“My father had always said, you’re going to be president of Harvard on the Hill one day,” said Dr. Terri Grates Day, the new president of Herkimer County Community College.
Grates Day is a Herkimer native who attended Herkimer County Community College before life took her across the nation and even to other countries. Her late father’s vision has come to fruition as she now finds herself back home.
“We had significantly more students back then. COVID has done a number on higher ed, particularly the community colleges,” Grates Day said. “It is just starting to bounce back now.”
Grates Day said she hopes to bring back events like July 4 fireworks on campus, and is looking into possibly constructing another building dedicated to courses that position students to immediately enter the workforce.
“We have plenty of space back there to have another building that would be specifically for career technical welding, HVAC, electrician plumbing, all of those trades the Mohawk Valley desperately needs,” she said.
New courses have already been added — an English program and an AI-business degree program.
The new president said she is looking at meeting other needs like learning opportunities for adults, and is also working with local leaders to see success in the surrounding community.
“We are the most affordable community college in New York state,” she said. “And so you can still come here and get a good bang for your buck and be competitive with others, not just in the area, but nationally.”