The SUNY Reconnect community college initiative offers tuition, fees, books, and supplies for eligible adult learners, ages 25-55, in high-demand fields.
Governor Kathy Hochul visited Suffolk County Community College as part of her efforts to highlight the SUNY Reconnect program to provide free community college for adult learners, ages 25-55, who don’t already have a college degree and who are pursuing an associate degree in a high-demand field.
The SUNY Reconnect program will begin in fall 2025.
“In every corner of our state, adult New Yorkers will have access to free community college so they will be able to realize their dreams of better jobs in high-demand industries,” Governor Hochul said. “Through SUNY Reconnect, community colleges like Suffolk County Community College will offer a world-class education to New Yorkers, for free, and will help empower these future leaders to turbo-charge our state economy and pursue paths to upward mobility.”
Suffolk Community College (SCC) began rolling out its Reconnect program in June. SCC currently has 2,287 students ages 25-55. Of those students, they identified 596 who would currently meet the requirements of the SUNY Reconnect program.
The New York State budget also provides $4 million in operating aid to our community colleges to support students in the free community college program. The proposed allocation to Suffolk Community College is $180,000 according to SUNY.
Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue said, “Suffolk County Community College is dedicated to the value of lifelong learning, and SUNY Reconnect is a major step forward in helping us fulfill that mission. With this support from the state, we are proud to welcome adult learners preparing for careers in the high-demand fields critical to growing Long Island’s workforce.”
SUNY Reconnect will fund degrees in high-demand fields including:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Engineering
- Technology
- Nursing and allied health fields
- Green and renewable energy
- Pathways to teaching in shortage areas
Other support for the launch of SUNY Reconnect includes:
- Allocated $4 million to community colleges to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations.
- Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment capacity in high-demand programs.
- Announced $1.1 million in grant funding to help community colleges increase access and ensure degree completion for adult learners.