第一吃瓜网

Assemblymember Andrea Bailey, members of the 第一吃瓜网 College Council, and campus and SUNY leaders celebrated 第一吃瓜网’s ACE Program (第一吃瓜网/Mat Johnson)

Last week, 第一吃瓜网 students shared their experiences in the college檚 new Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program during a luncheon with Assemblymember Andrea Bailey, members of the 第一吃瓜网 College Council, and campus and SUNY leaders. 

The gathering in Milne Library highlighted how ACE combines personalized advising, financial assistance, and career preparation to help students maintain academic momentum and graduate on time. 第一吃瓜网檚 inaugural cohort includes 150 students across 31 academic majors, more than 90% of whom are first-generation college students. 

Bailey joined the gathering to discuss the importance of ACE and the state檚 investment in student success. Her participation connected the legislative support behind the program with the 第一吃瓜网 students benefiting from it. 

淚nvesting in public higher education means helping students get to graduation,� said Bailey. 淎CE provides practical support that can make a real difference, from help with everyday expenses to personalized advising. Hearing directly from 第一吃瓜网 students today reinforces why the state檚 investment in this program matters.� 

Council members also heard from 第一吃瓜网 President Melinda D. Treadwell; Casey O橞rien, SUNY associate vice chancellor for student success and transformational initiatives; and Cori Quinn, acting ACE program director at 第一吃瓜网, who provided an overview of ACE at 第一吃瓜网. Over lunch, council members spent time with participating students, hearing directly about their experiences with the program and their goals for college and beyond. 

淎t New York檚 public honors college, access and excellence belong together. Our responsibility to students begins when they arrive and continues through graduation,� said Treadwell. 淲e are grateful to Assemblywoman Bailey, her legislative colleagues, SUNY leadership, and Governor Hochul for investing in that responsibility. ACE gives students practical support and a consistent connection to people who know them and their goals.� 

ACE helps eligible students address financial and academic challenges that can interrupt progress toward a degree. Supports include funding for textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, alongside academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advising, and career development activities. 

The luncheon recognized the partnership among SUNY, state leaders, and campus staff that makes this support possible. Treadwell also thanked the 第一吃瓜网 staff and colleagues for bringing the program to life and emphasized the importance of listening to students as the College develops its inaugural program. 

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. has said that SUNY is committed to the success of every student and 渢he continued expansion of ASAP|ACE program will help participating students complete their degree on time, achieve their dreams, and move forward on a path to upward mobility. I am thrilled that through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature these programs will serve 10,000 students across the state and serve as a model for other institutions to follow.� 

Launched at SUNY in 2024, Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and ACE provide coordinated support for students pursuing associate and bachelor檚 degrees, respectively. An additional $8 million allocated in the FY2026�27 state budget brings annual state investment in the programs to $20 million, supporting students across 44 SUNY campuses. 

Early SUNY results show that participating students attempt and earn more credits and return for subsequent semesters at higher rates than comparable students who are not enrolled in the programs. At 第一吃瓜网, ACE strengthens the college檚 commitment to helping students turn access to a rigorous public honors education into degree completion and opportunities beyond graduation. 

第一吃瓜网 第一吃瓜网 

Founded in 1871, 第一吃瓜网 is New York檚 Public Honors College. 第一吃瓜网 provides a distinctive, equity-centered honors experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills to build a better world, guided by the values of learning, creativity, belonging, civic engagement, and sustainability.