CALAIS – Declining enrollment has forced Washington County Community College to suspend its heating technology program – at least for now.

President Bill Cassidy said Friday that it’s a new age in education where market needs drive program decisions.

“We will put up and take down programs based on market needs, student needs, [versus] the old traditional model of staying and holding onto programs whether in fact they are being subscribed to or in fact needed in the industry,” he said.

In other words, the days when universities and colleges maintained classes because of tradition rather than enrollment are gone. Education is a business and to be successful, it has to be cost effective, Cassidy said.

“We will probably see more flexing in programs in our college and other colleges as well,” he said. “I think this is a trend in technology education.”

The college had only three applicants for the fall semester heating program, while the plumbing program is nearly full. The program suspension will affect one instructor.

“Under his contract, he has rights of recall up to two years should we bring the program back,” Cassidy said.

At last week’s graduation, eight students received certificates for successfully completing the heating technology program.

The suspension will give the college an opportunity to examine the program and possibly retool it, he said. “We will look at job opportunities, student interests and the content of our curriculum,” he said.

This is not the first time a program has been suspended. In 2004, the college did the same thing with its boat-building program in Eastport when enrollment declined. Four staff positions and reductions of hours for five others resulted. The program resumed in 2005, but not at the same level.

There was even a suggestion of moving the program to Calais. But the Friends of the Boat School lobbied Gov. John Baldacci and others to keep the Boat School in Eastport. Last year, Baldacci announced an 11th-hour guarantee of $210,000 to keep the program afloat, but more was needed.

On Thursday, City Manager George “Bud” Finch announced that WCCC, with the Legislature’s blessing, soon would turn the Boat School over to the city. The city has arranged with Husson College in Bangor to take over running the boat-building program.