Chancellor King Continues SUNY Reconnect Tour with Visit to Hudson Valley Community College

April 29, 2026

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

Visit Highlights Hudson Valley Community College's Applied Technology Programs

Troy, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited Hudson Valley Community College 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 high-demand fields.

"Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program is giving adult learners the opportunity to achieve upward mobility and unleash their full potential by earning degrees in high-demand fields," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Through SUNY Reconnect, campuses like Hudson Valley Community College are empowering students to achieve their academic and personal goals. I applaud the campus for its outstanding course offerings and support of SUNY's adult learners."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY Reconnect has increased access to higher education for adult learners throughout New York State, allowing them to transform their lives. Thank you to Governor Hochul, and the State Legislature for their continued support of SUNY's community colleges, and our adult learners."

During his visit, Chancellor King highlighted Hudson Valley Community College's applied technology programs, including Automotive Technology, Engineering Technology, Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technical Services, and Welding and Fabrication Programs, which are eligible for SUNY Reconnect. SUNY Reconnect ensures that students receive enough financial aid and support services, including a single point of contact, extended hours, and prep courses, to complete their associate degrees. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at Hudson Valley Community College, visit https://www.hvcc.edu/admissions/freecc.html.

Hudson Valley Community College President Michael Brophy said, "The SUNY Reconnect program is truly a transformative resource for adult learners, offering financial support to help them complete their degrees and advance their careers. At Hudson Valley Community College, we offer a range of programs eligible to adults at no cost, including Electrical Engineering Technology, HVAC, Welding, and Automotive Technology, among many others, all designed to equip students with the skills needed for today's high-demand workforce. We are grateful to our state's leaders for recognizing the need for such a groundbreaking financial aid program. We also thank Chancellor King for visiting our campus, touring our applied technology labs, and meeting with students. His visit underscores the importance of SUNY Reconnect in strengthening our workforce and shaping New York's future."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Free community college for eligible adult learners provides pathways to well-paying careers in high-demand fields like clean energy, construction, and engineering. I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to workforce development initiatives that make New York state an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family."

New York State Higher Education Corporation Acting President Doris B. González said, "The SUNY Reconnect program removes barriers by providing free tuition, fees, books, and supplies, enabling individuals to earn degrees and secure jobs in high-demand fields while addressing workforce shortages in these critical areas. Governor Hochul's expansion of the program as proposed in her FY2026-27 Executive Budget to include careers in logistics, air traffic control, transportation, emergency management, and nursing underscores her dedication to addressing the needs of both students and the evolving workforce. This initiative is a transformative step toward a stronger future for New Yorkers and the state's economy."

State Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "SUNY Reconnect is opening doors for adult learners, providing a real pathway to in demand careers. Hudson Valley Community College is a prime example of how our community colleges are preparing students with the hands-on skills employers need today. By removing financial barriers and expanding access to high quality programs, we are helping more New Yorkers take the next step toward economic opportunity and long-term success."

To support the success 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. Hudson Valley Community College received $220,000 to support Reconnect students from enrollment to completion through adding roles of an admissions/financial aid counselor, an enrollment/retention counselor, and a retention/completion counselor; expansion of flexible access services including evening/weekend testing, orientations, and online options to meet adult learner needs; increased use of Credit for Prior Learning to accelerate completion and reduce student barriers; and professional development for staff to better serve adult learners.
Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment, through which Hudson Valley Community College is using its $35,000 allotment to expand capacity in the Construction Technology program by investing in modern tools and safety devices to support hands-on training that align with current industry standards; and enhance construction labs by integrating green and smart building technologies into an existing mock structure. Planned additions include solar panels, mini-split HVAC, smart lighting/automation, and energy monitoring tools for hands-on learning and real-time analysis.

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

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 to make it easier for adult learners to return to college to pursue nursing if they already have a prior degree.

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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Chancellor King Continues SUNY Reconnect Tour with Visit to Hudson Valley Community College

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