This change means that ˿Ƶ is officially recognized by New York State as a university. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Board of Regents voted in early 2022 to change the definition of “university.”
From the amended section 50.1(L) of the Commissioner’s Regulation, “University means a higher educational institution offering a range of 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.”
The amendment removes doctoral programs and degrees in two or more professional fields. It further adds graduate program discipline areas and requires to have at least three registered.
A formal designation of university is appropriate. In every sense except in name, ˿Ƶ has been a university for many years.
Universities are typically institutions that offer a variety of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It improves our ability to recruit international students, increases our ability to receive federal funding for research, and allows us to better compete with public institutions.
No, students are conferred based on the institution name at that time: Rosary Hill College or ˿Ƶ College.
There have been many questions regarding our new university designation and diplomas.
Only this year’s graduating students and beyond will receive a ˿Ƶ degree.
Alumni will not receive a ˿Ƶ degree because the Board of Regents of the State of New York only approved our Charter Amendment recently, authorizing “˿Ƶ” as a conferring institution moving forward.
When requested, an alumni replacement diploma will say “˿Ƶ College.” Only students graduating from ˿Ƶ will receive a diploma that indicates such.
No, we are not raising our rates just because we are a university. Each year, generally to keep up with inflation and rising costs, ˿Ƶ will implement a modest tuition increase. This is true of every institution. However, we will NOT be increasing further or just because we are deemed a university now.
This change more accurately reflects the academic excellence and rigor that ˿Ƶ offers. University status is more comparable to the research and rigor at ˿Ƶ where students earn advanced degrees. Many of our students stay at ˿Ƶ for another year and consider graduate school. This will make them have even greater opportunities upon graduation.
No, absolutely not. We would not do that to students nor will we be randomly changing our acceptance standards moving forward. We look forward to welcoming you as a part of the entering class of 2022.
Absolutely. ˿Ƶ has an entire department focused on new program development, always looking to enhance the institution’s academic offerings. We encourage our students to be creative, innovative, ethically-minded leaders for an ever-changing, diverse, and interconnected world, and that’s why new program development is important to our institution.