Manhattan College is Now Manhattan University
And Fordham Alumni Might Be Wondering Why?
Okay, okay, we have enough of our own problems. But when your kid-brother makes a major change, you take notice. (By the way, that “kid-brother” has a School of Engineering and generally beats the crap out of us in basketball,) If you haven’t heard it yet, Manhattan College is now Manhattan University; They’ve joined the ranks of Iona University and Mercy University both having their main campus right up the Hudson Valley in Westchester County, NY.
Every indicator from The Dept. of Education to the Academic Journal The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that attendance at traditional institutes of higher education will drop considerably in 2026.
Some of the major for-profit universities have been sold/merged to major private schools to provide turn-key operations for encouraging on-line learners.
Schools have lobbied the government for the use of federal Pell Grants, which will expand the eligibility of people in prison (750,000+) to receive college educations.
In 2021, New York State relaxed the definition of the term “university”. It is hoped this will make it easier to market to foreign students who often viewed the term “college” as simply 2-year junior colleges.
Going Through Some Tough Times
In late 2023 and early 2024, Manhattan College eliminated more than twenty major and minor programs and terminated over 25% of faculty due to persistent declining enrollment and increasing structural deficits. In late January of 2024, faculty voted "no confidence" in the college's president.
From 2020 to 2024, enrollment at Manhattan College decreased by over 30%. They merged three of the college's six schools, creating 3 new schools. The bond-rating agency Fitch Ratings downgraded the college’s outlook to negative in March 2024.
The Term University-Used For Attracting More Foreign Students
In the USA, many people often considers themselves as middle class. Class structure is not as formalized in the US as in the UK for example.
Compare an American film with a British one:
This seems to carry on to higher education too. In many other parts of the world, the term college is intended to mean a 2 year school or what we refer to as a community college or junior college.
French “college” students average between 11 and 15 years old, but they’re not all geniuses; In France, the "college" school level is roughly equivalent to the United States' "middle school" level.
According to Azara Lantern, a Content Strategist at Surge Global: “Students in the U.S. refer to higher education institutions as ‘college,’ even if they are attending a university. For example, in everyday use, they could say, ‘I’m heading off to college’ instead of ‘I’m heading off to university.’”
Alternatively, typically universities in the UK provide undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and some have PhD programs available.
Charlie Elwood (Gabelli 1980), the interim Athletic Director at Fordham pointed out the value in attracting foreign students also includes the fact that “they tend to pay a higher percentage of tuition and fees than their American classmates.”
New York was the Last State to Relax Rules for University Status
New York was the only state requiring the creation and operation of doctoral level programs to be named a university. (prior to Jan. of 2022)
Confusion caused by the word “college” when recruiting international students, and the fact that all other states and jurisdictions have broader definitions of “university” increased the need for these alterations.
Increasing competition from institutions chartered in other states recruiting students in New York, nationally and internationally, where the term “college” presented a marketing challenge.
The market for higher educational services and programs has expanded over the past decade, with the proliferation of online higher education degree programs and the growth of several institutions chartered out of state and doing business in New York as universities.
The use of the word “university” in the names and marketing of some community colleges; i.e., SUNY Schenectady.
Many Catholics Institutions are taking the plunge
Thomas Hayes, dean of the Williams College of Business at Xavier University and co-founder of an education marketing company, said, “the image presented to students, faculty members, alumni, the academic community and the outside world is what historically has driven name changes, not just in New York and not just name changes from “college” to “university.”
“The idea of being a university gives the impression that a school is larger, with more breadth,” Hayes said. “That’s an indication of where you should be moving from college to university. It gives it a little more gravitas.”
The changes are not always universally welcomed. Hayes worked with administrators at Loyola College in Baltimore in the late 2000s to rename the institution Loyola University of Maryland to match its expansion of program offerings. (By the time the name change became official in 2009, nearly every other institution named Loyola in the U.S. had long ago been designated as a university.)
There was significant pushback from alumni who opposed the name change, said Elizabeth Johnson, co-founder and chairperson of SimpsonScarborough. “They thought the institution was losing its personal appeal, its small community feel,” she said.
Johnson said the distinction between “college” and “university” carries great weight in the U.S. as well as internationally. She referred to surveys her company has conducted with administrators, prospective students and their parents indicate “They prefer universities to colleges. They think they’re bigger, they think they’re better, they think they’re more prestigious.”
What Does Fordham Think About These Changes?
“The University (Fordham) doesn't comment on these kinds of issues, I'm afraid.” Said one of our university Vice Presidents.
To the specific question of whether Fordham lobbied to halt this change 4-5 years ago? That university official replied wryly, “That’s too Insider Baseball.”
Marist Joins “The Club” January 29th, 2025
I am very attached to Marist up here in the Hudson Valley. I taught there, as an adjunct instructor, for a number of years; Because of that I obtained a 2nd Master’s degree via the tuition waiver opportunity and I get to swim in the school’s pool. Let me tell you, the whole place is a buzz.
Alumni have unsubstantiated visions of the creation of a new law school, even though the school rejected a proposal to join forces to create a medical school in the last 5 years. My ad-hoc visit to local CVS and Rite-Aid stores have found racks of Marist College “Swag” on sale-no doubt to make room for Marist University stuff that will soon pack the bookstore and on-line avenues.
Fordham Is Still A Research University ….
As you might guess, a research university prioritizes research.
“At these institutions, graduate students, postdocs, and professors conduct original research in diverse fields. According to the Carnegie Classifications. “Research universities can be public or private institutions. By definition, research universities offer master’s and doctoral degrees along with bachelor’s degrees.”
Those U.S. based classifications began in 1970 continued: “The concept of a research university dates back to the 19th century.” There are currently 137 R1 Research Universities in the United States.
The Carnegie Classifications recognize R1 universities as the most research-intensive institutions. These institutions offer at least 20 research or scholarship-based doctoral degrees and spend at least $5 million on research each year.
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This article is dedicated to Joseph Guagliano, Manhattan College Class of 1983. Attorney and advocate for the disabled. “Get better pal, the old gang is praying for you.”
Admin for the Fordham University Class of 1980 Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537184563628982
