When sisters Haley and Hannah Gill first arrived on the SUNY Morrisville campus, they were among many students to join the college’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) programs.
“There were a lot of activities that helped us adjust to college life,” said Hannah, an equine science student in the ACE program. “They keep us on track with our grades and make sure our classes are going well.” Haley, an individual studies student in the ASAP program, agrees.
That support will continue as Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged in her 2025 State of the State agenda to deliver ongoing state funding to sustain and expand the proven ASAP and ACE programs, transformative models that have been widely demonstrated to increase student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps, including at SUNY Morrisville.
“I applaud the governor and the state’s continued investment in an expansion of these programs, which are an important opportunity for us to further promote student success,” said SUNY Morrisville President David Rogers.
“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 in a statement. “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 services that help with 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
ASAP|ACE expanded to the SUNY system in the spring of 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 approximately 200 students of diverse majors and backgrounds at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses.
Gov. 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.
Since launching ASAP|ACE on campus, SUNY Morrisville 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.
“ASAP|ACE is a community of support for these students,” said Michael Duignan, director of SUNY Morrisville ASAP|ACE. “This would have not started if it wasn’t for our governor, SUNY, additional donors and our local and college leadership. However, the program would not be successful without the dedication of campus partners in supporting this program. It is really a community coming together to help students through each facet of their academic journey, while assisting them with a path toward career/personal success.”
“This opportunity to continue ASAP|ACE at the Morrisville campus is an expansion of engaging services and financial supports to help even more students succeed and achieve their dreams,” said SUNY Morrisville Provost Suzan Harkness. “It is open to students across all majors, two- and four-year programs, so that all can have the opportunity to benefit from the support system they receive from the ASAP|ACE program while earning a degree at SUNY Morrisville. We are delighted to have the Governor’s support as we prepare the future workforce for New York and beyond.”
“These programs represent SUNY’s unwavering commitment,” said Kayle Light-Curtin, director of the college’s opportunity programs. “When students have the right resources, they can succeed higher than they ever even imagined.
“What makes these programs and our work so powerful is not just that support, it’s the communities that we build,” Light-Curtin added. “Education just isn’t about academics — it’s about creating spaces where students feel valued, supported and empowered to grow into the best versions of themselves.”
Of the 25 campuses statewide that opted in to the SUNY ASAP|ACE program, SUNY Morrisville is only one of two SUNY schools to have both the ASAP|ACE models in efforts to connect students from every degree to have access to the program.
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.
Having a support system, a mentor, career development, extra money for books and gas to travel home on the weekends — it’s all making a difference for SUNY Morrisville ASAP|ACE students like Malcom Hernandez, Juliana Kucera, Abigail Gracey and Julian Wilcox, so they can focus more on their academic careers.
Abigail Gracey, a first-year individual studies student from Oneonta, had many reasons for being part of ASAP|ACE. “I heard about all of the benefits and positive aspects, how welcoming everyone was and how the mentors and everyone wants the best for you because college is hard and having a support system is important when you are away from home.”
Julian Wilcox, an information technology student from Sidney, was the first student to join the program. “I didn’t know if college was for me, but I am so glad that I took the plunge.”
ASAP|ACE has supported the nontraditional student the entire way. “There is always a resource, someone to help me with anything I need, whether it is asking for help with financial aid or helping me get on track my first semester,” Wilcox said.
Making a big impact for business administration student Malcolm Hernandez, of the Bronx, is the support network of mentors and a focus on wellness.
“Michael (Duignan) is a great mentor and friend,” Hernandez said. “I always feel welcome in his office and he is really helping me to adjust.”
“It’s a fantastic program financially, personally and academically,” said Juliana Kucera, an auto body technology student from Elma. “For me, the extra money allows me to go home to visit my family every weekend.”
For more information about SUNY Morrisville’s programs, visit https://www.morrisville.edu/explore/access-programs/suny-asap-and-ace-programs.
For more information on ASAP and ACE programs statewide, visit www.suny.edu/asap-ace.
