State and Private Investment Enables ACE to Empower Students with Financial, Academic, & Personal Support to Boost Graduation Rates, Close Opportunity Gaps

UTICA, NY – State and local representatives, students and SUNY Officials today joined SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) leadership in highlighting the benefits and expansion of the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program, a transformative four-year model that has been widely demonstrated to increase student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps.

“At SUNY Poly, we are deeply committed to fostering an environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or financial circumstances,” said SUNY Poly President Dr. Winston Soboyejo. “The ACE program embodies this commitment by providing the resources and support students need to overcome challenges and achieve their academic goals. By investing in their success, we are investing in the future of our community and ensuring that the transformative power of education is accessible to all.”

“ACE’s success stems from its holistic approach to supporting students, which can be life-changing,” said SUNY Poly Provost Dr. Andrew Russell. “The ACE program advances our commitment to meet students where they are and work with them to ensure they graduate from SUNY Poly. We are grateful to Chancellor King, Governor Hochul, NYS Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, NYS Senator Joseph Griffo, and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente for their support. Their dedication ensures SUNY students, including those at SUNY Poly, have the resources needed to succeed.”

“Student success drives everything we do at SUNY, and we are committed to meeting students and their families where they are to ensure they thrive," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “SUNY takes pride in scaling ASAP and ACE as proven models for student success across our campuses and we look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of SUNY graduates at SUNY Poly and across the system.”

SUNY Poly is one of 25 SUNY campuses statewide that opted in to the ASAP|ACE program and as of this fall have enrolled 150 students to improve retention and graduation rates. 

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

ASAP|ACE expanded to the SUNY system in Spring 2024, supported by an historic demonstration of state-level support championed by Governor Hochul in the $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund and supplemented by private grants. In Fall 2024, SUNY ASAP|ACE has enrolled 4,200 students.

Participating students represent a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and experience, but all share a recognition in the importance of higher education and achieving a degree to achieve their personal and professional goals. See here for more information: https://www.suny.edu/asap-ace/.

“I look forward to the success stories from the ACE program that students at SUNY Poly will be participating in,” said Assemblywoman Buttenschon. “These programs have proven to be successful at other higher education institutions, and I am sure that the students at SUNY Poly will be successful.”

"SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a leader in learning, research and innovation and an important part of the Mohawk Valley,” said Senator Griffo. “This program helps to build upon that reputation and ensures that students have the resources and support that they need to graduate and be successful.”

“The ACE program has helped me in so many ways, academically, and mentally,” said SUNY Poly Sophomore and Business Administration Major, Destinee McClain. “It is something that I know I can count on. [ACE Director] Dawn Burns and [ACE Advisor] Mya Kyaw constantly work hard to help students meet their goals.”

Since being initially launched at CUNY in 2007, ASAP|ACE have served more than 100,000 CUNY students and the programs have been replicated in seven states. The ASAP|ACE programs have been proven to significantly improve degree completion rates, particularly for underrepresented students. They have since been replicated at more than 20 colleges in seven states across the nation.

To learn more about SUNY Poly’s ACE program, visit https://sunypoly.edu/ace.html.