MCC Daily Tribune
Chancellor King and SUNY Board Highlight $12 Million Additional State Support for Community Colleges
Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Highlight $12 Million Additional State Support for Community Colleges
Investment Will Expand Student Access in High-Demand Programs and Support Campuses
Three Years of Consecutive State Funding Increases for Community Colleges – First Time In Recent History
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees late Tuesday announced $12 million in additional Direct State Tax support appropriated within the 2026-2027 Enacted Budget to strengthen Community Colleges across the state. The investment follows ongoing support by Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and members of the State Legislature to provide an affordable and excellent higher education that prepares New Yorkers for upward mobility and economic opportunity through SUNY’s statewide network of community colleges.
"SUNY’s community colleges are engines of upward mobility that set New Yorkers up for a bright future by offering everything from associate degrees to high-demand workforce development credentials within their communities," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY community colleges will build on the momentum made possible through increased investment by Governor Hochul and state leaders, so they can keep doing what they do best — enabling New Yorkers to change their lives through an affordable, excellent education. SUNY remains dedicated to the success of our community colleges, and preparing New York State’s future workforce through their high-quality programs."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Throughout New York State, thousands of students begin their educational journeys at one of SUNY’s community colleges. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their continued investment in our community colleges through increased operating aid, and through the implementation of programs like SUNY Reconnect, which is making the educational dreams of adult learners a reality across the state. SUNY is proud to continue our work to strengthen our community colleges, so they can continue providing New Yorkers the high-quality, affordable education they deserve."
George W. Cushman, Chair of New York Community College Trustees, said, "We are proud to celebrate Governor Hochul's vision in championing SUNY Reconnect and SUNY's investment in the essential programs that help our students thrive academically. This progress reflects the remarkable dedication of trustees, presidents, and SUNY leaders statewide who have stood together, tirelessly and passionately, on behalf of our community colleges."
Of the $12 million in additional funding from the 2026-27 Enacted Budget, community colleges will receive $8 million to expand programs that prepare students for high-demand careers such as those included in SUNY Reconnect, with a specific focus on increasing access to evening and weekend courses. The remaining $4 million will be used to provide general operating support to each community college to support their efforts to serve students.
In addition, the 2026-27 Enacted Budget maintains the 100 percent Community College Funding Floor, which prevents a loss of $65 million in Direct State Tax Support for the community colleges as well as continuing the prior combined two-year increase of $16.0 million.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, "Community colleges are a critical rung on the professional ladder for so many people, giving them the step up they need to some of our most in-demand professions. The $12 million in additional funding in this year’s budget for SUNY community colleges will allow for more night and weekend classes, giving more New Yorkers the chance to get a quality education and set them up for a successful career."
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "A community college student is often a working adult, fitting class around a job and a family. The $8 million for high demand programs that include evening and weekend courses meets them where they are, and the broader investment strengthens SUNY Reconnect— the program rebuilding the workforce pipeline for industries New York needs to staff. Three years of consecutive increases is a first in recent history, and the 100 percent funding floor protects another $65 million that campuses cannot afford to lose."
State Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "Community colleges are the cornerstones of economic mobility and workforce development in New York State. This historic $12 million investment ensures our campuses can expand access to high-demand programs, specifically through flexible evening and weekend courses that cater to the realities of working families and non-traditional students. By preserving the funding floor and securing consecutive years of vital state support, the Legislature is empowering our community colleges to provide the essential resources, training, and opportunities New Yorkers need to thrive."
Since the May 2025 launch of Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program for adult learners in New York State, Chancellor King visited SUNY community colleges to promote the program as part of the SUNY Reconnect tour. The tour, which kicked off in June 2025 at Dutchess Community College, has included visits to Tompkins Cortland Community College, SUNY Schenectady, Jefferson Community College, Suffolk County Community College, SUNY Niagara, SUNY Erie Community College, Jamestown Community College, Monroe Community College, SUNY Broome, SUNY Adirondack, Rockland Community College, Ulster Community College, Westchester Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College, Clinton Community College, Herkimer County Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, North Country Community College, Finger Lakes Community College, Cayuga Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, SUNY Sullivan, SUNY Orange, and Genesee Community College.
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, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its 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 $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum.
Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
06/04/2026