Dr. Daniel P. Larson is President of Cayuga Community College, with campuses in Auburn and Fulton, N.Y.

For some, it may be the smell of burning vehicles. For others, it may be unexpected loud noises. Everyone at a recent meeting of the new Veterans Club on the Auburn campus shared at least one trigger that transported them back to traumatic moments during their service in the U.S. military.  Post-traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain injuries, activating housing, healthcare, and educational benefits, and difficulty transitioning into civilian life are just some challenges faced by our growing numbers of student veterans. These students have bonded together to give voice to their unique concerns, and
action is being taken for them.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of our veteran students, the College is instituting programs, policies, and systems that follow guidelines outlined by the American Council on Education to become more veteran friendly. In the past year, our new Veterans Working Group, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, is developing short-term, low resource improvements to student-veteran experiences. The group is making recommendations for long-term strategies based on research, review of peer institutions, and best practices. The group took the lead in developing the Veteran Regional Consortium that pulls together academic institutions from Central and Northern New York, Fort Drum, federal, state, county, and local governments, and community-based organizations. The group has devised an ambitious agenda of developing strong networks that will advocate for, reach out to, and share information and resources with veterans.

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Each Fall, we welcome a new class of students who come to Cayuga Community College with a broad range of backgrounds and academic goals. Some want to take a course or two for personal enrichment or to gain knowledge for their current careers. Others plan to earn their degrees and enter the workforce, and still others come to Cayuga with the goal of transferring to four-year institutions.

A survey of the incoming 2,911 students registered thus far this Fall indicates that 1,411 or nearly one-half have not yet set academic goals. Only 1,283 students or 44 percent indicated that they actually plan to complete their degree programs. Of those who do, 586 want to seek employment rather than transfer to four-year institutions, and the remaining 697 plan to transfer to four-year colleges for further education. Continue reading →

Dr. Daniel P. Larson is President of Cayuga Community College, with campuses in Auburn and Fulton, N.Y.

Only a month after summer registration started this year, more than 300 students were registered in our online courses, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and Microbiology, at Cayuga Community College. We are distinguished among our State University of New York and national peers as a leader with these online, intensive, laboratory-based science courses.

Using computer simulations and online laboratory exercises, A&P students explore the structure, function, and relationship of body parts. Online microbiology students order laboratory kits, including microscopes, conduct experiments, and report their findings in the online learning environment. Because our innovative science faculty has translated these courses successfully into the online environment, academic advisors at colleges and universities across the country send their students to us to pick up these courses over the summer. The sections fill up quickly – we now offer 20 sections of 20 students each in A&P I and II, required in many nursing and healthcare programs. The growth of these web-based science courses parallels the growth we see with online courses across the curriculum.

Since Cayuga first began delivering online courses in 1998, we have seen exponential growth in the number of students and courses. Today, we offer more than 60 sections of 100 different courses and six degrees fully online, and more than 50 percent of the required courses online for six other degree programs. Nearly all faculty members use the online learning management system to “web enhance” their courses. So, even as they meet in on-campus classrooms, students access the online environment to turn in assignments, check the syllabus, communicate with faculty, and post their comments to discussion boards.  Continue reading →

Dr. Daniel P. Larson is President of Cayuga Community College, with campuses in Auburn and Fulton, N.Y.

Dr. Daniel P. Larson is President of Cayuga Community College, with campuses in Auburn and Fulton, N.Y.

From their beginnings, community colleges in the United States have helped support the development of the middle class.  Now, countries around the world, such as India, China and those in the Mideast, are looking at the American community college model to expand higher education opportunities for their students, to create a more employable workforce and to build a middle class.  Cayuga Community College hosted a delegation of diplomats and educator this Spring from several Mideast countries interested in learning about alternatives in higher education and specifically about community colleges.  They want to find a model to educate all their citizens, not just the wealthy.  We found them to be engaged and open to the work we are doing here at Cayuga.

Our community college model is compelling as we provide high-quality education at an affordable price and accessible to all people.  We provide a strong foundation in liberal arts to those wishing to pursue four-year degrees or higher, and we offer degree programs to prepare career-ready workers in fields such as nursing, telecommunications, information technology, mechanical technology, and criminal justice.  At Cayuga, regardless of whether students are focused on career-technical training or on liberal arts, we promote academic excellence and challenge our students with rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, and opportunities to distinguish themselves inside and outside of the classroom.  Continue reading →