of key facilities, including a campus center and additional dormitories, to support rising student numbers and evolving needs.[12] Academic offerings diversified with new majors and expanded graduate degrees, contributing to steady increases that positioned the college for broader accessibility. By the late 1960s, these efforts had built momentum, with enrollment approaching levels that sustained operations into the following decade.[12] The full shift to coeducation occurred in 1969, when the college admitted men to its daytime undergraduate programs, aligning with a reciprocal arrangement whereby nearby Siena College, previously all-male, began accepting women.[3] This change, effective for the 1969–1970 academic year, transformed the institution from a women's college into a fully coeducational one, with male housing introduced by 1970 to facilitate integration.[12] Enrollment continued to rise, reaching approximately 2,000 students by the mid-1970s, underscoring the era's success in adapting to cultural and educational trends while maintaining its Catholic sponsorship under the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet.[12]Academic Programs and Operations
Degree Offerings and Curriculum Focus
The College of Saint Rose offered undergraduate degrees including the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), approved by the New York State Education Department.[13] Programs spanned liberal arts, professional fields, and teacher education, with options for double majors, minors (requiring at least 18 credits), and accelerated pathways sharing credits toward graduate degrees.[13] Graduate offerings included master's degrees (MS, MS Ed, MBA) in over 45 areas, emphasizing advanced professional preparation in education, business, and allied health, alongside certificates and dual-degree tracks.[14] [15] Academic programs were organized into schools such as Arts and Humanities (encompassing communications, English, history, music, and visual arts), the Huether School of Business (focusing on accounting, finance, management, and marketing), the Thelma P. Lally School of Education (with majors in childhood education, special education, and adolescence education leading to New York State certification), and the School of Mathematics and Sciences (covering biology, chemistry, computer science, nursing, psychology, and social work).[16] [15]| School/Division | Key Undergraduate Majors and Degrees |
|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | Communications (BA), English (BA), History (BA), Music-Music Industry (BS) |
| Business | Accounting (BS), Finance (BBA/BS), Management (BBA), Marketing (BBA) |
| Education | Childhood Education/Special Education (BS), Early Childhood and Childhood Education (BS), English: Adolescence Education (BA) |
| Mathematics and Sciences | Biochemistry (BS), Biology (BS), Computer Science (BS), Nursing (BS), Psychology (BA/BS), Social Work (BS) |
Faculty and Enrollment Trends
Total enrollment at the College of Saint Rose peaked at approximately 5,300 students in the mid-2000s before beginning a sustained decline, dropping 16 percent to about 4,400 by roughly 2015 amid broader demographic shifts and regional competition for students.[3] This downward trajectory accelerated in later years, with fall enrollment falling from over 4,500 in 2013 to 2,800 by fall 2023, reflecting persistent challenges in retaining and attracting students during teach-out operations following the 2021 closure announcement.[4] Detailed enrollment figures illustrate the trend:| Academic Year | Total Enrollment | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 4,345 | 2,675 | 1,670 |
| 2016-17 | 4,196 | 2,587 | 1,609 |
| 2017-18 | 3,929 | 2,504 | 1,425 |
| 2018-19 | 3,983 | 2,489 | 1,494 |
| 2019-20 | 4,004 | 2,433 | 1,571 |
| 2020-21 | 3,863 | 2,249 | 1,614 |
| 2021-22 | 3,307 | 1,798 | 1,509 |
| 2022-23 | 2,786 | 1,432 | 1,354 |
| 2023-24 | 2,538 | 1,250 | 1,288 |


