SUNY Poly Celebrates Expansion of SUNY’s Highly Successful Student Retention, Graduation Support Model: ACE
Published:
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 - 15:59
Additional Investment Will Help Students Gain and Maintain Academic Momentum So They Can Graduate on Time
UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) leaders today announced the expansion of the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program on campus. This expansion will mean that 300 students at SUNY Poly will receive important resources to help them gain and maintain academic momentum so they can graduate on time.
SUNY Poly is part of SUNY’s systemwide expansion of Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) — the nation’s leading college retention and completion models — that will serve 10,000 students at 44 SUNY campuses by the Fall 2026 semester. ASAP|ACE helps students gain and maintain academic momentum so they can graduate on time.
When the ACE program launched at SUNY Poly in Spring 2024, the University welcomed an initial cohort of 150 students. The program expanded to serve 250 students during the 2025-26 academic year and, with this latest investment, SUNY Poly will now support 300 ACE students.
“Since launching ACE at SUNY Poly, we have seen firsthand the positive impact that personalized support, proactive advising, and targeted resources can have on student success,” said SUNY Poly Provost Dr. Andrew Russell. “This expansion allows us to extend those benefits to even more students, helping them persist, graduate on time, and achieve their academic and career goals. We are especially grateful for the outstanding work of ACE Director Dawn Burns and ACE Academic Advisor Mya Kyaw, whose dedication and student-centered approach have been instrumental in building a strong foundation for this program and supporting the success of our students.”
“SUNY is committed to the success of every student, and the continued expansion of ASAP|ACE will help ensure our students can complete their degree on time, achieve their dreams, and move forward on a path to upward mobility,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “I am thrilled that through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, and for the SUNY Board of Trustees, these vital programs will serve 10,000 students across the state this fall and I thank the SUNY Poly administration, faculty, and staff for their unwavering commitment to student success.”
Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) supports students pursuing associate degrees, while Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) supports baccalaureate students. Eligible students have access to a wide array of resources and support to help them overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree. This includes funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, as well as comprehensive personalized advisement, academic support, and career development activities.
In addition to State investments, SUNY has received a $2 million renewal commitment from Brightway, which will extend its program’s support for additional student parents who are primary caregivers at seven community colleges with childcare costs, access to emergency cash assistance, and support for winter and summer course taking. The renewal commitment, which builds on an initial matched commitment of $1 million made to SUNY in 2023, will also expand personalized career guidance, strengthen connections to internships and employment opportunities, and pilot a new program supporting ASAP student parents transferring to SUNY baccalaureate campuses that offer ACE.
