Siena College is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

college in Loudonville, New York, United States. It was founded by the Order of Friars Minor in 1937 and is named after the Franciscan friar

Bernardino of Siena Bernardino of Siena, Order of Friars Minor, OFM (Bernardine or Bernadine; 8 September 138020 May 1444), was an Catholic Church in Italy, Italian Catholic priest and Franciscan missionary preacher in Italy. He was a systematizer of Scholasticism, ...

. The college enrolls approximately 3,600 students and offers undergraduate and graduate programs through three schools in business, liberal arts, and science. Siena competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC, ) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division I. Its current 13 full members are located in five Northeastern states: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachuse ...

History

Siena College, established in 1937 by the Order of Friars Minor, began as a modest institution with a faculty of seven friars and one layperson, operating out of the former Garrett estate in Loudonville, New York. Initially named St. Bernardine of Siena College, it received its provisional charter from the University of the State of New York in 1938 and was granted a permanent charter in 1942. The college is named for

, a 15th-century Italian Franciscan friar and preacher. In the late 1930s, Thomas Plassmann, president of

St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure University is a private university, private Franciscan university in St. Bonaventure, New York. It has 2,760 undergraduate and graduate students. The Order of Friars Minor, Franciscans established the university in 1858. In ath ...

in Western New York, sent seven Franciscan friars to New York's Capital Region to found another college. In recent years, Siena College has undertaken initiatives to enhance its academic programs, campus facilities, and student resources. A Siena College Grotto, along with a new bookstore, opened in fall 2014. A new rugby pitch was opened in fall 2016. In 2020, the college was listed as a census-designated place ( Siena College CDP). In January 2025, Siena opened a $35 million science building. This includes laboratories and a nursing floor equipped with simulation tools.

Academics

Siena College offers more than 40 majors, 80 minors and certificates, and graduate programs in business, education, and other fields. Students attend three schools within the college: * School of Business * School of Liberal Arts * School of Science All programs in the School of Business are

accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

by AACSB International.

Siena College Research Institute

Siena College Research Institute, an affiliate of Siena College, conducts expert and public opinion polls, focusing on New York State and the United States, on issues of public policy interest.

Student life

Siena has various housing options, including traditional residence halls, private rooms, and townhouse units, across eight residential communities. Housing assignments for Siena students who live on campus are based on class year. Additionally, some students opt for off-campus housing at the College Suites or commute from nearby areas. Approximately 90 student clubs and organizations range from academic and professional groups to cultural and recreational clubs.

Athletics

Siena offers 21

NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athlet ...

sports, all of which participate in the

(MAAC). A team with recent high achievement is men's baseball. The Saints advanced to the 1999 NCAA Division I baseball tournament and in

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

saw pitcher John Lannan drafted by the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

. Lannan has since become a regular starter in Washington's rotation. The men's lacrosse team qualified for their first MAAC tournament in 2007 and their first NCAA tournament in 2009. That season, the Saints secured an automatic berth in the tournament after winning their first MAAC championship during a ten-game winning streak. Between 2016 and 2019, Siena College undertook a $13.5 million renovation project for the Alumni Recreation Center (ARC) and the Marcelle Athletic Complex (MAC). The multi-phase initiative included the construction of a new basketball practice facility, enhancements to seating capacity, upgrades to strength and conditioning areas, and the addition of sports medicine suites. In early 2025, the college announced plans for a $4.5 million lacrosse complex, named Bice/Clive Field at the Paladini Family Lacrosse Complex. The facility is intended to provide dedicated space for the men's and women's lacrosse teams and to honor the legacy of former players Frank Bice and Colin Clive.

Notes

References

External links

*
Siena Saints Athletics website
{{Authority control Franciscan universities and colleges Catholic universities and colleges in New York (state) Colonie, New York Education in Capital District (New York) Universities and colleges in Albany County, New York Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Universities and colleges established in 1937 1937 establishments in New York (state)