OT: College of Saint Rose Closing

[UAlbany09]

I’m curious why there wouldn’t be some interest in the academic buildings at Saint Rose from UAlbany or some of the other local colleges. It’s not every day you have turn key academic facilities available to acquire. 

[Dane96]

50 minutes ago, cwdickens said:

From my sources UAlbany has little interest in their campus and if expansion is needed, build out into the adjacent State Office Complex.

Siena is in no jeopardy, their enrollment rates and retention rates are at a satisfactory level.  Further, Siena enrolled its largest freshman class.  Albany Law and Russell Sage have come up as candidates for a merger or closure.  Union and Skidmore do not know.

Siena marketing strategy took advantage of St. Rose weakness.

Very interesting, and I actually don't disagree with this at all.  If we have continued access to Harriman, we should use it to unify the campus as much as we can Uptown.  I don't like disparate campuses.  However, from a pure housing perspective, I do disagree with the approach.  Many urban campuses take up buildings for housing...and I think providing that kind of unified, affordable "off-campus" housing would actually encourage more students to attend the university.

Just my .02. 

[Dane96]

As for Union and Skidmore...they are not in trouble in the slightest.  Both have nearly 500 million dollar endowments.  Not so sure about Siena.  Yes, they  had a large freshman class but there are VERY serious financial issues at the school.  Will they survive, very likely so.  Will it impact a lot of things, including basketball expenditures...very likely so. 

Edited December 1, 2023 by Dane96

[B9j2j6s]

1 hour ago, cwdickens said:

From my sources UAlbany has little interest in their campus and if expansion is needed, build out into the adjacent State Office Complex.

Siena is in no jeopardy, their enrollment rates and retention rates are at a satisfactory level.  Further, Siena enrolled its largest freshman class.  Albany Law and Russell Sage have come up as candidates for a merger or closure.  Union and Skidmore do not know.

Siena marketing strategy took advantage of St. Rose weakness.

Thanks for answering my questions.  

[B9j2j6s]

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/merger-proposals-fell-through-in-trying-to-save-st-rose-now-county-eyes-potential-future-of-property-close-ualbany-mccoy-dan-education-closing-albany-marcia-white

 

Interesting that SR came to UA for a merger.  Not surprised it didn't happen 50million in debt would be massive even for a large state entity.  

[cwdickens]

2 hours ago, B9j2j6s said:

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/merger-proposals-fell-through-in-trying-to-save-st-rose-now-county-eyes-potential-future-of-property-close-ualbany-mccoy-dan-education-closing-albany-marcia-white

 

Interesting that SR came to UA for a merger.  Not surprised it didn't happen 50million in debt would be massive even for a large state entity.  

Saint Rose, likely, knocked on Siena's door, just no one answered or, if Siena did answer the door told Saint Rose that they could use the Siena chapel for praying.

The Siena community, when it comes to preserving a Catholic college education or choices of a Catholic college education in the Capital District, it is about them and only them. 

Edited December 3, 2023 by cwdickens
clarify

[McFan]

1 hour ago, cwdickens said:

Saint Rose, likely, knocked on Siena's door, just no one answered or, if Siena did answer the door told Saint Rose that they could use the Siena chapel for praying.

The Siena community, when it comes to preserving a Catholic college education or choices of a Catholic college education in the Capital District, it is about them and only them. 

In their defense they are in no position to take on upwards of $50MM in debt and acquire/partner with an entity that is losing millions of dollars a year.  Would the lender take less than what's owed?  Absolutely.  How much less is the question now.  The lender(s) can't think that the land and buildings have that kind of value in that area so they will be open to negotiations but doubtful they'd take it down to a dollar amount that made sense for another educational institution to take it on.  

[cwdickens]

3 hours ago, McFan said:

In their defense they are in no position to take on upwards of $50MM in debt and acquire/partner with an entity that is losing millions of dollars a year.  Would the lender take less than what's owed?  Absolutely.  How much less is the question now.  The lender(s) can't think that the land and buildings have that kind of value in that area so they will be open to negotiations but doubtful they'd take it down to a dollar amount that made sense for another educational institution to take it on.  

Absolutely, i know the former Siena CFO, who retired one plus years ago.  He was always concern about cash flow and expenses.

However, I am not aware of any type of collaboration between Saint Rose and Siena at any level in the last several years.

[B9j2j6s]

Would UA be interested in taking over any of the large programs SR had?  Can you do something like that?  Are we interested in bringing back an Education major?  Have we ever had a nursing school?

[UAalum72]

22 minutes ago, B9j2j6s said:

Would UA be interested in taking over any of the large programs SR had?  Can you do something like that?  Are we interested in bringing back an Education major?  Have we ever had a nursing school?

We definitely had a nursing program in the late 60s but it was dropped long ago, probably by the 1980s

[alum73]

UAlbany has a BS in nursing. 

[UAalum72]

54 minutes ago, alum73 said:

UAlbany has a BS in nursing. 

Okay, the School of Nursing at The State University of New York at Albany existed from 1967 thru 1979 https://archives.albany.edu/description/catalog/ua629 The program was cut due to budget constraints.

In the fall of 2023 the School of Public Health began a  Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program for RNs who already have an AS or AAS nursing degree. How this would mesh with St. Rose programs would have to be worked out. It'd probably be desirable if we have funds again.

[B9j2j6s]

A SUNY expansion would extend Saint Rose's legacy in Albany

Bringing the campus under the UAlbany umbrella would be good for the university and the city.

By Sam FeinDec 12, 2023

 

 

 

 

Students file into the College of Saint Rose Massry Center for the Arts to hear an address by interim President Marcia White on Dec. 1, a day after news of the college’s closing broke.

Jim Franco/Times Union

The closure of The College of Saint Rose is tragic for the students, faculty, staff and the entire college community. The looming uncertainty surrounding the fate of the nearly 90 buildings Saint Rose leaves behind threatens the stability of the Pine Hills neighborhood and the entire city of Albany. Albany leaders must step up and offer a bold plan that not only preserves the legacy of Saint Rose, but also helps redefine the future of Albany.

 

 

 

 

 

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I believe that this moment also presents the University at Albany with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand its downtown campus, building upon its mission of higher education and elevating the university's profile statewide and nationally. This would protect the integrity of Pine Hills as an academic setting and expand the local economy so that small businesses continue to thrive.

Saint Rose is less than a mile from UAlbany’s downtown campus. If the university ever wanted to expand its campus significantly, it would be cost prohibitive to build new buildings that match what Saint Rose has to offer. The interconnectedness of the campus into the fabric of the city is something that cannot be replicated.

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The University at Albany, one of SUNY’s four “university centers,” with nearly 17,000 students and over 1,000 academic staff, has tremendous untapped potential. Just one example of the possibilities: UAlbany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy is a nationally ranked school, with a number of specialties listed among the top twenty programs in the nation. It would be an upgrade and a tremendous recruiting advantage to attract faculty and students, especially from outside the Capital Region, if much of Rockefeller College was moved from the downtown campus to the Saint Rose buildings, offering a larger campus, improved library, more student housing and expanded facilities.

The benefits of an expansion of UAlbany extend far beyond academia. A more prestigious state university with a larger urban campus could attract a diverse student and faculty body from around the globe, driving investment and positioning Albany as a leader in emerging industries. The university expansion could come with a commitment to add new programs for innovative industries of the future, such as artificial intelligence and clean energy. Albany is fortunate to have state government as our major employer, but we will benefit immensely from diversifying our economy and promoting industries of the future.

While I believe the most natural transition for the properties that Saint Rose leaves behind is UAlbany taking them over, regardless of the outcome, it is imperative that the buildings are put to use as soon as possible. Allowing these properties to sit unused would be detrimental to the city, resulting in a loss of businesses and jobs, as well as a decrease in residential property values, a decline in city property tax revenues, and potentially the loss of beautiful homes and buildings due to neglect, a trend we see far too often throughout Albany.

As a UAlbany graduate and local elected leader in Albany, I believe incorporating The College of Saint Rose campus into UAlbany would be a tremendous win-win for both the city and the University at Albany. The Saint Rose community contributed so much to city and the region. Let's ensure that when the college closes its doors this spring, its legacy lives on in a brighter, more promising future.

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Sam Fein is an Albany County legislator representing the Sixth District, comprising part of Albany’s South End and Arbor Hill neighborhoods.

 

 

 

 

 

Dec 12, 2023

By Sam Fein

[B9j2j6s]

Interesting side note UA, Siena, Union and New Paltz are offering to be teachout schools for current Saint Rose students.  It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds.  Still an unfortunite situation to say the least.  

[UAalum72]

UAlbany to embrace roots as a teachers college

plans to add undergraduate education programs, pending approval by SUNY and NYS Dept. of Education, to take in St. Rose students.

 UAlbany also has “interest in some facilities” on the Saint Rose campus