The newest bachelor’s degree programs at Jefferson Community College have been flourishing.

The first semester of SUNY Cobleskill’s early childhood bachelor of science degrees was so successful that additional programs are being considered. Keuka College’s nursing degree, which has not had its first class yet, looks promising, according to Dean of Continuing Education Jill M. Pippin.

“Usually, we just have a sense of where the numbers are,” she said.

“The Early Childhood: Birth to Age Five” program has 13 students enrolled. Another class will enroll in the fall. Anita D. Wright, Cobleskill director of professional and continuing education, hopes 15 to 16 students sign on.

She said a number of additional program possibilities were being examined.

“It probably won’t be next fall,” she said. “It’ll be for the following year.”

From the degree programs from SUNY Empire State College, Keuka College, SUNY Potsdam and Upstate Medical University, 1,805 students were enrolled at the end of the 2011-12 school year.

“Keuka’s criminal justice program is doing gangbusters,” Mrs. Pippin said. “Potsdam is possibly looking to enhance their program.”

In addition, SUNY Empire State has offices at the college, which Thomas J. Finch, vice president for academic affairs, said gives students an advantage.

“They work around students to give them more flexibility,” he said.

The only program showing dwindling numbers is Upstate Medical University.

“They filled a lot of the community need for the courses they’re offering,” Mrs. Pippin said.

However, she said, the university expected that to happen. When the need increases, the family nurse practitioner master’s degree will start again.

That is not the case, however, for St. John Fisher College because the partnership between the colleges ended in the fall.

Mrs. Pippin said the only other college that stopped its partnership with JCC was Paul Smith’s College for a bachelor’s degree in hotel, resort and tourism management. Not enough students registered for the program.

“Sometimes you need to put it out there to see who puts their money where their mouth is,” Mrs. Pippin said.

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