Nyack College

History

Nyack College, first known as the Missionary Training Institute, was founded in 1882 in New York City by Dr. A.B. Simpson, who resigned a prestigious New York City pastorate to develop an interdenominational fellowship devoted to serving unreached people. Simpson’s view was shared by many of his contemporaries, including mainline church leaders, laborers, and theological scholars.

The Missionary Training Institute was later granted a charter by the New York Board of Regents and the school's curriculum was registered by the State Education Department in 1944. In 1953, the school was authorized to confer the Bachelor of Science degree and, in 1961, the Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1960, the corporation was authorized to conduct a post-baccalaureate program as the forerunner of the Alliance Theological Seminary. Nyack first received school accreditation in 1962 from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1963, the school became a member of the American Council on Education.

Expansion and growth

After more than a decade of nomadic address changes for the Institute—including Eighth Avenue and 44th Street in Manhattan (now John’s Pizzeria) — 28 acres of land were purchased in Rockland County, New York. In 1897, the school relocated to the village of South Nyack and became widely known as a Bible college and institute for ministry preparation.

The end of World War II brought great change to the institution, as it was granted a charter by the Board of Regents of the State of New York in 1944. The school changed its name to Nyack Missionary College in 1956, achieved Middle States accreditation in 1962, and began offering a range of liberal arts programs in the 1960s.

In conjunction with these changes, the seminary was established in 1960 as the Jaffray School of Missions, a graduate program of the college. The Jaffray School of Missions emphasized the interdisciplinary encounter between theology and the social sciences. In 1974, the Jaffray program was redesigned to include the preparation of students for ministry in North America and abroad. The name of the seminary was subsequently changed to the Alliance School of Theology and Missions. In September 1979, the Alliance School of Theology and Missions became Alliance Theological Seminary, which is recognized by the Christian and Missionary Alliance as the denomination’s official seminary in the United States.

Recent history

The school changed its name to Nyack College in 1972 and began offering professional degree programs like education and business in the early 1970s. By the late 1990s the majority of the undergraduate students were majoring in these professional and liberal arts programs, although approximately 10% were planning to go on to seminary training.

While the broadening of the college’s educational program following World War II was a significant change in the history of the institution, arguably the most far-reaching change was the school's return to a Manhattan location. In 1997, the college opened a branch campus in New York City.

Steady growth in enrollment at the 80,000 square feet of leased space in Lower Manhattan at 361 Broadway prompted a search in 2008 for a new permanent home for the New York City campus, an initiative that became known as "The Miracle in Manhattan." In 2012, Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary signed a 20-year lease with a two-year option to purchase the 166,385 square feet on eight floors of the modern 22-floor structure at 2 Washington Street in historic Battery Park. Classes began in the new facility in the fall of 2013.

Administration and organization

The college is led by an executive team with the top three officers — President, Provost, and Executive Vice President — who collectively have 84 years of service with the institution.

As of fall 2015, 284 faculty members teach in Nyack's schools and divisions, and they are supported by administrators and staff. At Nyack, 47% of the instructional faculty members are asian, black or hispanic; 54% are male; and 46% are female.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Nyack College a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years. The college has also received high marks in the areas of work/life balance, respect and appreciation, compensation and benefits, and diversity. In addition, U.S. News and World Report awarded the college with the distinction of "Best Ethnic Diversity for North Regional Universities."

Academics

Nyack offers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs and is broken down into seven individual schools: The School of Business and Leadership; The School of Education; The School of Human Services; The School of Music; The College of Arts and Sciences; The College of Bible and Christian Ministry; and Alliance Theological Seminary. Undergraduate degrees in 41 majors include Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Sacred Music. Graduate degrees include Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Divinity, Master of Professional Studies, and Doctor of Ministry.

In spring 2013, Nyack College graduated its first baccalaureates awarded with a degree in nursing. Offered on the residential campus in Nyack, the nursing program includes traditional four-year coursework and prepares students to work in hospitals around the world.

Nyack College, through a partnership with Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, provides a bachelor of science degree in organizational management to incarcerated individuals at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, New York.

Accreditations

Nyack College is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Its curricula are registered with the New York State Education Department and approved for the training of veterans under Public Laws 550 and 894. Nyack College is also accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Nyack College's teacher education programs are registered and approved by New York State. Nyack College is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and has programs in Childhood Education recognized by the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), Childhood Special Education by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Early Childhood Education by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), English Education by the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and Math Education by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Nyack College is a member of and accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) for teacher certification. Nyack College's Rockland campus is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Nyack College’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and by the NYS Board of Regents which is recognized nationally by the US Department of Education. Nyack College’s social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Alliance Theological Seminary (ATS) is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and, as a division of Nyack College, by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. ATS operates as a graduate school of Nyack College under the charter of Nyack College granted by the Board of Regents of the State Education Department of the University of the State of New York. The Board of Regents for the State of New York empowers Nyack College to grant the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.), and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees.

The Alliance Graduate School of Counseling is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

Membership in the American Theological Library Association (ATLA), the New York Area Theological Library Association (NYATLA), and Westchester Academic Library Directors Organization (WALDO) provides cooperative access to interlibrary services and resources to Nyack's academic community.

New York State Correctional Service College Program

In partnership with Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, Nyack College offers college degree completion programs to prisoners at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. In 2015, the school graduated 24 inmates. To date, the program has a recidivism rate of less than 2% (as compared to the national average of 43%).

Library

The Alliance Theological Seminary Library and Bailey Library (in Nyack, NY) and the Robert Eastman Library (in Manhattan) support the academic research needs of Nyack's undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students and faculty.

History of Bailey Library

Nyack College’s library has been located in three separate buildings on campus during the history of the college: Simpson Hall, Shuman Hall, and (since 1994) its present location.

Reputation and rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranked Nyack College as one of the 10 most diverse college in the northern region of the United States. The report focuses on total student body from the 2015–2016 school year and excludes international students.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Nyack College a "Great College to Work For" for the fifth consecutive year as of 2015. The college received high marks in the areas of work/life balance, respect and appreciation, compensation and benefits, and diversity.

The inaugural Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings named Nyack College among the top 20 schools in the nation assessed for campus environment. According to the October 28, 2016, article, the campus environment category evaluates “the racial and ethnic diversity of students and faculty, the number of international students enrolled and the inclusion of students from lower-income and first-generation college families.” In addition, Nyack was recognized for being among "the top multicultural schools in the Northeast" region of the United States.

New York City

Opened in August 2013, the New York City campus is located in historic Battery Park, close to the Trinity Chapel, Fraunces Tavern, and the Freedom Tower. This campus is for commuter students and includes an extensive library, state-of-the-art classrooms and science laboratories, a music composition lab, a rehearsal studio, a writing lab, and a group counseling observation space.

Rockland County

The residential campus in Rockland County, New York, is a 102 acres (0.41 km²) plot of land that boasts beautiful views of the Hudson Valley. The northern part of the campus, and the public school behind it, were formerly part of the old Clarkstown Country Club. There are multiple choices for housing on campus, with Moseley Hall, the Jaffray House, and the Dunbar Apartments for male students, and Christie Hall, Simpson Hall, and the Bethany and Harmony Houses for female students.

Puerto Rico

Seminario Teológico de Puerto Rico is the Alliance Theological Seminary extension in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Student life

Nyack's student body consists of 1,553 undergraduates and 1,161 graduate and professional students (as of fall 2015).

Student organizations

Student Development serves students by offering opportunities for growth through extra-curricular activities, worship experiences, missional projects, athletics, and the arts. The Office of Student Development hosts activities and events throughout the school year to enhance the college experience. Field trips, luncheons, and games are regularly planned. Chapel services are also held once a week to offer spiritual guidance.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is an organization of elected members, and it works to serve the needs of the student body by offering events and forums. SGA acts on behalf of the student body to liaise between Nyack's students, administration, and staff. Officials are required to maintain office hours and are readily available to meet with students in the Student Lounge.

Student clubs

Two active clubs on campus include Acts Prayer Ministry and Students Against Hunger. Students Against Hunger was featured on Trinity Broadcasting Network in July 2015 in a segment on homelessness and hunger in New York City. Other clubs include the Business Club, the Men of Letters, and the Social Work Organization.

Residence halls

All first-year students on the Rockland campus are required to live in one of three residence halls: Moseley Hall, Simpson Hall, and Christie Hall. Each residence hall is staffed by a full-time professional resident director, 1–2 graduate professional area coordinators, and 10–14 resident assistants.

Activities and clubs

Nyack College Fishing Club

The Nyack College Fishing Club is based on the Rockland campus and open to all Nyack College students. Club-organized fishing excursions take place around both the Rockland and Battery Park campuses. However, workshops are currently only available on the Rockland campus.

Adventure Club

The Adventure Club is based in Rockland County and focuses on outdoor activities such as hiking, paddling, cycling, and fishing.

Athletics

Formerly the Purple Pride, and before that, the Fighting Parsons, Nyack's athletes are now known as Warriors. The Warriors participate in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference of the NCAA's Division II. In 2011, the men's soccer team earned their first bid to the Division II NCAA tournament.

List of sports

Nyack College has several athletic teams competing through the academic year.

Fall

1. Women’s Volleyball
2. Women’s Cross Country
3. Women’s Soccer
4. Men’s Soccer
5. Men’s Cross Country

Winter

1. Women’s Basketball
2. Men’s Basketball

Spring

1. Women’s Softball
2. Women’s Lacrosse
3. Women’s Track & Field
4. Men’s Baseball
5. Men’s Golf
6. Men’s Track & Field

Conference affiliations

Member, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Member, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC)

Legacy in Canada

Through the influence of W.C. Stevens, one of Nyack's early leaders, other schools were spawned by his protégé, L.E. Maxwell, who in turn was instrumental in the creation of Prairie Christian Academy, Prairie Bible College, Prairie School of Mission Aviation, and Prairie College of Applied Arts and Technology in Three Hills, Alberta and the Peace River Bible Institute of Sexsmith, Alberta. As many as 900 students are enrolled at these western Canadian schools each academic year.