SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi has expressed strong support for Governor Kathy Hochul’s pledge to continue funding the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program, which has had a notable impact on student graduation outcomes. Enyedi highlighted the transformative effect of the ACE program, emphasizing its role in helping students stay on track to graduate and overcome challenges. He also called the funding an investment in the future of New York, supporting students in creating brighter, more equitable futures.
Governor Hochul committed to sustaining and expanding both the ACE program at four-year SUNY campuses and the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways for students pursuing associate degrees. This funding was outlined in her 2025 State of the State agenda. In 2023, SUNY Plattsburgh was awarded over $900,000 from the state’s $75 million Transformation Fund to replicate the ACE program, which was modeled after the successful City University of New York (CUNY) initiative.
As of fall 2024, 4,200 students across SUNY campuses participate in ACE or ASAP programs, with 210 students at SUNY Plattsburgh. The expansion will allow the program to reach 10,000 SUNY students statewide.
Since its introduction at SUNY Plattsburgh, ACE has shown immediate positive outcomes, including higher credit completion rates, improved retention, and higher student engagement. The program offers wrap-around support for first-generation and Pell-eligible students who are not in other student support programs, providing academic assistance, career development, and funding for essential needs such as textbooks, groceries, and transportation.
Data from spring 2024 indicates that ACE students have a 9% higher credit completion rate compared to non-participants. Additionally, retention rates from spring to fall 2024 were also higher for ACE participants.
Students such as Anny Nelzy, a biomedical science major, and Amber Mitchell, a student from Queens, praised the ACE program for providing crucial resources and creating a sense of community and support, essential for their academic success.