Chancellor King Continues SUNY Reconnect Tour with Visit to Orange County Community College

May 1, 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 SUNY Orange's Cybersecurity and Dental Hygiene Programs

Middletown, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited Orange County 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.

"SUNY Reconnect is transforming the lives of New Yorkers by increasing access to higher education, allowing them to move forward on a path to upward mobility and success," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Campuses like SUNY Orange are empowering adult learners to reach their full potential and achieve their academic and personal goals. I applaud the campus for providing its students with a well-rounded and engaging education."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Governor Hochul's innovative SUNY Reconnect program is changing the lives of adult learners throughout the state through access to an excellent, affordable education in a high-demand field. We thank Governor Hochul and state leaders for investing in SUNY's adult learners, and the future of our state economy and workforce."

During his visit, Chancellor King highlighted SUNY Orange's cybersecurity and dental hygiene 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 SUNY Orange, visit https://sunyorange.edu/suny_reconnect/.

SUNY Orange President Kristine Young said, "We were pleased to demonstrate to the Chancellor the impact SUNY Reconnect is having at SUNY Orange by introducing him to students from our nursing, dental hygiene, education, and cybersecurity programs. Their compelling stories reveal what a difference-maker free community college is for adult students throughout New York. SUNY Orange is also embarking upon a sweeping Facilities Master Plan over the next 10 to 12 years. We previewed for the Chancellor how those four programs will be at the center of our recently approved Phase 1. Through relocations, expansions, and renovations, these programs will better serve Reconnect students pursuing careers in healthcare, computer science, and education, key components of the Governor's plan for a stronger New York workforce."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "SUNY Reconnect is a critical part of Governor Hochul's agenda to make New York State an affordable place to live, work and raise a family. Free community college for eligible adults in high-demand fields like dental hygiene, computer science, and cybersecurity opens doors for New Yorkers and ensures we will have a skilled and educated workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow."

New York State Higher Education Corporation Acting President Doris B. González said, "Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program is a game-changer for adult learners, offering them the opportunity to pursue careers in high-demand fields like cybersecurity without financial barriers. I applaud SUNY Orange for its dedication to creating pathways for success through innovative programs and state-of-the-art facilities. This initiative not only empowers individuals but also fuels New York's economy by cultivating a skilled and resilient workforce. Chancellor King's efforts to highlight these programs are a testament to SUNY's commitment to transforming lives and communities."

State Senator Rob Rolison said, "Programs like SUNY Reconnect are about meeting people where they are and giving them a real second chance to succeed. By covering the full cost of attendance and connecting students to in-demand fields like cybersecurity and dental hygiene, we're strengthening our workforce and creating pathways to stable, well-paying careers. I'm proud to support this effort and thank Chancellor King for continuing to highlight the life-changing impact of our community colleges here at SUNY Orange and across the state."

State Assemblymember Chris Eachus said, "The numbers speak for themselves: more funding to programs at SUNY Orange leads to more success for Orange and Rockland counties. With the SUNY Reconnect initiative, more of my constituents can finally feel financially secure enough to make the leap to getting their associate-degrees, which is life-changing for them and their families. I am proud to support this program, and sincerely thank Chancellor King for visiting our area to highlight its incredible impact."

State Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson said, "SUNY Reconnect is a great program and I'm hopeful that it will be expanded to include those who have a prior degree or are seeking certifications in these fields, which is the goal of my proposed bill A.8843. SUNY Orange President Kris Young and Chancellor John King have been great champions of expanding opportunity, and I have appreciated working closely with them. I look forward to continuing that work in the future to make SUNY Connect a great success."

State Assemblymember Paula Elaine Kay said, "The SUNY Reconnect program is a commitment to making educational opportunities accessible for those who haven't been able to access them before. This is not just a commitment to students in New York, but also to our workforce goals in high-demand fields — in this case, the SUNY Sullivan Respiratory Care program and the SUNY Orange Cybersecurity and Dental Hygiene programs. Not everyone takes a straight path to their career, and the SUNY Reconnect program gives New Yorkers a second chance at pursuing higher education and career opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have. I want to thank SUNY Sullivan President Dr. David Potash, SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young, Chancellor King, and Governor Hochul for betting on our SUNY system to build our workforce and for increasing educational access for all New Yorkers."

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. SUNY Orange received $180,000 and has hired a full-time coordinator dedicated to advising adult learners for timely and proactive academic and non-academic supports, ensuring tailored enrollment activities to support growth in Reconnect eligible programs, and helping facilitate adult learner Credit for Prior Learning requests; and hired two part-time coaches focused on outreach, retention, and student engagement both during traditional hours and during evenings and weekends.
Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment, through which SUNY Orange is using its $35,000 allotment to expand capacity in high-demand Computer Science and Technology programs through the addition of another classroom and upgrades to an existing classroom with critical technology upgrades to support additional work stations; purchase additional hardware and software kits for students in Computer Information Technology and Cybersecurity programs; and provide professional development for two new faculty members through the CISCO Network Academy.
Announced $1.1 million in grant funding for the SUNY Adult Learner Leadership Initiativeto help community colleges increase access and ensure degree completion for adult learners. The campus received a $50,000 grant to participate in the Adult Learner Leadership initiative and created marketing and recruitment efforts which address the unique needs of adult learners and emphasize the value of higher education for career advancement and personal growth; and developed personalized onboarding and advising including an Adult Learner Welcome Program with dedicated orientations, flexible and inclusive academic supports, and using Adult Success Coaches to serve as a single point of contact for financial and personal support.

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 Orange County Community College

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