UTICA, N.Y. -- Ever wonder why it's Utica College and not Utica University? NewsChannel 2 got some inside information from the college’s provost about this Tuesday.

In New York state, it's tough to get the university distinction. The college has to offer three different Ph.D. research degrees to qualify, which UC doesn't.

And when asked if they want the distinction, they said not particularly.

The provost says, they're focused on staying relevant to students and employers – and not semantics.
"To borrow the old phrase, 'what's in a name?' I'm not sure that the status of a university would change what we're going to do, or change how we're relevant to our students or relative to the community that we serve. So it's not high on our horizon," said Utica College Provost Todd Pfannestiel.

The provost says Utica College functions as a university in many ways, they have faculty doing excellent research, and an expansive student affairs program.

And, UC is looking at offering more professional doctorates.