Chancellor King Visits SUNY Adirondack as Part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour

September 18, 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 SUNY Adirondack's Environmental Science; Health Sciences; and Mechatronics Programs

Photos Are Available Here

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

During his visit, Chancellor King emphasized SUNY Adirondack's Environmental Science and Health Sciences programs, both of which are new this year and eligible for SUNY Reconnect. Additionally, Chancellor King highlighted the SUNY Adirondack Mechatronics program which prepares students for technician roles in the manufacturing industry, with focuses on electricity, mechanical systems and robotics, and which is also eligible for SUNY Reconnect. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at SUNY Adirondack visit https://www.sunyacc.edu/freeCC.

"SUNY Adirondack is a statewide leader in providing a world-class education that prepares students to unleash their full potential after graduation," said SUNY Chancellor King. "With Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program, this education is more accessible for adult leaders who can help grow our regional and state economy. I applaud SUNY Adirondack for providing high-quality, engaging, and outstanding course offerings to students, especially adult learners, through the new SUNY Reconnect program."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program is an exciting and bold effort to increase the opportunities offered to adult learners. This program is promoting upward mobility for New York's adult learners and is responding to workforce needs in high-growth fields. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and support of the SUNY Reconnect program as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure all SUNY community colleges provide students with the world-class education they deserve."

SUNY Adirondack President Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D., said, "We are honored to welcome Chancellor King to SUNY Adirondack and grateful for his support of SUNY Reconnect. This program is life-changing for adult learners in our region, removing barriers and opening doors to education that lead to new opportunities, stronger families, and a more vibrant workforce. SUNY Reconnect reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that higher education is accessible and transformative for all."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Skilled workers are essential to expanding New York State's economic future. By offering free community college to adult learners in high-demand fields such as computer science, cybersecurity, and manufacturing, we are ensuring that New Yorkers are prepared for the careers of today and tomorrow. I thank Governor Hochul for advancing initiatives that put New Yorkers on the path to great-paying careers."

President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, Dr. Guillermo Linares, said, "Governor Hochul has made education a cornerstone of her agenda, and the SUNY Reconnect program reflects her dedication to breaking down barriers to higher education for adult learners. By providing free tuition and resources, this initiative opens doors to careers in high-demand fields, helping to build a stronger, more skilled New York State workforce. HESC is proud to support this program and to work alongside Chancellor King in spreading awareness so that more New Yorkers can seize this opportunity and create brighter futures for themselves and their families."

NYSUT President Melinda Person said, "SUNY Adirondack is showing exactly what SUNY Reconnect is all about: opening doors to new opportunities for adult learners in our region. Whether it's mechatronics, health sciences, or environmental science, these programs don't just educate — they empower students to step into high-demand fields that strengthen families and fuel our local economy. By removing financial barriers, SUNY Reconnect gives adults a true second chance at higher education and sustainable careers."

State Senator Daniel G. Stec said, "It's vital to ensure adult learners have a space to grow and develop the skills they need to have careers in growing fields. SUNY Reconnect will help these individuals achieve a college degree and find professional success. Having this program at SUNY Adirondack will be a major benefit to the school - already a leader in preparing students for the future - and to our home community. I'm pleased that Chancellor King could come to the school and see firsthand how it's helping meet the needs of all our learners."

State Assemblymember Matthew Simpson said, "I thank Chancellor King for visiting our beautiful campus at SUNY Adirondack and taking the time to meet the school's incredible staff and energetic students. SUNY Adirondack is an indelible part of our community and provides world-class educational and job training opportunities for students of all ages, whether they are recent high school grads or adult learners. SUNY Adirondack will prove be a showcase campus for the promise and success of the what the Reconnect Program aims to achieve which is a fresh new opportunity for many to change their lives and pursue their dreams."

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 Adirondack received $100,000 and will hire a full-time Adult Learner Coordinator to support recruitment and retention of adult learners in Reconnect; provide funding to faculty and staff to provide evening, weekend, and online tutoring and program coaching support; and support paid advertising and marketing of SUNY Reconnect including events to create a learning community of Reconnect students.
  • 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 Adirondack will allocate its $35,000 to purchasing new high-tech equipment for their Cybersecurity and Networking program to support evening, hybrid, and hy-flex courses for adult learners, as well as a new microcredential in Cybersecurity Fundamentals at their Saratoga branch campus, which can lead to a degree in Cybersecurity and Networking.
  • 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. SUNY Adirondack received $50,000 and created a pilot program, the Saratoga Summer Institute, which provided scholarships to adult learners to take a free, credit-bearing course in healthcare, business/finance, or a non-credit course in Applied AI in the Workplace. The scholarship covered tuition, fees, and up to $100 for books/supplies and students had access to a success coach to help support their transition into college. Existing coaching models at the college have significantly improved student outcomes, with success rates increasing by nearly 40 percent in the college's 12-week boot camps, as well as increases in developmental mathematics and nursing courses.

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.

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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