Final approval was given this week, so when will the change take place?

Take note U-Albany, there will be another school taking on the title of 'university' in the fall of 2025. The Siena College board of trustees  unanimously approved a motion for the change back in June. NewsChannel 13 reports The New York State Regents Board gave the official go-ahead on July 14th. . 

Siena College President Chuck Seifert says this will be a gateway for new opportunities:

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

 So what does it mean when a college becomes a university? According to BestColleges.com

College: 

• Can be two- and four-year institutions
• Can refer to schools within universities (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania)
• Are typically smaller communities and class sizes
• Typically offer only associate and bachelor’s degrees
• Put less emphasis on research
• Can have lower tuition

University: 

• Are four-year institutions
• May hold a more prestigious social meaning, for many
• Often have larger campuses, class sizes, and student populations
• Offer advanced degrees like master’s and doctoral degrees
• Can offer more research opportunities
• Can have higher tuition

The official name change is expected to take place on September 18th in a special procession and ceremony.  

feature photo: Siena College, Flickr Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0 GENERIC) Changes made: cropped, resized