Chancellor King Visits SUNY Westchester as Part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour

November 14, 2025

Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect Provides Free Community College Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies for Eligible Adult Learners in High-Demand Fields

Visit Highlights SUNY Westchester’s Cybersecurity and Health Studies Programs

Valhalla, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited SUNY Westchester as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour. Chancellor King has been visiting SUNY community colleges throughout the state to promote New York’s free community college program for adult learners, which officially began at the start of Fall 2025 classes. Under Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative, New York State is providing free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don’t already have a college degree and want to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.

During his visit, Chancellor King emphasized SUNY Westchester’s Cybersecurity program and Health Studies program, both of which are eligible for SUNY Reconnect. The Cybersecurity program covers foundational computer information systems, network security, programming, and cyber-attack management, preparing graduates to address complex cybersecurity challenges. The Health Studies program introduces students to the broad scope of healthcare issues to help prepare them for future careers. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at SUNY Westchester and apply for the Spring 2026 semester, visit https://www.sunywcc.edu/apply-enroll/suny-reconnect/.

"Community colleges like SUNY Westchester are engines of upward mobility that empower adult learners to reach their full potential," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Thanks to Governor Hochul, her innovative SUNY Reconnect program, and campuses like SUNY Westchester, adult learners have the opportunity to achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through SUNY Reconnect, community colleges throughout New York work to increase access to higher education and empower future leaders to pursue the next step in their career journey. We thank Governor Hochul and state leaders for investing in adult learners and in the future of our state economy and workforce."

SUNY Westchester President Dr. Belinda S. Miles said, "The SUNY Reconnect program is a game changer -- for the nearly 500 adult learners who are able to pursue their college degree at no cost to themselves; for the college community as we further expand our community of learners to the benefit of all; and for the region that will benefit from a better-educated, better-prepared workforce."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Free community college for adult learners helps open doors to new opportunities and future career mobility. Offering programs in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, health studies, and education also ensures we will have a highly skilled workforce ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow. I thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing this initiative that puts New Yorkers on the path to well-paying careers."

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation President Dr. Guillermo Linares said, "Governor Hochul’s Reconnect Program is opening doors for adult learners to pursue their education and build brighter futures. Thanks to the Governor’s leadership and Chancellor King’s tireless efforts to raise awareness, this program is empowering New Yorkers to gain the skills needed to thrive in high-demand fields. Programs like SUNY Westchester’s Cybersecurity and Health Studies offerings, both eligible for SUNY Reconnect, are equipping students with the expertise to address critical challenges in technology and healthcare, strengthening our workforce and communities in the process."

NYSUT President Melinda Person said, "Programs like cybersecurity and health studies at SUNY Westchester show exactly what SUNY Reconnect is all about — giving adult learners the chance to reenter higher education and step directly into future-focused careers that protect our communities, strengthen our health systems, and power our economy. When we invest in pathways like these, we’re not just expanding access to education; we’re expanding what’s possible for New York."

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "The State Legislature championed the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect initiative through the State Budget to give adult New Yorkers a real and affordable pathway to opportunity. As someone who earned my degree while working and raising a family, I know how transformative access to education can be. SUNY Westchester exemplifies how this program is changing lives, helping adults pursue degrees in high-demand fields like cybersecurity and health studies, tuition-free. With more than 16,500 applicants statewide, it’s clear that New Yorkers are eager to learn, grow, and contribute to our state’s future."

State Assemblymember and Chair of the Science and Technology Committee Steve Otis said, "SUNY Westchester is an ideal place to spotlight the SUNY Reconnect program. President Belinda Miles and the staff here have made creating opportunities for new careers a hallmark of WCC. The SUNY Reconnect program is a multi-layered and nationally recognized program to assist adult students seeking a college degree and career focused on education in fields where more workers are needed. Westchester’s cybersecurity program is especially geared to where new skilled workers are needed. I am very appreciative of the broad support for the SUNY Reconnect program has received from Governor Kathy Hochul, Chancellor John King, and both houses of the legislature."

State Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, "Community colleges play a vital role in preparing people of all ages and backgrounds for employment where they are most needed. The SUNY Reconnect program is critical to that effort, by providing free associate degrees in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, nursing, and advanced manufacturing. I welcome Chancellor King to SUNY Westchester Community College, here in the 92nd District. His visit puts a spotlight on New York State’s commitment to workforce development that empowers our residents and helps our businesses to succeed."

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, "Chancellor King’s visit highlights what makes SUNY Westchester, or as we call it here WCC, a place where opportunity meets innovation and an essential part of Westchester County. Programs like Cybersecurity and Health Studies open doors for residents to build new careers in fields that are not only in high demand but also vital to Westchester’s future. Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative is breaking down barriers and giving more residents the chance to reimagine their path forward – this perfectly encompasses the transformative power of education."

SUNY Reconnect funds degrees in high-demand fields including:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Engineering
  • Technology
  • Nursing and Allied Health Fields
  • Green and Renewable Energy
  • Pathways to Teaching in Shortage Areas

To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:

  • Allocated $4 million to community colleges to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations. SUNY Westchester received $220,000 which is being allocated to support the hiring of a part-time advising counselor who will support the enrollment of adult learners by providing academic advising, financial aid navigation, and connections to academic and other support services to promote retention; and a new full-time Coordinator of Adult Enrollment and Support within the financial aid office to support the implementation and coordination of SUNY Reconnect, serving as a central point of contact for adult learner outreach, enrollment, and retention efforts.
  • Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment capacity in high-demand programs that are part of SUNY Reconnect. SUNY Westchester received $35,000 which is being allocated to expanding capacity in technology and cybersecurity programs through supporting costs of student certification exams such as CompTIA A+, Adobe, and Unity certifications, among others, as well as professional development for computer information and cybersecurity faculty members focused on IT workforce development strategies.
  • Announced $1.1 million in grant funding for the SUNY Adult Learner Leadership Initiative to help community colleges increase access and ensure degree completion for adult learners. SUNY Westchester received $50,000 to develop an action plan focused on expanding the use of credit for prior learning including expanded faculty participation and the purchase of a credit predictor tool; increasing academic and non-academic offerings and supports during non-traditional hours and developing transparent course scheduling for adult learners; and increasing adult student belonging on campus and online through evidence-based practices.

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, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its 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 $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

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