School of Arts and Sciences at CNR to Begin Admitting Men

The School of Arts and Sciences at the College of New Rochelle, which had enrolled only women since its founding in 1904, will be moving to a coeducational model in the fall of 2016.

The college’s board of trustees unanimously approved the decision, which was announced this week.

“This decision was made after very careful thought, evaluation of several key factors, and above all with a great reverence for the college’s mission, rooted in its Catholic identity, inspired by its Ursuline foundation and expressed through more than 100 years’ commitment to women and educational excellence,” said Elizabeth LeVaca, chair of the board of trustees, in a statement.

The college’s other three schools—the School of Nursing, the School of New Resources and the Graduate School—have admitted both women and men since the 1970s.

“Throughout the process, the feedback received was clearly supportive of this new model for the School of Arts and Sciences,” Ms. LeVaca said.

When the College of New Rochelle was founded, the higher education landscape was much different. Today, less than 5 percent of female high school students apply to single-gender colleges, the college said.

“For 111 years, The College of New Rochelle has been an innovative, dynamic, contemporary and values-based institution that has nurtured the personal and intellectual advancement of more than 15,000 women in the School of Arts and Sciences,” said Judith Huntington, president of The College of New Rochelle.

“We are eager to have this opportunity to do the same for many more women and now men,” she added. The president said the decision to admit men to the School of Arts and Sciences is “part of a comprehensive strategic plan to advance and expand our academic programs, technology, and facilities.”

Supported by $14 million in federal grants, initiatives under way include renovating science labs, strengthening STEM programs, augmenting library services and expanding programs in the health professions, she said.

The college also plans to introduce men’s sports to its NCAA Division III athletics program in the fall.

“With the introduction of men’s sports, we will build on our success in women’s athletics over the last several years, which has included three consecutive conference volleyball championships,” said Jay Butler, the college’s director of athletics. “This fall, we will field Division III men’s basketball and swimming teams and introduce volleyball and soccer club sports with plans to raise them to varsity status the following fall.”