OCC shutting down respiratory care program

SYRACUSE — Onondaga Community College (OCC) is putting its respiratory care program on hold because of lack of employer demand for graduates.

The program will undergo a review, which could lead OCC to discontinue the offering permanently.

The state Labor Department forecasts no future job openings in the field due to industry growth, according to OCC. Limited retirements, hospital hiring freezes, and concerns over Medicare reimbursement have all contributed to the concerns about the job market for respiratory care therapists.

In addition, multiple programs in the area more than meet current needs in the field and there is discussion about whether respiratory care practice should require a four-year bachelor’s degree, according to OCC.

The 19 freshmen and seven sophomores currently enrolled in the program will be allowed to complete their studies and earn their associate’s degrees. No new students will be admitted to the program.

“Onondaga’s educational mission is to meet the needs of students and employers in the community,” Cathleen McColgin, OCC provost and senior vice president of educational services, said in a news release. “As stewards of public resources, the college must ensure its programs are directly meeting a documented workforce need.

“Onondaga’s constant monitoring of, and reacting to, workforce demands has led to the creation of several new programs and at times, we must make the difficult decision to deactivate a program due to the changing needs of the community we serve.”

The school recently launched a program in nuclear energy technology and one to train ophthalmic assistants in response to strong market demand.

Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com