Cayuga Community College is reporting a third consecutive year of enrollment growth, bucking statewide trends of declining student populations.
President Brian Durant confirmed during a recent appearance on Inside Government with Guy Cosentino that enrollment at the Auburn- and Fulton-based college has risen slightly each of the past two years and is on pace to increase again this fall.
“Three years of steady or improved enrollment in this environment is significant,” Durant said. “It shows that the strategies we’ve put in place to reach both traditional and nontraditional students are working.”
Demographic shifts threaten long-term stability
Durant acknowledged that the college’s gains come against the backdrop of a shrinking pipeline of high school graduates across upstate New York. Birth-rate declines following the 2008 financial crisis have led to smaller class sizes in districts that historically send students to Cayuga and other SUNY campuses.
“Full growth isn’t realistic when the number of potential students is falling,” he said. “Our focus is on stability — on maintaining predictable enrollment while expanding who we serve.”
Dual-credit program reaches thousands of high schoolers
A key driver of enrollment has been the college’s Cayuga Advantage program, which allows high school students to take college-level courses for dual credit. More than 2,000 students are now participating across Cayuga and Oswego counties.
Students who complete the courses can earn 10 to 30 college credits before graduation and qualify for scholarships if they continue at Cayuga. Durant said the initiative strengthens the link between secondary and higher education while giving students a financial and academic head start.
Online learning strengthens access
Cayuga’s investment in online education has also paid off. Roughly 35 to 40 percent of credits each semester are earned online, and several degrees can be completed entirely remotely.
Durant said the flexibility attracts both traditional students and working adults seeking to advance their education without leaving the region.
SUNY Reconnect draws adult learners
The launch of SUNY Reconnect, a statewide program offering free tuition and fees for adults ages 25 to 55 who have not earned a degree, has added another boost.
Cayuga quickly implemented the initiative after it was approved in the state budget this spring. Durant said about 150 students have enrolled through the program in high-demand areas such as healthcare and manufacturing.
“This is the kind of investment that pays off for both students and employers,” he said. “It allows adults to retrain for jobs that are vital to our regional economy.”
Law enforcement academy expands workforce training
The college’s new Law Enforcement Academy in Fulton graduated its first class this year, training more than 30 recruits representing multiple agencies from Cayuga, Oswego, and neighboring counties.
Developed with support from Oswego County and SUNY, the academy fills a regional training gap and strengthens the college’s role in workforce development.
With new programs targeting students at both ends of the age spectrum — from high schoolers earning early credits to adults re-entering classrooms — Durant said Cayuga’s goal remains clear: adapt to demographic realities while anchoring the local workforce pipeline.
“Community colleges exist to serve their regions,” he said. “Our job is to meet people where they are and prepare them for what’s next.”
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