Vanderbilt University has received approval from the New York State attorney general to move forward with the lease of its new campus in Chelsea, Manhattan. The 99-year lease agreement, signed last fall with The General Theological Seminary, allows Vanderbilt to operate on a 2.7-acre site encompassing 13 buildings in a historic section of West 20th Street.
Vanderbilt University is pursuing both academic and nonacademic initiatives for the Chelsea campus, with plans to establish undergraduate “study-away” programs and a one-year master’s degree. It has submitted a proposal for academic programming to the New York State Education Department, and is awaiting approval from the Board of Regents. The Office of the Provost developed the application in collaboration with faculty and deans across multiple colleges.
Photograph of The General Theological Seminary. Credit: Ennead Architects
In the interim, Vanderbilt has already begun public engagement at the new site. In March, it launched “Vanderbilt in the City: Conversations on America,” a three-part lecture series that drew over 600 attendees and will continue in the upcoming academic year. The university also appointed James Kellerhouse as assistant vice chancellor for strategic initiatives in New York City.
Photograph of The General Theological Seminary. Credit: Ennead Architects
“As a global university, Vanderbilt’s programs in New York will complement those offered at our home campus in Nashville as a ‘study-away’ site, creating a pipeline of graduates interested in careers in New York City reflective of its strengths and culture,” said C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Vanderbilt University. “This campus will serve as a vibrant hub for discovery and collaboration that will enable students and faculty to immerse themselves in the rich intellectual and professional opportunities unique to New York City, particularly in fields like finance, tech, media and the arts.”
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
Vanderbilt U. in NYC?..just a bit weird..
Why? As weird as say, NYU in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai (and Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Tel Aviv, and Washington, D.C. )? As weird as Columbia in Amman, Beijing, Istanbul, Paris, Santiago, Nairobi, and Mumbai? Or the many other US schools that operate academic programs in NYC, which is after all the global center for finance
Good point, got it.
JMU in Florence (huh?)
Such a brilliant move by the city and the university. Vandi will now have a campus in NYC and West Palm, if you want to go into Finance it’s a great option
This, very fortunately, will preserve the campus which could have been sold to developer and, on paper, should provide an educational opportunity with broader appeal. A win for both the school and residents.
Blah, blah, blah (insert false praise and virtue signaling message here _________.)
Everyone wants to be a Columbia.
Not so much anymore.
Actually thrilling news. Such a beautiful campus will remain as a. student center. It’s a win, win!
To me it will always be Hudson University in the Law & Order universe.