POTSDAM -- Clarkson University Monday officially opened its new Capital Region Campus in Schenectady, which will serve as a recruiting hub for graduate and professional degree program admissions at all of the institution’s operations.

“The merger brings together two institutions that share a common DNA; both are entrepreneurially focused, have strong industry connections, and rigorous academic and professional programs that complement each other,” said Clarkson President Tony Collins.

The Clarkson University Capital Region Campus, located at 80 Nott Terrace, is the former Union Graduate College (UGC), and is a result of UGC merging into Clarkson University on Feb. 1.

"This is truly an exciting time for our combined student body, alumni network, corporate partners, faculty and staff -- both old and new -- as we bring Clarkson to the Capital Region and strengthen graduate education in our nationally recognized programs in business, engineering, education, health professions and science,” Collins said.

As part of this new milestone in higher education mergers, current and future students at the Capital Region Campus will also gain new value-added services, like Clarkson's Career Center, libraries, research consortiums, international opportunities, and an alumni network that is more than 40,000 strong.

"Capital Region students will now have added academic access to many of Clarkson's signature areas of excellence -- advanced materials, biotechnology, the environment & energy, entrepreneurship and global supply chain management -- while students at our Potsdam and Beacon locations will now be able to take advantage of programs like a an MBA in healthcare management, an M.A. in teaching, an M.S. in healthcare data analytics, an M.S. in bioethics and others," Collins said.

Faculty on both campuses have already started to collaborate, taking advantage of new opportunities for research and networking.

Clarkson's graduate student recruitment and admissions for master's programs will be based at the Capital Region Campus, which supports a growing list of graduate education opportunities throughout the state, including Clarkson's Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries in Beacon, and a partnership with the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake.

The merger was approved last year by the New York State Education Department Board of Regents and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which provides accreditation for Clarkson. The merger is unique in higher education, as both schools were in a sound fiscal position, both meeting and exceeding current enrollment targets, and both in good standing with their accrediting agencies.

The total enrollment of Clarkson is now more than 4,300 students.

A grand opening celebration is planned for late February.