Suffolk County Community College has expressed gratitude towards Governor Kathy Hochul for her commitment to providing ongoing state funding for the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) programs. These initiatives are designed to enhance student success by offering financial, academic, and other forms of support.
Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College, praised Governor Hochul's 2025 State of the State agenda, stating, “Governor Hochul’s commitment to continuing the funding and expansion of ASAP and ACE will ensure that thousands of students at Suffolk County Community College and across SUNY have access to the support and resources they need to succeed. These programs provide the critical financial and academic assistance that helps students stay on track to graduation.”
The ASAP program targets associate degree students while ACE focuses on bachelor's degree candidates. Both were introduced to the SUNY system in Spring 2024 via the SUNY Transformation Fund. By Fall 2024, over 4,200 students across 25 SUNY campuses were enrolled in these programs, including 160 at Suffolk County Community College.
Governor Hochul's agenda aims to expand these programs statewide to benefit up to 10,000 SUNY students. The implementation of ASAP at Suffolk County Community College has reportedly led to immediate benefits such as improved credit completion rates and increased student engagement.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. also commended the governor's support: “SUNY is committed to success for every student, and ASAP|ACE programs are the nation’s leading, evidence-based model for helping students stay on track to graduation,” he said.
The ASAP|ACE programs offer comprehensive support services aimed at ensuring academic success and timely graduation. This includes personalized advisement, career development activities, and financial assistance covering textbooks, groceries, transportation, among other costs.
Data from Spring 2024 indicates that ASAP participants had a 20% higher credit completion rate compared to non-participants while ACE participants had a 9% higher rate than their counterparts.
Students like Ashley Virgile and Vanessa Fernandez shared personal testimonies about how these programs have positively impacted their educational experiences at Suffolk County Community College.
For further details on these statewide initiatives, interested parties are encouraged to seek additional information.
Suffolk County Community College remains a key institution within the State University of New York system with over 21,000 students enrolled in various degree and certificate programs.