COVID-19 continues to have an impact on how area colleges move forward for the fall semester.

Wells College, a historic private school in the village of Aurora in Cayuga County, was founded in 1868.

"What Wells really specializes in is small classes, personal attention, caring faculty who engage students in a very personal way," says Dr. Jonathan Gibraltar, Wells College president.

Wells College, like many campuses across the country, is struggling financially during the pandemic. The school is not sure if it can survive if distance learning is in the future for a mostly residential college.

"Is it possible that we can find a path forward without residential students in the fall? I think that would be an enormous challenge and one that we’re certainly looking at," says Dr. Gibraltar.

Many local colleges have been forced to review revenue sources.

At Monroe Community College, new president Dr. Kate Douglas says affordability is the key to its success.

"MCC has been known for its national reputation of quality, and were not going to compromise that during our reopening, but we are going to look at what areas really need to be face to face and delivered with academic integrity and how do we do that safely," Dr. Douglas says.

MCC is expected to announce reopening plans for the fall by June 1.

"Each campus has to look at their situation. So we will make those decisions. We will make them in an informed, coordinated way with the various officials,"said Dr. Douglas.

At Wells College, there’s hope that short-term fundraising will help bridge an estimated budget gap of $7,500,000.

Meanwhile, some 90 students are set to receive their diploma in a virtual ceremony on May 16.

"It’s more sweet than bitter, but you know, for me in my heart, I’m so proud of our seniors and our graduates," says Dr. Gibraltar.