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

August 14, 2025

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

Visit Highlights Jamestown Community College's Nursing Program

Jamestown, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited Jamestown Community College as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour. Chancellor King is visiting SUNY community colleges throughout the state to promote New York's free community college program for adult learners, which will begin in fall 2025. Under Governor Kathy Hochul's SUNY Reconnect initiative, New York State will provide free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don't already have a college degree, to help them pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.

During his visit, Chancellor King highlighted Jamestown Community College's nursing associate's degree, which is eligible for the SUNY Reconnect program, and which provides students with the ability to pursue careers in patient care, emotional support, and education. During his visit, Chancellor King also highlighted Jamestown Community College’s day care center, which helps address essential childcare needs and is part of the school's efforts to ensure adult learners are able to focus on their coursework.

"Jamestown Community College is a foundational institution for the entire region, and thanks to the SUNY Reconnect program, more adult learners will be able to pursue good jobs in high-demand fields like nursing after earning a JCC degree," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Thanks to wise investments by Governor Hochul and state leaders, Jamestown Community College is not only able to meet the educational needs of area residents, but is also able to provide high-quality childcare so that adult learners can pursue their aspirations. I applaud Jamestown Community College for stepping up and serving as an educational and economic driver for this region and beyond."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "New Yorkers throughout the region rely on Jamestown Community College to access courses that will help them secure good jobs, especially in high-demand fields. Through meaningful investments in the SUNY Reconnect program and in childcare needs, Governor Hochul and state leaders are ensuring that community residents will be able to focus on earning degrees, knowing that they have supports in place from JCC. We will continue to work with Governor Hochul, state leaders, and local officials to invest in our community colleges and the New Yorkers they serve."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Free community college for adult learners introduces New Yorkers to the wide variety of incredible programs our SUNY campuses offer. Degrees in high-demand fields like nursing help feed critical talent pipelines in communities statewide. I thank Governor Hochul for implementing workforce solutions that continue to deliver for New York families across our great state."

Jamestown Community College President Dr. Daniel DeMarte said, "We know that life sometimes gets in the way of completing a degree, but we also know the incredible value a college education brings to individuals and their families. SUNY Reconnect makes it possible for adults to return to college without the burden of tuition and with the full support of a college committed to their success. Thank you, Chancellor King, for your leadership and support in helping move SUNY Reconnect forward."

Jamestown Community College's Board Chairman Ward said, "Our mission is to open doors for all who seek education and meaningful work. SUNY Reconnect embodies that mission by removing tuition barriers, recognizing the valuable experiences of adult learners, and pairing them with dedicated support and strong community partnerships. Together, we enable learners to complete credentials, advance in their careers, and strengthen our region and beyond."

NYSUT President Melinda Person said, "New York is facing a critical shortage of healthcare workers, and the nursing program at Jamestown Community College is part of the solution. SUNY Reconnect is helping adult learners reenter the classroom and answer the call to care. It's not just about education; it's about service, compassion, and building a pipeline of trained professionals ready to step into essential roles."

State Senator George M. Borrello said,  "Programs like SUNY Reconnect are about more than earning a degree -- they're about opening doors to good-paying, in-demand jobs that strengthen our communities. Jamestown Community College has a proven track record of preparing students for careers that are critical to our region, from nursing to advanced manufacturing. By making it easier for adult learners to return to school, we're investing in the workforce, the local economy, and the future of Western New York."

SUNY Reconnect will fund 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. Jamestown Community College is using their allocation to expand support for adult learners by extending its Success Navigator role to provide personalized, case management-style assistance throughout admission, registration, advising, and completion. This navigator connects students with specialized services and addresses immediate needs. Jamestown Community College will also tailor INQ 1555, a required first-semester course, to include modules focused on Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) to help adult learners earn credits efficiently.
  • 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. Jamestown Community College will use SUNY Reconnect funding to expand capacity in high-demand programs including Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Nursing and Allied Health, and Technology. The college plans to add new enrollment slots by investing $35,000 entirely in professional development for faculty. This funding will support training focused on advising adult learners, integrating active learning strategies, and redesigning curricula to better serve Reconnect students. By enhancing faculty skills, Jamestown Community College aims to improve student support and increase enrollment and success in these key programs.

In addition to SUNY Reconnect, the FY25-26 Enacted State Budget provides $8 million in increased operating aid to community colleges – the first back-to-back operating aid increases in decades for these institutions – and maintains the 100 percent community college funding floor, which protects community colleges from $75 million in lost direct state tax support.

To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at Jamestown Community College, visit:  https://www.sunyjcc.edu/admissions/apply/adult/reconnect.

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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