About
History of Medaille University
The History of Medaille University: 1875 to Present Time
Located in Buffalo, NY, Medaille University is a private, four-year institution committed to serving the higher education needs of Western New York. Known for its flexible delivery systems, the University offers associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to a diverse student population, through day, evening, weekend and online programs.
Medaille traces its roots to 1875, when the Sisters of St. Joseph (SSJ) founded an institute for the preparation of teachers. In 1937, the SSJ received a charter from New York State to grant baccalaureate degrees in education to women in religious orders, and the institute was named Mount Saint Joseph Teachers' College.
In 1968, the Sisters of St. Joseph, led by Alice Huber, SSJ, Ph.D., initiated a change in the charter that would create a co-educational college. New York State issued the charter and Medaille College was born. Granted by the Board of Regents, this charter established the College as an independent institution governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees.
Medaille experienced significant growth in the 1970s and student enrollment has risen steadily ever since. During the 1980s and 1990s, the College continued to develop more programs and services for a growing and diverse student body.
In 1991, the College implemented a residence program, attracting students from across New York State and Southern Ontario. Three years later, the Kevin I. Sullivan Campus Center opened, offering students a setting for dining, as well as recreational and co-curricular activities. With the Trbovich Alumni Tower welcoming all visitors, the Sullivan Center serves as the home for many of the Medaille Mavericks National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III sports programs.
The Buffalo, NY, campus has continued to expand its facilities and services to meet the needs of a growing student population. Major capital investments have enhanced students' learning opportunities and access to support services, while encouraging a vibrant student life experience. With two residence halls, technologically-enhanced classrooms, academic programs that integrate liberal and pre-professional learning with practical problem solving, and an array of extra- and co-curricular opportunities, the campus has evolved into a vital learning environment within the historic Olmsted Crescent of Buffalo, NY.
In 2010, Medaille initiated its online program offerings, which continue to grow with new degree options. In the fall of 2011, the College completed a construction project that doubled the size of Huber Hall, with a Student Success Center that integrates academic and student support services under one roof. In September 2012, the Sullivan Center expansion was completed, creating a 3,000-square-foot fitness center, an events arena with a 750-person capacity, locker rooms and student group meeting spaces.
In 2017, Medaille's main building saw the completion of its expansive new Laboratory Science Center — 1,600 square feet of donor-funded, state-of-the-art equipment. In addition to Medaille student use, the space has also been used for the Science in Bloom program, a partnership between Medaille and the Valley Community Association, where In this initiative, Medaille students teach the basics of biology, dissection, chemistry, botany and molecular biology to middle school students from Buffalo Public Schools.
Continuing with expansion, September 2019 saw the grand opening of the Medaille Sports Complex, located in South Buffalo. Completed in two phases of development, the facilities now include home fields for Medaille’s baseball, softball, women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams.
To expand the educational options available to students, Medaille has continued to add several new academic programs to its course catalogs. In 2016, the 3+3 program with the University at Buffalo School of Law was established, where students are able to earn their bachelor’s degree from Medaille and their law degree from the UB School of Law in six years, instead of seven, allowing students to save one year of tuition and to begin their careers sooner with an educational background from two of the best schools in Buffalo, NY.
Similarly, in August 2019, Medaille established a partnership with Syracuse University, where 3+1 and 4+1 accelerated degree programs allow students to complete their bachelor's in communication from Medaille and a master’s degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, in just four or five years of study.
Among other degree additions and updates, in 2019 Medaille introduced its Bachelor of Science in esports management, in response to the explosive interest in the fastest-growing aspect of the professional sports industry. A unique offering to the region, Medaille's esports program is intended to prepare students for careers in the burgeoning gaming industry, as hosts, analysts, coaches, managers, administrators or marketers.
In spring 2022, Medaille’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to submit a charter amendment request to New York State seeking university designation. In May 2022, the New York State Education Department Board of Regents approved an amendment to Medaille’s charter to make the institution a university. The transition to Medaille University reflects Medaille’s long history of providing a full range of undergraduate and graduate degrees across multiple disciplines. This recognition is also a testament to all of the exceptional work done by Medaille’s faculty, staff, students and alumni, shining a light on the institution’s global impact and reach.
In June 2022, Medaille’s Board of Trustees appointed Lori V. Quigley, Ph.D., as interim president of Medaille University. Dr. Quigley previously served as provost, senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Medaille, from 2016 through 2020.
The growth of Medaille throughout its history has been guided by a commitment to being the "College of Opportunity" for the region it serves. As the University continues to innovate and respond to the higher education needs of the 21st century, it embraces this ethos even more. Medaille has set a strategic direction that seeks to extend and deepen what “opportunity” means for both its students and the communities in which they live.
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Legacy of Medaille University
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Accreditation
Medaille University was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for High Education Accreditation.
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Academic Catalogs
Undergraduate
Graduate
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Teach-Out Partners
Teach-Out Partner Program Match List
Immunization Records Requests
A teach-out partner institution provides as seamless a transfer process for students as possible. Students opting to transfer to a teach-out partner do NOT have to go through the admissions process. Teach-out partners have created and opened transfer portals for our students. Students do NOT have to pay for transcripts from Medaille. Teach-out partners waive academic residency requirements and agree not to charge tuition higher than ours. To date, Medaille has signed teach-out agreements* with the following institutions:
Alfred State College of Technology
Alfred University
Canisius College
Daemen University
D’Youville University
Elmira College
Gannon University
Genesee Community College
Hartwick College
Hilbert College
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Houghton University
Keuka College
LaRoche University
Mercy College
Nazareth College
Niagara University
Roberts Wesleyan University
Russell Sage College
St. Vincent College
SUNY Brockport
SUNY Buffalo State
SUNY Canton
SUNY Delhi
SUNY Erie
SUNY Fredonia
SUNY Geneseo
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Utica University
Villa Maria College
Wells College
Immunization Records:
The Wellness Center is permanently closed. Please note, if you need immunization records, you may obtain them the following ways:
You can contact your primary care provider's office to request a copy. For New York State residents, your immunization records may be available in the New York State Immunization Registry (NYSIIS) which your healthcare provider or health center at your new school may have access to. Your previous high school or other colleges attended may have a copy of your immunization records
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