‘A POWERFUL SIGNAL’

Siena College officially becomes Siena University

This is the new logo for Siena University. (Photo provided)

It’s official: Siena College has received approval from the New York State Board of Regents to become Siena University.

The state Regents approved the proposal on July 14 at its monthly meeting, a month after Siena’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously at their June 6 meeting to make the change. Siena will complete its transition to the new status over the summer, and will welcome students to campus for the start of the 2025-26 academic year as Siena University. 

“Our name will now be more reflective of who we have become, and it’s a powerful signal about where we are going,” said President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D. “We won’t change because we are a university; we are going to change what it means to be a university.”

The Siena campus will celebrate the transition with a community procession and ceremony on Sept. 18. Over the past 10 years, Siena has expanded its academic offerings, and as it continues to do so — with a particular emphasis on strengthening its graduate programs — the school was presented with a strategic opportunity to amplify its mission. 

Siena’s “Education for a Lifetime” — rooted in its Franciscan values and tradition — delivers a transformative experience powered by a liberal arts advantage. The mission and soul will never change, but as Siena has done throughout its history, it is important to evolve.

In 2022, New York State revised its definition of a university, and with the approval of the school’s new Master of Social Work program, Siena met the updated criteria. Research suggests that becoming a university can enhance Siena’s prestige, raise demand and strengthen its reputation.

“This is an exciting new chapter for Siena,” said Tom Baldwin ’81, Chair of Siena’s Board of Trustees. “At a time when higher education is under pressure, Siena is choosing to invest, to lead and to rise. The board’s vote to transition to Siena University reflects the momentum we’ve built and the strength of our mission. It is not a change in who we are but a bold step forward in who we are becoming. I’m proud of this decision, confident in our direction, and inspired by what this moment means for our future.”

With 43 majors, 80-plus minors and certificates, and prestigious joint-degree programs in liberal arts, science and business, Siena offers over 1,200 unique ways for students to reach their personal and professional goals. Hundreds of student life options ranging from Red Cross to rugby join with Siena’s 21-sport Division I athletic program to provide students the opportunity to get in the game, whatever their interests may be. Extensive study abroad programs and immersive service-learning allow for discovery and reflection.

In 1937, Father Thomas Plassmann, OFM, President of St. Bonaventure College, sent seven friars from his faculty to establish a satellite campus in the New York State Capital Region. Siena College opened its doors in September of that year. Most recently, Siena College has been ranked No. 1 in New York State for three consecutive years in landing meaningful employment.