Excelsior University Pursues Strategic Partnership with Fielding Graduate University: Frequently Asked Questions

A Bold Path Together

Excelsior University and Fielding Graduate University have entered exclusive discussions to explore a merger to create a new college bearing the Fielding name within Excelsior.

view of graduates from behind, looking forward during graduation

About Fielding Graduate University

Fielding Graduate University, founded in 1974 in Santa Barbara, California, is a private, nonprofit institution with approximately 1,000 students and 7,500 alumni. Fielding Graduate University is a leader in graduate education, combining face‐to‐face experiences and online learning. Taught by faculty representing a breadth of scholarship and practice, their rigorous curriculum offers graduate-level courses and degrees in psychology, leadership, and education for professionals living and working anywhere in the world. Fielding is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and additionally is the only American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical psychology doctoral program using a distributed delivery model.

About Excelsior University

Excelsior University is a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education based in Albany, New York, with an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior was founded in 1971 with a mission to provide educational opportunity to adult learners with an emphasis on those historically underrepresented in higher education. With more than 200,000 alumni worldwide and approximately 12,000 current students, Excelsior offers 39 career-focused degree programs in the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels, in areas of business, health sciences, liberal arts, nursing, public service, and technology. Excelsior University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with programmatic and specialized accreditation via the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), ABET, and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

Both institutions are pioneers in distance and adult education, and share values rooted in student-centricity, social justice, and community.

Through these discussions and negotiations, both universities are examining how Excelsior’s institutional infrastructure and curricular offerings can be complemented by Fielding’s strengths in graduate education in the social sciences. Disciplines and degrees offered by Fielding do not overlap with existing Excelsior programs, meaning Excelsior would gain new academic pathways – including doctorates – and lifelong learning opportunities for students. In addition, Fielding’s university press, professional centers, and international engagements could provide significant benefits to Excelsior’s students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

If realized, a merger will create extensive opportunities for learners across a range of degrees and disciplines. Combining Fielding’s expertise in graduate and doctoral education with Excelsior’s degree portfolio and leadership in online learning will open doors for learners and create pathways for career and professional advancement.

While we approach this partnership with mutual enthusiasm, both institutions are following all necessary and important accreditation and regulatory requirements. Due diligence, negotiations, and final board approval will take a considerable amount of time.

We recognize the importance of sharing accurate and timely information with the community throughout this process. Refer to the FAQ below and direct additional questions to transformationalpartnerships@excelsior.edu.

Pursuing a Strategic Merger

Fielding’s expertise in psychology and leadership graduate studies complements Excelsior’s existing programs and offers pathways from undergraduate to terminal degrees. The partnership opens new educational opportunities with doctoral programs, master’s programs, and post-baccalaureate certificate programs in a curricular array not currently offered at Excelsior.

The merger would build financial, operational, and programmatic stability for Fielding, while creating new market opportunities and curricular pathways for both institutions.
Due diligence, negotiations, final board approval, and regulatory requirements will take a considerable amount of time. Both institutions are approaching the process with mutual enthusiasm for what this potential affiliation could mean for our shared future. Early discussions to meet expected accreditation and regulatory requirements have begun and all steps will be conducted in accordance with these important requirements. No final decisions have been made.


These approval processes will take time. We will share updates regularly as details progress and as we move through the necessary approval steps.
There will be no immediate changes at Excelsior, and no final decisions have been made. A core team is working on this project, but it is not expected to impact day-to-day operations for the majority of Excelsior staff and faculty. We are committed to transparency and will share updates regularly as details progress, decisions are finalized, and we move through the necessary approval steps.
Due diligence, negotiations, and final board approval will take time. Early discussions to meet expected accreditation and regulatory requirements have begun and all steps will be conducted in accordance with these important requirements. No final decisions have been made.

We will share updates and key milestones regularly as details progress and as we move through the necessary approval steps. These approval processes will take time. As discussions move forward between the institutions and regulatory bodies, we will have a better idea of the timeline.

Excelsior and Fielding share a commitment to expanding access to quality higher education, with a focus on adult learners, social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Both institutions were founded in the 1970s as pioneers aimed at changing the demographics represented in higher education. They both value innovation, curricular agility, and experimentation with new modalities and instructional methods.
The partnership is designed to honor and build upon the missions and cultures of both Excelsior and Fielding, ensuring continuity and growth for all stakeholders. Both institutions have 50+ year histories of fulfilling academic aspirations for their students. We are confident that together, we can be even more impactful for our students.

Excelsior teams will work closely with human resources and leadership at Fielding to maintain culture and community throughout the process. Our institutions are closely aligned in values and methodology, our programs are complementary, and a partnership could provide enormous benefits to students, staff, and faculty of both institutions. By exploring alignment with Fielding, we build on the Excelsior mission while also ensuring that Fielding’s legacy endures—with both institutions stronger and ready for the future.

Staff

Fielding staff will continue to operate the day-to-day operations during the initial phases of a potential transition. Some Excelsior staff may be needed to learn about the Fielding student experience and services. We expect this to be a limited number of people. During this stage of the process, we anticipate the impact on most of our staff to be minimal; a core group will be involved in the due diligence process, and a few may start planning for support services and other work to come. There may be additional opportunities for staff to assist in this process. Reach out to your cabinet member if you would like to be involved. We will continue to provide regular updates throughout our discussions.
Immediate next steps include initial conversations with accreditors, continued due diligence, and better understanding the Fielding student experience. Staff will be engaged in integration planning, with opportunities to provide input and feedback. Updates will be provided regularly as milestones are reached, and regulatory steps are completed. Leadership is committed to transparent communication throughout the process.

Future Vision

Our vision of aligning Excelsior University and Fielding Graduate University is a transformative partnership that would create a new Fielding college within Excelsior, focused on continuing Fielding’s legacy of excellence in psychology and leadership graduate studies.

Through a partnership with Fielding, Excelsior students will have access to new educational opportunities with doctoral, master’s, and post-baccalaureate certificate programs not currently offered at Excelsior. The partnership would build financial, operational, and programmatic stability for Fielding, while creating new market opportunities and curricular pathways for both institutions.