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SUNY Chancellor King Joins SUNY Reconnect Information Session to Encourage Adult New Yorkers to Earn a Free Community College Degree
Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect Program Provides Free Community College Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies for Eligible Adult Learners in High-Demand Fields
Virtual Information Sessions Offer New Yorkers the Opportunity to Learn More about the SUNY Reconnect Program for Adult Learners
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. participated in a virtual information session to encourage New Yorkers to sign up for Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program. The virtual sessions, which have taken place over the past few months, have helped inform New Yorkers about SUNY Reconnect, the free community college program for adult learners, which officially began at the start of Fall 2025 classes. Under Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative, New York State is providing free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don’t already have a college degree and want to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.
"Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program is a life-changing opportunity for adult New Yorkers to earn a great education, secure high-demand jobs, and achieve upward mobility," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The virtual information sessions organized by SUNY help more New Yorkers learn about the SUNY Reconnect program and how they can take advantage of this effort. I was proud to be a part of this information session and encourage all New Yorkers curious about SUNY Reconnect to visit our website, attend a virtual information session, or contact a local SUNY community college."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY community colleges are engines of upward mobility, and thanks to Governor Hochul, we are able to offer the SUNY Reconnect program to help even more New Yorkers earn a degree in high-demand fields. We are committed to ensuring that every SUNY community college has the support and resources necessary to provide their students with the world-class education and job training that they deserve. We hope even more New Yorkers take advantage of the opportunity to earn a degree through SUNY Reconnect."
SUNY Reconnect was announced by Governor Hochul as part of her 2025 State of the State Address. The program builds on the Governor's legacy of ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to a world-class and affordable education. Since the launch of SUNY Reconnect in Fall 2025, more than 5,600 New Yorkers have enrolled in the program. Through the SUNY Reconnect virtual sessions, more than 1,000 New Yorkers have attended to learn about the SUNY Reconnect program and courses. New Yorkers interested in learning more about SUNY Reconnect and available programs at SUNY community colleges visit SUNY Reconnect website for more information.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Providing free community college for adult learners is a crucial part of Governor Hochul’s agenda to make New York an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. Programs in high-demand fields like tech, nursing, and engineering give students a pathway into great-paying careers. I thank the Governor and our partners at SUNY for advancing workforce development initiatives to aid New Yorkers."
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Executive Vice President Doris B. González said, "Governor Hochul’s commitment to improving affordability through the SUNY Reconnect Program has made it possible for more New Yorkers to obtain a college degree and build a better future. By breaking down barriers to higher education and opening doors to high-demand careers, more adults now have the opportunity to enter these fields and thrive. I applaud Chancellor King for spreading awareness and inspiring adult learners to take that first step toward a brighter future, empowering them to achieve their dreams and strengthen New York’s workforce."
Since the May 2025 launch of Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program for adult learners in New York State, Chancellor King visited SUNY community colleges to promote the program as part of the SUNY Reconnect tour. The tour, which kicked off in June 2025 at Dutchess Community College, has included visits to Tompkins Cortland Community College, SUNY Schenectady, Jefferson Community College, Suffolk County Community College, SUNY Niagara, SUNY Erie Community College, Jamestown Community College, Monroe Community College, SUNY Broome, SUNY Adirondack, Rockland Community College, Ulster Community College, Westchester Community College, and Columbia-Greene Community College.
Four million working-age adults in New York do not have a college degree or credential, and SUNY Reconnect provides a valuable education for adult students at SUNY campuses throughout the state, with tuition, fees, books, and supplies all covered after applicable financial aid.
Degrees in high-demand fields eligible for SUNY Reconnect include:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Engineering
- Technology
- Nursing and Allied Health Fields
- Green and Renewable Energy
- Pathways to Teaching in Shortage Areas
To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:
- Allocated $4 million to community colleges to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations.
- Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment capacity in high-demand programs that are part of SUNY Reconnect.
- Announced $1.1 million in grant funding for the SUNY Adult Learner Leadership Initiative (SUNY ALL Initiative) to help community colleges increase access and ensure degree completion for adult learners.
Together, SUNY Reconnect and the SUNY ALL Initiative strategies will create flexible, supportive pathways for adult learners to learn, persist, and complete degrees in high-demand fields such as nursing, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and teaching—further strengthening New York’s workforce and economy.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.