SUNY Potsdam Welcomes Chancellor for Visit Focused on Impact of the ACE Initiative to Remove Financial & Academic Barriers for Students
SUNY Chancellor Dr. John B. King Jr. and SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne R. Smith led a roundtable discussion about College's ACE Initiative along with students, faculty, staff and elected officials
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited SUNY Potsdam to celebrate the expansion of a groundbreaking student success model now on campus to improve support, retention, and college completion. Thanks to the SUNY Transformation Fund championed by Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2023-24 enacted state budget, 25 SUNY campuses are replicating the ASAP and ACE programs, which have been demonstrated through randomized controlled trials to dramatically increase retention and completion. Chancellor King was joined on campus today by SUNY Potsdam President Suzanne Smith, as well as New York State Senator Daniel G. Stec, Assemblymember Scott Gray, and students.
SUNY Potsdam implemented ACE, and this year will provide 150 students with a supportive safety net through a range of resources and financial, academic, and personal support, including academic advisement, career counseling, tuition assistance, textbook stipends and funding for additional expenses.
“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 King. “SUNY takes pride in scaling ASAP and ACE as proven models for student success across our campuses and look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of SUNY graduates –at Potsdam and across the system.”
SUNY Chancellor Dr. John B. King Jr. walks through the Academic Quad with SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne R. Smith during a visit to campus to learn about the College's ACE Initiative on September 4, 2024.
SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales said, "Both ASAP and ACE engender student success by removing barriers to academic progress. The programs provide crucial wraparound services that ensure students can complete their degrees and better their lives. At SUNY Potsdam, 150 students will benefit from the ACE program, and I look forward to celebrating their triumphs."
"SUNY Potsdam is proud to be at the forefront of student engagement and support—helping every student overcome hurdles small and large, from day one. Our ACE program is already showing promise in helping students start strong and finish strong, so they can reach their personal and professional goals, with less debt along the way,” said SUNY Potsdam President Smith.
“The ACE Program has made such a positive impact because students are making connections. They’re engaging with each other, the ACE staff, their faculty, and campus resources before they even step foot on campus,” said SUNY Potsdam ACE Director Sean Partridge. “In the spring, ACE students averaged 10 contacts with the program. Our plan is to double that rate this fall. It’s very difficult for a student to slip through the cracks when you’re connecting with them 20 times each semester!”
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said, “The ASAP and ACE programs work. They improve enrollment, students stay in college and graduate in a more timely fashion. I am proud that the legislature, working with the Governor, provided significant funding in the budget for the SUNY Transformation Fund to support impactful programs like these. I first became familiar with ASAP many years ago when CUNY initiated the program. The results were remarkable, and ASAP has been implemented nationally.”
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Chair of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Higher Education Committee, said, “SUNY’s ASAP and ACE programs have transformed the student experience – providing wrap-around services for students and ensuring they remain in school with the necessary support. Retaining students early-on once they start school is a proven method to ensure more remain on track to complete their degree programs and graduate. I applaud Chancellor King and SUNY for expanding this landmark program and look forward to seeing its success replicated across more and more campuses.”
State Senator Daniel G. Stec said, “It’s vital to ensure that our students receive the skills and development necessary to both complete their studies and embark upon a successful career upon finishing their education. Implementing the ASAP|ACE initiative here at SUNY Potsdam will enhance student outcomes and help make the school more enticing for potential and current students.”
Assemblymember Scott Gray said, "As a strong advocate for education, I am thrilled to see SUNY Potsdam implement the ACE program, which promises to provide crucial support and resources for our students to ensure their success. I commend Chancellor King’s leadership for investing in these initiatives as an investment in our communities' future and our students' future success."
ASAP and ACE were first pioneered at CUNY, and then replicated across the country. Since launching in 2007, ASAP has collectively served over 90,000 students at CUNY. Independent studies of the ASAP initiative highlight the program’s proven results and reliance. When SUNY Westchester Community College re-launched ASAP as the campus’ own Viking ROADS program in 2018, an independent study found the program increased full-time enrollment levels by up to 20 percentage points.
About The State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.