Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Are Pursuing a Strategic Merger

The Timeframe Latest Updates
4,000 students expected to enroll on-campus in Albany and Troy, and online
3rd-largest private institution for higher education in the Capital Region
2 Top Colleges Nationally recognized for social mobility and return on investment

The Leader in Health Professions in the Capital Region

Creating one of the region’s largest private institutions for higher education with the broadest catalog of programs in the health professions, pharmacy, and biomedical sciences, as well as strong programs in education, business, criminal justice, the sciences, pre-med, pre-health, and arts and humanities, Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) plan to merge.

The combined institution, to be known as Russell Sage, will enroll an anticipated 4,000 students on campuses in Albany and Troy, New York, as well as online, making it the third-largest private institution for higher education in the Capital Region. The merger unites two colleges nationally recognized for social mobility and return on investment, creating a dynamic engine for workforce development that will transform students, their families, and communities.

$246 million in
combined assets

The merger will result in a unified institution with combined assets of approximately $246 million, including $115 million in endowment investments, based on current figures.

We will keep our communities updated on merger developments. This page will serve as a primary resource. Please note that this information is subject to change dependent upon regulatory processes and other factors. Click here to view the full list of updates.

Envisioned New
Academic Structure

The envisioned new academic structure of the merged institution includes 6 schools as listed below.

  • School of Pharmacy
    (Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage)
  • School of Biomedical and Health Sciences
    (Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage)
  • School of Arts & Sciences
  • Esteves School of Education
  • School of Management
  • School of Health Sciences including Nursing

Estimated Completion
Fall 2027

In May 2026, the New York State Board of Regents granted provisional approval of the merger pending U.S. Department of Education approval, which is expected by summer 2027. The merger has also been provisionally approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which serves as the accrediting body for both colleges.

Development of a
Strategic Plan

In the meantime, while remaining independent, the colleges will work collaboratively to prepare for their merger. Over the next few years, Russell Sage and ACPHS will form plans to combine their academic portfolios and create a facilities and people strategy.

Becoming a
University

With the merger, the combined institution will be called Russell Sage University, a change that was also provisionally approved by the New York State Board of Regents in May 2026, pending final regulatory approval of the merger by the U.S. Department of Education.

Announcing an
Exciting New Chapter

In a video dated April 2025, the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Russell Sage College presidents announced the plan to pursue a merger.

The Merger

Pre-step:
Complete

From signed MOU until July 2025

  • Negotiate and approve an expanded and more detailed version of the Memorandum of Understanding called the Definitive Agreement, which will be a binding agreement to set the merger process in motion.

Phase 0:
Complete

July 2025-June 2026

  • Both institutions continue to operate independently.
  • Transition teams will be assembled to address certain functions.
  • Can build articulation agreements around new programs.
  • Can deepen existing partnerships (such as housing or other services).
  • Compensation studies will be commissioned.
  • Will consider the planned merger in undertaking new contracts

Phase 1

July 2026-fall 2027

(depending on Department of Education process)

Complete:

  • Receive New York State Board of Regents and Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) provisional merger approval, pending U.S. Department of Education approval.
  • Colleges complete first stage of merger (change in corporate ownership) on or before June 10, 2026.

Ongoing:

  • ACPHS and Russell Sage continue operating as separately licensed, accredited, degree-granting institutions.
  • Separate boards of trustees continue to govern each institution.
  • Plans to merge operations are finalized.
  • Leadership works with faculty to rewrite the faculty handbook for the merged institution. Plans for consolidated academic structures and the shared governance process are developed.
  • Plans are created to merge operations.
  • Will begin campus planning and space study to determine footprint and best use of all facilities in Albany and Troy.
  • Russell Sage and ACPHS build on the sharing of services, such as vendor services or dining facilities. 
  • A plan is formed to create continuity in visual branding for the ACPHS and Russell Sage Albany campus.

Phase 2

Fall 2027 and beyond

(depending on Department of Education approval process)
  • With approval of regulators, Russell Sage and ACPHS complete merger and combine institutions.
  • Beginning in fall 2027, Russell Sage, including the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage, welcomes students to the fully consolidated, comprehensive institution with nearly 4,000 students at the Albany and Troy campuses and online.
  • The consolidated institution is governed by a new 25-member board with trustees nominated from both ACPHS and Russell Sage boards.
  • All students gain access to a broader span of academic offerings, student services, and athletic and cultural opportunities.
  • Institution leverages enhanced donor opportunities for strategic investments to positively impact students and the Capital Region more broadly.

Fast Facts

Location

RSC Albany Campus Kahl Student Center
Kahl Student Center, Russell Sage College Albany Campus
Russell Sage College Two campuses:
Historic downtown Troy, New York, and 140 New Scotland Avenue Albany, New York
Sage Hall, Russell Sage College Troy Campus
Sage Hall, Russell Sage College Troy Campus
Francis O'Brien Building, Albany College of Pharmacy
Francis O’Brien Building, Albany College of Pharmacy
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 106 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York
ACPHS Student making a Heart symbol with his hands
Neighbors in Albany
Combined Map of Russell Sage College Campus and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
(Click to view map)

Total enrollment

(as of fall 2025)

3,123 Russell Sage College
856 Albany College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences

Founding Year

Russell Sage History Buchman Hall Troy
1916 Russell Sage College
ACPHS 1880's - Original Eagle Street Building
1881 Albany College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences

Employees

(not including federal work study jobs)

RSC Nursing students and faculty
379 Russell Sage College
272 Albany College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences
(as of 3/5/25)

Academic Programs

Russell Sage College
27 Undergraduate
32 Master’s,
Post-master’s
4 Doctoral
Top 25 among national universities for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report for seven straight years
PTK Transfer Honor Roll Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has named Russell Sage College to its Transfer Honor Roll in recognition of the dynamic pathways the college has created to support transfer students for six years in a row
More About Russell Sage
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
11 Undergraduate
9 Master’s
1 Doctoral
No. 1 in New York state and No. 5 in the nation for return on investment (ROI) by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce
A+ for value by
Niche.com
1 of only 4 higher education institutions committed to research in the Capital Region, as designated by the Carnegie Foundation
More About ACPHS

History

Russell Sage College

Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, Founder of Russell Sage College
Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage
Founder of Russell Sage College

Russell Sage College was founded in 1916 as a women’s college in Troy, New York, by Philanthropist Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, who named the institution after her late husband. In 1949, Russell Sage opened a coeducational Albany division to serve the large number of veterans returning from World War II, state government workers, and others seeking an education related to workplace needs, and offered associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in an evening schedule.

“Be. Know. Do.”

The Albany campus held various names throughout the years, until 2020, when the two campuses were consolidated under the Russell Sage College identity offering co-educational bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in both locations.

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

When it was founded in 1881, the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (then known as Albany College of Pharmacy) was one of only 14 colleges of pharmacy in the United States.

In 2008, the college rebranded as the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to better reflect its growing scope of programs.

“Engage. Learn. Lead. Serve.”

The college maintains the Collaboratory in Albany’s South End, which provides space for the college to partner with community organizations on a range of social and health care services for local residents. Also, the college owns The Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training, and student-run community pharmacies.

Academics

Undergraduate

Explore the wide range of programs offered by both Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to undergraduate majors in the health career fields.

Undergraduate Programs in Health Sciences

Russell Sage College - Be Know Do

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Accelerated BS in Nursing
Accelerated B.S. in Nursing at Russell Sage College

Biology
B.S. Biology at Russell Sage College
B.S. Biology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Biomedical Technology

B.S. Biomedical Technology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Clinical Laboratory Sciences

B.S. Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Forensic Psychology
B.S. Psychology at Russell Sage College
B.S. Forensic Psychology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Forensic Science

B.S. Forensic Science at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Health Sciences
B.S. Health Sciences at Russell Sage College
B.S. Health Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Microbiology

B.S. Microbiology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Nursing
B.S. Nursing at Russell Sage College
B.S. Nursing at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Nutrition Science
B.S. Nutrition Science at Russell Sage College

Pharmaceutical Sciences

B.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Psychology
B.S. Psychology at Russell Sage College
B.S. Psychology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Public Health

B.S. Public Health at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Speech-Language Pathology
B.S. Speech-Language Pathology at Russell Sage College

Health Sciences at Russell SAge College Health Sciences at ACPHS

Graduate

Explore the wide range of programs offered by both Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to graduate majors in the health career fields.

Graduate Programs in Health Sciences

Russell Sage College - Be Know Do

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (CERT)
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (CERT) at Russell Sage College

Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (CERT)
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (CERT) at Russell Sage College

Applied Nutrition (Online)
M.S. Applied Nutrition at Russell Sage College

Biomedical Sciences

M.S. Biomedical Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Biomedical Sciences (Online)

M.S. Biomedical Sciences Online at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Scienceschology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Biotechnology

M.S. Biotechnology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Biotechnology (Hybrid)

M.S. Biotechnology Hybrid at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Clinical Laboratory Sciences

M.S. Psychology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Community Psychology
M.S. Community Psychology at Russell Sage College

Cytotechnology & Molecular Cytology

M.S. Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Dietetic Internship
Dietetic Internship at Russell Sage College

Family Nurse Practitioner (CERT)
Family Nurse Practicioner CERT at Russell Sage College

Forensic Mental Health (CERT, MS)
M.S. Forensic Mental Health at Russell Sage College

Health Data Science

M.S. Health Data Science at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Health Services Administration
M.S. Health Services Administration at Russell Sage College

Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology (In-person, Online)
M.A. Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology at Russell Sage College

Molecular Biosciences

M.S. Molecular Biosciences at Russell Sage College

Nursing (MS, DNP, Hybrid)
M.S., DNP, Hybrid Nursing at Russell Sage College

Nutrition & Dietetics
M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics at Russell Sage College

Occupational Therapy (OTD, MSOT – In person and Hybrid)
M.S. Occupational Therapy Master’s at Russell Sage College

Pharmaceutical Sciences

M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Pharm D

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Physical Therapy (DPT)
DPT Physical Therapy at Russell Sage College

  • Art Education
  • Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism
  • Childhood Education
  • Childhood and Early Childhood Education (B-6)
  • Childhood and Early Childhood Education with 7-9 Extension (B-9)
  • Childhood Education/Early Childhood Education/Special Education (B-6 and All Grades Special Education)
  • Educational Leadership
  • Instructional Leadership Advanced Certificate Programs (SBL/SDL)
  • Foreign Language/Childhood Education
  • Literacy Specialist
  • Physical Education
  • Professional School Counseling
  • School District Business Leader (SDBL) (CERT)
  • School Health Education
  • Special Education
  • Sport Science Master’s: Coaching & Mental Performance
School of Education at Russell SAge College
  • Business Administration
  • Flex MBA
  • Health Services
  • Organizational Studies
  • Sport & Recreation Management
School of Management At Russell SAge College
  • Academic Exploration
  • Art + Extended Media
  • Criminal Justice, Law & Behavioral Science
  • English, Writing & Culture
  • English/Childhood Education
  • Expressive Arts in Mental Health 
  • Graphic + Media Design 
  • History
  • History/Childhood Education
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Interior + Spatial Design
  • Musical Theatre
  • Physical Education
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Theatre
School of Arts & Sciences at Russell SAge College

Updates

News & Events

April 22, 2025 Announcement and Photo Gallery
Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Agree to Pursue Strategic Merger

You can also view the photo gallery from the announcement.

View All Updates

Leadership

Presidents

Matthew Shaftel, Ph.D.
Russell Sage College President and Interim President of ACPHS

Matthew Shaftel began his tenure as the 11th president of Russell Sage College on July 1, 2024. Before coming to Russell Sage, Shaftel served for seven years as dean and full professor in Ohio University’s College of Fine Arts. He has served as a higher education leader for nearly two decades, also as an associate vice president at Florida State University and dean and executive of the Princeton campus at Rider University.

Shaftel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Master of Philosophy in Music Theory, and Ph.D. in Music Theory from Yale University.

More about President Shaftel

Theresa Hand, OTD
Russell Sage College Executive Vice President and Provost and Interim Campus Executive of ACPHS

Theresa Hand was appointed provost at Russell Sage College in 2019. Prior to that she was interim provost, associate provost, and dean of the Russell Sage School of Health Sciences. A faculty member since 1993, she has served as chair and program director of the Occupational Therapy program and held leadership roles in healthcare organizations. Hand holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire, a master’s degree from Russell Sage College, and a doctorate from Creighton University.

Toyin Tofade, MS, PharmD, BCPS, CPCC, FFIP
ACPHS President Emeritus

Toyin Tofade was named President Emerita on July 1, 2026, following a four-year tenure of service to Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

After stepping into her role as the 10th and final president for Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in July 2022, she led ACPHS through an exciting era. Under her leadership, the ACPHS launched a forward-thinking strategic plan with a powerful vision. She oversaw the introduction of the college’s first-ever online portfolio, the largest expansion of academic programs since its inception, and championed a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration across campus. She led the negotiation and co-creation of the merger with Russell Sage, which will preserve the ACPHS legacy for years to come.

More about President Tofade’s Legacy at ACPHS
Toyin Tofade, MS, PharmD, BCPS, CPCC, FFIP

Board Leadership

Walter S. Borisenok, LHD
ACPHS Board of Trustees Chair

Walt Borisenok has decades of experience in starting, growing, and managing a global business as retired founder and CEO of Fortitech Inc., a producer of human nutritional products used in the food, pharmaceutical, and life sciences Industries. He is a graduate of SUNY at Plattsburgh in microbiology, and in 2021, was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters by the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

More about ACPHS Board of Trustees Chair

Caroline Leavitt DeCota
Russell Sage College Board of Trustees Chair

Caroline Leavitt DeCota is a 1984 graduate of Russell Sage College and retired as vice president, Managed Markets, at the global medical technology and pharmaceutical  business, Smith & Nephew, where she managed its Medicare Part D program. She held positions at the American Pharmacists Association and at the National Community Pharmacists Association before moving on to manage an independent pharmacy buying group and later serving as director of PBM Operations for a national HMO.

During her extensive career in healthcare, Leavitt DeCota also worked for Bayer Pharmaceuticals in Managed Markets contracting and Sales Training. In addition to her degree from Russell Sage, she holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Golden Gate University.

More about RSC Board of Trustees

FAQs

General

Note: Some of this information may change during this process as the two institutions work through the details of the merger.

On May 19, 2026, the New York State Board of Regents voted to grant provisional approval for the merger between Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Russell Sage College to become Russell Sage University. The decision is provisional pending U.S. Department of Education approval, anticipated by summer 2027. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) also granted provisional approval of the merger.

We’ll change to Russell Sage University in summer 2027, after U.S. Department of Education merger approval.

Added: 05/19/2026

ACPHS cabinet members will begin meeting with President Shaftel, Provost Hand, and the Russell Sage cabinet beginning in May, ensuring ACPHS retains its voice throughout and after the merger. When the merger takes effect, a 25-member board of trustees will commence, with 13 members coming from Russell Sage and 12 coming from ACPHS. Even before this announcement, efforts were being made to connect the two communities, including Provost Hand and President Shaftel meeting with ACPHS faculty.

The title President Emeritus is an honorary rank bestowed upon a retiring college or university president to recognize their distinguished service and lasting impact on the institution. It is a permanent title that is approved and granted by the Board of Trustees that allows the individual to maintain an official connection to the institution. A President Emeritus is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the college.

Although we’ve received New York State Board of Regents and Middle States Commission on Higher Education provisional approval, U.S. Department of Education approval is anticipated for sometime in 2027. During this interim period, we must continue to have two boards of trustees and keep the following areas separate: tuition/price setting for 26-27, financial aid administration for 26-27, admissions decisions for 2027, institutional budgeting for 26-27, legal representation/accreditation reporting, and students serving on athletic teams in 26-27. (ACPHS students can’t compete on Russell Sage’s NCAA Division III athletic teams quite yet).

We are co-creating a larger university, and we are excited to work with the extraordinary talent at ACPHS and Russell Sage. This leadership announcement reflects the vision for the combined institution. As we’ve shared before, further details about organizational design will be available in September, and it is our goal to retain as many employees as possible to serve the growing needs of the merged institution.

Added: 04/24/2026

As both institutions looked at their strategic plans, it became clear that the synergies in academic portfolio, location, missions, and commitment to engaged, holistic, and personalized educational experiences were strong. 

By combining the rich legacies and strong reputations of Russell Sage and ACPHS and their engaged alumni networks, the merged entity will empower students, strengthen communities, and be positioned as both the leading institution for health-focused education and a premier comprehensive college experience with a range of academic offerings. The merged institution will be unlike any other institution in the region and will supply the workforce with graduates in fields with the most critical areas of need, including healthcare, medical research, and education.

While remaining independent, the colleges will work collaboratively to prepare for their merger, including how best to combine facilities, personnel, and programs. 

Changes to the U.S. Department of Education under the current administration are evolving. We are closely monitoring the situation as we move through this process. How it may impact the merger at this time is unclear.

ACPHS and Russell Sage’s Albany campus are located side-by-side, and so this is an ideal partnership in terms of physical proximity, too. We will spend this planning period looking at how to best combine and maximize use of the facilities at both campuses.

No. Russell Sage College is fully committed to maintaining a vibrant presence in both Albany and Troy. The Troy campus — home to many of our signature programs, like education, and a central part of our history and identity — will remain an active and integral part of the new institution.

In Albany, Russell Sage and ACPHS have adjacent campuses, and the merger presents a unique opportunity to bring those spaces together in a more unified and efficient way. As part of this process, we will undertake a comprehensive campus master planning effort to thoughtfully determine how best to align facilities in Albany and how to maximize the experience and access to the Troy campus for all students in the merged institution.

Until the merger, presidents for both colleges remain in place and each board of trustees will continue oversight of their individual colleges. When the merger takes effect, a 25-member board will commence, with 13 members coming from Russell Sage and 12 coming from ACPHS. The president of Russell Sage College will serve as president of the new institution.

One of the goals of Russell Sage’s 2019 strategic plan was to change the college’s charter to become a university and apply to the necessary regulatory bodies for university status. The change highlights that Russell Sage is a comprehensive institution with a breadth of programs at the bachelor, master, post-master, and doctoral levels. New York State Board of Regents provisionally approved the merger of Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to become Russell Sage University.

One of the benefits of merging two institutions is to eliminate or reduce operational overhead. We see great opportunities to reduce expenses through vendor contract renegotiation, shared services, procurement consolidation, and the elimination of duplicate services. This new institution will provide an enhanced comprehensive educational experience for students. For example, combining the Albany campuses allows both institutions to optimize facilities to the advantage of students, investing resources where they most make sense.

Until the merger, both institutions will maintain their separate endowments. After the merger, the ACPHS endowment will remain devoted to ACPHS programs and mission. Donor-restricted funds will continue to hold those restrictions in accordance with donor intents.

The merged entity will preserve the “Carnegie Research College and University” classification achieved by ACPHS, and intends to take the required steps to secure the infrastructure needed to maintain the research environment for the Carnegie Research College and University designation.

Students and Families

There are exciting updates about campus dining. ACPHS and Russell Sage College now have one dining provider: Chartwells Higher Education. Dining services at both colleges are now called Capital Eats, a fresh dining experience designed for both institutions. Students and employees can look forward to enhanced dining options, updated spaces, and new opportunities to enjoy campus dining this fall. Meal plans can be used across both colleges in all of the on-campus dining facilities.

Current dining associates will remain part of the dining program, ensuring familiar faces and a continued commitment to serving the college community.

Added: 07/17/2026

If students complete their program prior to the merger’s conclusion, the name on their diploma would reflect their current institution – either Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Russell Sage College. 

Diplomas after the merger will reflect the college/school the student graduates from. For example, students graduating from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage would receive diplomas that read Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage.

Yes. All students will have the opportunity to complete their degree programs at their respective colleges prior to the merger and at the combined institution after the merger. After this merger is final and approved by all regulatory bodies, it will expand opportunities for students.

It is the intention to merge all existing programs into the new institution’s academic catalog.

After the merger – again estimated for fall 2027– students would have the opportunity to earn roster spots on the 22 Russell Sage NCAA Division III athletic teams through the usual competitive tryout or recruiting process. All student-athletes will have opportunities in some form, with the possible addition of Junior Varsity programs, club sports, and intramurals.

Use of athletic facilities will remain largely the same in the short term, with the potential to negotiate more cooperative agreements while a long-term, post-merger facilities plan is created.

Because of its strong identity within NCAA Division III athletics, the mascot will be the Gator. The ACPHS Panther will be integrated into the new institution, much like Russell Sage has always had four mascots that rotate by class year, including the Blue Angels, Red Devils, Purple Cows, and Golden Horseshoes.

Student clubs and organizations are driven by students, and the merger between ACPHS and Russell Sage College will open up new opportunities for all students.

Russell Sage and ACPHS will continue to operate independently while they work through the details of the merger, which means continuing their separate tuition calculations. Currently, Russell Sage and ACPHS have similar tuition rates for undergraduates. Graduate tuition varies by program and in accordance with the market.

Although many details of the merger are still to be worked out, there is a joint commitment to access and affordability. Russell Sage has been ranked a top 25 national university for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report for seven straight years. ACPHS has been named No. 1 in New York state and #5 in the nation for return on investment (ROI) by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.

Financial aid awards, including merit scholarships from each college, will be honored until the student graduates. As in any circumstance, federal and state aid can always vary based on student income and federal and state guidelines.

Facility use is part of the planning process. In the meantime, there may be additional opportunities to maximize housing through agreements between both institutions, expanding options for students.

Employees

In the lead-up to the merger, both institutions will continue to operate independently, with opportunities to deepen existing partnerships. We know that our strength lies in our people, and we will seek to retain as many employees as needed to maintain our high standards.

Russell Sage is already planning to grow its workforce to support continued expansion, and we know that the merged institution will require a talented and dedicated team. Similarly, ACPHS has deeply specialized programs and research areas that rely on the expertise of its faculty and staff — those strengths will be essential to our future together.

Hiring managers – who were identified as the cabinet-level leadership team during the January 27 joint merger forum – are currently working with our consultants to determine the structure within their units, with that work continuing throughout the spring.

In September 2026, employees will get a letter offering or reinforcing their new role in the institution. The Human Resources Transition Team is currently developing a unified employee benefits program targeted for launch in January 2027. More details will be shared in the coming months, with employees formally introduced to the new offerings during Open Enrollment in fall 2026.

Between the operational synergies we are seeking, as well as typical annual retirements or resignations, we believe that the impact on our workforce will be minimal.

It is the intention to merge all existing programs at Russell Sage and ACPHS into the new institution’s academic catalog.

We anticipate that all tenured and tenure-track faculty of Russell Sage and ACPHS at the time of the merger will maintain their faculty status. Tenured faculty will continue as tenured faculty at their then-current tenured level (e.g., associate professor, full professor). Faculty on the tenure track will maintain their years of progress and their “tenure clock” will not be impacted, accelerated, or delayed. 

Non-tenured faculty will remain non-tenured upon the merger. Existing years of service will be honored on those contracts that are retained within the merged entity. Academic transition teams, including faculty, are currently working on a number of items, including a revised faculty handbook and governance structure.

NFP will become the merged institution’s benefit broker. In February 2026, a benefits survey and focus groups collected data from employees to identify what matters most. This data will assist in creating a combined benefits package for the merged institution, effective January 2027. Employees will be formally introduced to the new offerings during Open Enrollment in fall 2026.

Information from the Compensation Committee, which includes representatives from both institutions, is posted as content is gathered and/or decisions are made to the Compensation Committee website, a link that was shared with employees via email and is available on each institution’s portal.

The joint merger forums will continue to include updates on the Compensation Committee’s work and offer time for employee questions. Additional employee forums with Compensation Committee representatives will be added as needed – particularly when there is new information to be shared. 

We don’t have an answer to every compensation question at this time. The information gathering, analysis, and decision-making process will roll out over the next several months, and the Compensation Committee website provides a timeline for its work.

Alumni and Donors

RSC and ACPHS are committed to honoring donor intents before and after the merger. 

Scholarships and endowed funds will be carried out according to the terms outlined in the gift agreements. They are not impacted by the merger.

Yes. Philanthropy is critical to all colleges’ ability to provide student scholarships and support college operations. This is an exciting time to invest in our institutions. 

The Russell Sage Alumnae/i Association will continue.

The Opalka Gallery will continue to operate on Russell Sage’s Albany campus.

These services will continue.

The Collaboratory, a community health resource center operated by Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in partnership with Trinity Alliance’s Capital Region community health worker (CHW) team, will continue, and services may expand with the addition of the Russell Sage health professions programs to the mix. Already, ACPHS and Russell Sage are working together on a food as medicine research project leveraging the Collaboratory. The effort will reach up to 50 food-insecure households where a family member has Type II Diabetes Mellitus and/or Hypertension. The households will receive food packages especially tailored to their health needs, as well as health monitoring and nutrition counseling during a 24-week period. You can learn more about it on the November 19 Proudly Sage webinar.

The Stack Family Center for Pharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET) offers a comprehensive suite of programs, services, and contract research opportunities designed to bridge academia and industry, with a strong focus on biopharmaceutical education and innovation. CBET helps students, professionals, and the biopharmaceutical industry launch careers, strengthen workforces, or scale ideas into a commercial product utilizing contract research services, industry training and workforce development, fellowship and research opportunities, and academic programs. CBET’s reach will only grow with the merger.

Explore more resources

View News Release Visit Russell Sage college Visit ACPHS