SUNY Schenectady Highlights Overwhelming Participation in National Student Success Model to Improve Support, Retention, and Completion

Students and SUNY officials today joined SUNY Schenectady leaders in highlighting the benefits and expansion of Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP), a transformative two-year model that has been widely demonstrated to increase student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps.

Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady, described the importance of ASAP, saying, “At SUNY Schenectady, we do everything we possibly can to eliminate any barriers that students may have to continuing their education and reaching their goals. Through ASAP, we are able to provide them with the resources they need to succeed. We are extremely appreciative of the support from SUNY that allows us to do this.”     

“Student success drives everything we do at SUNY, and we are committed to meeting students and their families where they are to ensure they thrive,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “SUNY takes pride in scaling ASAP as a proven model for student success across our campuses and we look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of SUNY graduates at SUNY Schenectady and across the system.”

SUNY Schenectady is one of 25 SUNY campuses statewide that opted into the ASAP program and as of this fall, has enrolled 160 students to improve retention and graduation rates.

ASAP provides wraparound support to ensure student academic success, retention, and on-time graduation. An array of resources and supports - including funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advisement, and career development activities – help Pell-eligible students overcome barriers that can prevent them from achieving their goals and obtaining a degree.

ASAP expanded to the SUNY system in Spring 2024, supported by an historic demonstration of state-level support championed by Governor Hochul in the $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund and supplemented by private grants. In Fall 2024, SUNY ASAP and the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program (which supports students at the bachelor’s degree level) will enroll 4,200 students.

Since being initially launched at CUNY in 2007, ASAP and ACE have served more than 100,000 CUNY students and the programs have been replicated in seven states. The ASAP|ACE programs have been proven to significantly improve degree completion rates, particularly for underrepresented students. They have since been replicated at more than 20 colleges in seven states across the nation.

Imani Marie Romain-Barthley, SUNY Schenectady ASAP Student and Liberal Arts: Psychology concentration major, shared, “ASAP has made a major impact in helping me financially, academically, and overall. ASAP helps me prepare better for my future. I’m always able to talk with an advisor freely.”