Ashleigh Mein ’26 had originally hoped to be a Saint, but at the time she was applying to colleges, Siena didn’t offer the early childhood education program she wanted. She enrolled at the College of St. Rose in Albany to earn her bachelor of science in elementary education.
Mein and her St. Rose classmates got the sad news late last fall that their school would be closing for good at the end of this academic year. Siena stepped up and is now ready to offer teach-out programs for a bachelor of science (B.S.) and a master of science in education (M.S.Ed.) in early childhood and childhood education (Birth - grade 6).
Siena has received approval from the New York State Education Department to offer the teach-out programs; approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is expected shortly.
“The B-6 education program has a very special place in my heart! Ever since I was a child, I always wanted to go to Siena,” said Mein. “I’ve now been given the opportunity to officially call myself a Saint and finish my childhood education degree at Siena.
“When I toured Siena’s campus, I felt like I was at home,” she said. “I love the community. Its morals and values mirror my own, and I’m very excited to finish out my degree here with all of the amazing staff and people I’ll meet over the next few years.”
Siena has received approval to offer undergraduate and graduate teach-out programs for the combined early childhood (Birth – Grade 2) and childhood (Grades 1-6) education programs, as well as grade 7-9 extensions for English, Spanish, biology, mathematics and social studies.
The College will offer a mix of in-person and online courses, with fieldwork and student teaching in person. The two new teach-out programs are open only to St. Rose students.
“There is a serious demand in our region and nationally for preschool and elementary school teachers,” said Siena Provost Margaret E. Madden, Ph.D. “These new teach-out agreements will enable former St. Rose students to complete their degrees on schedule so they can enter the education workforce prepared to make a difference in the classroom.”
Siena is currently reaching out to St. Rose students about the two new teach-outs, as well as its existing teach-out programs in adolescence education for English and social studies. The College also offers additional undergraduate teach-out programs such as accounting, computer science, criminal justice studies, and nursing, and a master’s degree in business administration.
Siena admissions counselors will work individually with St. Rose students to develop a course plan to stay on track for a timely graduation, said Madden.
“Siena is a private liberal arts college with a faith-based tradition like St. Rose, and we are confident that their students who select our teach-out plan will quickly find a sense of community on their new campus,” she said.
