File photo by Michael Zabrodsky SUNY Chancellor John King talks with students during a class at the Manufacturing Technology Institute.

State University of New York Chancellor John King does not need a degree in simple arithmetic to understand the crisis facing the system he oversees. In a five-year span beginning in the fall of 2018 to 2022, there has been a decline of 60,439 students attending the 64 campuses — a 14.2% decrease.

Closer to home, the figures are even more distressing. Western New York’s institutions, with the exception of the University at Buffalo, are hemorrhaging.

In this publication, the unfortunate downward spiral at Fredonia has been well documented. In fall 2017, the university reported 4,655 students. This spring semester, that number is closer to 3,200 — a 31% decrease.

That is about as rapid a plummet as a barrel going over Niagara Falls. Add in a COVID pandemic that sent students home for the spring semester in March 2020 and wreaked havoc with 2021 that included shifting policies for students that restricted campus activities and gatherings.

But the other four-year campuses in the region are not doing much better during a span of fall 2017 to fall 2021. In fact, only one is showing a gain. Consider:

¯ Brockport — From 8,313 to 6,919, down 16.7%.

¯ Buffalo State University — From 9,118 to 7,173, down 21.3%.

¯ Geneseo — From 5,620 to 4,535, down 19.3%.

¯ University at Buffalo — From 30,648 to 32,334, up 5.5%.

Jamestown Community College also is suffering. Its enrollment, according to SUNY, was 4,463 in 2017. That fell to 1,815 in 2021-22, a decrease of 59%.

King, however, is trying to remain optimistic. During a stop at Fredonia and JCC in early March, he hailed the partnership in education the two county locations share. He also sees the benefit that comes from strong SUNY centers that include UB and Stony Brook, which has 26,000 students.

His goal, at this moment, is for those who do not make the cut at the larger sites to consider some of the smaller gems. “Part of the work is to make sure that students all over the state know about the opportunities that are available here,” King said, complimenting the strong music and health-care programs offered at both ends of the county.

King labels the effort as “cascading admissions.” That includes a follow-up effort to those who may not get into the school of their choice. They then will be directed to other campuses in the system that could be a good fit.

“We’re affirmatively reaching out to them to say … there’s (possibly) a place for you at SUNY Fredonia and a program that matches your interest,” he said.

Cascading has not received a lot of attention, but it’s a shot worth taking. Last December, SUNY reported a more than 110% year-over-year increase – from 97,257 to 204,437 – in fall 2023 applications due in large part to SUNY’s first two-week fee waiver initiative. During the period, students had the opportunity to apply for free to up to five SUNY locations, for a savings of $250. On average, each applicant applied to two SUNY sites.

Recent numbers show the system — and its region’s campuses — are in need of a jump-start. Efforts to look west and find students to come from Pennsylvania and Ohio at New York state rates have received lots of attention in recent years with little results.

One thing, however, remains certain. Both Fredonia State University and Jamestown Community College are major economic engines in this county with payrolls that are nearly $100 million combined.

Compared to 2017, there are 4,093 fewer students on those campuses today. Keeping the locations viable cannot be Albany’s responsibility alone. County leaders, and those in Dunkirk-Fredonia and Jamestown, must do their part as well. Both are too big — and important — to fail.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.