HVCC North expands health sciences with new center

MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Open house at Hudson Valley Community College North welcomed potential students inside the STEM Education Center before its first fall semester. The newest addition to the Saratoga County campus expands the health sciences program.

There's been a focus on technology and engineering at HVCC North since 2010. First came the TEC-SMART building to match the need for jobs at GlobalFoundries.

Executive Dean Jonathan Ashdown says more fields also have room to grow. "Since then, we've decided to expand that to fill a need in this region, especially in the skilled trades and health sciences."

Both the Troy and Malta campuses look to address the healthcare workforce shortage by being accessible wherever students are. The Dean of Health Sciences says most of what's being offered between the two locations is the same. "Anybody in the Allied Health professions; they can go here, get all their Gen Ed's and pre recs for the programs," explained Patricia Klimkewicz.

The goal at the north campus is to enroll 1,200 students over the next few years. The Vice President of Student Affairs expects the nursing program to fill the fastest at the STEM building and they've seen similar success in TEC-SMART.

"Electrical construction and maintenance has been huge. That program fills up on the main campus every year. We often have a wait list that we're pulling from for even the next academic years," described Ian LaChance.

For anyone making a last-minute decision to attend college, both HVCC campuses may be able to keep them on track for the fall semester. "We'll be taking them in all the way through the first week of classes. If they don't make it in time for the initial deadline for the traditional start, we have late-start classes that go on through September," said Rachel Jones, Assistant Director of Admissions.