By GREGORY ZELLER //
Another Long Island college will be included in the next student cohort as the State University of New York expands its successful student-retention and degree-completion model.
The SUNY ASAP|ACE program – designed to offer academic, financial and personal support to help students in two-year and four-year degree programs stay on track and graduate on time – launched in 2024 with 4,270 students across 25 SUNY campuses, including Nassau Community College, Suffolk County Community College and Farmingdale State College. When the Fall 2025 semester rolls around later this year, the program will increase to 7,050 students on 34 SUNY campuses, including SUNY Old Westbury.
The statewide expansion is funded by a $12 million stipend in New York State’s Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget and marks a big step toward Albany’s goal of offering ASAP|ACE support to 10,000 students by the Fall of 2026.
Timothy Sams: Fast track.
The ASAP program (for Advancing Success in Associate Pathways) supports students at the associate’s degree level, while ACE (for Advancing Completion through Engagement) supports students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. Restrictions do apply, but any SUNY student who receives at least $1 of Federal Pell Grant or New York State grant assistance (including NYS Tuition Assistance Program or Excelsior Scholarship aid) is “likely to be eligible,” according to the State University system.
Both ASAP and ACE are modeled after City University of New York programs that have assisted nearly 100,000 students – and been replicated in seven states – since launching in 2007.
As part of the Fall 2025 expansion, a cohort of 150 students will be welcomed into SUNY Old Westbury’s ACE program – a sensational forward step for the students and the school, according to SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy Sams.
“Enrolling as a full-time student is the fastest pathway for students to complete their studies and move on into their careers and lives,” Sams noted. “As an ACE campus, we will provide important extra academic, financial and other supports to help a larger number of students stay on that path.
John King Jr.: Total commitment.
“We are excited to bring ACE to our campus.”
So far, the ACE investment – including financial assistance with expenses like textbooks and transportation, consolidated course schedules (better for students who work or have other responsibilities outside of school) and career-development counseling, among other benefits – is paying off, according to SUNY.
The State University notes a 9 percent higher credit-completion rate among ACE students (compared to similar non-ACE students), and an even more impressive 12 percent higher credit-completion rate among ASAP students.
State University of New York Chancellor John King Jr. trumpeted a “proven, evidence-based strategy to improve retention and completion” and credited the “leadership” of Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature for super-sizing the effort.
“SUNY is committed to the success of every student,” the chancellor said in a statement. “I am thrilled that … SUNY is expanding this vital program to even more students and campuses across the SUNY system.”
