Governor’s Support for SUNY ASAP|ACE Programs Will Empower Students with Financial, Academic & Other Support to Boost Graduation Rates, Close Opportunity Gaps
[Rockland County, NY], January 17, 2025 — Dr. Scott J. Kalicki, Officer in Charge at Rockland Community College (RCC), today applauded Gov. Kathy Hochul for pledging in her 2025 State of the State agenda to deliver ongoing state funding to sustain and expand the proven Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) programs, transformative models that have been widely demonstrated to increase student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps, including at RCC.
ASAP (for students pursuing an associate degree) expanded to the SUNY system in Spring 2024 through the SUNY Transformation Fund. As of Fall 2024, more than 4,200 students now participate in ASAP|ACE across 25 SUNY campuses, including 150 students in RCC’s ASAP program.
“We’re deeply grateful for Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to the ASAP program, which has played a pivotal role in unlocking our students’ potential through robust academic and financial support,” said Kalicki. “This initiative not only cultivates a richer learning environment but also significantly enhances our students’ ability to persist and succeed. At Rockland Community College, we’ve seen firsthand how this support bridges opportunity gaps and propels our students toward timely graduation, fully equipped to excel in their future endeavors.”
Since launching ASAP at RCC, students have felt immediate tangible benefits, with positive impacts on academic momentum, including higher credit-completion and retention rates and high levels of student engagement.
“The RCC ASAP program has impacted my educational journey in ways I never thought possible, including helping me finance my classes and worry less about money,” said Natalia Benitez Levina, a RCC ASAP Student. “It also helps me feel safe and supported as a student. I am so grateful and so happy to be part of it.”
Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State agenda will make it possible to sustain ASAP|ACE and expand it statewide to reach 10,000 SUNY students.
“SUNY is committed to success for every student, and ASAP|ACE programs are the nation’s leading, evidence-based model for helping students stay on track to graduation,” SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to ASAP|ACE in the 2025 State of the State agenda and look forward to working with the governor and our champions in the legislature to continue to scale this proven investment in student success.”
ASAP|ACE programs provide wraparound support to ensure student academic success, retention, and on-time graduation. An array of resources and supports — including academic assistance, personalized advisement, career development activities, and funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance — help Pell-eligible students overcome barriers that can prevent them from achieving their goals and obtaining a degree.
Across SUNY, ASAP students’ credit completion rates for the Spring 2024 semester were 20% higher than similar non-participants, and ACE students saw 9% higher credit completion rates compared to similar non-ACE students. ASAP|ACE-student retention rates from spring to fall 2024 also outpaced those of non-participants.
For more information on ASAP and ACE programs statewide, visit www.suny.edu/asap-ace.
About Rockland Community College
Rockland Community College (RCC), located in Suffern New York, provides purpose driven educational opportunities in a supportive, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities. RCC welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Many graduates go on to top universities to further their education on their own or through RCCs institutional collaborations. RCC also provides career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and microcredentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high-demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at sunyrockland.edu.
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