POTSDAM -- The merger of Union Graduate College into Clarkson University has received this week received unanimous approval from the boards of trustees of both schools.

The affirmative votes keep the process moving toward a planned Jan. 1 implementation, Clarkson said.

The final deal is pending final approval by the New York State Board of Regents and Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The merged entity will be called Clarkson University, with Union Graduate College in Schenectady to become the Clarkson University Capital Region campus.

The school says the merger will give students at both colleges access to a larger pool of resources.

"This merger represents a watershed moment, certainly for each institution but also within the rapidly evolving world of higher education," said Anthony G. Collins, president of Clarkson University. "To bring together two strong, stable and financially viable institutions, and to leverage their complementary curricula and significant resources to provide exceptional educational and career opportunities for our students, is an opportunity that is simply too good to pass up. We look forward to continuing to work to complete this merger and to joining forces with Union Graduate College through a partnership that sets the stage for a bright and prosperous future."

Current students and alumni from Union Graduate College will start to have immediate access to Clarkson's alumni and corporate partner networks.

The Schenectady campus will serve as a hub for program marketing, student recruitment and admissions for master's programs. Clarkson will expand its graduate offerings by continuing bioethics, healthcare management and education offerings now offered at Union Graduate College. Clarkson's engineering, science, management, physical therapy and physician's assistants programs will reinforce existing programs at Union Graduate College in those related disciplines, and offer additional resources to benefit students and alumni of each school, Clarkson said.

In an effort to make the merger as seamless as possible during a transition period, all programs will continue to be offered in their current locations, with the existing calendars, curriculum and faculty remaining intact. Members of Union Graduate College's staff will continue as part of the Clarkson staff following the merger, Clarkson said.