Manhattan College rings in new semester as a university

RIVERDALE, The Bronx (PIX11) -- One local college is changing its name for the first time in more than 100 years. 

Manhattan College in the Bronx will start the upcoming semester under the new name Manhattan University. It marks the first name change for the Catholic institution since 1861.

The change is meant to recognize the university’s more than 100 majors, minors, graduate programs and advanced certificates, as stated on its website. It was approved by the NYS Board of Regents on Aug. 1 of this year after more than 3,000 students, staff, Board of Trustees and alumni voted in favor of it in 2022. 

“Additionally, as a Hispanic-serving institution, the university designation strengthens the distinction within these countries between college – often viewed as the equivalent of the U.S. high school – and the more appropriate university terminology,” representatives said in a statement on the university’s website. 

Manhattan University got its start as a Lasallian Catholic College in Manhattanville in 1853 and later moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx in 1922. Representatives from the Board of Regents say they hope this year’s name change will help New York institutions compete with national and international universities for top talent.