Nyack College Delays Move To NYC

SOUTH NYACK, NY — Nyack College will stay in Rockland County for at least the fall semester this year. President Michael Scales let undergraduates at the South Nyack campus know on Feb. 25.

The issue is housing for those undergrads. The college is acquiring property in Jersey City, a short commute from the school's new facility in Battery Park, but that will not be done in time for fall of 2019.

"This was not our original plan nor our original timeframe, but we believe this course of action provides the time needed to both secure and build the residence hall and also give you the definitive information you need now," Scales said on the college's website. "...this adjustment to our plan provides the best possible stewardship of the Jersey City opportunity and more importantly, this adjustment best meets the needs of the students God has entrusted to us."

Graduate programs including Alliance Theological Seminary will be held in Manhattan as originally planned for the fall 2019 semester.

Manhattan was Nyack College's original home, in 1882.

The college relocated to Rockland County in 1897. It has an 107-acre campus in South Nyack, Alliance Theological Seminary has a 37-acre campus on Route 9W in Upper Nyack, and the college also owns a 22-acre parcel in Orangetown where its president lives.

College officials re-established a city campus in 1997. The college bought space at 2 Washington St. in New York City in 2016. The sale of the Rockland properties, for which officials are hoping to get up to $100 million, would help with the college's financial difficulties.

The undergrad residence in Jersey City will include:
• Private bathrooms in each unit
• Private kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave in each unit
• Central air-conditioning
• A study lounge with computers
• A community fitness center
• An eatery in the residence hall with a variety of options for residential students (in addition to a food truck that will operate at the 2 Washington Street campus.)

Scales said the cost of room and board will be $10,000. "This price is thousands less than other colleges in the metropolitan New York area," he said.

The college and seminary have already received approval from the New York State Board of Regents and the final permission necessary to move ahead with the plan.

SEE ALSO:

• Nyack College Buys Manhattan Campus
  
• Rockland Officials Meet On Nyack College Closing