EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series looking at what Lake County communities, agencies and school districts experienced in 2024 and what is facing them in 2025. Lake Erie College and its partners have worked to increase student academic, residential and athletic opportunities for students this past year. One of those most visible partnerships in the surrounding Painesville community was with Renew Partners for the opening of the Tower, which provides living space for 172 students on Painesville Square, a rooftop deck, a workout space and a bus route to the rest of campus. LEC President Jen Schuller believes that projects like the Tower contributed to the college welcoming its largest incoming class in 10 years. “The Tower is a beautiful space that enriches the student experience and more fully connects Lake Erie College and the downtown business community, which we’re really excited about,” Schuller said at a July ribbon-cutting ceremony. Highlights from 2024 State and county officials worked to fund a number of campus initiatives in 2024. The Lake County commissioners contributed $1.5 million for the construction of a new turf field on campus, with involvement from the Lake Development Authority. Schuller said that completion of the project is expected in spring 2025. “We are a Division II college, and 80 percent of our students are student-athletes, so facilities such as this are an important recruitment and retention tool,” she added in a February news release. The news release added that the field would “serve as the home field for many of the Storm athletic teams.” Athletics Director Molly Hoffman also said in the news release that the college could host tournaments on the field and attract people from outside Lake County. State lawmakers contributed $500,000 from the state’s capital budget for its health science programs. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Higher Education contributed $779,000 for the college’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. Schuller also recognized Lake Erie students for their accomplishments. Equine student Delani Franklin became the first Lake Erie student since 1995 to win the national Cacchione Cup. The school’s physician assistant program won first prize in the national Project Access program, which included more than 300 programs and 36 proposals. Schuller said that the team “emerged victorious for improving access to care and inspiring underrepresented groups to pursue careers in the PA profession.” She said that other highlights this year included the opening of a new Lake Erie faculty-taught welding program at Perry High School and the launch of the new Tower Honors Program. The college also started new hybrid academic programs for cybersecurity, data analysis and nutrition, Schuller said. It plans to start online Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Master of Educational Leadership programs in the spring. “Other goals for the coming year include the addition of new in-demand majors, including Exercise Science; introducing intramural sports; implementing a new Stunt program; completing the Commissioners’ field turf project; enhancing our career services offerings; and providing high-touch student support services,” she said. The Tower student residences on Painesville Square are pictured after they opened in the summer. (Bryson Durst — The News-Herald) Financial and enrollment outlook A total of 1,236 students were enrolled in the college as of December. Schuller said that that marks an 11 percent increase in enrollment. Schuller said that Lake Erie’s percentage growth in enrollment is high and its costs are competitive compared to similar institutions. She added that growth in 2024 continued from growth over the past two years. The college’s deposits for fall 2025 have also increased from the previous year. The college is working to prepare for a “demographic cliff.” Schuller said that from 2025 through 2029, there will be a “projected 15 percent decline in college-aged students.” “We have been preparing for this by ensuring that our curricular and co-curricular offerings are aligned with the expectations of today’s students and the needs of the current workforce,” she said. “We feel we are well-positioned to continue to enroll traditional college students, graduate students and those who may have some college credit and are looking for degree completion.” She said that the college’s main goal in 2025 is to make its finances stronger. She also expects finances to be a challenge in the year ahead. “We are pleased to share that our efforts to strengthen the college’s financial foundation are working,” Schuller said. “We anticipate ending the next fiscal year with a balanced budget and have done this while continuing to add to the student experience, not detract from it.” She said that Lake Erie has kept its room and board steady, though there have been 3 percent increases in tuition in 2024 and 2025. Schuller said that the college also launched its Tri-County Scholarship in 2024. “This scholarship was created in response to the challenges related to the FAFSA form last year and has been so popular that we have decided to continue it for the upcoming year,” she said. “The Scholarship guarantees new full-time students from Geauga, Ashtabula, and Lake County will pay no more than $7,000 each semester. “The rate covers tuition and general fees and will be locked in for four years,” Schuller added. She expects a positive 2025 because of strong recruiting efforts. Donors have also contributed. “This support makes a tremendous difference as we pursue grant funding from public and private sources,” Schuller said. She said that a unique thing about Lake Erie College is the way that its programming ties to community needs. “Students come to Lake Erie to study everything from STEM, education, business, the arts and humanities, and even HVAC and welding,” Schuller said. “Lake Erie’s range of program offerings is one of its greatest strengths and demonstrates how closely connected the college is to the community.” She highlighted Lake Erie’s flexibility in helping it face the challenges of the higher education world. “Our financial challenges have made things difficult, but they have also allowed us to pull together to prioritize what is at the heart of the Lake Erie College experience: a high-quality educational experience delivered in a personalized, nurturing environment,” Schuller said.