MCC Daily Tribune
Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Approve Steps to Strengthen New York Community Colleges
Albany, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees and Chancellor John B. King Jr. Tuesday announced actions to strengthen community colleges statewide, including $1 million in increased funding, for a total of $5 million, for Governor Hochul’s initiative to provide free tuition for eligible adult students in high-demand fields and a series of measures to ensure continued excellent campus leadership.
“SUNY’s 30 community colleges are engines of upward mobility and vital institutions for students and the communities we serve,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “We are at a historic moment for our community colleges with two consecutive years of increased state investment and the launch of SUNY Reconnect to make community college free for adult learners in high-demand fields. The success of our community colleges is vital to the future of our state, as they prepare more than 165,000 students through degree programs and many thousands more through critical workforce development credentials and programs.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Today, 44 percent of our SUNY students get their start at a community college, and we hope so many more New Yorkers take advantage of the excellent and affordable education waiting for them. Job creators throughout New York State know that when they invest in a SUNY graduate, they are getting a highly-skilled, highly-motivated New Yorker ready to hit the ground running. Our actions today help strengthen our community colleges for this opportunity through additional operating aid, and solid campus leadership.”
Actions taken today include:
Bolstering Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect
Starting in Fall 2025, community colleges statewide will provide free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don't already have a college degree and choose to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field. At its last meeting, the SUNY Board of Trustees 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. Today, Chancellor King announced an additional $1 million to cover equipment and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment capacity in these high-demand programs.
Welcoming New SUNY Community College Presidents
The SUNY Board of Trustees are expected to vote on the appointments of three permanent presidents today, as well as the appointment of an acting president. All of the permanent presidents were selected using the pilot process the SUNY Board of Trustees adopted for the 2024-25 academic year, which directed the Chancellor to provide feedback to the local board on its three finalist candidates, prior to the local board advancing its selection to the SUNY Board of Trustees for approval upon recommendation of the Chancellor.
Campus President Appointment and Contract Review Process
New York State Education Law 355(1)(c) provides shared responsibility for community colleges between the SUNY Board of Trustees and the local board of trustees. In November, the SUNY Board of Trustees approved a resolution to provide additional transparency and accountability in the presidential search process, and in January, a resolution was approved limiting the duration of temporary leadership. The pilot, which brought greater speed and efficiency to five successful appointments of community college presidents, was established for searches conducted during the 2024-25 academic year. Following input from community colleges, counties, and other stakeholders, the SUNY Board of Trustees has begun the rulemaking process to invite additional public comment on updated processes for Chancellor feedback on finalists; presidential contract review and approval; and limitations on temporary presidential leadership.
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.
Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
06/04/2025