Please read this communication here.

Dear Students,

On Thursday, February 4 at 4:30 pm, we will hold a Zoom town hall for Concordia students and their families. You will hear from both Concordia and Iona leaders about continuing your educational progress. We will update you with the information available to us. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions. A Zoom link will follow early next week. 

Dr. Rachel Eells

Dear Students,

As you heard in the Zoom meeting this morning, the Board of Regents of Concordia College New York has decided that Concordia College will close. Classes will cease beginning with the Fall 2021 semester. In addition, the Board agreed to proceed on a formal agreement with Iona College to provide continued education for Concordia’s students through a teach-out, and to sell Concordia’s Bronxville campus to Iona College. 

The goal throughout the decision-making process has been to provide you with the opportunity to continue your education with minimal disruption, at an institution with a like mission, faith-based foundation, comprehensive array of programs and facilities, and strong financial picture. Concordia and Iona are equally committed to that goal. 

In the coming weeks, as details of the agreement are finalized pending regulatory approval, you will hear from both Concordia and Iona about how the transition will work for various student groups. Concordia’s Spring 2021 semester will proceed as planned without disruption.    

Iona College will be making dedicated admissions and financial aid representatives available for Concordia students. We will share that contact information and additional details with you as soon as possible. Iona plans upcoming informational meetings as well. For now, you may direct questions to questions@iona.edu. 

This is painful news for all of us who love Concordia. Shock, grief, anxiety and anger are all normal feelings. Please do not hesitate to reach out for help from the resources below.

Counselors at The Guidance Center of Westchester are available to all Concordia students remotely. Please call 914-613-0700 x7140 to speak to a counselor. After hours, call (914) 286-3350. The Center’s crisis/urgent number is 888-842-9226.

The Atlantic District has generously made licensed, Christian counselors of the Lutheran Counseling Center available to Concordia students, faculty and staff free of charge. Appointments may be set by calling 1-800-317-1173. If no one answers, leave a message and the best call back number. Calls will be returned several times a day. Alternatively, you may e-mail Center@LCCNY.org with your phone number and need. Responses will be timely.

Office of the President

Concordia College New York

After much deliberation, the Board of Regents of Concordia College New York has decided that Concordia College will close; classes will cease beginning with the Fall 2021 semester. In addition, the Board agreed to proceed on a formal agreement with Iona College to provide continued education for Concordia’s students through a teach-out, and to sell Concordia’s Bronxville campus to Iona College. 

This extremely difficult decision is the result of a deliberative, thoughtful and strategic process, informed by immutable business realities. Set within the context of a changing and broadly challenged higher education industry, the College’s financial shortfalls were further accelerated by the global pandemic.  

Iona College’s like mission, faith-based foundation, comprehensive array of programs, strong financial picture and close location were all factors in the Regents’ student-centric decision. Together, Iona College and Concordia College are committed to the needs of students and will be providing numerous communications and assistance to facilitate this transition.

Many details of the agreement are being finalized and are subject to regulatory approval. As information becomes available over the weeks to come, Concordia College will update students, admitted students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors, Conservatory students, OSilas Art Studio students, and the community. At present, Concordia does not expect any disruption to the current Spring 2021 semester. 

Board of Regents Chairman Joe Carlin said: “While we had hoped to preserve the College in its current form, and worked hard on a number of solutions, we know that this move gives our students the best opportunity for a seamless continuation of their education at a worthy institution.”

Concordia President John A. Nunes said: “Students were and continue to be our priority throughout the prayerful and painstaking decision-making process. By acting now, Concordia’s Regents have provided our students with an excellent option for continuing the quality, faith-informed education they began here. This outcome brings deep pain to all of us who care for Concordia, and in whose hearts Concordia will always live. I find inspiration in Concordia’s legacy: the generations of alumni who have and are today impacting the world with the foundation Concordia gave them. I find hope in the bright future of our current students, able to pursue their passion, purpose and service at a thriving institution with a Christian foundation, just as generations of Concordia students before them have done. May God bless them on their journey.”    

Yes. The Spring 2021 Semester will proceed as planned. Concordia will finish the academic year with some form of commencement in keeping with health and safety requirements. Classes and scheduled days off all remain unchanged. 

Regent Jean Hanson has provided us with a description of the process that led to the Board’s decision to proceed on a formal agreement with Iona College and close Concordia. She also describes work the Board undertook to achieve a different outcome. Her communication can be read here. 

Counselors at The Guidance Center of Westchester are available to all Concordia students remotely. Please call 914-613-0700 x7140 to speak to a counselor. After hours, call (914) 286-3350. The Center’s crisis/urgent number is 888-842-9226.

The Atlantic District has generously made licensed, Christian counselors of the Lutheran Counseling Center available to Concordia students, faculty and staff free of charge. Appointments may be set by calling 1-800-317-1173. If no one answers, leave a message and the best call back number. Calls will be returned several times a day. Alternatively, you may e-mail Center@LCCNY.org with your phone number and need. Responses will be timely.

Concordia is exploring the possibility of summer classes. Further information will come as it is available. 

It is Concordia's responsibility to provide an educational plan, or teach-out agreement, for each program. Iona College offers many programs that are similar to Concordia's, but faculty and staff at Concordia are also working quickly with other area colleges and universities to find options for continuing and completing programs. All programs and student types are being addressed in these conversations, including our traditional undergraduates, and Nursing, Radiologic Technologies, Accelerated Degree Program, Master's in Business Leadership and Impact U students. All teach-out agreements are subject to final regulatory approval. 

It is Concordia’s responsibility to provide a teach-out agreement for each program. Concordia has made an agreement with Iona College that will allow many Concordia students to transfer to Iona or complete their Concordia program at Iona. Concordia is working on additional teach-out agreements with accredited institutions so that students in every program will have options for their next plan. The agreements Concordia negotiates with Iona and other institutions are designed to make degree completion as seamless as possible for students, and to that end may include course substitutions, comparable or matching tuition, and other considerations. No student is obligated to enroll at one of the institutions with which Concordia makes an agreement. All agreements are subject to final regulatory approval.

Completing Your Concordia College Program by May, 2021
Concordia’s Spring 2021 Semester will proceed as planned. Concordia will celebrate graduates on May 8 and confer degrees on May 31. 
Next Step: All students who are on track to complete their degrees in the Spring 2021 Semester can apply for degree conferral by March 1.

Completing Your Concordia College Program Over the Summer of 2021
Concordia is exploring options for a limited summer session that would allow students in particular programs to complete degree requirements and/or stay on track for an August or December 2021 graduation. 
Next Step: Information on a summer session will be released as soon as it is available. 

Completing Your Concordia College Program at Another Institution
Concordia students who expect to complete their program by August 31 or December 31, 2021 have the option to participate in a teach-out. The teach-out will occur at an institution with which Concordia has entered into an agreement. Through these agreements, students will complete the last part of their degree requirements at the designated teach-out institution. When a student completes their degree requirements, a transcript will be sent to Concordia and the student’s degree will be certified and issued by Concordia.
Next Step: Concordia is working quickly to identify and make agreements with appropriate institutions. Students will be notified of options as soon as possible. 

Transferring to Another College
Concordia students in the beginning to middle of their programs have the option to transfer to another institution. Once a transfer student completes their program according to the requirements of the institution to which they transferred, they will receive a degree from that institution. Iona College will be an option for many students as Iona shares several of Concordia’s programs. Students in programs Iona does not offer should know that Concordia is working quickly to identify and make agreements with institutions that do offer these programs. 
Next Step: Rising sophomores and juniors in good standing are invited to apply to Iona College as transfer students. Information about Iona College and applying to Iona as a transfer student can be found here.   

No Concordia student is obligated to attend any of the colleges with whom Concordia makes a teach-out agreement. It is Concordia's responsibility to provide a teach-out agreement for each program, and Concordia is working with local colleges to provide pathways to make the process as simple as possible, whether that results in a transfer or a teach-out of the last portion of a student's degree program. Iona College is Concordia's primary partner in this endeavor, as many of its programs align with Concordia's. Concordia is working with other partners as well. All teach-out agreements are subject to final regulatory approval.  

Iona College does not offer a program similar to Concordia's Accelerated Degree Program. Concordia is currently in talks with other area schools to provide options for a similar program. All teach-out agreements are subjuct to final regulatory approval. 

UPDATE 2-23-21

Concordia College has arranged to reduce the cost of obtaining official transcripts for current and past students. Electronic transcripts ordered through Parchment (see instructions here) will now be $5 per request. Requests that go through Registrar's office (mailing a hard copy; picking up a copy; or legacy requests that Parchment cannot fill) will be $7.50 per request. 

Accessing Your Unofficial Transcript

• Students with or without holds who are applying for transfer to Iona do not need to send Iona an unofficial transcript. Concordia’s Registrar has arranged to share unofficial transcripts directly with Iona. 
• Students without holds who are applying to colleges other than Iona can access their unofficial transcript from Banner and share it with the colleges they are applying to. 
• Students with holds who are applying to colleges other than Iona should contact the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will send you a PDF of your unofficial transcript so that you can share it with the college you are applying to. 

Email registrar@concordia-ny.edu from your Concordia student email
Include your request and your student ID

Ordering Your Official Transcript

Concordia College can only issue official transcripts to students whose accounts are in good financial standing with a $0 balance. Current students in good financial standing can order their official transcripts through Banner. Instructions can be found here.   

Concordia College has arranged to reduce the cost of obtaining official transcripts for current and past students. Electronic transcripts ordered through Parchment (see instructions here) will now be $5 per request. Requests that go through Registrar's office (mailing a hard copy; picking up a copy; or legacy requests that Parchment cannot fill) will be $7.50 per request. 

Direct emails to Board of Regents Chair Joe Carlin at: board@concordia-ny.edu

Iona College Contacts

Dedicated Admissions Counselor for Concordia Undergraduates
DJ Arndt
darndt@iona.edu

Education Master's Admissions Counselor
RoseDeline Martinez
rmartinez@iona.edu

Business Master's Admission Counselor
Katelyn Brunck Giordano
kbrunck@iona.edu 

General Questions
questions@iona.edu

Iona will make housing on its New Rochelle campus available to any Concordia student who continues their education at Iona and requests housing.