The College of Saint Rose: A Legacy Forged by Notable Alumni
Founded in 1920 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, played a significant role in higher education for over a century. Although the college closed its doors after the 2023-24 academic year, its impact remains through the accomplishments and contributions of its alumni. This article explores the diverse achievements of some of the college's most notable graduates, showcasing the breadth of talent and influence that emerged from this institution.
A Foundation of Education and Transformation
The College of Saint Rose began as a Catholic women's college with a liberal arts curriculum. It transitioned to a coeducational institution in the 1969-1970 academic year. The following year, the college added laypersons to its board and became an independent college sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The college was located in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany. The idea for The College of Saint Rose was conceived by Joseph A. Delaney, the vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, in 1920. Delaney contacted Blanche Rooney, a member of the local chapter of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet in the Provincial House on Eighth Street in Troy, New York. Rooney and her sisters were receptive to the idea and, with the permission and support of Bishop of Albany Edmund F. Gibbons and Rooney, Delaney purchased the William Keeler estate at 979 Madison Avenue. The college's founders selected its name to honor the first canonized saint in the Americas, Saint Rose of Lima. The college created an evening division in 1946 to serve World War II veterans.
Jimmy Fallon: From Saint Rose to "The Tonight Show"
One of the most recognizable names associated with The College of Saint Rose is Jimmy Fallon, the comedian, actor, and long-time host of NBC's "The Tonight Show." Fallon's journey with the college began in 1992. Although he did not initially graduate, he returned to Saint Rose fourteen years later, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in communications in May 2009. At the same time, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Fallon's connection to his alma mater remained strong. In March, just months before the school was shuttered, Fallon made another surprise trip to his alma mater. The Saturday Night Live alum joined comedian Nate Bargatze on-stage for comedy shows in Syracuse and Albany on March 8th and 9th, respectively. The comedians arrived in Albany on the morning of Saturday, March 9th, and before they took the stage at MVP Arena, they visited The College of Saint Rose's campus. Fallon posted a reel on his Instagram feed, showing never-before-seen footage of his campus visit.
Athletics
Saint Rose was a Division II member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), offering 19 varsity intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division II level. Shortly before 2000, Saint Rose became a member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10). The school's primary colors were white and gold, but black and gold were the colors used for marketing purposes. The school's NCAA Division II sports teams were referred to as the Golden Knights. In 2009, the Saint Rose women's soccer became the third team in Northeast-10 Conference history (1985) to win three consecutive postseason league titles. The college's Christian Plumeri Sports Complex was constructed. The college's funding for the complex included a $1 million challenge contribution from Joe Plumeri, chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings and the college's 2006 commencement speaker.
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Campus and Facilities
The campus of The College of Saint Rose was located in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany, the capital city of New York. The 46-acre (19 ha) campus was bounded by Western Avenue to the north, Partridge Street to the east, Morris Street to the south, and Main Avenue to the west, and included additional properties north of Western Avenue and east of Partridge Street. Over the years, the college acquired many of the Victorian-era homes adjacent to the main campus. St. Joseph Hall is a four-story English brick building with limestone trim fronted by six Corinthian columns. It is located at 985 Madison Avenue between the Science Center to the west and Moran Hall to the east. The Massry Center for the Arts features the Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall, the Esther Massry Gallery, and the William Randolph Hearst Music Wing. This building served as the primary venue for concerts and exhibitions by the college's students and faculty, and as a performance and exhibition space for artists, musicians, vocalists, and orchestras.
Challenges and Closure
Between 1999 and 2015, the college purchased 68 properties, tripling the size of its campus. These purchases cost $12 million. In December 2015, the college announced plans to eliminate 27 academic programs and 23 faculty positions. Two months later, the faculty of the college passed a "no confidence" motion in regard to college president Carolyn J. Stefanco left her post as president in 2020. That same year, the college made $8 million in administrative budget cuts to address a COVID pandemic-related budget gap. In December of that year, college leaders announced that they would eliminate 16 bachelor's degree programs, six master's degree programs, and three certificate programs as a cost-saving measure. In June , the college's accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, warned the college that its accreditation was "in jeopardy" due to financial difficulties. The commission gave the college six months to address the commission's concerns. By October, Fitch Ratings assessed the school's bond rating as "BB", which is described as "non-investment grade speculative".
"It is with a heavy heart that the Board decided to close the college at the end of this academic year,” Jeffrey D. Stone, chair of the college's board of trustees, which voted to close the school on Thursday, said in a statement. Stone added, "We are devastated that despite all our efforts we were unable to avoid closure. The College of Saint Rose was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as a women’s college. The announcement of the college's closing happened on the same day that its women's soccer team failed to advance in the NCAA Division II East regional final in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The college has about 2,600 current students, down from 4,000 in 2019, the last year before the pandemic hit. Those efforts were unable to offset the ongoing deficit, White told the campus community at a gathering on Friday. “We want to extend our sympathy and concern to the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of The College of Saint Rose. We all hoped that this day would not come," Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany County Executive Daniel P.
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