Student-Focused Initiative Dramatically Increases Degree Completion
Beginning this spring, Farmingdale State College (FSC) will be one of 12 State University of New York (SUNY) campuses to participate in the Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) Program, an exciting new SUNY initiative to meaningfully improve student support, retention, and degree completion.
The comprehensive program, based on a highly successful national model, will provide holistic services for FSC first-generation students and those who have demonstrated financial need. Services will include individualized counseling, leadership and career development, peer mentoring, interactive workshops and events, and financial support through academic scholarships, textbook stipends, and transportation assistance. ACE’s primary goal is to narrow opportunity gaps and increase timely bachelor's degree completion rates for participating students.
“We are elated to welcome our first cohort of ACE students this Spring 2024 semester,” said Laura Joseph, EdD, senior vice president and provost of FSC. “Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul, SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., and our government partners for expanding this groundbreaking program, which will offer our students structured new pathways, while removing recognized barriers to reaching their degree. We are looking forward to working with our students in this new capacity and seeing them succeed on campus and beyond.”
“The ACE program at Farmingdale will help answer two primary questions many students ask, ‘Who will have my back, and will I do meaningful work at college?’” said Bryan Garcia, senior director of support programs. “ACE will pair each program member with a Success Coach, who will provide individualized guidance and promote academic prosperity.”
The SUNY initiative, which includes an Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP) at some campuses, will serve over 3,750 students across 25 partnering SUNY campuses. It is the first major investment from the historic New York State funded SUNY Transformation Fund.
"Programs like ASAP and ACE have a strong, nationally recognized track record of boosting student success by focusing on academic achievement and student support,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr.
FSC will host its inaugural student cohort at a kickoff luncheon event on January 30.
“We believe ACE students will achieve a greater sense of belonging, build robust peer networks, and gain marketable skills for the workforce,” said Garcia. “This will inevitably encourage healthy retention and graduation rates as well as raise the overall brand awareness for Farmingdale.”
For more information, please visit FSC’s ACE Program webpage.
