[4] The college was founded as an independent girls' boarding school by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) to "create a place of learning where women could grow and where they could receive an education that would prepare them for positions of leadership and influence in the world.

[citation needed] It was the first women's college in the United States to offer a study abroad program.

The decision disappointed many alumnae, as the university had purchased the college with the promise that it would try to continue to operate it as a women's institution.

[7] The university claimed unjustifiable and disproportionate costs to maintain the large campus as reason for closure.

On February 17, 2008, Fordham announced the sale of the campus for $27 million to EF Education, a chain of private language-instruction schools.