Chancellor King Visits SUNY Genesee Community College as Part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour

May 6, 2026

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 Genesee Community College's Teacher Education Transfer and Respiratory Care Programs

Batavia, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited SUNY Genesee 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. 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 to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.

"The SUNY Reconnect Program continues to offer access to high-demand careers that help our students achieve their dreams," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY Genesee Community College's teacher education transfer program is an excellent example of the kind of transformational programs that SUNY is offering as part of SUNY Reconnect—while also helping to fill critical workforce shortages. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her leadership and investment in this pivotal program."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "With Governor Hochul's steadfast leadership and commitment, SUNY is not only offering flexible opportunities for adult learners to enter in demand fields but also expanding program areas to address the need of our students and communities. This allows us to create a strong pipeline that both nurtures the next generation of our workforce and fills gaps in industries that help New York State thrive."

During his visit, Chancellor King emphasized Genesee Community College's teacher education transfer and respiratory care programs. The programs, which are eligible for SUNY Reconnect, attract adults looking to return to college to advance their careers in high-demand fields. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at SUNY Genesee Community College visit https://www.genesee.edu/freecc/.

Genesee Community College President Craig Lamb said, "Genesee Community College is grateful for the ability to expand our support of adult learners through SUNY Reconnect. From education, to healthcare, to technology, we are enhancing our historic commitments of student-first education and workforce development. We are proud to continually evolve to meet the needs of our GLOW region, and beyond, as we collectively mold the leaders of tomorrow."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "A skilled, knowledgeable workforce is necessary to level-up New York's economy. By offering free community college for eligible adults, New York State is ensuring our workforce is prepared to enter the high-demand fields of today and tomorrow. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul and our SUNY partners for advancing the workforce development initiatives we need to help make New York an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family."

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Acting President Doris B. González said, "SUNY Reconnect is a transformative initiative, opening doors for adult learners across New York to pursue opportunities in high-demand fields. At SUNY Genesee Community College, investments in programs like nursing are helping students gain the skills they need to succeed in their careers and contribute to their communities. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and the additional investments at SUNY Genesee, as well as to Chancellor King for his dedication to expanding access to education and workforce development."

State Senator George Borrello said, "SUNY Reconnect is a practical investment in both our workforce and our communities. By removing financial barriers for adult learners, this program opens the door to good-paying careers in fields where we urgently need skilled workers. Genesee Community College has long been a cornerstone of opportunity in our region, and initiatives like this help ensure more residents can take advantage of what it has to offer. I'm grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to this program and to Chancellor King for his leadership in advancing it and highlighting the impact it is already having across our SUNY campuses."

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 Genesee Community College received $100,000 which is being used to produce and distribute Reconnect support materials for students including success maps, technology guidance, and study guides; conduct outreach to regional businesses and agencies to showcase the Reconnect program; hire a full-time SUNY Reconnect Coordinator to serve as single point of contact for Reconnect students to help navigate registration, financial aid, student accounts, and other academic support services; and hire a part-time Adult Learning Specialist to address adult learner study habits and learning needs to help track their academic progress and provide counsel and support.
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 Genesee Community College allocated its $35,000 to expand capacity in Nursing through investments in simulation equipment to enhance nursing students' exploration of working with the geriatric population and developing greater comfort and confidence with auscultation. These simulation-based activities—an increasingly integral part of nursing education programs—will afford students more valuable opportunities to practice critical applied skills in both instructional classroom and lab settings.

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.

Your Privacy is Important To Us.

Chancellor King Visits SUNY Genesee Community College as Part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour

Recent News Stories: RSS: