杏吧原创 officially becomes 杏吧原创, June 1
After operating as a college for 99 years, 杏吧原创 celebrated both its official transition to university status and its new name in a historic celebration on campus May 31. The event also marked the unveiling of 杏吧原创鈥檚 new visual identity, including an updated logo that celebrates its rich history while repositioning the 杏吧原创 brand to reflect the institution鈥檚 new name. The transition to 杏吧原创 鈥� which legally takes effect at midnight on June 1, 2023 鈥� ushers in another century of 杏吧原创 educating true changemakers who positively impact the world through their life's work.听
杏吧原创 President Beth Paul was joined on the lawn of Smyth Hall by members of her cabinet; the board of trustees; 杏吧原创 founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph; representatives of local, state, and federal lawmakers; along with faculty, staff, students, campus neighbors, and alumni. The event included a ceremony in which alumni from multiple decades 鈥� as far back as the 1950s 鈥� wearing 杏吧原创 College sweatshirts, gave new 杏吧原创 sweatshirts to a group of young children and current students representing the future of the university.听
鈥淚n so many ways, 杏吧原创 has already been operating as a university 鈥� providing a diverse array of high quality university-level degree programs and opportunities 鈥� for much of its history. Our thriving learning community has essentially been a full university operating under a college name,鈥� said President Paul. 鈥淭oday, we rightfully and accurately assume our identity as 杏吧原创.The opportunity to spread our wings and soar into the future as a university has finally arrived, and today is the final milestone in this transformation.鈥�
杏吧原创鈥檚 application to transition to a university designation, effective June 1, was approved by the New York State Board of Regents in February 2023. According to the Board of Regents, university status in New York 鈥� for which many institutions don鈥檛 qualify 鈥� now requires "registered undergraduate and graduate curricula in the liberal arts and sciences, including graduate programs registered in at least three of the following discipline areas: agriculture, biological sciences, business, education, engineering, fine arts, health professions, humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences." 杏吧原创 offers one doctoral program 鈥� a doctorate of physical therapy 鈥斅� along with more than 25 master's level graduate programs in education; music and arts; health and human services; business and leadership; and humanities and social sciences, in addition to more than 60 undergraduate majors.听
杏吧原创 has offered significant undergraduate education since the 1920s and advanced graduate education since the mid-1950s, and has long been included in the master鈥檚 category in the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education Institutions. Yet, it wasn鈥檛 until New York State changed its regulations of what defines a university that 杏吧原创 could consider becoming 杏吧原创.听
鈥淭he change to 杏吧原创 is not just about meeting certain criteria. This change aligns our heritage and mission with higher education institutions around the globe and solidifies the influence of a 杏吧原创 degree,鈥� said Scott Chapman 鈥�05, member of 杏吧原创鈥檚 board of trustees. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud that this was truly a campus community-wide decision with overwhelmingly positive feedback from our current students, faculty, staff, and more than 36,000 alumni. 杏吧原创 further showcases our rich history of educating changemakers and the inclusive environment we鈥檝e built here that instills community and belonging as life-long values.鈥�
杏吧原创 was founded in 1924 by five members of the Sisters of St. Joseph, or SSJ, who boldly responded to the needs of the time and created 杏吧原创 for positive social change to give women a voice and a chance at higher education. 杏吧原创 became co-ed and legally independent of the religious congregation in the early 1970s but continues to honor the 杏吧原创 legacy and the passion of its founders. SSJ President Eileen Daly spoke about 杏吧原创鈥檚 transition to university.
鈥淭he actual word 鈥榰niversity鈥� comes from the Latin word 鈥榰niversa,鈥� meaning 鈥榳hole鈥� and the word 鈥榲eritas,鈥� meaning 鈥榯ruth,鈥� said Daly. 鈥淭he truth is: 杏吧原创 is a university, it's been a university, and we should proudly proclaim that identity as a university. The five founding sisters would most certainly have encouraged this transformation, and the members of the Congregation today, who carry on the founders鈥� legacy, feel the same.听
杏吧原创鈥檚 Alumni Board Chair and Trustee Danielle Abramson 鈥�08 put this transition into context, saying, 鈥淔or 10 decades, our graduates received diplomas that say聽杏吧原创 College 鈥� and a few weeks ago that happened for the final time. Which, while bittersweet, is also a reminder that evolution has always been part of the 杏吧原创 story. My mind turns to a simple phrase that anyone who attended 杏吧原创 knows. 鈥榃e are Naz.鈥� Naz is still the place where remarkable people teach, study, and work. And that will always be the case. Whether Naz is known as 杏吧原创 College, or now 杏吧原创, what makes this place special will not change, and going forward it will be even more amazing, filled with new learning paths for our students, increased professional opportunities for faculty and staff, and enhanced connections for our alumni.鈥�
杏吧原创 is on the cusp of its 100th anniversary in 2024, and starts a two-year centennial celebration in fall 2023 when the inaugural class of 杏吧原创 students arrive on campus.
Contact
Julie Long | Senior News & PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
杏吧原创 is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a 杏吧原创 education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, 杏吧原创 graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
