History

Tompkins Cortland Community College has grown from a tiny community college housed in an old high school to an integral part of the Tompkins County and Cortland County communities located on a 220-acre rural campus in Dryden, New York.

The College is one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York, and offers degrees, certificates, and microcredentials in more than 40 academic programs including nursing, business administration, criminal justice, chemical dependency counseling, new media, sports management, culinary arts, sustainable farming and food systems, and liberal arts programs, including education and general studies. The College is known for constantly expanding the boundaries of what is possible for a community college: recent innovations include a restaurant, organic-practices farm, and 10-acre solar array powering campus.

Perhaps more importantly, the College is known for its commitment to academic rigor and for its equally passionate commitment to providing the community support students need to succeed. With thousands of graduates in the area and throughout the country, we mean it when we say Your Community. Your College.

Our Mission

We foster lifelong curiosity and inquiry through innovative educational pathways, leading students to meaningful work, economic growth, and a brighter future.

Our Vision

To advance personal, economic, and social vitality in our communities through the transformative power of learning.

Our Values

Excellence

We cultivate excellent outcomes in teaching, learning, community partnerships, and student success.

Community

We provide a caring, connected campus community and opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff to thrive.

Integrity and Accountability

We proactively evaluate and innovate using data-informed decision-making, honest communication, and resource stewardship.

Inclusion

We foster engagement and belonging for all through our commitment to respectful dialogue and a diversity of ideas and people.

Connection

We value collaboration and the deep interconnectedness of our local, regional, and global communities in an ever-changing, diverse world.

Equity

We seek equity and social mobility for our students and community in all endeavors.