For students navigating the challenges of college, staying on track can sometimes come down to having the right support at the right time.
That support is making a difference for students at SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech, SUNY Delhi and SUNY Oneonta, who came together at SUNY Morrisville to share their experiences with SUNY’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) student success programs.
The students joined campus and SUNY leaders to celebrate the programs’ continued success and growth, and the difference they are making in students’ lives.
Their stories are part of a larger SUNY success story. The programs have reached more than 10,000 students across 44 campuses this fall, including 1,110 — nearly 12 % — at the four participating campuses.
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 have access to an array of resources and support, including funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation and other costs of attendance, as well as academic assistance, personalized advisement and career development activities.
SUNY Morrisville President Michelle Coach, SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff, SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech President Marion Terenzio, SUNY Oneonta Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Enrique Morales-Diaz, SUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Success Donna Linderman, ASAP|ACE representatives and participating students, and New York State Assemblyman Chris Tague, 102nd Assembly District, participated in the event.
Linderman thanked Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their support and campus leaders for their partnership in expanding ASAP|ACE and their belief in the potential of the program.
“To the students, I want to let you know that you are the beating heart of this program,” Linderman said. “We are so proud of what you do and what you are going to do with the support of the program.”
For the students who shared their experiences, the programs have become much more than a source of financial or academic assistance. They have given students a community of support — people who help them navigate challenges, build confidence and keep moving toward their degrees.
At SUNY Morrisville, criminal justice student Shausé Gregoire said ASAP|ACE has given him a community of people who believed in him and help him see possibilities he once thought were out of reach.
“This program is a community of people who believe in you, people who will push you, people who will help you when things get hard, and people who will help you see possibilities that you may not see for yourself yet,” Gregoire said.
As a two-time cancer survivor, Gregoire said the experience has reinforced for him the importance of having people in his corner. “The thought of graduating from college seemed near impossible to me given my past, but being a part of ASAP|ACE has made it that much more believable.”
Gregoire’s story is one example of what Morrisville’s 360 ASAP|ACE students are accomplishing in the classroom and across campus.
“What impresses me most isn’t simply the size of the program, it is the impact these students are having across our campus,” said SUNY Morrisville President Michelle Coach. “Nearly 20 % of our ASAP and ACE students serve as student leaders, and collectively, they represent more than half of our resident assistants, Mustang Mentors and Student Government Executive Board. Nearly 44 % have cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or higher, and last spring, 22 of these students earned a perfect 4.0. Those numbers tell an incredible story. But the individual stories tell us even more.”
For Nevaeh Lewis, a culinary arts management student at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech, that support meant finding her place on campus and gaining the confidence to step into leadership roles.
“Starting college is a big adjustment, and I wasn’t sure I would find my place. ACE changed that for me,” she said. “In ACE, I have advisors who know me by name, who check in on me, and who help me achieve what I am capable of achieving in my coursework. Over time, I have come out of my shell and found my voice to the extent of now being a resident assistant and a peer mentor for our first-year students in our ASAP and ACE programs.”
“Every student arrives with a different story and different challenges, but they all bring potential,” said Marion Terenzio, president of SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech. “ASAP and ACE are making sure that potential is met with opportunity, not obstacles. We are supporting 150 students on our campus through these programs, and we’re seeing something special happen: students who found their footing in their first year are now mentoring students new to the programs. When we are able to combine structured guidance with a community culture like this, students can flourish and then help others do the same.”
At SUNY Oneonta, media studies major Deli Smith said ACE helped make the transition to a large university easier after transferring.
“The ACE program has been instrumental to my success at SUNY Oneonta,” Smith said. “Through introducing me to peers, showing campus resources, and exploring the intricacies of being a college student at a SUNY school, the program assisted me in having a much easier transition and allowed me to excel, both in terms of my academic and social life.”
The results are reflected in SUNY Oneonta’s retention numbers. Eighty-six % of ACE students returned to SUNY Oneonta for their second year — a retention rate 10 percentage points higher than students who are not in ACE. Of those returning students, 93% are in good academic standing with at least a 2.0 GPA. Additionally, 86 ACE students, or about 62%, have a GPA of least 3.0.
“Our campus is thankful to be a part of the ACE statewide effort to break down the hidden barriers to all our students’ success,” said Enrique Morales-Diaz, SUNY Oneonta provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Breaking down traditional silos to deliver student-focused opportunities and providing holistic advisement prioritizes ACE students’ success here at SUNY Oneonta and the results are inspiring.”
At SUNY Delhi, Indi Fox, a business management bachelor’s degree student, said ASAP|ACE has provided not only financial support, but also a community she can rely on.
“ASAP|ACE has become so much more than a program that helps me stay on track; it has become a family to me,” Fox said. “The financial assistance lifted a huge burden off my shoulders, but the mental and emotional support has meant even more. The ASAP|ACE team has been some of my biggest cheerleaders. They helped me through times when I felt almost completely alone and helped me find a belief in myself that I will carry with me long after I graduate.”
“Starting college is only the beginning. Our commitment is to make sure students have the support they need to stay on track, overcome challenges, and earn their degree,” said SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff. “By doubling our ASAP|ACE program this fall, we are now able to offer individualized support to 300 Delhi students. This investment strengthens the network of support and resources that helps students keep moving toward a degree.”
Sen. Peter Oberacker, NY-51st Senate District said: “New York’s investment in SUNY is an investment in our students, our workforce, and the future of communities across our state. Programs like ASAP and ACE recognize that getting into college is only the first step — students also need the right support to stay on track, overcome challenges, and earn their degree. I’m proud to see these programs growing and delivering results at SUNY campuses across our region, and I commend the students, faculty and staff whose hard work is making that success possible.”
Rep. Chris Tague, NY-102nd Assembly District said: “Every student who walks onto a SUNY campus deserves a real opportunity to succeed, regardless of the challenges they may face along the way. ASAP and ACE are providing students with practical, hands-on support — from academic guidance and mentoring to help with the everyday costs that can too often become barriers to completing a degree.
