NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies Announces Name Change and Redefines Focus to Meet Demands of a Global and Evolving Economy

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies today announced that it has been renamed the NYU School of Professional Studies (sps.nyu.edu), underscoring the School's mission to provide career-minded students with the real-world knowledge, experience, and access they need to compete and succeed in the global workforce. The School is repositioning itself to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing students with in-demand skill sets that are attractive to the industries it serves. The change coincides with the School's 80^th anniversary—a milestone year, that also will include the rollout of new academic programs, a series of leadership events, and a bold new advertising campaign.

Preparing students for the real world

At a time when the value of higher education is in question, with the latest figures showing that only 14 percent of Americans—and 11 percent of business leaders—strongly agree that graduates have the necessary skills and competencies needed to succeed in today's workplace, the need for applied professional studies is becoming increasingly critical for global competitiveness and the advancement of industry.

Dennis Di Lorenzo, Harvey J. Stedman dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies, noted, "In higher education, we have long heard employers say that there is a disconnect between academia and business—that we, as educators, are not graduating students with the requisite skills and real-world experience that they desire in candidates for current and future jobs. At the NYU School of Professional Studies, we are narrowing that gap by offering the best of both worlds: high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs with leading-edge industry expertise that combine theory with practice. The School's new name befits its unique ability to shape the future of the labor force and major industry, preparing students for the jobs that exist today and those that have yet to be created. I am excited that we are poised for continued growth, innovation, and leadership as we enter our 80^th year."

The NYU School of Professional Studies is leading the reinvention of practical learning, offering new and innovative degree programs and curricula that are focused on providing individuals with the skills they need to succeed in both current and emerging industries, including real estate, hospitality, sports business, global affairs, marketing, information technology, and many more. The School provides skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace—a very valuable asset for those who are just launching their careers, as well as for those who are interested in career advancement or change.

Bucking national trends in enrollment and accessibility

With postsecondary enrollment continuing to decline and a significant slowdown expected over the next decade compared to last, the NYU School of Professional Studies has experienced a record 25% increase in undergraduate and graduate enrollment over the past three years, and is continuing to strengthen efforts to prepare students for the current and future workforce. 

The School also is adapting to meet the needs of changing industry demands, developing new curricula, and delivering more programs online for greater accessibility.

Fueling innovation and opportunity through industry collaboration

The NYU School of Professional Studies has more than 100 full-time faculty members, 2,000+ adjunct professors, and tens of thousands of students and alumni around the world, who are at the forefront of industry, fueling innovation and shaping the future of education and the global marketplace.

Whether specializing in real estate development or digital media, fundraising or publishing, the School's faculty members know where their industries are heading because they are on the front lines and in the C-suite, and understand first-hand, what skills students need to enter into and to innovate in those fields. These industry connections also prove valuable to students, opening many doors as they begin the job hunt or advance in their careers. Through industry events, networking opportunities, site visits, and internships, the School collaborates with top companies and organizations in the U.S. and around the globe, including General Electric, the NBA, Credit Suisse Group, Lowes Hotels & Resorts, Silverstein Properties, and Condé Nast, among hundreds of others, to provide access and exposure to students in their fields of interest.

About the NYU School of Professional Studies

Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the NYU School of Professional Studies (sps.nyu.edu) is one of NYU's several degree-granting schools and colleges, each with a unique academic profile. The reputation of the School of Professional Studies arises from its place as the NYU home for study and applied research related to key knowledge-based industries where the New York region leads globally. This is manifest in the School's diverse graduate, undergraduate, and noncredit programs in fields such as Accounting, Finance, and Law; Applied Politics; Creative Cities and Economic Development; English-Language Learning; Foreign Languages, Translation, and Interpreting; Fundraising and Grantmaking; Global Affairs; Graphic Communications Management and Technology; Health Information Management; Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management; Human Resource Management and Development; Liberal and Allied Arts; Management and Systems; Marketing; Professional Writing; Project Management; Public Relations and Corporate Communication; Publishing; and Real Estate, Real Estate Development, and Construction Management.

More than 100 distinguished full-time faculty members collaborate with an exceptional cadre of practitioner/adjunct faculty and lecturers to create vibrant professional and academic networks that annually attract nearly 5,000 degree-seeking students from around the globe. In addition, the School fulfills the recurrent continuing higher education needs of local and professional communities, as evidenced by close to 48,000 annual noncredit enrollments in individual courses, specialized certificate programs, workshops, and seminars. The School's community is enriched by more than 28,000 degree-holding alumni worldwide, many of whom serve as mentors, guest speakers, and advisory board members. For more information about the NYU School of Professional Studies, visit sps.nyu.edu.

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