University College Becomes the Syracuse University College of Professional Studies

In its May meeting, the Syracuse University Board of Trustees approved renaming University College to the College of Professional Studies.

“Since its inception, University College has served as Syracuse University’s point of entry for part-time and adult learners,” says Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “As we set the conditions to launch and scale Syracuse University Global, the college’s new name better reflects its stature as a top-tier provider of professional degree programs, certificates and credentials to part-time students.”

The college traces its history to 1918, when Syracuse University became one of the first universities in the country to open its doors to “non-traditional” part-time students when it began offering evening sessions. Twenty-eight years later in 1946, at the direction of Chancellor William Tolley, University College was formally chartered as the university’s academic college of adult and continuing education.

“We looked to the past in charting our course for the future. The core mission of University College has always been to provide educational opportunities to those who are unable to study full-time on-campus,” says Dean Michael Frasciello. “Today, we extend that mission globally as the College of Professional Studies.”

“This new name reflects what University College has become,” says John Liu, interim vice chancellor and provost. “Over the last century, Syracuse University has innovated to meet the needs of students seeking market-sensitive professional degrees, non-credit programs and executive education. The College of Professional Studies’ new name reflects its accomplishments as an academic unit working in partnership with other Syracuse University’s schools and colleges to develop accessible academic pathways, world-class online education and the needs of post-traditional learners.”

Frasciello notes that the rapidly evolving education demands of a global and mobile workforce and the progression away from full-time study have dramatically increased the need for Syracuse University to have a visible point of entry for adult, part-time and post-traditional students seeking professional studies degrees and alternative educational credentials. He says, “As the College of Professional Studies has served non-traditional students for more than 100 years, we will continue to dare to do things, to experiment and innovate and to be responsive to dramatic shifts in higher education.”