The Communication Arts program at NYIT in Old Westbury is set to shut down this spring.

News 12 alumni like Carol Silva, Lee Tyrrell and Drew Scott graduated from the program.

Alfonso Velasquez, a video producer for UMass Lowell, says the program gave him lifelong friends and the career that he has.

"...It's awful to hear that young people in the New York area or wherever they're from will not have the opportunity to get that hands on learning at an affordable price like NYIT was offering," Velasquez says

News 12 reached out to the college for comment, but did not hear back as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.