Starting This Fall, Eligible Students Will Receive Comprehensive Support to Gain and Maintain Academic Momentum So They Can Graduate on Time
Alfred State leaders today announced the campus will join the State University of New York’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) - the nation’s leading college retention and completion models - as part of a statewide expansion to serve 10,000 students at 44 SUNY campuses by the Fall 2026 semester.
ASAP supports students pursuing associate degrees, while ACE supports baccalaureate students. Eligible students have access to a wide array of resources and support to help them overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree. This includes funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, as well as comprehensive personalized advisement, academic support, and career development activities. For more information visit: https://www.suny.edu/asap-ace/.
The expansion was made possible through an additional $8 million in allocated funding in the FY2026-27 Enacted State Budget, bringing the total state investment in this successful program to $20 million annually.
Alfred State will launch its ASAP/ACE program with an inaugural cohort of 150 students this fall.
"The expansion of SUNY's ASAP and ACE programs to Alfred State represents a significant investment in our students and their future,” commented Alfred State President Dr. Steven Mauro. “We know that student success extends beyond the classroom, and programs like these provide the comprehensive support that helps students overcome challenges, maintain momentum, and reach graduation.”
He continued, “We thank SUNY’s Board of Trustees for advancing initiatives that have demonstrated measurable results. We are proud to join this nationally recognized model and look forward to helping more Alfred State students achieve their academic goals and realize their full potential."
"SUNY is committed to the success of every student, and the continued expansion of ASAP|ACE will help ensure our students can complete their degree on time, achieve their dreams, and move forward on a path to upward mobility," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. "I am thrilled that through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, and for the SUNY Board of Trustees, these vital programs will serve 10,000 students across the state this fall and I thank the Alfred State administration, faculty, and staff for their unwavering commitment to student success."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through the steadfast support of Governor Hochul, the State Legislature, and continued support from philanthropy, SUNY has been able to expand ASAP|ACE to serve thousands of students throughout the state. With this significant expansion, even more of our students will have access to the advising, financial resources, and wraparound supports that help them stay on track and complete their degrees."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through the steadfast support of Governor Hochul, the State Legislature, and continued support from philanthropy, SUNY has been able to expand ASAP|ACE to serve thousands of students throughout the state. With this significant expansion, even more of our students will have access to the advising, financial resources, and wraparound supports that help them stay on track and complete their degrees."
In addition, SUNY has received a $2 million renewal commitment from Brightway, which will extend its program’s support for additional student parents who are primary caregivers at seven community colleges with childcare costs, access to emergency cash assistance, and support for winter and summer course taking. The renewal commitment, which builds on an initial matched commitment of $1 million made to SUNY in 2023, will also expand personalized career guidance, strengthen connections to internships and employment opportunities, and pilot a new program supporting ASAP student parents transferring to SUNY baccalaureate campuses that offer ACE.
To learn more about ASAP and ACE at Alfred State, visit https://www.alfredstate.edu/suny-asap-ace