Last week, more than 250 school counselors joined us for a live “Today at Siena”–style video chat hosted by Director of Admissions Katie Szalda to talk about fit, outcomes, AI, mental health, enrollment, and everything in between.
President Chuck Seifert, a panel of Siena students, and Dr. Allison Turcio (Dean of Enrollment & Marketing) shared updates and took questions in real time. The chat blew up with thoughtful questions and generous feedback (and, yes, a lot of love for the Christmas cookbook).
Here’s a recap of the biggest themes that emerged.
1. Who Thrives at Siena?
Counselors asked: What type of student does well at Siena? And who might not be the best fit?
Our students answered this one beautifully.
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Community-focused, involved students thrive here.
Amy talked about coming in as the youngest of four, a little nervous but quickly reassured: “Just seeing how community-centered Siena is, and how much the professors and administration want to see you succeed, was so assuring to me that I was in the right spot.” -
Students who want to do a lot outside of class.
Ryan, an international student from Morocco, is president of the International Student Association, co-captain of club soccer, and an admissions intern. Joe broadcasts Division I games on ESPN+ and helps run the TV studio. -
Students who want to be known.
Joe contrasted his huge high school with Siena. It’s both tight-knit and big opportunities: “When I came here, it felt like a smaller place where I could make one-on-one connections… It feels like home.”
Siena is a great fit for students who want a tight-knit, relational, high-contact experience with all the opportunities and school spirit you’d expect from a larger university.
2. Siena University, New Programs & Real Outcomes
Several of you asked about our recent transition from Siena College to Siena University and what that actually means.
President Seifert framed it around opportunity and outcomes:
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We’ve added many new majors in the last decade.
In fact, 40% of this fall’s incoming class is in majors that didn’t exist here 10 years ago. These are programs aligned with industry demand in areas like nursing, business analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. -
We’ve tripled the size of our graduate programs and continue to grow in high-demand fields.
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We remain one of the top 10 Catholic institutions in the country, and we’re “doubling down” on mission. We are not changing who we are, but changing what it means to be a university that is still deeply personal.
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On outcomes, Chuck highlighted our #1 in New York State for job placement three years in a row and reminded everyone that this ranking is an outcome of years of intentional work with students.
Allison added some ROI context: based on alumni salary data, the lifetime earnings of Siena graduates are 30–40 times what they invest in their education here. The value is real. And it shows up in our students’ lives long after graduation.
3. Enrollment, Change & What’s Next
A number of counselors asked about enrollment and how Siena is planning for the future.
Siena has returned to a right-sized enrollment for our campus after graduating two historically large classes (at one point, more than 200 residents were living off campus). The freshman classes for fall 2024 and 2025 were consistent with each other and with Siena’s historical norms over time.
Chuck and the students also shared a glimpse of what’s next for Siena:
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Investing in new, in-demand programs, including additional graduate and professional pathways
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Staying relentlessly student-centered, even as we’ve grown into university status
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Doubling down on outcomes, value, and support, so your students graduate confident, connected, and career-ready
That combination of realism and momentum is very much the story of Siena right now.
4. Location, Internships & That “On the Rise” Energy
We heard lots of questions about where Siena is and what that means for internships.
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Siena is in Loudonville, NY, less than three miles from Albany, the state capital.
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Students access opportunities with:
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Major employers like Regeneron, Plug Power, and large accounting firms
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New York State agencies
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Organizations across Long Island, NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, and beyond
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Chuck shared that we have more companies looking for Siena interns than we have students to fill those roles—a good problem for students to have.
There’s also a strong “Siena on the rise” energy right now: new programs, reclassification as a university, and competitive outcomes that give you something concrete to talk about with families.
5. Undecided Students, Popular Majors & Flexibility
Counselors always want to know: What happens to the student who isn’t sure yet?
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About 30% of our incoming class is “undecided.” It’s actually the most popular starting point.
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Those students work with advisors who specialize in exploring students, not just those with a clear major.
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A typical first-semester schedule for undecided students includes:
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First-Year Seminar
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Two liberal arts courses
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One or two courses in areas they’re curious about (business, science, etc.)
The goal is structured exploration, with a guarantee of graduating in four years once they declare by the end of their second year.
6. Support: Academic, Personal & Mental Health
A big theme in the chat: How do you support students once they’re there?
This came through especially in questions about 504/IEP plans, learning differences, mental health, and the transition to college-level work.
Here’s what we highlighted:
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Faculty as mentors.
Every professor holds at least five hours of office hours per week. Chuck’s advice to students: “Always visit your faculty member right before the exam. They just wrote it.” -
Advising & academic support.
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Every student has an academic advisor.
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The Academic Success Center helps with content-area support and study skills.
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The Writing Center offers peer mentoring; Joe credits his first-year writing tutor with helping him make the leap from high school essays to the level required in college and in his broadcast work.
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Counseling & mental health.
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A Counseling Center with support for students, including first-year transitions.
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24/7 public safety and crisis support for students who need immediate help.
Our promise to you (and your students): we meet students where they are and take them to the next level academically, personally, and professionally.
7. Student Life, D1 Athletics & Study Abroad
Many questions centered on athletics, club sports, and campus life.
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Siena offers Division I athletics, which our students absolutely love being part of as athletes, superfans, and student broadcasters.
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Joe called soccer games for ESPN this season and the men’s soccer team just won the MAAC Championship, a historic first for Siena.
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Ryan talked about how meaningful it is to have high-level D1 games “at your doorstep” and to drive to nearby tournaments with friends.
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There’s a full slate of club sports and organizations, including dance, club soccer, international student groups, TV studio, and more.
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Study abroad options are diverse:
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Joe shared his experience on an 11-day sport management trip to Costa Rica which included touring facilities, trying extreme sports, and connecting with classmates in a totally new environment.
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Opportunities range from short-term travel courses to J-terms, Maymesters, and full-semester programs.
This is the pattern: whatever students love in high school or want to be part of their college experience—sports, arts, research, leadership, service—there’s a way to keep doing it here.
8. AI, Essays & the New Reality of the College Search
Unsurprisingly, AI was one of the hottest topics in the chat:
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How are students using AI in the college process?
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Is Siena using AI in application review?
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What about AI for letters of recommendation?
Allison shared a few key points:
How students are using AI now
Research from the College Board and others suggests students are using AI to:
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Explore potential colleges and majors
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Draft emails and build timelines
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Brainstorm and refine essay ideas (for better or worse)
We’re in a new era of the college search, and pretending AI isn’t in the room won’t help any of us.
How we’re using AI at Siena
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Every application is still read by a human.
The personal, holistic review is very much alive here. -
We use AI behind the scenes for tasks like curriculum counts (e.g., surfacing how many years of math a student has completed) so counselors can spend more time actually understanding applications, not counting credits.
How to talk with students about AI
Allison suggested shifting from “Are you using AI?” to “How are you using AI, if at all?”
That opens the door for an honest conversation about:
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Using AI as a helper, not a replacer, especially with essays
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Understanding that fully AI-written essays cross the line into plagiarism/fraud
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Double-checking AI answers about deadlines, costs, and requirements against official college sources
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Avoiding pasting full essays with names and personal details into public tools
For letters of recommendation, the same principle applies: AI can help brainstorm and refine, but it shouldn’t replace your professional judgment or the personal stories only you can tell.
9. Why Counselors Should “Send Your Students to Siena”
We’ll close with the question one counselor posed at the end:
“When I meet with my students and they’re deciding where to attend, what are some reasons they should choose Siena?”
Here’s the short answer, based on what came up again and again:
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It feels like home.
Students use that exact word all the time. -
Professors know not just their names (that should be the minimum!) and their dreams.
And they show up for office hours, advice, mentorship, research, and references. -
Opportunities start right away.
Internships, research, D1 athletics, leadership, study abroad. -
Outcomes are proven.
#1 in NYS for job placement three years running, with strong ROI. -
Community and care are real.
From friars to faculty to student leaders, someone is always looking out for them.
Thank you
Thank you to every counselor who joined us live, participated in the chat, or sent encouragement about our emails (and cookbook!). You are such critical partners in this work, and we don’t take your trust lightly.
