Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Notice of Merger of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with Russell Sage College sent February 13, 2026

Dear ACPHS Students, 

As announced on April 22, 2025, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences intends to merge with Russell Sage College. In accordance with United States Department of Education regulations, ACPHS is required to provide this notification to students at least 90 days in advance of the merger transaction to ensure students are clearly informed of the merger. 

The colleges intend to conduct this merger of equals with minimal interruption to your day-to-day student life, and both institutions are committed to ACPHS’ educational mission of educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of our society.  

Together, ACPHS and Russell Sage College will continue our long histories of enabling student engagement, student success, excellence, social mobility, return on investment, and health-care research. ACPHS and Russell Sage College are also committed to continuing the full complement of academic programs currently offered by ACPHS.   

The merger will be accomplished in TWO Steps as outlined below. 

All information within this notice is subject to change based on requirements of Federal and New York educational regulatory agencies and accreditors. Students will be informed of any changes as appropriate. 

FIRST STEP OF MERGER 

In the First Step, ACPHS will be officially incorporated into Russell Sage College, but ACPHS will continue to exist as a separate, degree-granting, educational institution. 

Subject to the approval of educational regulatory agencies, the completion of this step could occur sooner or later than June 1, 2026.   
 

SECOND STEP OF MERGER 

In the Second Step, ACPHS will no longer be a separate, degree-granting educational institution. ACPHS will exist within Russell Sage College and be known as the “Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage College.”  

Russell Sage College is also seeking university status from the Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department. Assuming this request is also granted, ACPHS will be known as “Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage University.”  

Subject to U.S. Department of Education approval, the completion of the Second Step could occur sooner or later than July 1, 2027.  

ACPHS and Russell Sage will continue to communicate regularly with all campus constituents – including students – leading up to and following the completion of the Second Step.   

INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR STUDENTS 

We strongly encourage all ACPHS students to attend merger information sessions which are held regularly throughout the year and are designed to provide updated information and an opportunity to ask questions. Information sessions for students will be held on the following dates:  

Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 4 – 5 pm  
Location: SC 201 and Zoom (Link to be emailed prior to the session)  

Date: April 9, 2026  
Time: 11 am – 12 pm 
Location: SC 202 and Zoom (Link to be emailed prior to the session)  

Frequently Asked Questions 

You will still be a student enrolled in your academic program at ACPHS   

  • You will attend classes in the same manner as you did before the First Step occurred
  • Your academic advising structure will remain closely aligned pre- and post-merger
  • You will generally have the same professors/faculty
  • Your program curriculum will remain the same
  • You will continue to receive the same education (academic rigor, classes and degree)
  • If you choose to take classes at Russell Sage, such credit will be transferred to ACPHS (as is the norm for other institutions within the Hudson-Mohawk consortium)

After the Second Step is completed, ACPHS will become ACPHS at Russell Sage 

  • You will remain enrolled at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage 
  • You will attend classes in the same manner as before
  • Your academic advising structure will remain closely aligned pre- and post-merger
  • You will generally have the same professors/faculty
  • Your program curriculum will remain closely aligned
  • You will continue to receive the same education (academic rigor, classes, and degree)
  • You will have access to courses offered at Russell Sage’s campus with no need to transfer credits to ACPHS (as it will be one institution)
  • If you choose to take classes outside of Russell Sage, such credit will be transferred accordingly (as is the norm for other institutions within the Hudson-Mohawk consortium)
  • Additional program-specific guidance will be communicated as appropriate by the respective deans

All ACPHS students who complete their program before the Second Step will receive a degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  

All ACPHS students who complete their program after the Second Step will receive a degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage.

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.

Still have questions? 

  • For more information on the merger and how it may impact you, plan to attend a student information session. Dates for upcoming sessions are provided above. 
  • Please visit the ACPHS/Russell Sage Merger Website and review Frequently Asked Questions.
  • If you have additional merger questions, please contact ACPHS Vice President for Student Experience, John Felio at John.Felio@acphs.edu.  

This is an exciting time for all students and members of the ACPHS community as the merger offers the promise of new and exciting possibilities. The merger will create one of the region’s largest private higher education institutions, with approximately 4,000 students and the broadest catalog of programs in pharmacy, health sciences and health professions, and strong programs in education, business, criminal justice, the sciences, pre-med, pre-health, and arts and humanities.  

We look forward to sharing more information as the process moves ahead in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, please remember to continue to check the ACPHS/Russell Sage Merger Website for news and updates.  

Sincerely,  

Toyin Tofade, BPharm, MS, PharmD, CPCC, FFIP
President and Professor
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
106 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York 12208
(518) 694-7221 I officeofthepresident@acphs.edu