With over 25,000 college students, 2500 faculty members and 14 institutions of higher education, The GENESIS Group continues in its effort to promote Utica and the entire Mohawk Valley region as a "College Town."

Just visit the campuses or the programs (including online) of Hamilton College, Utica College, SUNY IT, Mohawk Valley Community College, Herkimer County Community College, Utica School of Commerce, The Pratt Institute, St. Elizabeth's College of Nursing and the Empire State College - all within 20 minutes of downtown Utica - and the enormous influence of higher education on our community - and our economy - is undeniable!

Our colleges and nearby Colgate University and SUNY Morrisville, bring tens of thousands of people to work, study and visit here each year. The GENESIS Group is working with representatives from these schools to make us more of a college town, a project we believe to be urgent and very achievable.  This can also make our schools stronger, but even more it will make us stronger too.

We are emphasizing all of the wonderful assets these schools have to offer and the ways they already benefit the region.  We are trumpeting the inter-collegiate cooperation that already exists. DID YOU KNOW that students at seven of these schools can take courses at each others' schools without any additional charge?

In 2006 GENESIS hosted with assistance from Hamilton College and SUNY IT, a "service-based learning" program to encourage study and work that crossed campus and community boundaries.  We also participated in an inter-campus AIDS awareness event at Herkimer County Community College.  We'd like to study inter-campus transportation and community service projects.

If you are interested in getting involved with the GENESIS College Town initiative, please contact Ralph Eannace, Chairperson by calling The GENESIS Group at (315) 792-7187 or by email info@thegenesisgroup.org