Corning Community College president outlines enrollment decline, workforce and ACE program changes

Dr. Terrence Finley, who said he has been on the job about 45 days, told the Steuben County Legislature that Corning Community College is adapting to a changing higher‑education landscape marked by declining on‑campus enrollment and growth in concurrent‑enrollment and workforce training.

Finley and college colleagues described roughly 15 degree programs, 10 workforce‑oriented programs and 17 microcredential offerings. Kim Frock, introduced by Finley as interim administrator in charge before his arrival, said community colleges nationwide have seen sharp enrollment shifts: the presenters reported a roughly 40% decline in on‑campus enrollment between 2019 and 2023 while concurrent‑enrollment (ACE) participation has grown. The college said about 800 students from Steuben County were served last academic year (about 36% of its student body) and that the ACE program has produced $5,100,000 in earned credit value over five years. The college announced it will return ACE tuition to the pre‑fall‑2019 charge of one‑third of campus tuition and explained that school districts may seek state reimbursement under recent BOCES/State arrangements.

Legislators asked follow‑up questions about FTE calculations and the county's funding relationship; the college said FTE ties directly to funding, that 30 credits equal one FTE, and that state SUNY Reconnect provides last‑dollar scholarships for adults in workforce‑aligned programs. College speakers thanked the county for its financial support and noted work underway to streamline certificate‑of‑residency paperwork with the county clerk. No county budget vote was taken during the presentation.