SUNY Adirondack president highlights enrollment gains, new programs and industry ties

Anastasia Ertz, president of SUNY Adirondack, opened the joint Warren and Washington County community college committee meeting with an institutional update, saying the college is ‘‘rooted and rising’’ in its 60th year and has focused on restoring financial stability while expanding program offerings.

Ertz said enrollment is up compared with this time last year, reporting ‘‘we were 260 full time equivalent students ahead of the same time last year’’ and ‘‘we're almost 3,600 credits ahead,’’ attributing part of the growth to SUNY Reconnect, a state-funded program that provides tuition, fees and book support for adults ages 25–55. She told the committees that the recent surge is currently driven by high-school students with adult enrollments expected to grow later in the summer.

The president outlined new and planned programs aimed at regional workforce needs, citing environmental science, health sciences and a proposed business credential that includes artificial-intelligence and project-management components. She also described discussions with major regional employers: ‘‘They have bought the QuadGraphics plant...and they are looking to hire initially 800 to 900 workers, that will grow to about 2,000,’’ she said, and said the company ‘‘very much want[s] our people to be interested in the kinds of things that they do.’’

Ertz noted capacity constraints on campus for some technical and biotechnology training and said the college is pursuing partnerships, hybrid delivery models and space-optimization plans to expand slots without excessive new capital immediately. She also described cooperation with nearby institutions — including SUNY Plattsburgh and BOCES — to build social-work pathways and to reduce duplication of full programs.

The update placed the enrollment gains in a financial context: the college adopted a new strategic plan and completed part of its reaccreditation self-study while addressing a multi-year budget gap. Ertz thanked local county support and urged committee members to convey appreciation to state legislators for recent systemwide aid that she said would reach the college in a modest amount.

Looking ahead, Ertz said the college will continue outreach to high schools, expand short-term credentialing through ‘‘workforce Pell’’ changes, and seek additional federal and private funding to avoid shifting cost burdens onto students.