Chancellor King Highlights the SUNY Reconnect Expansion with Visit to Monroe Community College
September 4, 2026
Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect Program Provides Free Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies for Eligible Adult Learners Pursuing an Associate Degree in a High-Demand Field
Visit Also Highlights Monroe Community College’s SNAP Program at Campus Bookstore and Expanded Resources for Food Insecure Students and Adult Learners
Rochester, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited Monroe Community College as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour to highlight expansion in the second year of the program. He was joined by SUNY Board Trustee Robert Duffy, President DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna, state officials, and the campus community. Chancellor King has been visiting SUNY campuses throughout the state to highlight Governor Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program, which officially began at the start of Fall 2025 classes, and provides free associate degrees in high-demand fields for eligible adult learners.
Monroe Community College had the second largest SUNY Reconnect enrollment during the first year of the program. During his visit, Chancellor King highlighted the college’s nursing program, which is eligible for SUNY Reconnect. To learn more about SUNY Reconnect programs available at Monroe Community College, visit: https://www.monroecc.edu/special-programs/suny-reconnect/.
“SUNY’s community colleges are engines of upward mobility and student success that support New Yorkers as they pursue life-changing educational opportunities,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “Through SUNY Reconnect, the SNAP program, and childcare services, campuses like Monroe Community College are providing students with a high-quality, well-rounded education and support that will enable them to achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals. I applaud Monroe Community College for providing its students an excellent education and for working to meet the needs of all learners.”
SUNY Board Trustee Robert Duffy said, “Governor Hochul’s innovative SUNY Reconnect program is transforming the lives of adult learners throughout New York State by increasing access to an excellent, affordable education, at SUNY. We thank Governor Hochul and state leaders for their continued investment in SUNY, our adult learners, and our student parents.”
Monroe Community College also extended childcare services in February through funding provided in the 2025-26 Enacted State Budget. Childcare services at the campus were extended to include evenings and align with the schedules of high-demand courses, including SUNY Reconnect. Monroe Community College offers extended childcare hours Monday through Thursday, beginning in the Fall 2026 semester.
In the 2026-2027 Enacted State Budget, SUNY Reconnect was expanded to include associate programs at bachelor’s granting institutions and additional high-demand programs, and to make it easier for adult learners to return to college to pursue nursing if they have a prior degree in another field.
During his visit, Chancellor King also highlighted Monroe Community College’s expansion of initiatives to support students' basic needs, including a program for students to use SNAP benefits in the campus bookstore. In addition, the college has advanced comprehensive student support services including the DWIGHT food pantry and automated food lockers.
Monroe Community College President DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna said, “Monroe Community College is thrilled to continue its participation in SUNY Reconnect, building on a remarkable year in which MCC enrolled the most Reconnect students of any community college in the SUNY system. By removing financial barriers, SUNY Reconnect has helped high-demand programs like nursing thrive, opening doors for more students to launch new careers or pursue meaningful career changes. At the same time, the program is helping meet a critical community need by preparing the next generation of skilled nurses to serve our region.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “SUNY Reconnect is a vital part of Governor Hochul’s agenda to make New York an affordable state to live and work. Expanding hours of childcare service, including for eligible adults pursuing free community college, removes another barrier for entering careers in high-demand fields like nursing, education, and information technology. I thank Governor Hochul for her investment in creating a skilled and educated workforce for the jobs our communities need.”
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Acting President Doris B. González said, “We are deeply thankful to Governor Hochul for giving adult learners across New York the chance to return to school, earn a degree, and build a stronger future for themselves and their families. We are equally grateful to Chancellor King, whose campus visits have brought this program to life, showing students, communities, and families firsthand what is possible through SUNY Reconnect. Monroe Community College stands as a shining example of that promise in action. With its nursing program preparing graduates to step into one of New York's most essential and in-demand professions, Monroe is equipping students with the skills and credentials they need to make a real difference in their communities. This program is changing lives, and we look forward to watching it continue to strengthen communities across the state for years to come.”
State Senator Jeremy Conney said, “The opportunity to learn shouldn't be out of reach for anyone. Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program makes it possible for adult learners to continue their education without the additional burden of worrying about the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other supplies. I’m grateful for Chancellor King’s dedication to expanding opportunities in high-demand fields and making higher education more accessible for New Yorkers.”
State Assemblymember Sarah Clark said, “I was proud to join Chancellor King at Monroe Community College to recognize the great work MCC continues to do to meet students where they are and help them succeed. Through SUNY Reconnect, MCC is connecting adult learners with the skills they need for good paying careers in Rochester’s world class optics and photonics industry, healthcare, and other high needs fields. Thank you to Chancellor King for visiting Rochester and for his continued partnership as we work together to meet the evolving needs of New Yorkers and expand opportunities for people across our state.”
State Assemblymember Demond Meeks (MCC ‘06) said, “As a proud graduate of Monroe Community College, I know firsthand the transformational impact higher education can have on working-class families and our broader community. Rising costs, from tuition and fees to books and childcare, have historically kept higher education out of reach for many adult learners seeking to advance their careers. The expansion of the SUNY Reconnect program breaks down these systemic barriers with real, direct support. By covering full tuition and material expenses while aligning essential resources like campus childcare and SNAP access, we are opening doors for Rochester residents to pursue high-demand, life-changing careers. I am proud to support an initiative that empowers our neighbors to upskill, secure economic stability, and thrive.”
Launched in Fall 2025, Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative provides free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for New York State resident adults ages 25-55 who do not already have a college degree to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field, after all applicable financial aid. SUNY launched a dedicated website: suny.edu/reconnect, to provide information to prospective students and promote the launch of SUNY Reconnect. In November 2025, Governor Hochul announced that in the inaugural year of SUNY Reconnect, more than 5,600 New Yorkers took advantage of the program.
Governor Hochul’s 2026-27 Enacted Budget expanded SUNY Reconnect to include associate degrees in supply chain/logistics, air traffic control and aviation management, and emergency management. The Enacted State Budget also made it easier for adult learners to return to college to pursue nursing if they have a prior degree in a different field, to further strengthen New York State’s nursing workforce and support Governor Hochul’s goal to grow the healthcare workforce by 20 percent.
The 2026-27 Enacted Budget also expands SUNY Reconnect to include eligible associate degree programs at bachelor degree-granting institutions including Alfred State, SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech, SUNY Canton, SUNY Delhi, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), SUNY Farmingdale State College, SUNY Maritime College, and SUNY Morrisville.
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
To bolster the success of students participating in SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has allocated $4.6 million to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations.
Chancellor King’s visit is part of his ongoing effort to visit SUNY institutions throughout the state to highlight SUNY Reconnect. Following the May 2025 launch of Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program for adult learners in New York State, Chancellor King kicked off the first leg of the SUNY Reconnect Tour and visited all 29 participating community college campuses throughout 2025 and 2026.
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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