Alliance University, the Christian college formerly known as Nyack College and alma mater of artist Father John Misty, is set to bid farewell after at the end of the summer term. The New York-based institution, rooted in the Christian and Missionary Alliance for over a century, is facing closure due to the loss of its academic accreditation.
Last Friday, school officials shared the announcement revealing that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education had withdrawn its accreditation, effective by year-end. The news came as a shock to the university, prompting them to explore available alternatives during a week of intense evaluation.
“The Middle States’ decision blindsided us, and we have been working tirelessly to assess our options as an institution,” stated the announcement.
The administration received news of the MSCHE’s verdict on Monday afternoon, leading the Board of Trustees to convene on Tuesday evening and again on Thursday afternoon. After their deliberation, the Alliance Board of Trustees reached a somber conclusion: on-campus and online educational offerings would be phased out by August 31, 2023, with no courses scheduled for the upcoming Fall semester.
As part of the institution’s response, the university also disclosed that the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a denomination comprising over 2,000 churches aligning with evangelical Christianity, is actively exploring potential avenues to continue the Alliance Theological Seminary program.
In March, the MSCHE had previously put Alliance on “show cause,” requiring the institution to present a compelling case for its continued accreditation. The MSCHE’s decision to initiate this status stemmed from concerns about Alliance’s compliance with the Commission’s standards for accreditation, affiliation requirements, policies, procedures and federal regulatory obligations.
Alliance is the latest Christian higher education institute to close in recent years. Since the start of Covid-19, at least 18 Christians colleges have closed their doors.
“This news inflicts a monumental loss upon those of us who cherish Alliance University and its community,” said an Alliance representative. “We are all mourning. We humbly ask for your prayers as we seek wisdom and guidance during this challenging time.”
