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

June 24, 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 Onondaga Community College's Health Care and Applied Technology Programs

Syracuse, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited Onondaga 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.

During his visit, Chancellor King emphasized Onondaga Community College's Health Care and Applied Technology 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 degree. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at Onondaga Community College, visit https://www.sunyocc.edu/freecc.

"Onondaga Community College exemplifies SUNY's commitment to expanding upward mobility," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul and the SUNY Board of Trustees, we are able to remove barriers to higher education, help adult learners return to the classroom, and support students as they work to achieve their dreams."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker. We are proud to champion the SUNY Reconnect program and continuously provide support to adult learners across the state. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her unwavering support of opportunities for economic development and upward mobility."

During his visit, Chancellor King also toured Onondaga Community College's Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab. The lab is used to train students for careers in the semiconductor and microelectronic industries, including students enrolled in the Electromechanical Technology program, which is also eligible for SUNY Reconnect.

Onondaga Community College President Warren M. Hilton said, "SUNY Reconnect is transforming lives at Onondaga Community College. Hundreds of adult learners are returning to the classroom, earning degrees, and preparing for careers in some of Central New York's most in-demand industries. The program is creating opportunities for students while helping employers build the workforce they need to thrive. We thank Governor Hochul, Chancellor King, and the SUNY Board of Trustees for their vision and steadfast support of this groundbreaking investment in New Yorkers and their future."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "SUNY Reconnect has been transformative not only for the New Yorkers pursuing degrees in high-demand fields like healthcare and education but also for the state's businesses that will benefit from this talent pipeline. I thank Governor Hochul for her investment in these initiatives that continue to make New York State an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.

New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, "From healthcare to advanced technology, Onondaga Community College is showing how public higher education can connect opportunity with workforce needs. SUNY Reconnect and CUNY Reconnect are opening doors for adult learners who are ready to gain new skills, pursue meaningful careers, and contribute to New York's economy. We're thrilled that the state expanded the program this year, allowing even more New Yorkers to benefit from community college and access careers in fields where our state urgently needs skilled professionals."

State Senator Rachel May said, "SUNY Reconnect opens doors for adults who want to build a better future for themselves and their families. Removing financial barriers to degrees in high-demand fields is helping more New Yorkers develop skills employers need while also boosting the local economy. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Chancellor King, and the SUNY Board of Trustees for their commitment to making these opportunities available to more people across Central New York."

State Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter said, "Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect initiative is exactly the kind of smart, people-centered investment New York should be making. By removing the financial barriers that too often keep adult learners from returning to school, we are opening doors to good-paying careers in high-demand fields like health care, applied technology, supply chain management, and fire protection. Onondaga Community College has long been a critical workforce partner for Central New York, and this program will help more residents gain the skills they need while strengthening the workforce our region depends on."

SUNY Reconnect funds degrees in high-demand fields including:

Advanced Manufacturing
Air Traffic Control and Aviation Management* (newly added for 2026-27 Academic Year)
Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Engineering
Emergency Management* (newly added for 2026-27 Academic Year)
Supply Chain/Logistics* (newly added for 2026-27 Academic Year)
Technology
Nursing and Allied Health Fields
Green and Renewable Energy
Pathways to Teaching in Shortage Areas

At Onondaga Community College, two additional programs, Supply Chain Management and Fire Protection Technology, are eligible for SUNY Reconnect through the expansions included in the FY2026-27 Enacted Budget. In addition to Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program opportunity expansions included in the FY2026-27 Enacted Budget, starting in Fall 2026, eligible adult learners will be able to return to college to pursue nursing even if they already have a prior degree. This is part of Governor Hochul's commitment to expand the New York State healthcare workforce.

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. Onondaga Community College received $160,000 which has been used to hire a full-time navigator dedicated to adult learner recruitment, enrollment, and retention support; create customized marketing and outreach campaigns; and support tailored adult learner enrollment efforts and student services including development and expansion of existing technology to build out specific adult onboarding materials and processes.
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. Onondaga Community College will allocate its $35,000 to expand capacity and add an additional section in the Automotive Technology program and deliver more advanced hybrid and electric vehicle coursework with updated equipment including but not limited to an engine training center and specialized EV batteries.
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. The campus received a $50,000 grant to participate in the Adult Learner Leadership initiative and has developed strategies including: recruitment of adult learners through CollegeApp to identify potential students for specific programs and sending tailored messaging that meets their specific situations; identifying a population of adults interested in a particular program of study and creating a schedule specific for them, including wrap around services and supports; creating a sense of belonging for adult learners by developing specific in-person and online orientation programs and success workshops for adult students; and supporting the development and expansion of online programming.

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

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