SUNY Chancellor King Announces Additional Services to Support Adult Learners
February 20, 2026
SUNY Community College Campuses Partnering with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) to Advance Adult Learner Success
Complements Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect Program, which Provides Free Community College Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies for Eligible Adult Learners in High-Demand Fields
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced additional services to increase support for adult learners at SUNY's community colleges. Through a partnership with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), 10 SUNY community college campuses were chosen to participate in a project to identify adult learners' needs to further support their success. The initiative will help guide further actions that SUNY community colleges can take to support adult learners, including SUNY Reconnect program participants.
The 10 participating campuses are Cayuga Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College, Dutchess Community College, Finger Lakes Community College, Herkimer County Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, SUNY Niagara Community College, Onondaga Community College, Sullivan County Community College, and Westchester Community College.
"By working with community colleges throughout the SUNY system, we will help ensure that our adult learners have the support and services they need to thrive as students and succeed when they graduate," said SUNY Chancellor King. "We are proud to work with CAEL to ensure we are doing everything we can for our students, and to identify areas where we can improve services. I thank our participating community colleges for being a part of this effort that will help New Yorkers throughout the state succeed in their academic efforts and achieve upward mobility through the skills they are learning through their SUNY education."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through the strong support of Governor Kathy Hochul, SUNY has been able to invest in our community college students and support adult learners, including SUNY Reconnect students, as they seek to earn an affordable, excellent education. Working with CAEL will help ensure that SUNY is even better positioned to support our adult learners and provide them with the services they deserve to thrive."
At no cost to the selected community colleges, the 10 participating schools will administer CAEL's Adult Learner 360 assessment, which includes surveys for adult learners, as well as surveys for faculty, staff, and administrators, on their campuses to provide a clear picture of strengths and gaps in adult learners supports by comparing institutional practices with adult learner experiences. The survey is scheduled to launch shortly after each campus's spring break and remain open for four to six weeks. Following the assessment period, CAEL will work with SUNY System and the participating community colleges to address areas that adult learners identified as ways to improve their academic experience.
CAEL President Earl Buford said, "CAEL is honored to partner with the State University of New York in support of adult learners and workers. Academic outcomes are a critical factor in economic mobility, and we look forward to applying Adult Learner 360's research-based, diagnostic approach to boost the success of SUNY students inside and outside of the classroom."
Cayuga Community College President Brian Durant said, "We are excited to partner with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning on this amazing initiative, which will give us access to additional resources to make sure our adult learners feel supported and welcomed while at Cayuga Community College. We are deeply appreciative of the support of Governor Hochul and State Legislature, as well as Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees, that has made this partnership possible."
Columbia-Greene Community College President Victoria L. Walsh said, "Columbia-Greene's adult learners will benefit from the additional support services provided by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, which will increase their opportunity and likelihood of success. I am grateful to Chancellor King for advocating for these resources which benefit our community. The assessment methodology and tools provided by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, enhances our holistic work with all students, especially those who have enrolled through SUNY Reconnect."
Dutchess Community College President Peter Grant Jordan said, "Dutchess Community College has made meaningful gains in adult learner enrollment in recent years, reflecting the impact of SUNY Reconnect, Project Advance, SUNY ASAP, and our industry partnerships in Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, HVAC, and Automotive that shape curriculum aligned with workforce demand. Adult learners are hardworking and focused on gaining the skills and credentials that lead to economic mobility. We look forward to partnering with SUNY to implement CAEL's Adult Learner 360 Assessment to deepen our understanding of institutional strengths and identify new ways to strengthen the supports that help our students thrive."
Finger Lakes Community College President Robert Nye said, "Finger Lakes Community College's participation in this survey will provide the data we need to enhance our existing academic, financial, and wellness support services for adult students. It will build on the success of the SUNY Reconnect program in meeting the needs of those who are balancing college with work and family responsibilities."
Herkimer County Community College President Terri Grates Day said, "Through our partnership with CAEL and the support of SUNY Reconnect, we are expanding access and reinforcing meaningful support systems for adult learners. By removing structural barriers and building clear, workforce-aligned pathways into high-demand fields, we are positioning more adults for sustainable career advancement. We are proud to advance this SUNY initiative, which broadens opportunity and strengthens economic mobility for adult learners throughout our region."
Hudson Valley Community College President Michael Brophy said, "Hudson Valley Community College is honored to be selected by SUNY to participate in this important partnership with CAEL. We proudly serve thousands of adult learners each year, and participating in the Adult Learner 360 assessment will give us valuable insight into how we can strengthen the supports and services they rely on. By identifying both our strengths and areas for growth, we can take meaningful steps to enhance the student experience and build on the success of SUNY Reconnect, ensuring adult learners have every opportunity to complete their degrees and advance in high-demand careers."
SUNY Niagara President Lloyd Holmes said, "We are excited to build on the momentum of SUNY Reconnect with CAEL's expertise. SUNY Niagara's commitment to students who have been out of high school for a while has never been stronger, and collaborating with a leader in education-to-work pathways will give us even more tools to serve adult learners who seek to advance in their field or shift careers."
Onondaga Community College President Warren M. Hilton said, "We are proud to partner with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning on this important initiative to expand opportunity for adult learners. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, our State Legislators, and Chancellor King, their emphasis on providing adult learners with a pathway to a rewarding career has resulted in more than 200 students attending Onondaga Community College tuition-free this semester in workforce-focused degree programs. We stand united in supporting adult students as they pursue degrees, strengthen their skills, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families."
SUNY Sullivan President David Potash said, "Doing more for adult learners is absolutely essential for us to more fully realize the tremendous opportunities of SUNY Reconnect. On behalf of SUNY Sullivan, we're thrilled to work with CAEL, a long-standing national leader in adult education. Thank you so very much, SUNY, and thank you, CAEL. We're very much looking forward to seeing more adult learners prosper and succeed in Sullivan County."
SUNY Westchester Community College President Dr. Belinda Miles said, "This additional investment allows us to strengthen the coordinated, hands-on support we provide to adult learners through SUNY Reconnect. With a dedicated Reconnect Adjunct Academic Counselor and a Program Specialist working closely with our financial aid and student services teams, we are able to offer timely advising, clear guidance on program requirements and eligibility, and personalized assistance navigating admissions, financial aid, and academic support resources. These enhanced services ensure that adult students feel supported at every step — from their first inquiry through enrollment and persistence to completion."
The partnership between SUNY and CAEL will help further support Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program, which provides free community college tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adult learners aged 25-55 in high-demand fields. Since the Fall 2025 launch of SUNY Reconnect, more than 5,600 New Yorkers have enrolled in the program. Governor Hochul's FY2026-27 Executive Budget expands SUNY Reconnect to include careers in logistics, air traffic control and transportation, and emergency management, as well as makes it easier for adult learners to return to college to pursue nursing if they already have a prior degree. This action builds on SUNY efforts to support adult learners and investments made to support SUNY community colleges throughout New York State.
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.
- Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment.
- 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.
About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL, a national nonprofit membership organization established in 1974, helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers; postsecondary educators and trainers; employers and industry groups; and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations, engaging with these stakeholders to foster a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals, and their communities, thrive. Learn more at cael.org.
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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