We’re excited to share that we’ve achieved the next phase of the merger process between ACPHS and Russell Sage. A transaction agreement, a mutually binding legal agreement, has been approved by the boards of trustees for both institutions, following the timeline outlined when the plan for a strategic merger was announced.
The transaction agreement affirms and builds on the details outlined in the memorandum of understanding approved by both institutions’ boards of trustees just before the merger plan was announced in April. The next step is for both institutions to seek approvals from the New York State Education Department and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The anticipated completion date of that process is summer 2026. The merger will then go through federal review.
While the transaction agreement further solidifies our intention to merge, we still have many details to work out. As previously shared, transition liaisons have been appointed for each institution who will collaborate around several topics and pull in members of our campus communities as their expertise or perspective is required in generating and shaping plans.
The transition liaisons will develop plans for regulatory body engagement, communications/marketing, academic programs, student affairs, research, facilities, athletics, HR benefits and employee handbook, enrollment management, faculty handbook, workload policies, IT, culture and change management, and other topics. Some liaisons have already started their work this summer, while other transition liaisons – including Faculty and Academic Affairs, Academic Administration, Student Affairs/Athletics, and Board Governance – will begin their work in late August/September once faculty have returned to campus.
View more on the process and timeline.
With an estimated completion date of fall 2027, 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 the health professions, and strong programs in education, business, criminal justice, the sciences, pre-med, pre-health, and arts and humanities.
We will continue to provide updates as the process moves forward, and we will offer additional ways for our communities to get to know each other. Thank you for all that you do for students and our college communities, and we hope you find some time to enjoy the summer.
Sincerely,
Matthew Shaftel
President
Russell Sage College
Toyin Tofade
President
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences