If you are a few credits shy of obtaining your bachelor”™s degree and live west of the Hudson, Nyack College”™s new extension center at the Orange County Government Center in Goshen may be just what you are looking for.
Although Nyack, based in Rockland County, opened a satellite campus in Orange”™s Port Jervis several months ago, not a single applicant has come forward to date. Representatives from the college say Goshen may be a more convenient location for potential students. Nyack will continue to maintain the satellite in Port Jervis and to promote it.
Nyack”™s desirer to bring that “college diploma to adults who are almost there” may fare better at the county seat”™s Main Street location, said Karen Schaffstall, director of admissions. “Five people signed up for the program as soon as it was posted on the lobby billboard,” said Schaffstall, “so we are greatly encouraged this program will be a success. Â
“The BA program is designed for those with at least 60 earned and transferable college credits and is not for beginners,” stressed Schaffstall. “This program is strictly geared toward people looking to complete the courses necessary to complete their bachelor”™s degree.” The fully accredited courses make it possible for students to apply for state and federal financial aid and will “fast-track students to complete their degree in 14 months.”
Many satellite campuses have come and gone in Orange County. Pace University once maintained a satellite at West Point, which it closed a few years ago. Marist, based in Poughkeepsie, maintains a satellite in Goshen, and is currently the only satellite campus in Orange. That, too, will close by August 2009.
“Many more students are taking online courses, and it”™s become the preferred method for adults,” said Tim Massey, Marist”™s chief public affairs officer in Poughkeepsie. “Keeping the satellite open in Orange County just isn”™t cost effective. Our Fishkill (Dutchess County) extension center is booming, but we haven”™t experienced anywhere near the same level of interest in Orange.” Â
A satellite for Mt. St. Mary College in Newburgh is part of Mountco Construction”™s plans for the former Camp LaGuardia site in Chester, but contracts are still being negotiated and Joel Mounty, president of the Scarsdale-based firm, does not expect to break ground for at least two years after the purchase, as expected, is approved by the Legislature in early 2009. “We are going to set aside 10,000 square feet for the college,” said Mounty, “with the option of more space if they need it.”
“It”™s truly an opportunity for adult students,” said Schaffstall. Nyack plans to launch the Goshen satellite in February 2009 and is accepting applications now. “Not everyone wants to sit in front of a computer and work. Many enjoy the interaction of being in a class with others,” she said. Â
For more information, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nyack.edu” www.nyack.edu or contact Danielle Thompson, admissions associate, at (800) 876-9225 for information about completing your BA at Nyack”™s new Goshen satellite or its existing one in Port Jervis.
