Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational, comprehensive university in Amherst, New York. Its attractive suburban location offers convenient access to the cultural amenities of metropolitan Buffalo and the scenic outdoor recreation areas of Western New York, the Niagara Frontier, and the Great Lakes. In addition, the University is near Canada, with cosmopolitan Toronto in easy driving distance.
The University was established in 1947 as Rosary Hill College by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, whose foundress was Magdalene Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ, a Dutch woman dedicated to working with the poor. Her faith and courage have inspired many to give themselves to the service of others. The University has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1956. Institutional accreditation was last reaffirmed in 2017. Originally a liberal arts college for women, the University became co-educational in 1971, extending its commitment to academic excellence to the education of both men and women. In 1976, the University became independent and nonsectarian, changing its name to Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ College. In 1992, New York State amended the university's charter, authorizing the award of graduate level degrees as well as baccalaureate degrees.
Committed to an academic atmosphere that leads to open inquiry and debate, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ has achieved a creative balance between programs providing career preparation and education in the liberal arts. Programs in the major and the learning outcomes based General Education Program encourage students to strengthen their intellectual curiosity, professionalism, sense of civic literacy and responsibility. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ students will expand their horizons beyond the classroom through internships, service-learning, clinical and field experiences, collaborative research with faculty, and study abroad. The General Education program provides students with the ability to succeed in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing multicultural environment.