Chancellor King to Announce Initiatives to Strengthen Academic Advising Across the SUNY System as Part of 2026 State of the University Agenda Commitment to Academic Excellence

June 3, 2026

Includes Launch of Programs to Help Students Navigate Their Early College Experience

Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. will announce initiatives to strengthen academic advising for students throughout the SUNY System as part of his 2026 State of the University Agenda today. The initiatives build on SUNY’s Academic Momentum Campaign and commitment to affordable excellence and student success.

"There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and we remain committed in our efforts to help all of our students succeed and thrive in their studies and after graduation," said SUNY Chancellor King. "These initiatives will build on our ongoing efforts to empower our students to unleash their full potential and succeed on their paths to upward mobility. We will continue to help every SUNY student access the world-class academic opportunities and support services they deserve."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through strengthening academic advising and expanding ambassador programs, SUNY is investing in the success of our students to further empower them to achieve their dreams. Our thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and our State Legislature for ongoing investment in SUNY that makes these programs a reality. Success breeds success, and these programs will show current and prospective students what can be possible at SUNY."

Chancellor King will unveil a series of initiatives in the 2026 State of the University Address including efforts to support students so they stay on track and complete their degrees, including:

  • First-Year Experience Success Initiative: Creating a sense of belonging on campus—including academic, social, and emotional connections—is necessary for retention, academic success, and mental and physical well-being. As part of the Academic Momentum Campaign, SUNY will help campuses bring together faculty and staff to advance best practices in first-year experiences across the System.
  • SUNY College Access Ambassadors: SUNY will leverage the expertise of high school counselors doing exceptional work in areas including FAFSA completion by naming the inaugural cohort of SUNY College Access Ambassadors.
  • First-Generation Ambassadors: Returning first-generation students will be selected to work as ambassadors within their campus community, serve as a liaison to support fellow first-generation students, and work to expand first-generation resources on their campuses. The ambassadors will participate in open houses, first-year experience seminars, orientations, and student government, and will receive a stipend for the academic year while participating in the applied learning program.
  • Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Scholars Program: SUNY will expand the EOP Scholars Program to support students in fields including computer science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The program provides comprehensive academic, financial, and mentoring support to ensure student success, and the expansion will strengthen retention and completion for participating students and provide additional pathways to upward mobility. EOP Scholars programs currently support students in fields including: engineering, medical, mental health, nursing, and teaching.

The strengthening of academic advising programs is part of SUNY’s comprehensive efforts to support student retention and completion throughout the SUNY System. While SUNY's current completion rates exceed the national averages for public institutions awarding on time bachelor's and associate degrees, SUNY seeks to help all students who start their degrees have the supports they need to finish. In November 2025, SUNY announced the Academic Momentum Campaign to provide additional financial support and technical assistance to strengthen student retention and completion. In February, SUNY announced additional resources to support the Academic Momentum Campaign, including the inaugural cohort of 24 Academic Momentum Fellows and a new professional learning community that provides technical support to 24 SUNY campuses working to redesign gateway courses. SUNY also administers Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completing through Engagement (ACE) — the nation's leading college retention and completion models — to more than 7,000 students at 34 campuses. As a result of the 2026-2027 Enacted Budget, SUNY will expand ASAP|ACE to include 10,000 students at 44 campuses.

 

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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