Exciting Updates on New Academic Programs

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

As I relayed in today’s town hall, we have signed an agreement with the San Francisco-based Presidio Graduate School for the University of Redlands to become the future home for the distinguished Presidio programs in summer 2023. We will house these programs on our Marin Campus in San Anselmo, where our well-established San Francisco Theological Seminary also resides. We will operate the Presidio programs as the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions through our School of Business & Society (SBS), which is an ideal alignment with the mission of SBS. 

The Presidio degrees, which include its MBA for Sustainable Solutions and its Dual MBA-MPA for Sustainable Solutions, are a natural next step for us as we embark on a broader mission to educate leaders to positively impact business and society. The theme of social and environmental sustainability also creates opportunities for new student pathways across the University to connect with the Presidio programs and activities. Locating the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions in Marin is also a natural next step for that campus and will heighten the campus’s reputation and visibility in the Bay area. 

The Presidio programs will be revenue positive from day one for Redlands, and they come to the University debt-free and with no fixed (e.g. real estate) assets, lease commitments, or other associated costs. 

For those unfamiliar with Presidio programs, they are highly regarded and well established. They draw from the expertise of an adjunct faculty who are practitioners in the areas of sustainability and social justice. In addition, Presidio alumni number 1,900 and work across a wide range of industries in the Bay area and elsewhere.  

The plan is for several current staff at Presidio to move to our Marin Campus where they will provide services to students in the Presidio degree programs. 

Finalization of the agreement is subject to approval by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ Senior College and University Commission, which is expected to occur before the end of June 2023.  

Over the next seven months, we invite discussion and feedback so we can thoughtfully prepare to onboard the Presidio programs into our Redlands community. As part of these conversations, Redlands Provost Adrienne McCormick will lead a task force to examine potential pathways and synergies across the University. 

Here is a link to the announcement webpage, which includes the press release and some frequently asked questions.  

Please email sbspresidio@redlands.edu if you have additional questions. Once again, thank you for your time and dedication. 

Sincerely,

Krista Newkirk signature

Krista L. Newkirk
President