Despite the pandemic and reduced enrollment numbers SUNY-wide, SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus saw an eight percent increase in enrollment during the 2020 fall semester. (Photo by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO COUNTY – While SUNY Morrisville had its fair share of challenges like many others in the education world, they still saw an increase in enrollment in the fall of 2020.

According to SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus Director Lindsey Lefevre, while the SUNY system as a whole experienced close to a six percent decline in enrollment, the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus saw over an eight percent increase in total students for the fall 2020 semester, especially within the academic programs of Nursing, Business and Human Services.

With the unknowns surrounding enrolling at a traditional residential college campus, students cited several reasons for choosing to attend the Norwich Campus including the small size of the campus, affordability and flexible options to advantage of in-person as well as virtual learning.

“Through regular COVID testing and pre-arrival screening efforts, the Norwich Campus plans to increase the number of on-campus classes and labs to allow for 70 percent of the total student population to have an on-campus opportunity,” said Lefevre. “Faculty also have access to various forms of technology and learning platforms to provide flexibility to those students who may be in quarantine or have daycare concerns.”

“It was also imperative that the campus continued to engage students through involvement with on and off campus projects and events, and if I had to characterize the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus in the year 2020, it would have to build around the themes of community and collaboration.”