Adirondack Community College president outlines succession plan, enrollment and state tuition proposal

Adirondack Community College President Duffy told the Warren County Personnel and Education Committee that the college has hired a new vice president for administrative services and treasurer, is conducting a presidential search to replace his pending retirement, and is monitoring a state tuition proposal that could affect adult learners.

Duffy said Keith Kaplan began last week as vice president for administrative services and treasurer; Kaplan comes from the SUNY Research Foundation and has 17 years of experience in finance, accounting and auditing. Duffy said Kaplan will coordinate the college budget and work with county sponsors.

The president said the campus hosted four finalists this week for the presidential search; the Board of Trustees will choose one to three candidates to forward to the SUNY chancellor for review, and the SUNY Board of Trustees makes the final appointment. Duffy said the trustees hope to identify a candidate in March or April, dependent on the SUNY review schedule.

Duffy reviewed a proposal announced in the governor’s State of the State to offer free community college tuition for adults ages 25 to 55 studying in high‑need programs. Duffy said the proposal is modeled on a Massachusetts program and that the state budget book lists $28,000,000 for the concept, but the plan must still pass the legislature and funding be approved. Fields mentioned in the committee discussion included advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, health care, pathways to teaching and environmental/clean energy programs.

Duffy emphasized that the proposed program does not automatically increase operating aid for community colleges. He told the committee Warren County’s sponsor colleges continue to press the state to increase operating aid after five years of flat funding, and that county support still must meet the statutory requirement in state education law for community college funding.

Campus operations: Duffy said spring semester began last week with “lots of good energy.” He said enrollment is slightly down from last year but that the college does not expect the decline to affect the budget materially. The college plans to focus on adult learners and people with some college but no degree.

Duffy also described a recent federal pause and subsequent lifting of TRIO grant awards. He said the pause would have affected programs that serve about 250 students (first‑generation, low‑income and students with disabilities) but that the pause was lifted and the college can continue those services. Duffy added that Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding administered through Warren County Workforce Development supported a recent boot camp: 12 participants completed peer recovery advocate training in the fall; those trainings were paid with WIOA grants.

Duffy closed by inviting questions from the committee.