SYRACUSE -- Say the words budget cuts and you'll find a long list of people pleading their case to keep funding coming. And it's no different at Onondaga Community College. "It truly does impact directly the students that we exist to serve and we do not want to compromise access," said Dr. Debbie Sydow, President of OCC. "That's a primary part of our mission," she said.

Dr. Sydow spoke to a group of county lawmakers Wednesday, asking for their continued support. It comes in the face of Governor Paterson's proposed $2.4 million cut to OCC, which will likely result in increased tuition. "Obviously tuition increases will be one consideration as we attempt to balance a budget in 2009-2010," Dr. Sydow said.

Community colleges are serving more and more students these days, providing educational access to those who can't afford private schools. In fact, OCC set an enrollment record this year, with a 10% increase in the number of students enrolling this spring. And with more and more people losing their jobs, they expect enrollment numbers to keep going up. "The layoffs at Magna, the condition of the workforce relative to unemployment. All of those conditions will bring more students to OCC and we simply want to be sure that we're ready to serve them and get them back into the workforce," she said.

As they ask for continued county funding and wait to see what state aid will be, OCC is moving forward with its capital campaign. They've already raised $3.8 million of the $6 million dollar goal. The hope is to mitigate any potential tuition increases so students, committed to pursuing higher education, will have a place to turn.

But for now, everyone is waiting to see what state lawmakers will do. Cities, counties and schools are all in the same boat, realizing cuts are coming but hoping they won't be too severe.