The Ways and Means Committee approved a request to create a new capital project to expand and relocate the college’s diagnostic imaging department to the Newburgh campus, funded by private foundations and a state SUNY capital match. The total project cost was presented as $724,327.50, with private grants covering roughly 50% and the state SUNY capital program providing the matching 50%. Upon approval, a new capital project will be created.

The college’s executive team told the committee the move is intended to address capacity constraints at the Middletown site and meet regional demand. Erica Hackman, provost and vice president for academic affairs and student services, said, “Last year, we only had over 230 applicants for 20 plus weeks in the program,” and added the program is “a very special high demand program.” Hackman said the college is planning to increase capacity by 50%, “so adding additional 12 seats.” John, who identified himself as vice president for workforce strategy and innovation, represented the college’s executive team alongside Hackman; college president Christine Young and Vice President Paul Martin were noted as absent.

Hackman told the committee graduates of the program are employed at “100% upon graduation, making a family sustaining wage.” She said the college used private fundraising — cited in the presentation as grants from the Mother of the Rainey Foundation and the Dyson Foundation — together with state SUNY capital funds to assemble the financing package. Committee members asked clarifying questions about student fees and whether the program gives county residents preference. Hackman replied there is no admissions preference coded for Orange County residents and explained SUNY rules limit differential tuition by program; she also said the college is reassessing program fees to better align higher-cost programs with higher program fees.

A motion to accept the grant funding and create the capital project was made and seconded; committee members voted in favor and the motion carried. The committee’s approval authorizes the new capital project to be created and the funding to be accepted; the transcript shows no separate county appropriation vote beyond that project-creation approval. The presenters emphasized that the county was not being asked for additional funds for the project at this meeting.

Details presented to the committee included the project cost ($724,327.50), the near-equal split of private grants and a SUNY state match, and a small difference in the total funding line noted in the materials (total funding listed as $724,900). The committee discussion included procedural clarifications about the 50% match and a brief question about chargebacks for out-of-county students; the presenters said chargebacks occur across programs but did not give a dollar figure. The committee vote was recorded as in favor with no opposition.