A Message from President Carolyn J. Stefanco: May 2019

I speak with the presidents of colleges and universities regularly about the challenges facing higher education, and they are real. The victories at Saint Rose are also real, and it is exciting to share some of them with you as we conclude the academic year.

Although it is still early in the enrollment process, and 2019-2020 registration numbers are not finalized until October, key year-over-year admissions data points for Fall 2019 suggest that our strategies to increase and diversify enrollment are working. We have received more first-year and transfer undergraduate applications than last year, and, as of May 1, the numbers of admitted and deposited undergraduate students are the highest in five years. Additionally, 29% more Fall 2019 prospective undergraduate students have visited campus this year – an important indicator of demonstrated student interest in Saint Rose.

A significant way that we are increasing enrollment is with the development of new programs. We celebrate the College’s success in adding or restructuring 14 programs since Spring 2017, from the long-awaited Master of Science in Social Work to the innovative bachelor’s degree in design media arts. New online delivery methods, including a hybrid model that combines on-campus and online learning for some of our graduate programs, as well as a new Any Time, Any Way MBA, which allows students to take courses via three modalities and not have to commit to just one, offer true flexibility, and help students balance advanced education and the obligations of life and work.

I am grateful to work with dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators at Saint Rose who are committed to our mission and to leading change. As we near our 100th anniversary, we are focusing on the needs of today’s students. In doing so, we appreciate all the support we receive from our alumni, parents, friends, and supporters of this great institution. Know that each victory that we celebrate is a shared one.

Best wishes,

Carolyn