FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Concordia College New York to Cease Operations Fall 2021; Iona College to Acquire Concordia Campus and Provide Continued Education for Concordia Students Through Teach-out Plan
Westchester County, New York (January 28, 2021) — Concordia College New York and Iona College today announced the institutions are proceeding with a formal agreement for Iona College to acquire Concordia’s Bronxville campus and provide continued education for Concordia’s students through a teach-out plan, enabling most students to continue their degrees to completion at Iona. Concordia College New York’s classes will cease beginning with the fall 2021 semester and the college will close. Details of the agreement are being finalized and are subject to regulatory approval. The agreement is expected to be completed by summer 2021.
Concordia’s President Rev. John A. Nunes, Ph.D., said: “Concordia’s challenges are reflected broadly in the higher education sector; accelerated by the pandemic, these challenges necessitated an outcome that brings deep pain to all those invested in Concordia and its 140-year history. I am grateful to the Board of Regents and my administration for working so hard to save our institution. Students continue to be our priority. By acting now, Concordia’s Regents have provided our students with an excellent pathway for continuing the high-quality, faith-informed education they began at Concordia.”
Iona’s President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., said: “The closure of a sister institution affects us all. As I’ve said since I arrived at Iona, higher education must, and will, be different going forward. This is especially true for private, faith-based institutions, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the circumstances demanding change. While we pursue regulatory approvals, Iona and Concordia will work together to ensure their students can complete their education with minimal disruption.”
A series of co-hosted, virtual Town Halls will be taking place to discuss the plans and help answer questions. Details will be shared shortly.
Iona plans to utilize the Concordia campus to develop a leading school of health sciences, furthering Iona’s strategic investments in the field, and continuing Concordia’s legacy of excellence in health sciences education.
Additional information is expected to be released as details are finalized pending regulatory approval. In the meantime, please direct inquiries to questions@iona.edu.
Media Contacts:
Diana Costello, Iona College dcostello@iona.edu | c: 914-629-8379
Rebecca Portnoy, Concordia College New York rebecca.portnoy@concordia-ny.edu | c: 516. 456-3419