Community colleges awarded more than $1 million to support adult learners

Builds on governor’s plan to offer free community college for students aged 25-55 who pursue degrees in high-demand fields at public universities

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $1.1 million in grants for 22 community colleges statewide to implement wide-ranging action plans designed to help more adult learners access transformational educational opportunities that lead to upward mobility. These grants build on Hochul’s multifaceted commitment to creating more workforce development opportunities to ensure every New Yorker can pursue a degree or credential that helps access jobs in high-demand fields. That includes the governor’s transformational proposal to offer free community college tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults ages 25 to 55 who pursue degrees in fields like health care, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and green jobs.

“For millions of New Yorkers, community college can be the path to upward mobility and economic security, opening the door to a wide array of workforce opportunities,” Hochul said. “Working with SUNY, we are tackling the barriers that stand in the way of New Yorkers accessing these potentially transformational educational pathways. The Adult Learner Leadership Initiative builds on our commitment to empowering people in every corner of the state to participate in generational economic opportunities.”

Through SUNY’s Adult Learner Leadership Initiative, community colleges will work to break down barriers that stand in the way of students ages 25 and older accessing and completing higher education programs. These measures will include expanded use of credit for prior learning, wraparound support, and flexible scheduling.

More than one in four SUNY community college students are age 25 or older, with nearly two-thirds of them attending college part-time. What’s more, an estimated 1.5 million working-age New Yorkers have completed some college but have not yet obtained a degree.

In support of Hochul’s work to make higher education more affordable and build the workforce of the future, the new grants will help community colleges meet adult learners where they are, creating a greater sense of belonging on campus and addressing the unique needs of adults working to earn a degree.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “SUNY's community colleges are engines of upward mobility, and Gov. Hochul’s proposal for a free community college degree in high-demand fields will help connect more working-age New Yorkers to economic opportunity. Our campuses are ready to step up to help more adult learners earn a community college associate degree and advance in their careers.”

Local Adult Learner Leadership Initiative grant awardees are:

•SUNY Erie Community College ($50,000): Availability of academic offerings and non-academic support in-person on weekends/evenings; transparency on course schedules and advance course scheduling; the use of online and blended learning

•SUNY Niagara ($50,000): Marketing and recruitment targeted to specific adult learner populations; expanded use of credit for prior learning; availability of academic offerings and non-academic support in-person on weekends/evenings; creating a sense of belonging for adult learners; alignment of campus policies with adult learner needs 

Campuses will utilize grants to build out their strategies to support adult learners through July before beginning implementation no later than the fall 2025 semester. The grants are made possible through the SUNY Transformation Fund that Hochul championed in the 2023-24 enacted state budget.

Complete College America President Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva said, “Any viable effort to increase college completion and educational attainment rates on a state or national level must include proven strategies to support adult learners. New York and the SUNY system continue to serve as leaders in this regard through their advancement of programs, policies and practices that will pay off in the long term for the state’s learners, workforce and economy. SUNY’s Adult Learning Initiative is one such program that clearly demonstrates the state’s strategic inclusion and prioritization of adults seeking to earn a degree or credential of value in their overall attainment efforts.”

Jobs for the Future Director Rachel Pleasants McDonnell said, “We applaud this investment in SUNY’s community colleges to transform the adult learning experience. Free tuition for degrees in high-demand fields is an important step toward making postsecondary education more accessible to this growing population of learners. Equally as critical is SUNY’s comprehensive approach to strengthening career advising, making clear labor market connections, and accelerating emerging options like credit for prior learning.”

Lumina Foundation Strategy Officer Dr. Katy Launius said, “Through the REACH collaborative, SUNY community colleges created on-ramps to credentials in high-demand fields that lead to careers with family-sustaining wages. Their efforts to remove barriers, provide flexibility, and expand supports means that more of today’s students are achieving their goals for themselves and their communities.”