Cayuga Community College enrollment increases 'positive sign,' president says
Cayuga Community College is reporting increased enrollment for the second consecutive year.
The State University of New York announced this week that enrollment at community colleges increased by 1.9% from fall 2023 to fall 2024. At Cayuga Community College, enrollment is up 3.7%.
Over a two-year period, CCC's enrollment has increased 2.9%. Unofficial data provided by the college shows the total number of full-time equivalent students is 853.2 — up from 810.7 in fall 2022. The figure includes traditional college students and participants in pathways programs the college offers to high school students.
Dr. Brian Durant, president of Cayuga Community College, told The Citizen that increasing enrollment is a positive sign for the institution. He noted that change has been observed in classes at the college's Auburn and Fulton sites.
"The vibrancy of our campuses is back to, I think, pre-pandemic levels and that is an exciting time as a practitioner of higher education," Durant said.
The factors driving the increase in enrollment, according to Durant, is offering students an on-campus college experience while also providing online learning opportunities. He also highlighted the programs available at CCC and regional investments, namely the establishment of a law enforcement academy at its Fulton campus and the workforce development center that will open in Auburn this year.
Durant said those projects and others, such as the improvements to Falcon Park and the opening of the Cayuga Culinary Institute in downtown Auburn, represent community partnerships that identify local needs and create training opportunities.
"Those physical projects, along with the programmatic initiatives we put forth, are an exemplary way for us to be able to move our agenda forward and demonstrate how we serve our community in a comprehensive way," he added.
The enrollment success follows a difficult period for higher education. The COVID-19 pandemic affected CCC and other institutions — it was a factor cited by Wells College when it announced its closure in April.
Earlier this year, CCC faced questions from its accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, about enrollment. The college satisfied Middle States' request for information. Durant told The Citizen at the time that the college "surpassed its projected enrollment in the 2022-23 academic year by almost 10%."
Durant wants to continue that growth. He highlighted various initiatives, such as the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways Program , and expanding its programs for local high school students. The college is also exploring partnerships with industries, especially with Micron's planned investment in central New York.
"At Cayuga, we have an ambitious agenda to move forward, but I think it's important for us to take a moment and also reflect on the positive momentum we've been able to make in recent years," he said. "We have a tremendously talented faculty and staff, and we're fortunate to continue to work together and serve our community well."
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or . Love Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.
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