Mercy University Joins Yonkers Public Schools, YPIE and Regional Colleges and Universities to Launch Yonkers Promise College Consortium
From left to right, Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent Anibal Soler, Jr., Yonkers Board of Education President Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, YPIE CEO Sam Wallis, Lehman College Provost Jorge Silva-Puras, Mercy University President Susan L. Parish, SUNY Purchase College President Michael Steiper, University of Mount Saint Vincent President Susan R. Burns and Dr. Sandra Ramsay, assistant vice president and dean of Enrollment at SUNY Westchester Community College.
On June 9, 2026, Yonkers Public Schools (YPS), in partnership with Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), announced the launch of the Yonkers Promise, a new college consortium designed to create clear, direct admissions pathways from high school to higher education for Yonkers students.
The Yonkers Promise brings together a growing group of regional colleges and universities to establish direct admission opportunities for eligible Yonkers Public Schools students. Through this initiative, students will benefit from a more transparent, streamlined college admissions process, reducing uncertainty, increasing access, and helping more students successfully transition from high school to college.
Mercy University is one of the founding institutions invited to participate in the consortium, which also includes Lehman College, Manhattanville University, SUNY Purchase College, SUNY Westchester Community College, and the University of Mount Saint Vincent.
"Mercy University is proud to be a founding member of the Yonkers Promise consortium,” said Mercy University President Susan L. Parish, PhD, MSW. “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to the Yonkers community and our belief that every student deserves access to the resources and support they need to succeed in college. We look forward to welcoming more Yonkers students to our campuses and supporting them on their journey to academic and professional success."
The Yonkers Promise consortium establishes direct admissions pipelines between Yonkers Public Schools and participating colleges. Eligible students will receive admission offers based on agreed-upon criteria, eliminating many of the traditional barriers and complexities of the application process.
The initiative is designed to:
- Increase college-going rates among Yonkers students
- Simplify the college application process
- Promote equity in access to higher education opportunities
“The Yonkers Promise is a commitment to our students that opportunity is within reach,” stated Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “By bringing together our schools, YPIE, and our higher education partners, we are creating a clearer pathway from the classroom to college and ultimately to successful careers. This helps remove barriers, simplifies the admissions process, and sends a powerful message to every Yonkers student: your future matters, and your city is invested in your success. I am grateful to Yonkers Public Schools, Superintendent Soler, YPIE and our college and university partners for convening this important effort to expand access to higher education and strengthen the next generation of leaders."
“The Yonkers Promise reflects the power of Yonkers Magic, the belief that when a community comes together, we can create life-changing opportunities for our students,” said Anibal Soler Jr., Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools. “This initiative helps remove barriers to higher education and creates clearer, more accessible pathways for our students and families. Together with our higher education partners and YPIE, we are building a future where every student can see college as a realistic and achievable next step.”
“This is about building real pathways from high school to college and into careers,” said Sam Wallis, CEO of YPIE. “Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to student success, the Yonkers Promise helps more students take the next step toward achieving their college and career goals.”
“The future for Yonkers is bright, and at Lehman College, we are proud to be part of that by educating, supporting, and preparing the next generations of Yonkers leaders with a promise of infinite opportunities,” said Fernando Delgado, Lehman College President.
The first cohort of Yonkers Promise students is expected to begin accessing direct admission opportunities in Fall 2026.
For students and families, the Yonkers Promise represents a significant step toward a more accessible and predictable college pathway, one that connects their hard work in high school to real opportunities for the future.
For more information, visit https://mercy.edu/admissions-aid/yonkers-promise.
Read the press release here.