Nassau Community College Applauds Gov. Hochul for Critical Support
 for Student Success in 2025 State of the State Agenda

Governor’s Support for SUNY ASAP|ACE Programs Will Empower Students with Financial, Academic
 & Other Support to Boost Graduation Rates, Close Opportunity Gaps

Nassau County, NY, January 16, 2025 — Nassau Community College (NCC) leadership today applauded Gov. Kathy Hochul for pledging in her 2025 State of the State agenda to deliver ongoing state funding to sustain and expand the proven Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) programs, transformative models that have been widely demonstrated to increase student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps.

"At Nassau Community College, we are passionate about fostering an environment where innovation meets opportunity,” Dr. Maria Conzatti, NCC Chief Administrative Officer said. “ASAP is a perfect example of this resolve. By blending a proven support system, hands-on learning, and real-world applications, we are preparing students not just for the jobs of today, but for the careers of tomorrow. We appreciate Governor Hochul’s support for ASAP in the 2025 State of the State agenda and are eager to collaborate with her and our legislative partners to expand this initiative.”

ASAP (for students pursuing an associate degree) and ACE (for students in Bachelor’s degree program) expanded to the SUNY system in Spring 2024 through the SUNY Transformation Fund. As of Fall 2024, more than 4,200 students now participate in ASAP|ACE across 25 SUNY campuses, including 162 at NCC. Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State agenda will make it possible to sustain ASAP|ACE and expand it statewide to reach 10,000 SUNY students.

Since launching ASAP, NCC students have felt immediate tangible benefits, with positive impacts on academic momentum, including higher credit-completion and retention rates and high levels of student engagement.

“SUNY is committed to success for every student, and ASAP|ACE programs are the nation’s leading, evidence-based model for helping students stay on track to graduation,” SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to ASAP|ACE in the 2025 State of the State agenda and look forward to working with the governor and our champions in the legislature to continue to scale this proven investment in student success.”

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

“It was not just financial means of support either. They have workshops and advertise activities that can be helpful when attended. Not to mention fun because they interact and encourage others to as well,” Kylie Estrada, ASAP student from West Hempstead studying Biology said. “But mostly for me it’s the one-on-one guidance that ASAP provides that’s aided me the most. You’re able to talk with them openly and ask questions without feeling like it’s foolish. They offered a community of support not only with them but with my peers and that’s incredibly important to have and something I’m thankful to have gotten when joining ASAP.”

Across SUNY, ASAP students’ credit completion rates for the Spring 2024 semester were 20% higher than similar non-participants, and ACE students saw 9% higher credit completion rates compared to similar non-ACE students. ASAP|ACE-student retention rates from spring to fall 2024 also outpaced those of non-participants.

For more information on ASAP and ACE programs statewide, visit www.suny.edu/asap-ace.

About Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College, a campus of the State University of New York, provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to prepare students to start, and continue, their successful journeys through higher education. Serving 14,000 full-time, part-time and continuing education students, NCC awards 67 associate degrees and 25 certificates. Through on-campus and online offerings, the college educates local and international students, and boasts 168,000 alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, the college grounds reside in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, NCC has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence and ease of transferability to four-year schools.