From Setbacks to Success: Lehman College and CUNY Reconnect Help Students Return and Thrive

By: Gilbert Areizaga

Now, more than ever, going to college has become less of a natural path and more of a question. With the efficacy of a degree seeming to be at its lowest point, the volatile job market, and social media being a legitimate source of income for many, would-be undergrads are electing to skip college and instead seek other opportunities. One of CUNY’s big selling points is that 75% of students graduate without debt. This would presumably incentivize students to graduate with their Bachelor's degree or at least earn an Associate’s. However, the problems mentioned previously pale in comparison to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have left student retention in one of the worst states it has been in for quite some time. 

The Numbers According to CUNY

CUNY diligently tracks this information year by year, providing us with statistics from 1990-2019. For the sake of time, let’s look at undergraduate enrollment from fall and spring 2014 to fall and spring 2019. 

CUNY. Enrollment by Undergraduate and Graduate Level, Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Historical.

Between 2014 and 2018, the total enrollment peaked at 483,000 students, fluctuating between 479,000 and 480,000 in other years. However, in 2019 the number of undergraduate enrollments dropped from 480,094 students in 2018 to 470,636 students in 2019, a difference of almost 9,500 students. Keep in mind those are the pre-pandemic statistics, which means the numbers may be even lower today. Lehman College’s 2022 report states, "The fall-to-fall one-year retention rate for first-time freshmen fell by 6.8 percentage points to 73.8% for the fall 2020 cohort”. Additionally, the report notes that the COVID-19 pandemic (and the subsequent but short-lived uptick in the labor market post-pandemic) likely had a hand in the decision of would-be undergrads. This is in stark contrast to national retention numbers, where according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, public four-year institutions have broadly increased retention rates over the years. This leads to two questions: How has COVID-19 affected students’ decision to continue their education, and what is CUNY doing to bring their students back to the classroom?

Interview with Vice President of Enrollment Management Richard Finger

To answer those questions, I sat down with the Vice President of Enrollment Management here at Lehman College, Richard Finger, where we discussed how COVID has impacted Lehman and what’s been done to combat this. In our discussion, Richard emphasized how hard the Bronx was hit. Saying, “You know, ground zero of the first reported case of COVID was just a few miles from this campus.” Richard compares the level of fear he saw among students and staff to September 11. When we consider the loss of jobs, family members, and overall personal security, it is not hard to imagine that school was of least concern to students at the time. Richard and the rest of the staff were certainly attentive to students' concerns. While the school was already offering support, Richard explained that Lehman went the extra mile during the pandemic. “We didn’t know exactly what to do, but we knew we wanted to help, so we took up a collection and managed to provide fifty $50 gift cards to the food pantry to assist students who might be facing immediate food needs.” Since then, mental health and financial support have been expanded with Lehman’s services and the CUNY Reconnect Program. The program reaches out to students who want to continue their education, regardless of whether they are just starting out or returning after dropping out. And with the help of Reconnect, Lehman has seen over 2,000 students make their return. Reconnect allows students to receive help with outstanding balances, filling out their FAFSA form, and getting into the appropriate academic program. This is in part due to the personalized service each student receives in the program.

Of course, the students are the biggest component in this equation, as they are the ones taking that first step. Richard is careful to say that students “stop out” rather than drop out, explaining, “One of the things that they always say to us is they never stop thinking about getting that bachelor's degree. And I think that for a student who stops out and is thinking about their education, it's never too [late] to start exploring a pathway back.” He pointed me to the case of Anthony Philips, a student Richard has worked with personally, as an example of the resilience of these students and the support Lehman offers. In an article from Spectrum News, Philips tells us of his rough path to his degree. “‘I'm formerly incarcerated. I had six attempted murders on some New York City law enforcement officers when I was very young, about 23 years old’” (via Spectrum News). This past summer, he graduated with a 3.7 GPA at the age of 60.

So, while enrollment numbers may be down, the resilience of students, bolstered by CUNY and Lehman’s extensive support services and the dedication of staff like Richard, offers a strong foundation. With this level of commitment, the numbers will rise again—along with the success stories of future graduates.