51成人导航

The 51成人导航 (51成人导航) leadership team, with support of the Board of Trustees, has closely monitored the fiscal health of our institution and how to reconcile it with national trends affecting the community. Enrollment declines further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, flat state funding for several years, and the natural rate of inflation, has left the College with a structural deficit.

Upon assuming leadership of the College on July 1, 2023, one of Dr. Marta Yera Cronin鈥檚 priorities was to thoroughly assess the institution鈥檚 financial health with the guidance of financial advisors, auditors, the College鈥檚 leadership team and the Board of Trustees. The College community was kept apprised of assessment updates through bi-annual town hall meetings, a financial town hall in December 2025, and direct communication with department heads indicating that every area was being examined for operational efficiencies.

As a result of this prolonged financial examination, the challenging decision was made to adopt a reduced operating budget, which is nearing completion, for fiscal 2026-27, that will set a course for a more sustainable and secure fiscal future.

With this assessment of the national higher education landscape, the College鈥檚 finances, and the needs of Delaware and Chester Counties, the College determined it was best to consolidate our locations. 51成人导航 closed two of its Delaware County centers (located in Sharon Hill and Upper Darby), to enhance the operations of that region鈥檚 new Southeast Center in Drexel Hill. Chester County鈥檚 Pennocks Bridge Center (West Grove) will close in June 2026. Additionally, rented teaching kitchen spaces in Phoenixville and Marple were closed in 2025. The 51成人导航 community of students and employees were informed of these changes in 2024 and 2025 accordingly.

The newly opened Southeast Center in Drexel Hill provides the educational programs and facilities that are imperative to the economic impact of the region. The Southeast Center now houses leading-edge culinary arts classrooms and teaching kitchens, an entire wing devoted to workforce training and certification, a separate building for early childhood education classrooms and observation labs in partnership with the YMCA, and all the student services that have always set 51成人导航 apart as the community鈥檚 college.

In Chester County we have maintained ownership of our thriving Downingtown Center, which houses a nursing SIM lab, STEM wing, and student support services for our Chester County students.

The College鈥檚 main campus in Marple Township, Delaware County, continues to be the anchor of our institution, with robust Learning Commons resources, a state-of-the-art STEM building and Advanced Technology Center, Art Gallery and Theatre productions for the surrounding community.

Additional cost-saving measures were deployed to address the projected deficit and remain fiscally responsible in the years to come. The most difficult component of these cost-saving measures was the decision to conduct an organizational restructure, eliminating 43 employee positions from all levels of the College. This decision reflects the current operational demands rather than maintaining staffing levels that do not mirror student enrollment trends.

All part-time counselor positions were eliminated to apply the costs of those resources to other student need-based areas. 51成人导航 leadership is in the process of bargaining in good faith with union officials regarding the full-time counselors and, therefore, is unable to provide details at this time.

Despite this shift in resources, 51成人导航 will continue to provide students with the support they need to be successful, including:

Robust academic advising and counseling services, providing support for their academic journeys:

–Communicating and assisting students in understanding degree requirements, policies, and procedures and assisting in selecting appropriate coursework and co-curricular activities.

–Providing a respectful and confidential space to ask questions, discuss interests, and academic concerns as they arise.

–Giving encouragement in developing realistic academic goals corresponding to personal, educational and career factors.

–Assisting students in identifying and connecting with appropriate College resources and services.

The Essential Student Resource Center – located at both Marple Campus and Southeast Center, assisted nearly 800 students this academic year, with over 50,000 lbs. of donated food. Additionally, the Essential Student Resource Center provides students with school supplies, transportation and computer assistance.

Regarding the adopted cost-saving measures and subsequent organization restructuring, President Cronin states, 鈥淚t is my sincere hope that, though this moment is painful, it will ultimately mark a turning point in how we are able to confidently support our student population for decades to come 鈥� and that our College will emerge stronger, and reflective of the evolving higher education landscape so that we can meet the challenges ahead. Together, we will navigate this with compassion, integrity, and care for one another.鈥�

The College has received a gift of $75,000 from Aqua Pennsylvania, an Essential Utilities company, to support the College鈥檚 Student Resource Center, which offers a wide range of services that reduce barriers to student success. This generous contribution, made through the company鈥檚 Essential Foundation, will support students at both the Marple Campus and the future Southeast Center in Drexel Hill. To mark the donation, the Center at each location will be renamed the 鈥淓ssential Student Resource Center.鈥�

The Student Resource Center is a critical campus hub, supporting students comprehensively from the initial day of enrollment through graduation and beyond. Administered by the College鈥檚 Office of Student Outreach and Support, the Student Resource Center serves as a welcoming, judgement-free space where students are met by a caring, compassionate team of college employees. The goal of the Center is to provide outreach, advocacy, and holistic support to cater to the unmet needs of students. In addition to a food pantry, students are provided with a variety of services, including textbook assistance, peer-to-peer mentoring, transportation assistance, emergency grants for students facing unexpected financial emergencies, and other academic and non-academic support.

鈥淥ur Student Resource Center is essential in helping to improve our students鈥� graduation, retention and completion rates,鈥� said Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D., president, 51成人导航. 鈥淲e are grateful to Aqua Pennsylvania for their support in our mission to provide equitable access to higher education to students in Delaware and Chester Counties.鈥�

The food pantry accounts for 70% of Student Resource Center visits, demonstrating the great need for its services. In addition to non-perishable food, the pantry provides students with access to toiletries, school supplies and gently worn professional attire. Since its opening in 2020, the Student Resource Center has seen an overall increase in student visits from 1,000 in its first year of operation to 2,500 student visits last year.

鈥淭his generous gift will help us to continue to provide vital resources that meet the diverse needs of our students,鈥� said Kendrick Mickens, Ed.D., director of the College鈥檚 Student Outreach and Support.

鈥淎qua Pennsylvania is proud to help make such a positive impact on the lives of thousands of local college students and their families,鈥� said Marc Lucca, president, Aqua Pennsylvania. 鈥淎s a company founded in Delaware County in 1886, we鈥檙e honored to make this donation which will reinforce our commitment to bring positive change to this community,鈥� Lucca added.

Among those attending the check presentation ceremony was former Essential Utilities鈥� Chief Administrative Officer, Sue Haindl. Haindl, who has since retired, has deep ties to the College as a distinguished alumna, professor, commencement speaker and scholarship supporter. Haindl was proud to celebrate the partnership focused on providing essential resources to improve student outcomes.