水果派AV

The shock was evident as Orman discussed the closure with 水果派AV, hours after Wells informed employees and students that this semester would be its last.聽

"It's a sad day," Orman said. "You have such an economic impact on the village ... It's hard to describe."聽

After years of declining enrollment and financial struggles, Wells College decided to cease operations. Jonathan Gibralter, the college's president, and Marie Chapman Carroll, chair of the board of trustees, said the institution "does not have adequate financial resources to continue."聽

The closure of the 156-year-old college will affect 370 students and nearly 200 employees. The students who aren't graduating this year will be offered opportunities to transfer to other institutions, with Wells identifying Manhattanville College as its preferred "teach-out" partner.聽

Orman said it's too early to say what impact losing Wells College would have on Aurora. The employees and students at the college provided a boost to the village's economy by frequenting local businesses. Many employees, he noted, live in the village.聽

One potential impact is how Aurora will proceed with projects funded by a $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant. Aurora joined with Cayuga and Union Springs to apply for the grant and the villages were announced as the winners in February.聽

One of the proposed DRI projects is the creation of a workforce development center at Cleveland Hall on the Wells College campus. There would be office space for village officials within the facility, but Orman is unsure whether that project will move forward.聽

Among the other local leaders reacting to Wells College's announcement is Cayuga County Legislature Chairwoman Aileen McNabb-Coleman, who told 水果派AV that she is following up with Gibralter and Orman "to provide support wherever possible between now and June."聽

"On behalf of Cayuga County, our thoughts are with the administration, students, workforce and the Aurora community upon the heartbreaking news of the closure of Wells College, a longstanding fixture in Cayuga County for 156 years," McNabb-Coleman said.聽

State Sen. Rachel May, who represents Cayuga County, described Wells' announcement as "devastating news" in a statement provided to 水果派AV. She said she has spoken with Gibralter and offered assistance to the college, employees, students and the surrounding community.聽

"Wells College has been a venerable and creative institution, educating students, employing faculty and staff, and serving as a good neighbor in Aurora for over a century and a half," May said. "The winds of change in higher education these days just proved too strong for them to withstand."

Wells is the latest upstate New York private college to close. The College of Saint Rose in Albany announced in December that it will close at the end of the academic year. Cazenovia College in Madison County closed in 2023.聽

Gov. Kathy Hochul is aware of Wells College's decision to close at the end of the semester. A spokesperson for Hochul said the governor is "committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for students and the community impacted by this closure. Our administration will assist students, as needed, to ensure they are able to complete their degrees at other institutions."聽