Students Share How SUNY's ASAP Program Has Been Instrumental In Their Success
SUNY Schenectady recently joined with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Merryl H. Tisch, the University at Albany, Hudson Valley Community College, and Columbia-Greene Community College to celebrate students who are in SUNY's Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) Program. ASAP removes financial barriers to full-time study, provides structured pathways to help students gain and maintain academic momentum, and creates connected communities through integrated support and engagement activities.
Through an additional $8 million allocated in the 2026-27 Enacted State Budget, ASAP (for students pursuing associate degrees) and Advancing Completion Through Engagement (ACE) (for students pursuing bachelor's degrees) have expanded to serve 10,000 students at 44 SUNY campuses beginning in the Fall 2026 semester.
Matthew Perez, a Computer Networking Systems and Cybersecurity major, speaks about ASAP during a SUNY Round Table.
College President Dr. Nicole Reaves discusses the impact of ASAP during a recent SUNY ASAP Celebration.
Meet Three Students in ASAP
James Harris is earning his degree in Teacher Education. He is already putting his passion for education into practice by working in the Learning Center as a Tutor, where he helps other students succeed academically. He is also in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and participates in the TRIO Program.
“ASAP has been an essential part of my academic journey. The personalized academic advising, regular check-ins, community, and financial support have all worked in tandem to allow me to continue and succeed in my studies. My ASAP advisors have helped me through both academic and personal challenges while obtaining my associate degree.”
James plans to graduate in May 2027 and continue on for his bachelor’s degree in Childhood and Special Education. His career goal is to become a Special Education Teacher.
Chloe Connors is earning her degree in Culinary Arts. She has been a participant in ASAP since her first semester (Fall 2025). Chloe has found a support system with ASAP in several different ways.
She shared, “ASAP has meant everything to me. It’s what has allowed me to continue for a second year at SUNY Schenectady, in terms of the financial support, emotional support, and having genuine people who act as a team to get me where I need to be. It’s great having my advisor, a genuine team member, to help me figure things out so that I can attend classes without being so stressed. Anytime I need a safe space to decompress, I go up to the ASAP room.”
Chloe plans to graduate in December 2027 and pursue her bachelor’s degree, shifting her focus to study science or entomology.
Matthew Perez is earning his degree in Computer Networking Systems and Cybersecurity major. He has been a participant in ASAP since his first semester (Fall 2025) and has found a strong foundation in ASAP both with other students and ASAP staff.
He shared, “Being able to make new friends through ASAP has been amazing. I have met a lot of like-minded people who are focusing on their academics and I’ve gained a lot of new experiences. ASAP Academic Advisor Maura Davis has helped me with my course schedule and she helped me when I was struggling to figure out planning my daily schedule with homework and tests and everything. Last February, I had heart surgery and I came back to school two weeks later. ASAP really helped me get back on my feet academically.”
A father of two young children, Matthew plans to graduate in May 2027 and hopes to work for New York State and earn his bachelor’s degree.
SUNY Schenectady was proud to be one of the first SUNY community colleges to develop an ASAP Program, launching in Spring 2024 with 52 students. This fall semester, there are 300 students in the ASAP Program, benefitting from individualized advising, financial assistance, and the consistent support they need to remain enrolled and graduate on time.
Second-semester retention has increased from 76% to 88% over the past two and a half years, and SUNY Schenectady has exceeded the SUNY ASAP average for retention in three of its four cohorts. In many instances, ASAP has meant the difference between a student leaving the College and achieving their goal of graduating.
Also, 81% of eligible continuing ASAP students returned for Fall 2026. Students identified as needing lower levels of support achieved a 100% engagement rate last semester. I share these figures with you to show just how much ASAP is working by removing barriers for our students. ASAP provides the foundation, community, and support that students need to flourish and achieve their goals.