Plans Develop for SUNY Satellite in Port Jervis

PORT JERVIS – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus met with SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine M. Young, County Legislator Tom Faggione and City of Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker recently to discuss plans for a satellite campus in Port Jervis.

The meeting, which served as an initial planning session, was held at the Port Jervis High School’s library. Port Jervis City Schools Superintendent Thomas M. Bongiovi also attended the meeting.

“As someone educated in Orange County’s schools from kindergarten through college, I know first-hand how important having quality local schools is,” Neuhaus said. “This is big news for Port Jervis and I am pleased to be working with SUNY Orange to create this wonderful opportunity.”

Neuhaus and the group discussed a variety of topics, including what types of educational courses are most needed by Port Jervis and what educational opportunities would be most popular with residents. They also addressed the barriers Port Jervis residents can face when it comes to student access, retention and success in college, and how to reduce them.

The SUNY Orange classrooms are scheduled to be constructed at 150 Pike Street in Port Jervis by July with classes starting in September.

“I am passionate about expanding access to higher education and broadening the College’s reach as we seek to address the diverse needs of today’s students,” Young said. “We are honored to be able to offer residents in Port Jervis, and throughout the western part of the county, a selection of academic and enrichment courses that are designed for them.”

Added Young: “We saw a need that can be met, and we share County Executive Steve Neuhaus’ vision with respect to the Port Jervis area. We appreciate the County’s assistance with the Pike Street location, and for making our presence in Port Jervis attractive from a facilities and financial standpoint. The County and the College have been partners for a long time, and this is yet another example of how, together, we can improve the quality of life for all residents of Orange County.”

SUNY Orange was founded in 1950 as the first county-sponsored community college in the State University of New York system and was the first two-year college in the nation to offer the associate degree nursing program and studies in electron microscopy. More than 420,000 people have enrolled in a wide range of credit and non-credit classes at the Middletown campus, the Newburgh Campus and satellite locations across Orange County.

“The City of Port Jervis is happy to partner with SUNY Orange and Orange County to bring new programs here to our city,” Decker said. “It has been a pleasure working closely with County Executive Neuhaus and his team along with SUNY Orange President Young and the college to put together an excellent program of higher learning. The County’s commitment to classroom space at its Pike Street complex and the college’s commitment to new innovative classes are much appreciated.”