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Top officials and some participating students from SUNY Oswego, Cayuga Community College, Jefferson Community College, Onondaga Community College and SUNY came together to discuss the success of SUNY’s Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE, for bachelor’s degree schools) and Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP, for community colleges) programs at an event Oct. 29 in the Hewitt Hall ballroom.

ACE and ASAP provide funding to cover textbooks and other costs of attendance, as well as academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advisement and career development activities.

The celebration brought leaders from all four universities – SUNY Oswego President Peter O. Nwosu, Jefferson Community College President Daniel Dupee, Onondaga Community College President Warren Hilton and Cayuga Community College Provost Keiko Kimura – as well as SUNY University Director for ACE/ASAP Jennifer Bashant, New York State Sen. Chris Ryan and students benefiting from the program, among others.

Melinda McCarthy, a non-traditional transfer student at SUNY Oswego, serves as an ACE Peer Mentor to continue to pay the support forward. McCarthy recalled feeling alone and like she was starting over when she first returned to school, but ACE immediately provided a sense of community and encouragement.

“ACE made me feel like I was in the right place. I had a team behind me. They supported me from Day One,” McCarthy said. “Helping a student to feel as though they have community, to feel as though they belong is very important to student success. ACE, this program here, did it very well. … I came here with a goal, with a vision, but they helped me put those aspirations into action. I’m truly grateful.”

ASAP|ACE is a signature program that reflects the vision SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. has for providing access and success for students.

“At the heart of SUNY’s mission is a deep commitment to student success, and programs like ASAP|ACE are helping us realize that commitment in truly life-changing ways,” Director Bashant said. “The ASAP|ACE model, which aligns perfectly with Chancellor King’s vision for student success, is a proven, rigorously evaluated model that increases retention and completion due to its comprehensive wraparound support system and critical financial resources, ensuring students gain and maintain academic momentum, feel integrated and supported as they pursue their degrees.”

Support, partnerships across campuses

Since ACE began, SUNY Oswego has hosted the largest cohort, President Nwosu said. This year, Oswego’s ACE program supports 490 students, with another 200 on a waitlist. Cayuga currently has 150 students in its ASAP program.

“Together with our community college partners, our four institutions are serving 940 students,” President Nwosu said. “Today, we celebrate not only those numbers but also the pathways we are building. Through our partnerships with Cayuga, Jefferson and Onondaga community colleges, students can begin at a community college, earn an associate's degree, and continue toward a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Oswego — with support that continues after they transfer.”

“At SUNY Jefferson, we have seen firsthand the impact that ASAP has on student achievement,” President Dupee said. “Through personalized advising, financial support, and a strong network of encouragement, the program helps students overcome barriers, stay on track, and achieve their educational goals. The results are impressive, but what matters most are the lives that are changed through this support.”

“SUNY ASAP is making a real difference. It’s helping students stay in college, earn credits, and complete their degrees,” President Hilton said. "We’re proud to be part of this effort, providing 150 students with the support and resources they need to build better futures – for themselves, their families, and our communities. When we work together, we open doors and change lives.”

“ASAP has been an outstanding source of support for students at Cayuga Community College, instilling them with confidence while removing financial barriers that stood between students and their degree,” Provost Kimura said. “With this program, students join a vibrant community of learners at Cayuga who encourage their classmates and celebrate their successes. We greatly appreciate our State and SUNY leaders’ support for ASAP and look forward to seeing the continued achievements of our ASAP students in the years ahead.”

Cayuga business administration major Kati Champagne has worked for her grandfather’s tax preparation business for 16 years and developed a dream to become a certified public accountant to carry on his business and legacy – but knew that additional education would lay the best foundation.

“Being a part of ASAP and having the extra support helped me grow more confident in myself and what I was capable of,” Champagne said. “One of the biggest things being a part of ASAP has taught me was that I didn’t have to figure everything out alone. They helped me figure out the best schedules and times for classes so I could still be successful in my daily life.”

Champagne noted that pursuing a degree at SUNY Oswego with its renowned business program was a likely next step, made even better knowing that keeping this support from Oswego’s ACE program would continue providing benefits.

“Our teams work diligently to strengthen the relationship between programs, intentionally creating transfer pathways for students,” said Jordan Pritchard, director of SUNY Oswego’s ACE programs. “These partnerships allow us to aim to increase the number of ASAP students from Cayuga, Jefferson and Onondaga who successfully transfer to SUNY Oswego and continue their education with support from the ACE program, ultimately earning bachelor’s degrees.”

“We know that higher education is a passport to prosperity, but we know that getting into college is just half the battle,” Sen. Ryan said. “We know that students need resources, they need guidance, they need help to stay in school to earn their degrees…. That’s why these programs are so important, recognizing that every student has potential but every student has different needs. Meeting those needs and helping people to succeed is so important.”

About ASAP|ACE

Launched at SUNY in 2024, ASAP|ACE programs provide wraparound support to help students overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree. Eligible students access an array of resources and supports, including funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, as well as academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advisement, and additional career development activities. 

”SUNY is committed to the success of every student, and the 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,” SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said in announcing the program’s expansion earlier this year. “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.”

ACE students are earning up to 1.7 more credits than matched comparison students by their third semester, with retention rates reaching 8.6 percentage points higher than matched comparison students by the fourth semester.

ASAP students are earning up to 1.4 more credits than matched comparison students in their first semester, with retention rates increasing over time and reaching 12.3 percentage points higher than matched comparison students by the fourth semester.

Through an additional $8 million in allocated funding in the 2026-27 enacted state budget, ASAP|ACE expanded to serve 10,000 students at 44 SUNY campuses by the fall 2026 semester, bringing the total state investment in this successful program to $20 million annually.

For more information, visit suny.edu/asap-ace. For information on Cayuga's ASAP program, visit https://www.cayuga-cc.edu/students/services/asap/.