New York State has witnessed a significant drop in enrollment across community colleges since 2019, and the Rochester area is no exception. According to the report, Monroe Community College (MCC) has suffered a 40% decline in enrollment. Meanwhile, Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) saw a 10% dip in its enrollment in the past five years.
The tight labor market and pandemic fears are among the reasons cited for the declining enrollment. However, a more significant reason seems to be the downsizing of large companies like Bausch + Lomb, Kodak, and Xerox, leading to a decrease in the number of people in the area going to college.
MCC’s Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Christine Casalinuovo-Adams, said they were offering programs that meet the demands of busy working adults by providing flexible schedules and online courses. The college has seen growth in its online business program.
FLCC’s approach is to meet their consumers’ needs by offering the same product in a different format, according to the Director of Admissions, Matt Stever. This approach has led to a 5.5% increase in enrollment in the last year.
Both colleges plan to offer non-credit and certificate programs for those who are already in the workforce. While community colleges are facing challenges, they are trying to attract students by offering courses that fit their schedules and lifestyles.
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