A Letter From The President
The Reverend Dr. LaKeesha Walrond
Dear NYTS family and friends,
The New York Theological Seminary (NYTS) family remains ever appreciative of your prayers and consistent support. As Higher Education and Theological Education continue to recover from the aftershocks of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we are witnessing schools closing and merging at a record pace. While NYTS has been in a fragile state for many years due to an unsustainable financial model, we are so grateful that the future of our beloved institution is secure. Thanks to the partnership of President Serene Jones at Union Theological Seminary (UTS) and both the UTS and NYTS Trustee Boards, we have remained faithful in our commitment to form a strategic partnership between UTS and NYTS to preserve the legacy and mission of New York Theological Seminary.
For over a year, NYTS and UTS have been meeting weekly with several consultants to bring us closer to a finalized plan. I am grateful to report that effective July 1, 2023, NYTS entered into a shared services agreement with UTS as the first phase of a long-term strategic partnership between our schools. This agreement includes the relocation of the NYTS administrative offices from TIC to the UTS campus. We are excited that, for the first time in over 50 years, our students will be able to enjoy the benefits of a campus. This partnership also emphasizes the following for the 2023-2024 academic year:
1. NYTS will remain an accredited independent seminary operating at the UTS campus.
2. UTS and NYTS will share services to ensure that NYTS students have access to the tools they need to complete their degrees on time.
3. All NYTS students who can complete their degrees within one academic year are welcome to transition with NYTS to the UTS campus and graduate with an NYTS degree.
4. All NYTS students who require more than one year to complete their degree can complete degree requirements through NYTS Teachout agreements with New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Asbury Theological Seminary, and Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School.
5. NYTS will only enroll students who can finish their degree requirements by June 2024.
6. All students who graduate in 2024 will receive an NYTS degree.
7. NYTS will continue the MPS programs at Sing Sing and Bedford Hills Correctional Facilities, and their graduations will be in June of 2024.
We are in the process of finalizing the long-term strategic partnership agreement with UTS, and as soon as it is complete, we will share the updates with you. We are still in the process of moving, so please be patient with us as we settle into our new home. Our new contact information is:
New York Theological Seminary
℅ Union Theological Seminary
3041 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
NYTS Main Number is 212-280-1466
While we are grateful for our current position, this journey has not been easy. There was a point when the temptation to close our school, lose our legacy, and walk away seemed like our only option. Many had given up on us, and others had doomed us to failure – but God. God has been with us and provided a way for our beloved Seminary to continue in a new and different form. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for not giving up on NYTS.
We are so grateful for your continued support. Please consider making a special sacrificial donation to be used specifically for these partnership efforts. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family.
Sincerely,
Rev. LaKeesha Walrond, Ph.D.
President, New York Theological Seminary
