EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series looking at what Lake County communities, institutions, and school agencies experienced in 2025 and what they are facing in 2026. Measurable decisions continue to be made at Lakeland Community College amid a transitional period that’s moving the school “on a great path forward.” That sentiment, recently shared by President Sunil Ahuja during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Engineering Building, also encompasses the institution’s viability and sustainability into 2026 and beyond. Officials noted that “the main driver” of Lakeland continues to be, and will always be, enrollment, which increased after a decade of decline. “Last fall, officially, we ended at about 4,450 (students)….we were targeting 4,650 for this fall, so, a five percent increase, even with all the headwinds we knew were out there,” Ahuja said. “This fall, we ended up at 4,950, and we are, in fact, very, very close to reaching 5,000….we still have later sessions to come and will most likely reach our goal,” he added. “That takes a lot of effort from a lot of people, with all of us moving in the same direction.” Moreover, the college established financial stability by right-sizing and eliminating low-performing courses and programs. “This action allowed us to move in the direction of rebalancing our resources with enhanced front-line positions and admissions, recruitment, and student support services,” said Chief Public Relations Officer Jessica Tremayne, also noting the school’s recent inaugural fall commencement ceremony. Lakeland Community College staff provided tours of the renovated Engineering Building on Sept. 9. The $19.6 million project aims to enhance educational programming and foster and support economic development and community partnerships in the region. (Chad Felton — The News-Herald) Ahuja also addressed the school’s budget, which he said started this last fiscal year with “about a $3.4 million” operating deficit. “We started this year with a $1.8 million surplus, with an addition to college reserves….so it’s been more than a $5 million swing in one year,” he said. “And for that, again, it takes campus-wide effort.” Another substantial commitment Ahuja noted was the school’s reinvestment in workforce development, with a key component being the E-Building. Citing the facility as “more than just bricks and mortar, but a promise,” and a new chapter in Lakeland’s future, he emphasized that the project is also about partnerships with K-12 schools, community groups, high schools, and the Auburn Career Center. “It’s also about programs in advanced manufacturing and applied engineering, specifically in construction, management, fabrication, ceramics, and welding, which is one of our leading programs,” Ahuja said. “It, too, will serve as a hub for innovation, providing the skills and resources needed to meet the critical workforce demands of our region’s employers.” The new programs are projected to push enrollment forward, Tremayne added, notably the school’s collaboration with its basic police academy and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which began in late September. According to Chief Deputy and Commander Robert Izzo, the BPA provides an opportunity for local police agencies to send recruits and allows those aspiring to a career in law enforcement to apply to a local academy where they may apply for open enrollment. “Without this venture, there would not be an academy offered anywhere within Lake County,” he said. “The goal is to provide the best training with the best instructors from local police agencies and sustain this academy as a permanent stream of recruits into local Lake County police departments.” The next BPA session is expected to begin in the spring. Moving forward “Anytime new leadership is in place, especially in organizations where evolving and utilizing best practices has been stagnant, there is an adjustment period,” Tremayne said. “One constant is that we are all in agreement to put students first and make decisions that will yield the best outcome for our community and efforts in workforce development. “We are continuously looking into ways we can improve our students’ experience through technology, streamlined processes, and the use of campus spaces,” she added. “We are in the early stages of rethinking our dining and collaborative spaces on campus, and we are also planning to offer, pending final approvals, our first bachelor’s degree, which will be registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing.” Additional programming was announced Dec. 22 as Lakeland and Tiffin University have launched a comprehensive partnership designed to make bachelor’s degrees more accessible and affordable. Through Tiffin’s DragonNext program, Lakeland students earning their associate degrees have a clear pathway to complete a bachelor’s degree at TU, benefiting from discounted tuition and guaranteed transfer benefits. Additionally, officials reported, the partnership ensures that students are eligible for two key financial incentives: those attending classes at Tiffin’s main campus are eligible for an automatic $16,000 merit scholarship — which increases to $18,000 beginning in August 2026 — while students choosing to learn online are eligible for a $150 reduction per credit hour. “This is a powerful advantage for our students, and it directly aligns with our mission to provide affordable pathways to higher education,” Ahuja said. DragonNext students may also qualify for grants, loans and work-study programs specifically designed for the partnership. For more information, call Lakeland’s Transfer Center at 440-525-7535 or visit lakelandcc.edu/transfer. Noting Lakeland’s progress, Ahuja stated it’s only the beginning. “As we look to the future, we will reach a major milestone in our 60th anniversary,” he added. “Toward that end, we have established a strategic direction for the next several years under the theme of ‘Lakeland at 60: Resilient, Responsive, and Relevant.’ “We have developed data-driven key performance indicators as benchmarks and metrics to guide and judge our work in finances, enrollment and student success, workforce development and community engagement, facilities, and philanthropy.” ...read more read less