St. Joseph's College becomes a university
Founded 106 years ago as a small women’s college, St. Joseph's now enrolls almost 5,000 women and men. Above, a sign at the Patchogue campus. Credit: Barry Sloan
St. Joseph’s College, with campuses in Patchogue, Brooklyn and online, will now be designated a university, college officials announced Wednesday.
The state Board of Regents approved its petition to be granted university status, and the name change will take effect immediately, college officials said.
Founded 106 years ago by the Sisters of St. Joseph as a small women’s college, the school now enrolls almost 5,000 women and men and offers degrees in more than “60 majors, special course offerings and certificates, with affiliated and preprofessional programs,” according to a statement. Popular majors include teaching degrees, business administration and management, and registered nursing.
“This is a proud day for every member of the St. Joseph’s community,” said Donald R. Boomgaarden, president of the institution.
Before January, university designation required that an institution offer doctoral degrees and degrees in two or more professional fields. The new language requires at least three registered graduate program discipline areas and added eligible disciplines.
St. Joseph’s expects the university status to boost the appeal of its graduates’ degrees for potential employers, as well as its appeal in faculty recruitment and research. It is primarily a commuter school that cites its affordable education and diverse enrollment.
James Blakeley, a professor who chairs the history department, said the new status would improve the faculty’s competitiveness when applying for government funding and outside grants for research and teaching. And, he said, “It will ensure that we continue to be competitive in recruiting new faculty and staff who are vital to the success of the academic programs we offer and ultimately the success of our students.”
Shantey Hill-Hanna, vice president for student life, said university status would “certainly increase the appeal of our student degrees to potential employers and open up new opportunities both professionally and personally long after they leave St. Joseph’s.”
The announcement follows that of Molloy College in Rockville Centre, which won approval last week of its petition to be designated a university.
Officials there said it qualified for the elevation in status in 2018 when it created four new schools within the college, but approval came after the state Board of Regents simplified the process in January.
Molloy will hold off on changing the school’s name so its May graduates can be known as Molloy College’s last graduating class.
Carol Polsky writes news and features on wide-ranging topics, from superstorm Sandy, 9/11 and presidential elections to health care and the economy.
