By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On July 24, Cazenovia College hosted a College/Community Breakfast to update Cazenovia business owners and community leaders on the growth and direction of the institution.
During his opening remarks, Cazenovia College President Dr. Ronald Chesbrough assured the group that the school is “a strong, vibrant institution with a bright future.”
Chesbrough reported that the college has experienced an upturn in enrollment following “a couple of challenging years that everybody in [the] sector experienced.”
The president noted the enrollment increase is due in large part to the efforts of Associate Dean of Admissions Kristen Bowers and her team.
“The simple fact is that the number of college-going high-school students in our chief recruiting region is going down . . . [Meanwhile,] the competition is going up,” he said. “We took a couple of hits which we’ve carried with us for a few years, but the great news is that Kristen and her staff have engineered what I can only describe as a turn around in our enrollment trends.”
According to Tim Greene, director of communications & marketing, the college experienced a 25 percent increase in new students in 2018 (compared to 2017) and projects an additional 20 percent increase for fall 2019.
“I am extremely proud of the fact that we have now had two years of double-digit increases in new students,” Chesbrough said. “There are not many small private colleges in New York that can make that claim. I attribute our growth to our ongoing commitment to providing students with a quality, personalized academic experience that their families can afford.”
Following the president’s introduction, Bowers provided a snapshot of the incoming class.
So far, 280 students — including freshmen and transfers — have committed to attend Cazenovia College this fall.
The class represents 19 states and five countries.
Bowers commented on the noticeable increase in the number of enrolled students from outside of New York State in the past several years.
“People outside of [the state] are hearing about Cazenovia, they like what they hear, they’re expressing an interest in visiting, and they’re enrolling, most importantly,” Bowers said.
She also noted an increase in international interest in the college, which she said is largely due to the school’s attractive athletic program.
This fall, the campus will welcome students from Albania, the Bahamas, Germany, Kenya and Sweden.
After introducing the incoming class, Bowers highlighted six of the most attractive aspects of the college — as identified through conversations with enrolled and prospective students and their families.
1. Academic opportunities
The college currently offers more than 35 academic programs, four different bachelor’s degrees, and a new master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Bowers said the most popular programs of 2019 include equine business management, criminal justice (two programs offered), business and management, interior design and visual communications.
2. Small, personalized learning experience
Cazenovia College offers a 10:1 student to faculty ratio and an average class size of 14 students.
Bowers said the small size of both the college and the village enables students to develop productive relationships with the faculty, members of the community, and local alumni who maintain strong connections to the college.
3. Vibrant student life
The institution is home to over 50 student clubs and organizations and presents more than 100 campus activities such as live music, comedy shows and movies.
Bowers credited Dr. Karey Pine, vice president of student affairs, for helping to create a vibrant and welcoming collegiate environment.
“The activities [and] events that have been offered in the short year that she has been here are truly impressive,” Bowers said. “There is just so much more to see, so much more to do and so much more collaboration between the campus community and the village as a whole.”
4. Opportunity to participate in athletics
Approximately 31 percent of students participate in one of the 15 varsity sports offered through the college’s division III athletic program.
5. Outcomes (internships, careers, connections)
93 percent of recent Cazenovia College graduates report being employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
Students prepare for the professional world through hands-on, real-world experience and interactions with Career Services and the alumni network.
About 96 percent of students complete at least one internship opportunity.
6. Small, safe and friendly surrounding community
Bowers emphasized the importance of maintaining the strong connection between the college and the village.
“I hear from many of our prospective students and their families that our relationship with the surrounding community is an important factor in their college decision,” she said. “We are fortunate to have a beautiful, welcoming village that we can include as a unique component [of] our prospective student tour experience. It truly makes a difference.”
To learn more about Cazenovia College, visit cazenovia.edu.
