The overflow lots at Ammerman aren't exactly overflowing. We would not mind hearing complaints about lack of parking again. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

During the first meetings of the college seminar classes I teach, I start a discussion to hear what’s going well for students and where I can assist them in their first two weeks of their college experience.

Typically students share stories and anecdotes of caring professors, interesting courses and—the most popular topic—parking on campus. This is always the number one complaint of students, but this year I only heard it a few times. The reason for the surplus of available parking spaces is the result of consistent, yearly enrollment declines at the college.

The college has faced a number of enrollment challenges in the last few years. In fall 2015, the college had a total enrollment of 28,194 students and this fall semester the number fell to 26,523. Although this is the total, current enrollment of the college, the real numbers paint a different picture.

The current 26,000+ student enrollment figure includes 1,264 continuing education students and 4,775 high school students enrolled in the Beacon program. This means the full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, consisting of 15,290 FTEs, is down 977 FTEs in comparison to the fall 2018.

To put this in the perspective, we have 365 fewer sections of classes being offered this semester.

SCCC is not the only community college experiencing low enrollment. Collectively, all of the SUNY community colleges have experienced dramatic decreases to their enrollment. From 2009 to 2019, there was an overall 25.5% decrease in FTE enrollment from 192,392 students to 143,406.

Across the country, community college enrollment declined by 3.4% since last year. This decline can be attributed in part to a strong economy, which is experiencing record low unemployment. Also, the state Excelsior scholarship program may have taken eligible students from the community college system as those students chose to enroll at four-year institutions.

The enrollment decline will likely be exacerbated in the future as the CDC announced in May that the birthrate in the U.S. declined for a fourth straight year to a 32-year record low. The story is no different in Suffolk County. There are similar demographic changes, as we have seen a lower number of high school graduates, which is reflected in our enrollment: we have 1,000 fewer first-time, full-time first year students this fall compared to fall 2015.

Many reasons help explain why people are having fewer children, and the economy may not be as strong as unemployment figures suggest. Regardless, declining enrollment impacts our members. Fewer students means fewer sections and fewer services for students, which means fewer assignments for our members.

One solution would be a good old-fashioned recession because that is when people tend to enroll at their local community college for education and professional development. A recession, however, is not a positive solution as people lose jobs and potentially their houses and savings. As a union, we of course would never hope for people to lose their jobs.

The best solution we have is to work with the college in coming up with creative ways to retain our current students and continue to provide the best educational experience for the citizens of Suffolk County. Further, it’s important to note that in providing personal, intellectual transformation for our students, we look forward to the day when the value of higher education is universally sought after regardless of demographic and economic shifts.

In the meantime, there is still plenty of parking. Let’s work together to do all we can to keep those spots as filled as possible. That's one issue I wouldn't mind hearing my students complain about again.