Tompkins Cortland Community College reports 28% fall enrollment gain; Tompkins County sets public hearing for operating budget

Tompkins Cortland Community College President Amy Kreminick and Chief Financial Officer Dennis Panaguitas told the Tompkins County Legislature on June 17 that TC3 is seeing an unexpectedly large increase in fall enrollment and outlined budget adjustments and program changes as the county authorized a public hearing on the college's 2025-26 operating budget.

"Currently we are up 28%, which is extraordinary," Amy Kreminick said, describing a combination of recruitment and administrative changes the college credits for the spike. Kreminick said TC3 redesigned admission processes, created a one-stop Panther Welcome Center, and expanded outreach and SUNY Reconnect recruitment for adults.

Dennis Panaguitas provided the college's revenue and expense picture, noting a mix of funding sources and cost pressures. "A very big portion of our expenses goes to wages and benefits," he said, adding that collective bargaining increases and higher health-benefit costs pushed wages and benefits to roughly 70'75% of expenses. The college plans a modest 1.7% tuition increase to $5,664 and expects to reduce nonpersonnel expenses by about 11% to limit use of fund balance; projected use of fund balance next year is about $28,000, the presenters said.

Kreminick and Panaguitas reviewed academic and workforce plans: a new associate of science transfer program in health sciences designed for transfer to SUNY Upstate; a paused/deactivated culinary arts program pending review; workforce programs including CDL training in July (partnering with BOCES), pre-apprenticeship and manufacturing partnerships, and an EMT program offered in cooperation with SUNY Upstate.

Legislators asked whether the college has capacity for the enrollment increase and how tuition projections reflect growth. Kreminick said the college will rely on adjunct faculty and flexible scheduling, with more evening and online offerings expected. Panaguitas said the adopted budget takes a conservative approach to enrollment projections for 2025-26 because of federal and economic uncertainties.

The legislature voted unanimously to authorize a public hearing on the TC3 operating budget at the July 15 meeting.

Nut graf: TC3 presented large enrollment gains and accompanying budgetary and program adjustments; county legislators authorized a public hearing to consider the college's 2025-26 operating budget and to gather public comment.

Background: Kreminick told the legislature TC3 has about 55% of core students from the sponsoring counties (Tompkins or Cortland) and highlighted new transfer agreements and workforce-training initiatives. Panaguitas said the college's unrestricted fund balance is projected around $4.4 million (roughly 15%), and noted actions to shrink expenses and manage facilities costs.

What happens next: The legislature will hold the public hearing July 15; TC3 will continue enrollment monitoring and implementation of workforce programs.