Monroe Community Celebrates Elevation to Monroe University

It has certainly been an exciting start to the fall semester as the Monroe community celebrates the institution's new university status and welcomed its new name -- Monroe University!

Students, faculty, and staff learned of the new name when President Marc Jerome made the first internal announcement on Monday, August 26, 2024, informing them that the institution had achieved university status. 

“We are starting off the new semester with some very big news,” the letter reads. “We achieved university status earlier this month and are now officially Monroe University!”  

As shared in the public announcement, the New York State Education Department granted Monroe university status in light of the institution’s broad range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across academic disciplines and liberal arts curricula. Monroe’s Board of Trustees had passed a resolution earlier in the year granting approval for Monroe’s leadership to pursue this elevation. 

Achieving university status is a defining milestone in Monroe's history – one that is more than 90 years in the making. It is also a testament to the strength of our broad academic offerings and excellent outcomes, and a positive reflection of our warm, supportive learning environment where students can reach their full potential.  

Third-year Business major Jeremy Rivera said he has caught himself several times calling Monroe University by its previous name. 

“It feels the same to me. But it sounds weird to say ‘Monroe University’ because I’m used to saying ‘Monroe College.’ But it’s a good thing – changing the name,” said Jeremy. 

Human Services major and Bronx native Kadiatou Konate said she is very proud knowing that her degree, which she expects to earn at the end of this academic year, will have the word “university” on it. 

“I feel like it is just more inclusive, having us become a university,” Kadiatou said. “People hear ‘university’ and they think the education is on a higher scale, that it’s more prestigious.” 

Monroe University has evolved over its 91-year history, and this new designation is a continuation of its growth. 

Starting as Monroe Secretarial School in 1933, the entire institution was just four small classrooms in the West Farms section of the Bronx. Thirty years later, Monroe became Monroe Business Institute to reflect the greatly expanded offerings. Then, in 1972, Monroe became a junior college, allowing it to grant associate degrees. In 1990, it grew yet again, earning initial accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, thus becoming Monroe College.  The Saint Lucia campus was established in 2007 as enrollment in the Caribbean grew.

Dr. Alex Ephrem, a Senior Vice President at Monroe with primary responsibilities for King Graduate School and the Saint Lucia campus, said: “I have seen a lot of wonderful changes at Monroe during my 44 years with the institution and achieving university status tops them all. It is a very proud moment indeed and a well-deserved milestone for the institution. I look forward to all the incredible things to come as we move forward in service to our students and communities as Monroe University.”  

FYE student Kelin Gonzalez, who is majoring in Hospitality Management, was happy to hear the news and share it with her family. 

“It’s my first year here and it’s a nice experience for me,” she said. “When I applied and got accepted, we were still Monroe College. Once I started, we were Monroe University. I’m proud to be a part of this and a student here.” 

The Saint Lucia campus will host the first Commencement under the Monroe University name this October. 

It will take some time for the new Monroe University branding to replace Monroe College on buildings and elsewhere. The shift has started, however, with the new logo debuting on the institution's website and elsewhere. Proud new Monroe University flags don the buildings on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx and new branded awnings are going up in New Rochelle. The Saint Lucia campus will soon have its outside signage updated as well.

As Monroe University, the institution will no doubt continue to be a beacon of opportunity in the hearts and minds of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the communities they call home.

“The future of Monroe University is bright indeed and I look forward to this next chapter as we continue to build on our legacy of academic excellence,” said President Jerome.