SCHENECTADY — In a significant development, Clarkson University has announced its decision to shift over a dozen of its graduate degree programs, currently hosted at its satellite campus in downtown Schenectady, to Siena College later this year. This move was made public by the private colleges earlier this week.
As per the agreement, 100 students and eight full-time faculty members from Clarkson will transition to Siena by June. The agreement encompasses a total of 16 graduate-level degree and certificate programs, including the prestigious master of arts in teaching degree from Clarkson.
The programs that will be relocated to Siena are categorized into four groups, including master of arts in teaching, extension programs, and certificates of advanced study.
Clarkson University’s President, Marc Christensen, stated that this strategic move is a result of recent planning undertaken by the Potsdam-based institution.
“Our strategic focus led us to find a new home for these programs at an institution that could tap into a ready pool of undergraduate students interested in K-12 education careers. This move will also create opportunities to expand offerings that will cater to the high demand for teachers in New York state and across the nation,” Christensen said in a statement.
The master of teaching program, originally developed by Union College in 1989, has been a significant source for teachers seeking graduate-level degrees. Over 800 individuals have earned a degree through this program, with 500 currently employed in the Capital Region, as per a news release.
Clarkson University acquired this program in 2016, and it currently boasts a 100% job placement rate.
Siena College, based in Loudonville, already has an accredited undergraduate teacher preparation program and a minor in educational studies. The acquisition of the master of arts in teaching graduate program will enable Siena students to join the program.
In addition to this, Siena will introduce a master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages, and a master of arts in curriculum and instruction. These classes will be offered in-person, hybrid, and online, depending on the program.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Siena to address the urgent need for teacher education in the Capital Region by integrating a nationally-recognized, fully-accredited suite of programs into its current teacher education offerings,” Siena President Chuck Seifert said in a statement.
The announcement of this transfer agreement comes just months before The College of Saint Rose in Albany is set to permanently close its doors following the end of the spring semester. The small private college was renowned for its teacher degree programs.
The abrupt closure of the college has raised concerns about the teacher pipeline across the state, especially at a time when schools statewide have been grappling with the challenge of recruiting and retaining faculty.
In response to the college’s closure, the University at Albany has announced three new undergraduate education degree programs for the fall 2024 semester.
I disagree with this decision. Clarkson University’s graduate programs have a reputation for excellence and it’s concerning that they will be taken over by another institution.