Messages From the President

As we welcome students, faculty, and staff back for the fall semester, I also want to welcome the residents of Herkimer County to a new academic year at Herkimer County Community College. For 60 years, this college has been part of the fabric of our community. Generations of Herkimer County residents have come here to begin their education, prepare for careers, discover new possibilities, and build better lives for themselves and their families.

This fall, we are proud to celebrate that history while also being honest about the work ahead. Like many colleges across the country, we face real challenges. Changing demographics, enrollment pressures, financial realities, and an increasingly competitive higher education landscape require us to make thoughtful and sometimes difficult decisions. If we want this college to be strong for the next 60 years, we must be willing to adapt, focus, and move forward with a clear sense of purpose. That is why we have identified four key priorities for the year ahead.

Brand Identity: We are working to strengthen and clarify who we are as Herkimer County Community College. We have a remarkable history, a strong reputation, and a unique role in this community, but we need to tell our story more clearly and consistently. We want people throughout the region to understand what HCCC offers, who we serve, and why a community college education can be one of the most meaningful investments a student can make. Our message is simple: Learn locally. Impact globally. 

Enrollment Management: Our future depends on attracting, enrolling, retaining, and graduating more students. That requires a more intentional and coordinated approach to enrollment, from how we connect with prospective students to how we support them once they arrive. We will strengthen our relationships with local schools, expand opportunities for adult learners, improve recruitment and retention efforts, and ensure that students have clear pathways to careers and further education.

Financial Sustainability: We are continuing to build a stronger and more sustainable financial future for the college. That means being thoughtful about how we use our resources, aligning our programs and operations with student and regional needs, and making responsible decisions that position the college for long-term success. We are also encouraged by a renewed relationship with the Herkimer Community College Foundation and look forward to working together in support of our students, our mission, and the future of the college. Our responsibility is not simply to sustain the college we have today, but to ensure that Herkimer County Community College is positioned to serve and thrive for generations to come.

Communication: We know that meaningful progress requires clear, consistent, and honest communication. This year, we are committed to improving how we communicate with our students, employees, alumni, community members, and partners. As we move forward, we want to create an environment where people feel informed, connected, and included. Clear, consistent, and open communication will help us better understand one another, share ideas, celebrate progress, and work together toward our common goals.

But communication is also about how we work with and support one another. This year, I've asked all HCCC employees to take a moment every day to ask: How have I helped a colleague succeed today? Building a stronger college requires us to look beyond our individual roles and departments, support one another, share information, solve problems together, and recognize that the success of one person contributes to the success of the entire institution. When we help each other succeed, we create a stronger culture and, ultimately, a better experience for our students.

The four aforementioned priorities are connected. A stronger brand helps us reach more students. Better enrollment management supports our financial sustainability. Clear communication builds trust and strengthens relationships. Together, these four priorities will help us build a more focused, responsive, and sustainable college.

This year also marks an important milestone as we celebrate 60 years of Herkimer County Community College. We want this anniversary to be about more than looking back. Throughout this past year, we have been looking for opportunities to give back through 60 Acts of Service that make a difference across Herkimer County. We invite local organizations, nonprofits, and residents to help us identify needs and opportunities where our students and employees can lend a hand. As we celebrate 60 years of serving this community, we want to honor that history by continuing to serve the people who have supported this college for generations. If your organization serves Herkimer County, you’re invited to submit a Community Organization Service Request Form to be considered as one of our official 60 projects.

We also invite you to support the future of HCCC through Mohawk Valley Gives. In recognition of our 60th anniversary, we are asking our alumni, friends, employees, and community members to consider a gift of $60 for 60 years. Every contribution helps create opportunities for our students and strengthens the college's ability to continue serving this community.

As an alumna and someone with deep roots in Herkimer County, I have tremendous confidence in the potential of this college and this community. We have an opportunity this year to build on our strengths, learn from where we are today, and focus our energy on the opportunities ahead. There is important work to do, but there is also so much to be excited about as we continue to grow, strengthen, and shape the future of the greater Mohawk Valley together.

So, as we begin this fall semester, I invite the people of Herkimer County to be part of this journey. Visit our campus. Attend an event. Partner with us. Hire our students. Share your ideas. Help us identify opportunities for service. And, if you are able, please support the college with a gift of $60 for 60 years during Mohawk Valley Gives.

This is your community college. Its history belongs to all of us, and so does its future. We’re building the future. Come build it with us.