MCC Daily Tribune
ASAP ACE Expands to More Than 7,000 Students at 34 SUNY Campuses Including MCC
SUNY ASAP|ACE Expansion Continues to Proceed with Plan to Reach 10,000 Students by Fall 2026
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. celebrated the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) – the nation’s leading college retention and completion models – for achieving the Fall 2025 semester enrollment goal of more than 7,000 students at 34 SUNY campuses, including Monroe Community College. The program helps students gain and maintain academic momentum so they can graduate on time. Chancellor King noted that in addition to the more than 7,000 students at 34 SUNY campuses participating in the program, there is already a waitlist of more than 500 students wishing to join ASAP|ACE.
“All students are welcomed at SUNY, and thanks to the successful ASAP|ACE expansion, our efforts to help SUNY students thrive academically and graduate on time have never been stronger,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “With the strong support of Governor Kathy Hochul and our State Legislators, we have been able to invest in ASAP|ACE, which is a proven, evidence-based strategy to improve student retention and on-time degree completion. We will continue our efforts to support SUNY students and expand this successful program further so that more SUNY students and campuses can take advantage of ASAP|ACE.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “SUNY’s ASAP|ACE program, thanks to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, has been able to expand and support thousands of students throughout the SUNY system. This is part of our ongoing commitment to serve every SUNY student as they seek to grow academically and personally. With further expansions of ASAP|ACE, even more SUNY students will be able to benefit from this successful student retention and support model.”
ASAP supports students pursuing associate degrees, while ACE supports baccalaureate students. Eligible students have access to a wide array of resources and support to help them overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree. This includes funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, as well as comprehensive personalized advisement, academic support, and career development activities. See here for more information: SUNY ASAP|ACE website.
SUNY brought ASAP|ACE to 25 campuses in Spring 2024 thanks to Governor Hochul’s SUNY Transformation Fund. By Fall 2024, the campuses were serving 4,270 students. In June 2025, Governor Hochul announced the expansion of SUNY ASAP|ACE to more than 7,000 students at 34 SUNY campuses in Fall 2025. Nine SUNY campuses joined ASAP|ACE at the start of the Fall 2025 semester, and 14 currently participating campuses added spots to serve more students. This expansion was made possible through $12 million in allocated funding from the FY2025-2026 State Budget. In addition to the more than 7,000 currently participating ASAP|ACE students, there is a waitlist of 500 students seeking spots in the highly successful degree completion program. With continued State support, SUNY ASAP|ACE is on track to reach 10,000 students by Fall 2026.
Early findings already show that ASAP|ACE students attempt more credits, earn more credits, and re-enroll at higher rates than matched comparison group students. ASAP students are earning up to two more credits in their first semester and have a 17 percentage-point increase in retention from their first to second term and a 15 percentage-point increase in one-year retention compared to matched comparison group students. ACE students are also showing strong outcomes. Their credit completion rates are as high as 90 percent, and they are retained at rates 6 to 8 points higher than matched comparison group students.
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Higher Education Chair, said, “I am delighted to see the continued growth of SUNY’s ASAP and ACE programs. I first heard of ASAP when CUNY initiated the program, which received national recognition because it works. These proven models help students stay on track, graduate on time, and move into good jobs without the burden of excessive debt. Expanding these programs to more campuses ensures that every student has the support they need to succeed. I commend Governor Hochul, Chancellor King, and our legislative partners for making this investment a priority in the State Budget."
State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “New York is home to the nation’s leading college retention and completion models, and SUNY sets the standard by investing in their students’ future success. The expansion of the SUNY ASAP and SUNY ACE programs underscores SUNY's commitment to putting its students first and affording them every opportunity possible to succeed. I am proud to represent a district with extraordinary SUNY schools, faculty, and students, and I thank Chancellor John B. King Jr., Governor Hochul, and the SUNY Administration for your partnership in championing the continued growth of higher education and student success in New York.”
State Senator Lea Webb said, “I’m thrilled to see the continued growth of the SUNY ASAP and ACE programs. These initiatives have a proven record of helping students stay on track and earn their degrees on time, and their expansion to more than 7,000 students across 34 campuses shows what is possible when we invest in student success. Programs like ASAP and ACE don’t just change individual lives; they strengthen our communities and our state’s future workforce. I’m proud to support continued funding so that even more students can access the opportunity and support they deserve.”
State Senator Rachel May said, “Students face many obstacles on the path to college graduation, and the ASAP and ACE programs at SUNY have helped thousands of students stay on track. I’m excited to hear that these programs are now expanding to support even more students in successfully navigating higher education. Congratulations to Chancellor King and everyone at SUNY on this wonderful achievement, and I look forward to many more successful years for these programs.”
State Senator Peter Oberacker said, “The continued expansion of SUNY’s ASAP|ACE program is a smart investment in New York’s future workforce. By removing barriers and helping students stay on track to graduate, we’re not only improving individual lives but strengthening our communities and our economy. Our commitment is to the success of our students and to ensuring opportunities are available in every corner of our state.”
State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Higher Education Chair, said, “I am delighted to see the ongoing growth of the ASAP|ACE program throughout the SUNY system. This endeavor exemplifies New York's unwavering commitment to student achievement, empowering our students with the necessary resources to succeed academically, complete their degrees, and build brighter futures. The expanding waitlist serves as compelling evidence of this program's effectiveness, and I eagerly await its further expansion to benefit a greater number of students.”
State Assemblymember and Speaker Pro Tempore Pamela J. Hunter said, “ASAP|ACE is changing lives. By removing barriers and helping students stay on track, this program boosts graduation rates and strengthens our communities. I’m proud that New York State continues to invest in student success, and I’ll keep fighting to ensure every SUNY student has the support they need to earn their degree.”
State Assemblymember Sarah Clark said, “The SUNY ASAP|ACE program is a proven model for student success, helping more students stay on track, graduate on time, and enter the workforce with confidence. By removing barriers, providing academic and financial support, and putting the needs of students first, SUNY is investing in both its students and New York’s future. Expanding the ASAP|ACE program will strengthen our communities and create incredible opportunities for our next generation of leaders.”
State Assemblymember Anna Kelles said, “SUNY’s ASAP and ACE programs are transforming educational outcomes for students who’ve long been underserved, not by potential, but by policy. With targeted supports like transportation, textbooks, and proactive advising, these programs continue to remove the barriers that too often derail college completion. Reaching more than 7,000 students across 34 campuses, with hundreds more waiting to enroll, demonstrates the powerful impact of sustained, data-driven investment in student success. With the State’s continued commitment to reaching 10,000 students by next fall, this expansion represents equity in action and a reaffirmation of New York’s belief that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves the opportunity to graduate and thrive in our workforce.”
State Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine said, “I welcome the continued expansion of these great programs and am proud of the investments that New York State is making in higher education through programs like ACE and ASAP.”
State Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “I am thrilled by the expansion and success of the ASAP/ACE program on our SUNY campuses. ASAP/ACE provides crucial financial and academic support that truly helps our students through advisement services, stipends for transportation and books, and more. It provides a helping hand - removing barriers to higher education and creating a pathway for students to achieve their academic and professional goals. This program exemplifies a commitment to supporting SUNY students on their journeys in higher education, and I look forward to seeing its continued growth.”
About The State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit SUNY website.
Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
10/31/2025