Most recently, the school began work on constructing a state of the art artificial turf field, which was completed in the Spring of 2007. Also in 2007, the Siena College School of Business received AACSB accreditation, a high honor that continues to prove the strength of the college as a top business school.
Most recently, the school began work on constructing a state of the art artificial turf field, which was completed in the Spring of 2007. Also in 2007, the Siena College School of Business received AACSB accreditation, a high honor that continues to prove the strength of the college as a top business school.
See also:[http://sienapromethean.com/siena-college-celebrates-70-years/Siena Celebrates 70 Years]commemorative tribute in The Promethean Student Newspaper.
See also:[http://sienapromethean.com/siena-college-celebrates-70-years/ Siena Celebrates 70 Years]. A tribute to Siena College in The Promethean Student Newspaper.
Siena College is a four-year, coeducational, independent liberal arts college with a Franciscan and Catholic tradition. It is a community of 3,000 full-time students that offers undergraduate degrees in business, liberal arts, and sciences. Student-focused professors are at the heart of a supportive and challenging learning community that allows students to realize their potential and prepares them for careers and an active leadership role in their communities. Founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937, Siena seeks to develop the potential for extraordinary achievement. It welcomes all races and creeds and prides itself on the care and concern for the intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and social growth of all students.
History
The College was founded as St. Bernardine of Siena College in 1937 by seven Franciscan friars on the former site of an asparagus farm. At the invitation of Bishop Gibbons of Albany, the Franciscan Friars opened Siena and placed it under the patronage of St. Bernardine of Siena, the illustrious 15th century Franciscan preacher. At the time, the school was conducted out of an old farmhouse on the property. The farmhouse also served as the perminant residence of the seven friars. It remained in use at the college until it was later distroyed in the 1950s.
It was not until 1938 that groundwork for the first building, Siena Hall, began. By June, Siena received its provisional charter. Siena grew in student body quite quickly. By 1939, Siena added a co-educational evening division, and one year later enrollment was just under 1,000 students. In 1941, Gibbons Hall (the gymnasium) was built as the second building on campus.
In 1942, St. Bernadine of Siena College received its permanent charter. Also in 1942, Siena changed its program to meet defense needs for World War II, creating a program to train Navy personnel, as well as regular students.
After the war, 75% of the student body were ex-servicemen. The college had to rely on the existing structures and rented facilities to handle the large enrollment which hit a peak of 2,752 in 1948. At this time, the school was primarily a commuter school. Two of the buildings created, called "A" and "B", were later destroyed to make way for the current Roger Bacon Science Center.
In July 1950, the Friary was completed, and that same year, Siena was granted a US Army ROTC detachment. In 1955, the Dawson Memorial Library was erected, containing stack rooms for 150,000 volumes and reading room accommodations for over 400 students. In 1959, Siena built its first residence hall, Plassman Hall, followed closely by another - Ryan Hall (which are both currently still in use). To provide for resident students, Serra Hall (nicknamed "Saga") was also created, which also is still the school's dining facility. In 1967, the Roger Bacon Science Center opened its doors, on top of where building's "A" and "B" once stood. One year later, Hennepin Hall was added, a 300-person dormitory. Also in 1968, the "quad" was beautified and Siena Hall refurbished. It was in 1968 that women were allowed full-time student status. In addition, that same year, the name of the college was shortened to Siena College.
In the early 1970s the curriculum was extensively revised and a student voice in policy making was assured by seating a student on each standing committee.
The Alumni Recreation Center, a 55,000 square foot recreational and athletic facility was opened in December 1974. Gibbons Hall, the former gymnasium, was converted into use as Foy campus center (now re-converted into a theater and creative arts center).
In 1981, a new friary was opened to accommodate the Franciscans. The former friary was converted into a residence hall for 200 students - Hines Hall. In 1986, townhouses were erected for 300 upper class residence living. Later that year, floors were added to Hennepin and Plassman Halls, increasing their capacity to 470 and 380 students respectively. To provide for the need of additional classrooms and office space for faculty, Kiernan Hall was constructed between Siena and Hines Halls, and opened at the start of the 1987-88 school year.
The Marcelle Athletic Complex was completed in February 1992 and houses an indoor pool, aerobics/dance/martial arts studio, exercise equipment, racquetball and squash courts, an elevated running track, and full sized basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. Started in 1993, and completed in 1995, a 300-bed townhouse complex was opened for more upper class students.
The Standish Library was built on the academic quad and opened for use in the fall of 1999. The old Dawson library was constructed into a new student center: the Sarazen Student Union (named after the inventor of the Sand Wedge and honorary alumnus Gene Sarazen), which opened in April 2001.
Serra Hall, the college's dining hall
The increasing number of resident students led to the construction of another residence hall. In 2001, Padua Hall was dedicated. Named after a Franciscan friar, the four story building houses three students per room. Each room is equipped with its own restroom facilities, including a shower, sink and toilet.
In 2004, the college renovated its main building, Siena Hall. The main academic structure was redone to include state of the art technology and classrooms. It is also home to the Hickey Financial Center, which receives a live feed from the U.S. Stock Market. In 2006, the student dining hall, Serra Hall (right) was completely renovated. The project cost over $5 million.
Most recently, the school began work on constructing a state of the art artificial turf field, which was completed in the Spring of 2007. Also in 2007, the Siena College School of Business received AACSB accreditation, a high honor that continues to prove the strength of the college as a top business school.
Siena is part of the tradition of higher education and nurtured by the Franciscan Order, the followers of St. Francis of Assisi.
At the invitation of Bishop Gibbons of Albany, the Franciscan Friars opened Siena in 1937 and placed it under the patronage of St. Bernardine of Siena, the illustrious 15th century Franciscan preacher. St. Berndardine is a fitting patron for a college for he embodies the rich and deep educational tradition that the followers of St. Francis bring to higher education. He stands also as a challenging example for the young, as a man who made the lessons of the classroom take on new life and as a lifelong student who carried his knowledge and wisdom into the busy market place and stately halls of government.
St. Bernardine serve then, not only as a patron, but as a model of the Arts and Sciences: above all, of the greatest art, which is the art of right-living, and the greatest science, which is the science of bringing to society the blessings of a truly liberal education.
The Franciscan Liberal Arts Tradition
Siena College is a Catholic college with a strong liberal arts tradition, founded by followers of Francis and Clare Assisi.
The Franciscan tradition of the pursuit of knowledge is likened to a dance: between the desire of mind for understanding and intelligibility, and the longing of the heart for love and salvation.
This tradition developed nearly 800 years ago, when four professors at the University of Paris were received into the Franciscan Order. In light of this Franciscan tradition, which emphasizes intellectual, social and religious dimensions, Siena College seeks to foster scholarship, service and community.
St. Francis and Clare statues on Siena's campus.
Siena is committed to intellectual development, through critical thinking skills, leading to deeper awareness of questions that challenge human beings. To this end, the College encourages students to gain proficiency in scholarly inquiry, to develop their ability to analyze and synthesize and evaluate evidence in pursuit of truth, to make sound judgements, and to refine their skills in spoken and written communication.
The Franciscan tradition endeavors to make people more sensitive to important social, political, and ethical issues of today, and make aware of their responsibilities to others. This encourages them to be witnesses to a positive relation between reason and faith, and to the fact that faith must always be engaged in a critical conversation with culutre.
Siena College prepares its students for demanding lives and careers in the 21st century. In a world where many perceive education solely as a means for economic advancement, Siena offers a broader and more profound vision of life, with a unique perspective. This perspective is based on the life of Jesus Christ, given unique expression by Francis of Assisi.
At Siena, students, faculty, administrators and staff learn that the greatest power is found in humble service, particularly with the poor and marginalized. The Siena College graduate brings this experience into the world. The Franciscan intellectual tradition indicates that each person, every creature, and all of nature give reason to praise God.
Ultimately, Siena College's unique liberal arts tradition is revealed in a diverse community, where people join in this pursuit of higher learning. People of all faiths and philosophies are called to foster the Franciscan tradition at Siena, with an appreciation and understanding of academic excellence and the essential role of religious faith in human life and destiny.
To pay tribute to St. Francis of Assisi, every classroom at Siena College contains the San Damiano cross.
Academics
Siena College offers programs of study in Liberal Arts, Science, and in Business leading to the baccalaureate and to the MBA degree, and it provides continuing education programs for the surrounding community. An independent college in the liberal arts tradition, Siena emphasizes in its programs the principles and values of Francis of Assisi. He was a man of God who recognized the goodness of all creation, who welcomed every human being as brother or sister, and who esteemed all labor no matter how humble. Siena thus affirms the unique worth of each person and the responsibility of individuals to cooperate in the creation of a just and peaceful society.
Through its liberal arts curriculum, Siena strives to empower its students to address the challenges of an ever-changing world and a diverse society. Concentrated areas of study prepare students for specific careers and for postgraduate education.
To these ends, Siena fosters the intellectual and aesthetic growth of its students through personal interaction with the faculty and staff both inside and outside the classroom. The college provides opportunities to develop critical and creative thinking; to gather, synthesize, and analyze evidence in making reasoned and informed judgments; to appreciate cultural diversity; to deepen aesthetic sensibility; and to enhance written and oral communication skills.
Siena encourages students to develop their full potential as self-aware individuals of sound mind, body, and character who use their talents and skills in service to society. In a similar manner, the college recognizes its duty to share its resources with the larger community.
In essence, Siena is an academic, social and religiously appreciative community wherein students, faculty, staff, trustees and alumni work together with respect, with friendship and with joy.
Siena students often benefit from the College’s proximity to the City of Albany (Capital of New York State) by acquiring practical internships (and later, careers) in government, the arts, science and business.
The College offers bachelor’s degrees in the following areas: accounting, actuarial studies, American studies, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, classics, computational science, computer science, creative arts, economics, English, environmental studies, finance, French, history, marketing and management, mathematics, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, social work, sociology, and Spanish. In addition, the College offers forty-six minors and certificate programs.
Programs and Requirements
A strong liberal arts core forms the basis for all of Siena’s programs. All students take courses within a broad core requirement: 30 hours in the humanities and social sciences (including a 6-credit freshman foundations course), 9 hours in mathematics and science (with 3 of these in a natural science), and 3 hours in creative arts. Students must also maintain a minimum cumulative index of 2.0 and earn at least a C in every major field concentration course. Within the major, students must take a minimum of 30 credits, with no more than 39 credits counting toward the degree requirements. A total of 120 hours is required to qualify for a bachelor’s degree.
Students may get credit for prior work by taking standardized college proficiency exams with the approval of the head of the department in the discipline to be examined. A total of 18 credits may be obtained this way. Siena offers honors courses in English, history, philosophy, and political science. ROTC affiliation is available at Siena in a U.S. Army unit, and an Air Force ROTC unit is available at a nearby college through cross-registration.
Affiliate Programs & Opportunities
Siena students have the opportunity to spend a semester or a year studying abroad. Programs directly affiliated with the College include Siena at Regent’s College, London; the Siena in London Internship Experience; the Siena semester at the Centre d’Études Franco-Américain de Management in Lyon, France; and the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies in Seville, Spain. In addition, programs are available for all majors everywhere on the globe. International study is typically pursued during the junior year.
Locally, internships are available through government, business, and nonprofit organizations on a two- or three-day-a-week basis, enabling students to continue with their course work at the same time. Many students are offered jobs by their internship organization upon graduation.
In addition, through the Hudson Mohawk Association of Colleges and Universities (which comprises the eighteen colleges in the area), cross-registration is possible at such institutions as the College of Saint Rose, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Skidmore College, Union College, and the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Accreditation
Siena is registered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. All programs are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, the Chemistry program is certified by the American Chemical Society, and the Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. In 2007, the School of Business received AACSB accreditation, a high honor that continues to prove the strength of the college as a top business school.
Retention Rates
On average, the full-time freshmen retention rate is 91%.
Siena Research Institute
The Siena Research Institute [1], founded in 1980, conducts opinion polls that are quoted by the national media including the New York Times and USAToday, and well-known authors such as Betty Boyd Caroli (First Ladies). In 1982, SRI conducted the world's first Ranking of First Ladies. More recently, SRI has conducted studies on a First Woman President and hosted the First Woman President Symposium in March 2005. SRI regularly conducts polls concerning New York's consumer index and polls prior to elections. Other forms of research are conducted by faculty members of the School of Science.
Library/Audiovisual Resources
The J. Spencer and Patricia Standish Library is a teaching library providing educational services, materials and information to support the curricular and research needs of the students and faculty of Siena College. The library collection of over 330,000 volumes consists of books, journals, microforms, compact discs, videocassettes, and a growing number of electronic information sources. More than 7,000 volumes are added annually and 4,000 print and electronic journals are accessible through subscription services.
Admission to the College
Admission to Siena College is highly competitive. Siena seeks bright, articulate people who will take advantage of the opportunities available at the College. Academic standards are demanding but not threatening. Every freshman applicant should submit a completed application to the Office of Admission by March 1st of his or her senior year in high school. An official secondary school transcript, including work completed at all secondary schools attended by the applicant and a recommendation from the guidance counselor or college counselor, must be directed to the Office of Admissions. Every applicant must assume the responsibility for having the results of all SAT I, SAT II and ACT examinations sent to the College.
The average SAT score of accepted students is 1125. The high school curriculum, activities, recommendations, and campus visit all affect the final decision. Students seeking degrees in the science or business division should be well versed in mathematics. Those interested in American studies, English, history, or philosophy are likely to find a working knowledge of a foreign language very helpful.
While interviews are not required, it is encouraged that all candidates for admission to Siena visit the campus and meet with and Admissions counselor. Arrangements can be made to visit the Siena College campus by calling 1-888-AT SIENA.
Rankings and Reputation
In rankings released Aug. 22, 2008 in the U.S. News & World Report 2009 Edition of “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” Siena College was ranked #118. Siena is classified in the “top schools” category, which includes the top 50 percent of liberal arts schools.
Student Life and Extracurriculars
Siena's student body stages a number of clubs and organizations as well as regular events that students can enjoy. Some of them are listed below.
Clubs & Organizations
WVCR FMFile:The Saint FM.jpgWVCR FM is Siena's nationally ranked radio station. Siena students participate in the college's regionally popular radio station WVCR-FM. The station has been broadcasting since 1960. It can be heard all throughout New York's Capital Region. It was ranked #5 among college radio stations by the Princeton Review in 2005 and 2006.
Student Senate The Siena College Student Senate represents Siena College students. The Student Senate oversees student involvement in academic and social life and interprets students’ attitudes, opinions, and rights for the faculty and administration. It charters all student organizations and provides funds for many through fees collected by the College. The governing board is made up of officers and representatives of all four classes and of the commuting students. Elections are held in April for the following year, except for freshmen, who are elected in September.
[The Promethean] Student Newspaper The Promethean student newspaper has been the student voice for Siena College students in Loudonville, New York since 1938. It continues to be the student voice for Siena College students today. The Promethean Student Newspaper is a bi-weekly publication, which produces fourteen issues per academic year. Single copies of The Promethean are available free of charge from authorized distribution points on the Siena College campus.
The Student Events Board (SEB)File:New SEB Logo.jpgSEB is the largest club on Siena's campus. The Siena College Student Events Board is in charge of planning on-campus events and activities for students to enjoy. Some events the board plans include: Sienafest, Charity Week, Winter Weekend, Siblings Weekend, Musical Mayhem, Family Weekend, Late Night Sarazen.
Other activities include: Campus Ministry, Chapel Choir, Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) political activism (Campus Action Club, Democratic Club, and College Republicans), student film society, Gay/Straight Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, Political Science Society, symphony orchestra, choral groups, concert band, dance, drama/theater, art, "The Pendragon" literary magazine, Outing Club, music ensembles, Chemistry and Biology Clubs, Stage III Musical Theater, The Scottish Council of the Students and many other clubs and organizations.
Siena sponsors 18 sports teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level. Seventeen Saints' sports teams compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), with field hockey playing in the Northeast Conference. Siena's Baseball team defeated nationally ranked (#5) Tennessee in 2006. Siena's football team was discontinued after the 2003 season due to multiple losing seasons.
Three teams won conference championships in 2006-2007, with volleyball and men's golf earning their second straight bid to the NCAA Tournament. The women's golf program won the MAAC Championship for the seventh straight year, while the upstart men's basketball and women's soccer teams advanced all the way to the MAAC Championship game. Siena's men's lacrosse team enjoyed its best season in over 20 years, winning the MAAC regular-season title and advancing to the conference Tournament for the first time.
Basketball The men's basketball team has often carried the torch for the department. In 2002, Siena caught the nation's attention with an improbable leap into college basketball's biggest stage - the NCAA Tournament, highlighting a span in which the team advanced to the postseason four times in five years (1999-2003). It was the team's third trip to the 'Big Dance" (1989, 1999). In its first NCAA appearance, Siena toppled Stanford 80-78 in Greensboro, N.C. in one of the great upsets in NCAA Tournament history.
In 2003, Siena made its fifth postseason NIT appearance. The Saints have enjoyed great success in the NIT, advancing as far as the semifinals round at Madison Square Garden in 1994. In 2006-07, the Siena team won 20 games for the 15th time in program history.
Siena offers the lowest pay schedule of any coaching program in Division I. It has been known for assistant coaches receive higher compensation than Siena's head coaches as was pointed out in the Times Union.
In 1989, the Siena men's basketball had a first round NCAA Tournament victory (80-78) over third seed Stanford. On November 17, 2007, Siena again defeated Stanford, this time with a 79-67 victory over the then-20th-ranked Cardinal. The Siena men's basketball team also gained prominence in 2002 with an ESPN-televised opening round NCAA Tournament victory over Alcorn State. The Saints later fell to national champion Maryland before 20,000 fans at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C..
In 2008, the Saints won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship again, and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Seeded 13th this time, they pulled another upset, this time over Vanderbilt from the SEC, 83-62.
2008 was the team's fourth trip to the "Big Dance". Siena has appeared in five NITs (1988, 1991, 1994, 2000, 2003) and four NCAA tournaments (1989, 1999, 2002, 2008) They reached the 1994 NIT final four, losing to Villanova University in the semifinals before beating Kansas St. in the consolation game.
File:2008 MAAC.jpgThe Siena Men's basketball team after winning the 2008 MAAC Championship.
Siena plays all of their home games at the 17,500 seat Times Union Center in downtown Albany. Siena is coached by Fran McCaffery, who just completed his third season in Loudonville. Siena is 58-36 under McCaffery in three seasons.
In McCaffery's inaugural season Siena finished the 2005-2006 season at 15-13 in fourth place after being picked to finish unanimously last in the MAAC. Senior captain Antoine "Scoop" Jordan was voted first team all-MAAC.
In 2006-2007 Siena finished 20-12 (tied for third place) reaching the MAAC title game after defeating top seeded Marist 86-78 before losing 83-79 to Niagara. The season was highlighted by the admirable play of underclassmen Kenny Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles, Ronald Moore, and Alex Franklin. Hasbrouck won the conference's Rookie of the Year in 2005-2006, while Ubiles shared it in 2006-2007. Senior captain Michael Haddix was voted first team all-MAAC. Hasbrouck also made the second team as a sophomore.
In 2007-2008 Siena won their third MAAC Championship, defeating Rider 74-53 in the championship game. The Saints finished the season with a 23-11 record, and went on to defeat fourth-seeded Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing to Villanova 84-72 in the second round. Edwin Ubiles and Kenny Hasbrouck were first team all-MAAC selections, while Alex Franklin made the second team.
The Siena women's basketball team has captured seven regular-season MAAC titles under the direction of Gina Castelli. In 2000-2001, the team earned its first MAAC Tournament championship and initial NCAA berth. The Saints played in the postseason WNIT in 1999, 2002 and 2003.
Volleyball The volleyball team has one of the richest histories for success, winning six MAAC Championships and advancing to the NCAA Tournament three times. In 2005, the Saints shocked the MAAC by capturing their fifth conference title despite being picked ninth in the preseason coaches' poll. The team repeated its Championship with an upset of top-seed Fairfield in the 2006 MAAC final contested at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The team won four-straight MAAC titles from 1993-96 and reached the NCAA Tournament in 1995. In April of 2003, Garvey Pierre took over as the program's first full-time coach helping the Saints make the leap to the next level.
Golf The men's and women's golf teams have also achieved breakthrough success. The men's team repeated its MAAC Championship in 2007, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in as many years. The women won their seventh straight MAAC Championship at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in 2007, knocking off rival Fairfield.
Baseball The Siena baseball team has won four MAAC Championships since 1995 and advanced to the 1999 NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Tony Rossi, entering his 39th year, was named MAAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in 2005 after guiding an overachieving Siena team back to the conference championships. Pitcher John Lannan became the 20th player in program history to be drafted when he was selected in the 11th round of the First Year Player's draft in June of 2005 by the Washington Nationals.
SoccerThe women's soccer program has experienced recent success and growth as well. Steve Karbowski was recognized as the Northeast Co-Coach of the Year after orchestrating the nation's eighth best turnaround in 2001. He has been named MAAC Coach of the Year twice in his nine seasons as head coach, and last year led the Saints to the MAAC title game for just the second time in program history. Siena won a program record 10 games for the second consecutive season in 2005. Men's soccer coach Charlie Curto enters his 24th year with a heralded recruiting class that could have the Saints competing for MAAC supremacy.
Lacrosse In 2007, the Siena men's lacrosse team won the MAAC regular-season championship under the direction of two-time MAAC Coach of the Year Brian Brecht. Brecht has turned the Saints' program into a perennial contender in the MAAC and beyond in just three years at the helm. In 2005, MAAC Coach of the Year Jake McHerron guided the women's lacrosse team to the MAAC Championship game for the first time in program history. File:Siena Lacrosse.jpgThe Siena Men's Lacrosse team is one of the many sports teams that plays on the school's new artifical turf.
Tennis Veteran men's tennis coach Jim Serbalik was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 2007 after helping his young team to an improved MAAC finish, and head cross country coach Jim Bowles welcomes in a talented crop of recruits to join his progressing programs.
The women's tennis team won the MAAC title in 2006 as now-junior Sarah Mayer set a program record with 22 singles victories at top singles. She was the first Siena athlete in any sport to be named MAAC Rookie of the Year, MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Tournament MVP.
Other Sports & Intramurals Siena's softball, field hockey, water polo and women's swimming and diving programs are under the direction of new coaches who have all four programs pointed in the right direction. Siena College also has successful intramural programs. More than 70 percent of the student body is involved in some type of athletic program. The College offers eighteen Division I intercollegiate sports, club teams, and intramurals.
