HVCC Loses Ten Million Dollars As Enrollment Plummets
By Nolan Cleary, Managing Editor
For nearly 67 years, Hudson Valley Community College has been a staple of the community. Since 2011, ten of thousands have enrolled. However, now in the wake of the COVID-19, Hudson Valley appears to have a problem; a big money problem.
Recently it was reported that Hudson Valley has lost a reported ten million in money. The pandemic reportedly cost the college, big time. Additionally, enrollment down big time.
Following the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester, Hudson Valley President Roger A. Ramsammy ramped up marketing for the school. On the Hudson Valley YouTube channel, Ramsammy encourages students to enroll in the video “President Ramsammy Encourages Students to Enroll for Fall Semester”. With over 17,000 views, it is by far the most-watched video of 2020 on the HVCC YouTube channel. Many students reported that the ad played before multiple different YouTube videos they watched.
However, in spite of the loud and energetic ad campaign, Hudson Valley’s enrollment seems to be in the can. Many are concerned that fears over the COVID-19 pandemic could be influencing students to not take classes, or that the brutal economic consequences of the virus may make tuition not an option.
This issue perhaps no more essential than among the Student Senate, where Senators aren’t just having to deal with budgeting for clubs and services across campus, but a lack of participation as well.
Savannah Shulkin is a student at Hudson Valley Community College and the current Vice President of the Student Senate. She says that a lack of participation has been a major issue for students. “Due to the combination of a drop in enrollment and the current state of finances in our state system, the HVCC Student Student budget took a decline in comparison to previous years.”
Regardless, Shulkin says that hasn’t affected her position as Vice President. “So far my experience in the Vice President’s role has been wonderful! I have enjoyed planning virtual events, doing social media outreach, and getting the Student Senate staffed for the next year of student advocacy!” She told us.
However, amongst the hustle and bustle, one fear looms over students as a whole: budget cuts. With Hudson Valley losing money by the millions, and enrollment down vastly, could the services students rely on disappear or being underfunded?
Shulkin has denied any such budget cuts that will happen for the foreseeable future. “There are no plans for cutting the funding for any clubs or services that are under our budget,” Shulkin said.
On an episode of The Hudsonian’s new podcast, The Hud., Student Senate President Reece Harrison addressed the concerns of spending when it came specifically to the Student Senate.
“Our budget comes a little bit more directly from the students. It doesn’t really come from the Governor or the state. So it won’t affect (the Student Senate) That said, enrollment is down, so that will definitely affect us as much as it will the rest of the college but (President) Ramsammy and (Vice President) Dennis (Kennedy) are really working well together to get some more advertising up and increase enrollment.”
Harrison says he’s prepared if Governor Cuomo attempts to cut funding. “If the Governor cuts some of our funding we’re going to see if we can get more students and make it up so none of the students have to feel the loss in funding themselves.”
In an upcoming episode of The Hud. podcast, Alfredo Balarin, the Director of Student Life at Hudson Valley Community College discussed how funding might affect basic services for students. Alfredo says that savings from travel and a lack of student workers should compensate for basic services if a budget cut does eventually happen.
“We’re going to be in really good, solid shape. None of our clubs should be concerned about not having funding. None of our student governments should be concerned. It’s because of the way we’re funded, that we’re kind in many ways shielded from a lot of the other issues.” Balarin said.