Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) recently reviewed significant milestones achieved in 2025 while outlining its objectives and challenges for 2026. Leaders from MVCC, including Marketing Communications Strategist Jennifer Fanelli and Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Alen Smajic, provided insights into the college’s progress and future plans across its Utica and Rome campuses.
The college highlighted its program expansion, state and national recognition, and ongoing commitment to workforce development. Notably, MVCC introduced a new associate in applied science degree program in fashion design within its School of Art. Additionally, the college expanded its microcredential offerings to meet the rising demand for targeted skill development and shorter-term training programs.
Investment in Facilities and Workforce Development
Improvements to facilities were also a focal point, with MVCC unveiling the revamped Payne Hall room 102, which enhances instructional technology for students. On the Utica campus, a significant milestone was reached in September when MVCC and community leaders broke ground on the Applied Technology Center. This nearly $50 million, two-story facility, covering 63,760 square feet, aims to support hands-on training in science and technology, aligning closely with regional workforce needs.
Randall VanWagoner, President of MVCC, emphasized the importance of the new center, stating, “That’s really where the magic happens. I’m so happy and proud to have the faculty ready to go with this, and it can’t happen soon enough.” The college is also expanding its facilities to accommodate high-demand programs, including the Dental Hygiene Lab at the Rome campus.
MVCC’s free FastTrack career program has expanded beyond healthcare, manufacturing, and trades to now include education and professional services. Popular offerings now include teacher assistant, certified nursing assistant, and phlebotomy programs. Since January 2023, FastTrack has enrolled approximately 100 students per month, boasting a completion rate of 70%. Notably, around 60% of participants are aged 25 or older, and 60% identify as people of color. A FastTrack Career Fair was organized in November to connect students with regional employers.
Recognition and Partnerships
MVCC has garnered recognition for its workforce initiatives, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul designating the college as an ON-RAMP workforce development center. The first phase of the initiative, a $300,000 assessment, has been completed, and a proposal for phase two, requesting $20 million in state funding with an equal match, was submitted in December. The college also received $2.3 million in state funds to replicate its successful FastTrack model at other regional colleges through the Mohawk Valley Empowers program.
In addition to these achievements, MVCC received several accolades, including recognition from the New York Community College Trustees organization for David Mathis and the college’s C3 program. MVCC was also named a 2025 Leader College by Achieving the Dream, a national network focused on promoting student success and equity. The college showcased its leadership in institutional innovation at the Watermark Conference in June in Washington, D.C., and became a founding partner in Jobs for the Future’s 75 Million Network, aimed at expanding access to quality jobs.
Collaborations with local institutions also played a significant role in MVCC’s initiatives. The college partnered with SUNY Polytechnic Institute to enhance academic pathways and regional impact, and worked with Turning Stone Enterprises on an Innovative Skilled Trades Education Program. Additionally, MVCC’s School of Art students collaborated with the City of Utica to design stickers for the city’s “Experience Utica” initiative.
MVCC also hosted the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Track and Field Championships and supported three FIRST Robotics teams competing at the World Championship level. A historic achievement for the college was the first graduation ceremony at the Marcy Correctional Facility for students enrolled in the MVCC College in Prison Program.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As MVCC looks towards 2026, leaders have identified several challenges that may impact campus operations. These include the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, ongoing funding concerns for community colleges, gaps in the skilled workforce, and shifts in federal and SUNY policies. They also noted rising operational costs and increasing student mental health and financial struggles as critical issues.
Major area employers, including Wolfspeed and Micron, are expected to influence regional workforce needs and enrollment trends. Campus leaders anticipate broader shifts in higher education, including the SUNY Reconnect initiative, increased focus on microcredentials and digital badging, and the expansion of non-traditional pathways into college. New technologies such as website chatbots and advanced sensors are also shaping student and institutional needs.
MVCC has been selected as a host site for a SUNY ATTAIN Lab, which aims to provide a free community resource focused on workforce readiness, career advancement, and access to higher education for New York State residents. Strategic priorities for the upcoming year include increasing student completion rates, strengthening the educational pipeline, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and developing the regional workforce.
Upcoming initiatives will also address compliance with new federal ADA regulations for web content and mobile applications by an April deadline, continued Middle States accreditation self-study efforts, and participation in Special Olympics New York programming from 2026 through 2028. Currently, MVCC employs 385 full-time employees across its campuses, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for education and workforce development.
