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Dr. Carolyn Stefanco Leading with ‘Courage and Compassion,’ Has Full Support of the Saint Rose Board of Trustees

Carolyn Stefanco, President of The College of Saint RoseALBANY (February 12, 2016) — The Board of Trustees of The College of Saint Rose voted today to give its full support to President Carolyn J. Stefanco as she confronts the College’s financial challenges and charts a course for its future.

“Dr. Stefanco is leading Saint Rose with courage, wisdom and compassion. She is determined to meet the changing needs of our students, improve the College’s financial condition, increase enrollment, and expand the academic programs our students are seeking,” said Board of Trustees Chair Judy Calogero ’80. “The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Stefanco to lead Saint Rose into the future. We are exceptionally pleased with her leadership in this challenging time, and she has our full support and confidence.”

Ms. Calogero added, “Our students have spoken by pursuing the academic programs they believe will best prepare them for success after graduation. Our faculty see this every day in their classrooms. The Trustees remain hopeful that a majority of Saint Rose faculty members will join us in finding new ways to keep tuition affordable, expand the programs our students need and strengthen the College for the future.”

In response to changing student needs, the Board of Trustees voted in December to move forward with a comprehensive plan to reprioritize academic programs. The College will invest in programs in high demand among students and reduce or eliminate certain academic programs that have low or no enrollment. Some 75 percent of Saint Rose students are enrolled in 25 percent of the College’s academic programs. Fewer than 4 percent of Saint Rose students are enrolled in programs that will be closed. The changes are projected to result in the elimination of 23 faculty positions in December 2016.

The Administration sought and encouraged faculty involvement during the academic prioritization process, but in October a slim majority of the faculty members who voted chose to discontinue the faculty’s formal involvement in the process.

Sister Mary Anne Heenan, CSJ, a member of the leadership team of the Albany Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and a Trustee of Saint Rose, said: “This institution was born of change, and we cannot allow anxiety about change now to paralyze us. Our founders, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, established Saint Rose to teach and empower students to be citizen leaders grounded in faith and dedicated to excellence and service.”

Sister Mary Anne added: “Dr. Stefanco and the Trustees are leading the change that is necessary for the College to meet the needs of current and future students and doing so with compassion and respect. Recognizing both the importance and the difficulty of change, I am confident they will ensure that our faculty and students receive the attention and assistance they need and deserve as we move Saint Rose forward.”

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For More Information, Contact

Benjamin Marvin
Director of Media Relations