Approval has been granted by the New York State Education Department for Siena College to acquire the early childhood/childhood education (birth - grade 6) bachelor of science (B.S.) and master of science in education (M.S.Ed.) programs from The College of St. Rose.
Siena has also hired three full-time, tenure-track faculty members from St. Rose to join the College’s education department. These new programs, integrated with its existing education programs, will position Siena as the regional leader in this field at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, according to Siena President Charles “Chuck” Seifert, Ph.D.
“A significant number of teachers in New York state are approaching retirement, which is increasing the always vital need for dedicated educators,” said Seifert. “Siena is not only prepared to meet this market demand but, true to our mission, we will graduate leaders who are intent on making the world a better place by shining their light in classrooms across New York.”
Siena Provost Margaret E. Madden, Ph.D. acknowledged St. Rose’s long local history in preparing teachers for their careers.
“The College of St. Rose was a pillar of childhood education in our region, and its closure could have created a void in the market,” said Madden. “I’m proud that we can honor their fine legacy while building on our own strong reputation in educating teachers.”
Last month, Siena College received NYSED approval to offer a teach-out program for St. Rose students for both the B.S. and M.S.Ed. and certification programs in early childhood and childhood education (birth - grade 6). Now, Siena is approved to offer the degree programs in its own right.
The graduate level courses can be accessed online as well as in person, with fieldwork and student teaching in person.
In March of this year, Siena announced an agreement to transfer Clarkson University’s master of arts in teaching degree and other graduate-level teacher education offerings to Siena, effective in June.
Siena’s teacher preparation program is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a quality assurance agency that provides accreditation services and formative support to educator preparation providers.
