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SUNY Sullivan reports improved enrollment and expanded adult‑learner and student support programs ahead of budget presentation
Summary
SUNY Sullivan officials told the committee they are preparing a budget presentation, reported enrollment growth compared with last year, and outlined new adult-learner funding (SUNY Reconnect), expanded nursing cohorts, emergency student aid, a redesigned food pantry and after-hours counseling access.
A SUNY Sullivan representative told the Government Services Committee the college will return for a budget presentation and that early fall enrollment is trending ahead of last year, with "up 53 students this time versus last year" as of the Tuesday reported in the meeting.
The representative said the college is preparing materials on financial health, accreditation (Middle States) compliance, and enrollment. The college cited support from SUNY and from Governor Hochul's budget push for adult learners, and a campus colleague described a SUNY Reconnect initiative that covers students ages 25 to 55 in certain high-demand programs.
"Effective spring '26, we're gonna have 5 cohorts and around 100 nursing students," a college official said about planned nursing program expansion, and the college said nursing will also offer evening cohorts to expand access.
SUNY Sullivan told the committee it is expanding student supports: more emergency financial aid for students, a posted position to support the food pantry, intrusive advising to boost retention, and a contract with a counseling service (Better Mind) to provide after-hours access to counselors. The college also reported a partnership with Handshake for job placement and noted improvements in FAFSA completion rates across county high schools.
The representative said the college is tracking FAFSA completion and that outreach and the Sullivan Promise program make the community college an affordable option. The college also mentioned an internal audit and follow-up work with SUNY Finance and a second audit cohort that will inform future structural conversations.
Committee members asked that the college present a breakdown of how many students are in-county versus out-of-county and how many Sullivan Promise recipients use the college; the college said it could provide that at the upcoming budget meeting.
