San Francisco-based Presidio Graduate School, a national leader in sustainability-focused graduate education, plans to merge with the University of Redlands and be housed on the Redlands Marin campus commencing in summer 2023.
“We are thrilled that the University of Redlands, and especially its School of Business & Society and Marin campus, will become the new home for Presidio’s degree programs,” said Elizabeth Maw, president, Presidio Graduate School. “The additional resources that will be available for our students, the beautiful campus in Marin, and our shared values around creating purposeful leaders makes Redlands the right partner for our school’s future.”
The University of Redlands School of Business & Society will establish the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions and assume responsibility for Presidio’s academic programs, including its distinguished sustainability-focused MBA and dual MBA-MPA. The Presidio programs will retain their current faculty, focus on environmental sustainability and social justice, and unique, path-breaking curriculum.
The Presidio Center will be housed on the University’s 20-acre Marin campus at San Anselmo, which is the home of the San Francisco Theological Seminary and located 15 miles northwest of downtown San Francisco. Coincidentally, the University of Redlands Marin campus is the original location of the first iteration of Presidio (World College West) when it opened in 1973.
All classes will continue to take place both online and through periodic low-residency, in-person meetings at the Marin campus. Presidio Center students will have access to support services, notable guest speakers, and community activities that have always been part of Presidio’s educational experience.
Prior to the completion of the alliance, which is expected to take place at the end of June 2023, the University of Redlands and Presidio Graduate School will conduct collaboration sessions with their respective faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters to discuss the agreement and listen to ideas for ensuring a successful future for Presidio’s mission and 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.
“When we joined with the San Francisco Theological Seminary in Marin in 2019, we saw its great potential as a location to offer programming that engages the community in societal issues and concerns. This opportunity with Presidio Graduate School, which has been at the forefront of crafting distinctive educational programs aimed at impacting business, the environment, and society, is a perfect match for us. We are devoted to carrying on their visionary mission and bringing new opportunities to our community,” said University of Redlands President Krista L. Newkirk.
“Last year, we intentionally changed the name of our School of Business to the School of Business & Society to both represent who we are now and to continuously challenge us on who we want to be. Part of that ambition involves strengthening Redlands’ offerings in environmental sustainability,” said Thomas Horan, dean, University of Redlands School of Business & Society.
“This partnership fits hand-in-glove with our goals for the school and for our Marin campus. Presidio’s mission and its excellent sustainability and social justice curriculum is a highly valued complement to our own mission to empower our students to positively impact business and society, and environmental sustainability is a key aspect of this broader mission,” Horan continued.
Early in 2022, Presidio commenced discussions regarding its future and continued viability. Ultimately, the Presidio Board of Directors determined the right path forward was to join a larger university, as it had during the first 12 years of its history as a graduate school. After reviewing proposals from numerous institutions, the board selected the University of Redlands as its appropriate merger partner.
“This merger is the right long-term solution for Presidio, providing stable financial backing for our programs while improving our student experience,” said Presidio Board Chair Suzanne Farver. “The board carefully evaluated our opportunities, and we were unanimous in our choice of the University of Redlands. Our mission of educating change makers is a wonderful fit with the Redlands’ strategic vision, and it will enable our continuing commitment to our students, alumni, and greater community.”
Presidio and the University of Redlands have collectively chosen to announce this agreement months before the official change-over in order to allow for transparent discussions about how to make the partnership succeed. Through a series of town halls and information sessions, both groups will solicit the input of their stakeholders, including students, staff, alumni, trustees, and donors.
The University of Redlands’ Marin campus, located in San Anselmo, CA (Marin County), will be the permanent home of Presidio, along with the San Francisco Theological Seminary, which has operated on that campus since the 1890s. The campus, which is located 15 miles north of San Francisco, has ample classroom and housing facilities to host in-person residencies. The campus also happens to be the original home of Presidio Graduate School’s predecessor institution, World College West.
The main campus of the University of Redlands is located in Southern California, about an hour east of Los Angeles. The main campus is a residential campus with housing for undergraduate students and academic and athletic facilities for undergraduate and graduate students.
The University of Redlands comprises several schools that offer liberal arts and professional education to approximately 3,500 students, including the School of Business & Society where Presidio's programs will be housed. If you have any questions, please email sbspresidio@redlands.edu.
The University of Redlands’ Marin campus also is home to its Graduate School of Theology and the San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS). The Seminary was founded in 1871 and moved to Marin in 1891. This is the result of a partnership that took place in 2019. SFTS also is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley. In addition to the theology degrees, spirituality and chaplaincy programs, the University has envisioned offering business degree programs at the Marin campus.
The lovely campus is also host to a community park and theater space, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities, and is a popular option for weddings and other celebrations for the Marin community.
The Presidio degree programs will continue with their same names without the term “Graduate School” – future students will, for example, continue to be Presidians. In addition, there will be an organizing body for all Presidio degrees, known as the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions at the University of Redlands School of Business & Society.
If you are graduating in May/June, you will earn a Presidio diploma. If you are graduating after June 30, 2023. You will earn a University of Redlands diploma with the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions name noted on it.
Prospective students interested in the Presidio programs may attend information sessions and reach out to admissions advisors at admissions@presidio.edu or 415-655-8912
Yes, Presidio alumni will also become part of the University of Redlands alumni community. They will have access to Redlands’ alumni benefits, such as lifelong learning, networking, and wellness activities. In addition, Presidio staff will continue to support alumni engagement in partnership with the PGS Alumni Association and the BGI Community Association.
Presidio solicited proposals from numerous institutions, selecting the University of Redlands as the best match for offering its distinguished programs. The board led a confidential and thorough process to carefully select the optimal partner for our community and future.
