Siena University Renews Franciscan Sponsorship | The Locally Times
The new agreement, signed with two other universities, follows the merger of five U.S. Franciscan provinces and Siena's recent name change from college to university.
The signing ceremony took place on January 31, 2026, in Washington D.C., during a conference of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities. Siena University President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D., signed the updated agreement with Br. Lawrence Hayes, O.F.M., the provincial minister of the newly formed Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, reaffirming a shared commitment to Catholic Franciscan higher education. ## Joint Renewal Follows Franciscan Reorganization The renewal was part of a joint ceremony with St. Bonaventure University and Quincy University. The presidents of those institutions, Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., and Brian McGee, Ph.D., also signed agreements with the Franciscan province. provinces into the new Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Siena's own name change from a college to a university. Fr. Mark Reamer, O.F.M., D.Min., Siena's vice president for mission, organized the signing and assisted in drafting the agreements. ## Agreement Affirms 1974 Principles, Sets Three-Year Cycle The sponsorship agreements consist of a common preamble shared among the three universities, followed by a unique agreement for each institution. The preamble reflects a commitment to an educational experience promoting human development. Siena’s updated agreement references an original document from March 14, 1974, that established the relationship's foundational principles. The university's announcement states the new sponsorship agreement will be renewed every three years. ## Specific Terms Not Publicly Disclosed The university's announcement did not make the specific terms of Siena's unique sponsorship agreement public. The provided documents do not detail any operational or governance changes related to Siena's transition to a university, nor do they specify financial terms or contributions for either party. The full text of the foundational 1974 agreement, referenced in the new document, was also not released.