Seton College launches at University of Mount Saint Vincent to support underrepresented students

The University of Mount Saint Vincent has officially opened its associate-degree program under the name Seton College. One year in the making, students are now being welcomed onto campus.

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A new group of students has arrived on the University of Mount Saint Vincent campus seeking their associate’s degree at the brand new Seton College. 

The journey of Seton College began nearly two years ago when the Mount was invited to by the Come to Believe Network to participate in its Design Grant, in which higher education institutions explore the possibility of bringing secondary schooling opportunities to underrepresented students with an inclusive and accessible model. 

University of Mount Saint Vincent president Susan Burns said she’s excited about the opportunity the institution has created, and for the incredible things she knows Seton College students will do. 

One year ago, the school began serious planning for the creation of Seton College, an associate’s degree program designed for students with high financial needs who need a higher level of academic support. 

According to Burns, the vision was to remove the life barriers that too often get in the way of a student’s success. 

Despite Come to Believe drawing in colleges and universities with a hypothetical of creating a degree program, Burns said she knew immediately upon being invited for the grant she was going to make Seton College happen. 

The year of preparation was spent determining if the Mount had the space, the resources and the goals that aligned with the Come to Believe Network to make a project this big come to life. 

The college’s name came directly from the Sisters of Charity, the founders of the school. In 1817, Elizabeth Ann Seton — patron saint of Catholic schools and founder of America’s first Catholic schools — sent a group of Sisters of Charity to New York, where they founded the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, the first higher education institution in New York for women.

The Academy of Mount Saint Vincent later moved to Riverdale and became the Mount Saint Vincent that stands today.

When the sisters heard of the plan for the associate’s program, they proposed the school be named for the woman who started it all, Elizabeth Ann Seton. 

The sisters believed in the mission of Seton College so deeply they provided the seed money the university used to get the ball rolling on the program. 

“The institutional goal is to provide access to excellent education for those who would not necessarily have access otherwise,” Burns said. 

Students attending the school are provided with all  necessary technology, lessening the barriers they may face to attend. All students attend college with the federal and state aid they are given, no costs or financial burden is placed on the students, another barrier to entry the university wanted to overcome on behalf of its students. 

The 60-credit associate’s degree gives students a pathway into business, social sciences or liberal arts with the potential to graduate and matriculate directly into their junior year at the four-year program available at the university.

For example, students could take courses on a pre-health path and continue their education in the Mount’s nursing program. 

For students who don’t choose to pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree, the college is partnered with Coursera, an organization that offers professional certificates for students so that they can take college classes while taking Coursera classes to graduate and head into the career field of their choosing. 

“They could do their associate’s degree toward business and a certificate in project management at no additional cost,” Burns said. 

The metaphorical building of Seton College also required the literal renovation of Founders Hall to make room for the incoming students. All 20,000 square feet of the fifth floor was redone to make way for seven classrooms, 14 offices, a kitchen and dining space and a student lounge. 

“That space was just sitting, waiting for this opportunity,” Burns said, adding that giving Seton College students their own space felt like a necessary addition to the ability to attend the program.

Last week, the university campus welcomed 85 incoming Seton College students for their first day of classes. For the future, Burns does not anticipate more than 300 students being educated within the college because she and other school officials care deeply about ensuring the new college’s students are wholly supported.  

The school was intentionally designed with four deans, a new space, no financial debt and free technology offerings in order to set students up for success. Burns said the Mount wished to design a program that left students feeling like they could get to know each other and the members of their support community.