MIDDLETOWN- Reporting data for the Spring 2024 semester shows that SUNY Orange welcomed 9.1 percent more students to its campuses this spring compared to a year ago, while registrations for credit-bearing courses surged ahead 10.4 percent, marking the fifth successive academic session that SUNY Orange has generated year-over-year enrollment gains.
Beginning with its 5.4 percent uptick last Spring, which ranked fifth among the 30 State University of New York community colleges for that semester, SUNY Orange has enjoyed increases of 19.2 percent in Summer 2023, 8.3 percent during the Fall 2023 semester (also fifth highest among SUNY community colleges), and 11.2 percent during the Winter 2024, all leading to this Spring’s jump.
At the reporting date in mid-February, SUNY Orange had 3,598 students registered, not including dual-enrolled students who participate in the College’s Community College in the High School (CCHS) program. Those students will be added to the College’s final enrollment tally later in the Spring in time for a May reporting deadline to SUNY.
“For more than a year now, enrollment has been consistently trending upward and I could not be more proud of the work of our entire College community,” said SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young. “We are following our Strategic Plan and our Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. We are recruiting and enrolling new students and taking advantage of partnerships in the community to bring greater awareness to the value of a college education.
“But most importantly, we are supporting the students of today so they can maintain momentum toward completing their studies,” Young added. “Our retention this Spring is up 10.7 percent, which is the result of the hard work of our faculty, advisors, tutors, student services staff and academic support team. I feel such a positive energy on both campuses from students and colleagues.”
In addition to the 10.7 percent boost in continuing students, the College registered 6.9 percent more new first-time students while enrollment was ahead 10.3 percent among Black and African American students, and 8.4 percent among Hispanic students. Full-time student enrollment, those taking 12 credits or more, is up 11.7 percent.
Two developments this semester that have helped with enrollment include the expansion of the Newburgh campus nursing program by 50 percent (24 students) and the implementation of the SUNY-funded Advancing Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP) in which the College can coalesce a variety of support services to help eligible students in its Business and Criminal Justice degree programs to study full-time. At the outset of the semester, the ASAP program included 26 full-time students who may receive financial assistance for tuition and books, as well as access to other services.
