Future of Division III

[Kuiper]

Russell Sage merging with Albany College of Pharmacy

Creating one of the region's largest private higher education institutions with the broadest catalog of programs in the health professions and strong programs in education, business, criminal justice, the sciences, pre-med, pre-health, and arts and humanities, Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) plan to merge.

A memorandum of understanding, approved by both institutions' boards of trustees, calls for a merger upon approval by regulatory bodies, with an estimated completion date of fall 2027. All students will have the opportunity to complete their degree programs at their respective colleges prior to the merger and at the combined institution after the merger, and will see expanded academic, student life, and athletic opportunities after the merger is final and approved by all regulatory bodies.

The combined institution, to be known as Russell Sage, with an anticipated enrollment of approximately 4,000 students on campuses in Albany and Troy, New York, as well as online, would likely become the third-largest private institution for higher education in the Capital Region, based on current publicly available enrollment data. The merger will result in a unified institution with combined assets of approximately $246 million, including $115 million in endowment investments.

[Caz Bombers]

Should be great for Russell Sage going forward, first the demise of Saint Rose removes a competitor for local students and now this. ACPHS is literally next door to Sage, I'm surprised they didn't merge years ago.

Nobody will miss ACPHS's barely functioning USCAA athletic department, except maybe Union men's soccer which loved to whoop up on them on a random Tuesday in October to pump up their stats.