Now that the exciting planned merger between Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has been announced, it’s time to work out the details of the transition together.
With an anticipated final merger date of fall 2027, dependent upon accreditation, legal, operational, and regulatory steps, we’re moving deeper into the collaborative planning process. We wanted to provide updates on two important developments:
Mark your calendars: To give our communities a chance to get to know each other, we’ll hold a Campus Cookout and Connections on Wednesday, May 21, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Armory at Russell Sage. Please RSVP so we can get an accurate count for dining services. This is just the beginning of more opportunities to connect at both Russell Sage and ACPHS campuses.
Transition teams: Russell Sage and ACPHS will establish transition teams to lay plans for the envisioned merged institution. Transition committees with balanced representation will be defined in the coming weeks to develop plans for academic programs, student affairs, research, facilities, athletics, benefits, and other topics. The majority of these teams will begin their work in August or September. We will provide more information on transition teams and opportunities for dialogue soon and will offer regular updates throughout the process via email, the merger website (which is an important community resource), and community meetings.
As communicated during the announcement phase, the next step in the merger process involves negotiating and approving a more detailed version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), called a Definitive Agreement. The Definitive Agreement, which is on track for completion by July 2025, is a binding agreement that will set the next steps of the merger process in motion. As previously communicated, the colleges will continue to operate independently while working collaboratively toward an estimated merger completion date of fall 2027.
We know that the length and complexity of this process means we won’t have all the answers to all of your questions right away. But we want you to share what’s on your mind with us and encourage you to reach out to your cabinet representative or fill out the “Get a Hold of Us” form on the merger website. Thank you for working with us through this exciting and historic transition.
Sincerely,
Matt Shaftel
President
Russell Sage College
Toyin Tofade
President
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences