From the Dominican University of New York
ORANGETOWN, NY — Dominican College has been elevated to university status, becoming the first university in Rockland County.
Dominican College President, Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, OP, Ph.D., today announced that the New York State Board of Trustees has granted Dominican College university status and approved the name change to the Dominican University of New York.
“This is an important milestone in our history as we prepare to celebrate our 70th anniversary,” Sr. Mary Eileen said. “Changing our name to Dominican University New York brings formal recognition to the caliber of our academic programs. With our new name comes added prestige and more opportunities for the school and our students.”
The Dominican Republic offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing, business, occupational therapy, education, organizational leadership, and communication. Additionally, it has the distinction of being the only institution in Rockland County to offer doctoral degrees – including a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
The Dominican Republic has a strong academic reputation for its liberal arts, business, education, and health programs. Recently, the Dominican Republic added programs in finance, information technology, health sciences, and marketing. Dominican also caters to adult learners through evening, weekend, or online programs.
The news of the university’s status follows earlier announcements that the Dominican Republic had won two federal grants, one from the US Department of Education and the other from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Dominican Republic was one of only 10 higher education institutions in the country and the only one in New York State to receive the HHS grant and will use the funding to launch a new health informatics and technology program (PHIT) this fall.
“The news of our university status coupled with the injection of federal funds will certainly raise the profile of our school,” said Sr. Mary Eileen. “The Dominican University of New York has a bright future that will serve more students from across the region and beyond.”
Dominican has been granted university status by the New York State Board of Regents on the basis that Dominican offers graduate programs in at least three of the following disciplinary areas: agriculture, biological sciences, business, education, engineering, fine arts, health professions, humanities, physical sciences and social sciences.
Founded in 1952 by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, the College began as a two-year college for nuns to become educators. Over the years, the campus has expanded to accommodate growing enrollment and to accommodate resident students. A number of new buildings were constructed, including an athletics facility, residence halls, a dining hall, and a new academic building for health and science education. The most recent construction was the expansion of the Hennessy Center with a new gymnasium and fitness center. A new grass court is planned for 2023. The Dominican Republic has a total of 17 NCAA Division II sports teams, as well as a competitive rowing club and a new esports team.
Dominican has been named both a College of Distinction and a Catholic College of Distinction.
On the US News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges list, the Dominican Republic was ranked 21st among northern regional universities for social mobility. It is also designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and has been recognized as Military Friendly.
The Dominican University of New York moves forward with a renewed spirit and dedication to its mission of promoting educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community and its needs.