Cortland County has a high quality public school system with highly ranked neighborhood schools. Area school districts are very involved in local economic development efforts, as is the BOCES Vocational Training Center which provides students with an alternative educational setting and training in specialty areas such as building trades.
Undergraduate education opportunities abound. The Finger Lakes East Build Now NY Business Park is situated just between SUNY Cortland, New York State’s largest accredited teacher education program, and Tompkins Cortland Community College -- recently ranked as the “Top Digital Community College” in the United States by the Center for Digital Education and the American Association of Community Colleges.
It is also located near some of the nation's finest academic institutions including:
- Cornell University
- Syracuse University
- SUNY University at Binghamton
- SUNY ESF
- SUNY Upstate Medical University
- SUNY Institute of TechnologyHamilton College
- Cazenovia College
- Colgate University
- LeMoyne College
- Ithaca College
- Hobart and William Smith
- Keuka College
- Wells College
There are 130,000 college students in the 12-county region -- assuring an abundant source of new, well-trained labor -- from freshmen to Ph.D.'s.
SUNY Cortland
The State University of New York College at Cortland -- located just up the road from the Finger Lakes East Build Now NY Business Park -- has 5,500 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students. With programs leading to bachelor's and master's degrees both in the arts and sciences, and in professional studies, SUNY Cortland has more than 45,000 alumni in each of the 50 states and 22 foreign countries. The campus covers 191 acres and is located within walking distance of the City of Cortland's central business district.
The campus has a sophisticated library with networked technology and on-line research. Specialized facilities on campus include GIS, and math and science labs, as well as more than 30 computing labs.
In addition, the campus has special facilities such as a recently renovated fine arts center with a sculpture court, art gallery where monthly shows are featured. Several theaters on campus feature an active schedule of concerts, plays, lectures, readings and recitals.
SUNY Cortland’s athletic facilities are considered to be among the best in New York State, with a brand new $18 million stadium complex. The complex includes two turf playing fields, special athletic training locker facilities and a state-of-the-art two story multi-field press box. The complex boasts grandstand seating for 5,000 and visitor’s side seating for 1,500. State-of-the-art lighting and an 18-foot by 36-foot scoreboard with a 9-foot by 14-foot video screen compliments the complex, which also includes an eight-lane all weather track. The entire complex is fully wired for camera positioning and ESPN quality broadcast. The campus also houses an Olympic-sized pool with a spectator gallery for 1,200, a gymnasium with seating for 3,600, ice hockey and recreational skating arena with seating for 2,400, as well as an outdoor facility for football, lacrosse and outdoor track with seating for 4,000. There are 50 acres of athletic fields on campus.
Tompkins Cortland Community College
Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) is recognized as a national leader in digital technology, with one of the largest distance learning programs in New York State. Courses are available through interactive video conferencing and enhanced audio, as well as on-line through the Internet. TC3 has the only computer forensics program east of the Mississippi and the college’s board of trustees has just approved innovative new degree programs in new media and biotechnology. Extensive course offerings include accounting, business administration, communication and media arts, computer information systems, computer science, electrical technology, engineering science, environmental studies, graphic design and computer graphics, nursing, office management and administration, and a variety of other programs in applied sciences and the liberal arts. Graduates of TC3 have proven their abilities in some of the finest colleges and universities in the United States, and many graduates hold important positions in major corporations and businesses nationally and internationally.
TC3's Business Development and Training Center is at the forefront of workforce development, offering a wide array of training programs. The Business Development and Training Center is dedicated to helping area companies grow and can custom-design courses to help meet specialized needs. Programs are designed to fit the individual culture, schedule, learning styles and priorities of a particular business.
Cortland Works Career Center
www.workforcenewyork.org/cortlandworks
The Cortland Works Career Center is a one-stop for workforce development and training, helping businesses identify local labor opportunities. The facility is available for confidential interviewing of job applicants, small business meetings and other activities. The Cortland Works Career Center web site has listings of directories of area business, occupations, skill levels, wage rates by occupation, education and experience, and a directory of training providers. There is also a posting sire for businesses to list job openings.
The Cayuga-Cortland Workforce Investment Board (WIB)
www.workforcenewyork.org/cayugaworks
The Workforce Investment Board is a group of community and business leaders appointed by the Cayuga and Cortland County Legislatures to meet the challenges confronting the workforce in the two-county geographic area. The Board, better known as the WIB, oversees the Cayuga Works and Cortland Works "One-Stop" Career Centers located in Cortland and Auburn. These centers provide a wide array of services to job seekers and businesses. In addition to helping job seekers find good jobs, the Center's also help businesses find good workers and upgrade the skills of their current employees. The WIB also links businesses to training programs and grants through the New York State Department of Labor.
Cortland County Employment and Training Grant Administration
The Cortland County Employment and Training Grant office works closely with the WIB and Cortland Works Career Center to create an integrated workforce development system. The Cortland County Employment and Training Grant office can help businesses identify resources to meet their training needs. For more information: 607-753-5201.