MCC Daily Tribune
Chancellor King Visits SUNY Schenectady as Part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour
Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect Provides Free Community College Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies for Eligible Adult Learners in High-Demand Fields
Visit Highlights SUNY Schenectady Computer Science Degree Program and the Recently Opened Enhanced Air Traffic–Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program
Schenectady, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited SUNY Schenectady County Community College Thursday as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour. Chancellor King will be visiting SUNY community colleges throughout the state to promote New York’s free community college program for adult learners, which will begin in fall 2025. Under Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative, New York State will provide free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don't already have a college degree, to help them pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.
Chancellor King visited SUNY Schenectady to highlight the college’s SUNY Reconnect-eligible Computer Science degree programs, including Computer Networking Systems and Cyber Security, Computer Information Systems, and Programming for Game Design. Chancellor King also toured the school’s Air Traffic Control Simulator Lab, which is part of SUNY Schenectady’s Enhanced Air Traffic–Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) and Air Traffic Control A.A.S. degree program. This program, under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight, will help train future air traffic controllers. SUNY Schenectady is one of only six colleges and universities across the country, and one of only two community colleges, that the FAA has authorized to provide the same thorough curriculum and advanced training technology offered at the agency’s Academy in Oklahoma City. Students who graduate from the SUNY Schenectady program and pass the FAA-proctored Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) can go directly to work in an FAA tower.
To support adult learner success through SUNY Reconnect, SUNY Schenectady will provide more flexible course offerings, expanded support services, and recognition of prior learning. Adult students can choose from day, evening, hybrid, and fully online courses designed to accommodate the complex schedules of working professionals and caregivers. Personalized advising geared towards adult students’ needs will provide guidance throughout their college career and help identify eligible Credit For Prior Learning (CPL) that makes it possible for students to earn college credit for work experience, industry licensures, credentials, or certifications. This fall, the college will extend individual advising hours and access to academic support programs—including Career Services, TRIO, and EOP—with new evening hours.
“Big things are happening at SUNY Schenectady, and with the statewide SUNY Reconnect program taking off, the campus is well positioned to help more New Yorkers on a path to a college degree,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “This ambitious initiative advanced by Governor Hochul and supported by our state legislature will help empower New Yorkers to pursue high-demand, well-paying careers, and in doing so the state economy will benefit from well educated professionals.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Thanks to wise investments and strong leadership from Governor Hochul and state and local leaders, SUNY Schenectady is truly taking flight. The aviation program, in concert with the SUNY Reconnect eligible courses, will help ensure SUNY Schenectady is a regional and national leader that students will flock to attend. We applaud Governor Hochul, and our state and local leaders, for supporting adult learners through the SUNY Reconnect program and the many great things happening at SUNY Schenectady.”
Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady said, “We are thrilled to welcome Chancellor King to campus to highlight our degree programs that are part of SUNY Reconnect, an important investment in adult learners by Governor Hochul and the state legislature, and to tour our new Air Traffic Control Simulator Lab as we train the next generation of FAA Air Traffic Controllers. SUNY continues to create transformative pathways for adult learners to pursue meaningful careers and change their lives.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Free community college for adult learners opens new doors for New Yorkers and ensures a skilled and knowledgeable workforce in industries we all rely on, including our farms, hospitals, and schools. I thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing workforce development initiatives through our SUNY programs that not only educate adult students but also help make the state an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.”
NYSUT President Melinda Person said, “SUNY Reconnect is unlocking doors for adult learners across New York — and at SUNY Schenectady, we see just how powerful that promise can be. Whether it’s cybersecurity or air traffic control, these are programs that demand focus, skill, and opportunity. By removing financial barriers that too often stand in the way to these careers, we’re not just educating students, we’re investing in a future where every New Yorker has a chance to thrive.”
State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “SUNY Reconnect is a game-changer for working families across New York. By making community college free for most adults in high-demand fields, we’re opening the door to life-changing careers in fast-growing fields like cybersecurity, game design, and even air traffic control. SUNY Schenectady is leading the way right here in our backyard with hands-on, high-tech programs that prepare students for the future. I want to commend and thank Chancellor King and Governor Hochul for their vision in making higher education more accessible, equitable, and responsive to the needs of our modern economy.”
State Senator Jake Ashby said, “I was pleased to help deliver this important investment in this year's state budget accord because hardworking people deserve clearer pathways to bigger paychecks, better opportunities, and more rewarding careers. This is also about strengthening our workforce and making sure that key industries can invest in the Capital Region with confidence.”
State Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh, said, “The SUNY Reconnect program will give adult learners the opportunity to earn associate degrees in high-demand fields that are critical to New York’s future, including innovative programs like the Enhanced Air Traffic–Collegiate Training Initiative at SUNY Schenectady. I commend Chancellor King and Governor Hochul for their leadership in this initiative, which will open doors for more New Yorkers to pursue a future right in their own communities.”
State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said, “Chancellor King’s visit to SUNY Schenectady highlights the growing role of our community colleges in helping more New Yorkers re-enter the classroom and prepare for careers that are in high demand. Thanks to funding secured in this year’s state budget, the SUNY Reconnect initiative is opening those doors wider than ever. We’re making it possible for more adult learners to return to college without the financial burdens that once held them back. Programs in cybersecurity, information systems, and air traffic control aren’t just academic offerings—they’re pathways to stable, meaningful employment that help meet critical needs in our communities.”
State Assemblymember Phil Steck said, “Access to education is one of the most powerful tools we have to strengthen our workforce and expand economic opportunity. As our economy evolves, programs like SUNY Reconnect are essential to ensure that adult learners can gain the skills they need, particularly in high-demand fields like computer science, cybersecurity, and air traffic control. I’m proud to support initiatives that invest in our community colleges and help prepare New Yorkers for the jobs of the future.”
State Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “I'm thrilled that the Reconnect Tour is spotlighting schools participating in the SUNY ASAP/ACE program here in the Capital District. “This program offers a remarkable opportunity for adults ages 25 to 55 to earn a free community college degree in high-demand fields. This initiative represents a significant investment in opportunity, equity, and access to higher education, particularly for individuals who may not have previously had the means to pursue a degree. I’m enthusiastic about the doors this program will open for students across the Capital District and look forward to more programs launching this fall.”
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
To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:
- 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 that are part of SUNY Reconnect.
- Announced $1.1 million in grant funding for the SUNY Adult Learner Leadership Initiative to help community colleges increase access and ensure degree completion for adult learners.
In addition to SUNY Reconnect, the FY25-26 Enacted State Budget provides $8 million in increased operating aid to community colleges – the first back-to-back operating aid increases in decades for these institutions – and maintains the 100% community college funding floor, which protects community colleges from $75 million lost direct state tax support.
The budget also provides significant funding toward New York's longstanding Educational Opportunity Program, which has served more than 85,000 students, and increased support for ASAP|ACE, which will make these proven retention and completion programs permanent at SUNY and allow for a significant expansion.
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 (www.suny.edu).
Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
07/18/2025