COLONIE (TNS) — The Siena College Board of Trustees has voted to rename the 87-year-old institution Siena University, a critical step as the school seeks to burnish its reputation and “more accurately (reflect) the breadth of Siena’s current academic offerings,” according to a document the college posted explaining the move.

Friday’s vote was a turning point in a years-long process that began with the state Board of Regents updating its definition of “university” 2022. That year, the board approved an amendment dropping requirements that universities offer professional and doctoral programs. Siena, like St. Bonaventure University a Franciscan institution, began exploring a name change as part of a five-year development plan, which began in June of that year.

The school says the change will enhance its reputation because “Research shows that the term ‘university’ carries more prestige and conveys more opportunity among students, families and employers,” according to the planning document. Moreover, the name change will more adequately reflect the post graduate work being carried out at the school

“About 40% of Saints are in majors that didn’t exist a decade ago, and our graduate offerings have more than tripled in the last three years,” the school said.

The state Education Department’s Office of Counsel must review the name change before the Board of Regents votes to formalize the name. The school anticipates the vote taking place sometime in mid-July or early September.

The school estimates costs associated with becoming Siena University could be around $100,000 as it would have to produce new signage and trademarks for the new name.

Siena’s decision comes after another well known Catholic college became a university this year. Marist College in Poughkeepsie became Marist University in January.