With the impending dismantling of Suffolk County Community College’s (SCCC) Grant campus honors program, questions arise: “Why attend Grant?” While some may view this reaction as extreme due to the removal of a significant program, it likely is not. The demise of honors may just be the beginning of a broader trend—the centralization of programs at Ammerman.
Ammerman is often referred to as the “central” campus at SCCC, both geographically and figuratively. Certainly, it hosts the bulk of administrative functions and boasts the highest student population. Logically, centralizing the college’s hub at Ammerman makes sense, given its geographical location at the heart of the county.
However, the disparity in honors classes between Grant and Ammerman for the fall 2024 semester raises eyebrows. Grant will offer merely four classes compared to Ammerman’s 38. While Ammerman enrolls more students than Grant, the gap isn’t proportional. President Edward Bonahue noted Grant’s growing population compared to Ammerman’s stagnation. Yet, Grant will lack an Honors coordinator, forcing students to seek advising at Ammerman—a change purportedly benefiting all students, as per Dr. Albin Cofone, the honors program head.
Grant isn’t merely a secondary campus; it serves students from towns like Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, and Islip, with unique facilities like the Sagtikos and STEM buildings. Moreover, it stands as Suffolk’s most diverse campus, catering to the western towns, which are among the county’s most diverse regions.
Despite Grant’s significance, a concerning cycle persists: students migrate to Ammerman, prompting program losses at Grant, exacerbating the exodus. This begs the question: what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Consider students residing on the Nassau-Suffolk border. Traditionally, they would opt for Grant, but maximizing education and resources may lead them elsewhere—to Ammerman or Nassau Community College. Increasing enrollment, a priority post-COVID-19, seems daunting when potential students opt to head west.
Grant needs allies: politicians, faculty, alumni, parents, and more. While it’s rational for Ammerman to be bustling, a 38-4 disparity is indefensible, even to President Bonahue. Disparities extend beyond honors, like the absence of a summer research program at Grant. Is it a leadership issue? Favoritism? The verdict is open.
Awareness is crucial. If no one advocates for Grant, its future remains uncertain. Let’s stand up for Grant before it’s too late.
