State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited SUNY Rockland 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 SUNY Rockland Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant, Nursing, and Automotive Technology programs. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at SUNY Rockland Community College and apply for the Spring 2026 semester, visit https://sunyrockland.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid-dept/freecc/.
SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Merryl Tisch joined Chancellor King at the SUNY Rockland event and spoke with students about their experiences on campus and as part of the SUNY Reconnect program for adult learners in high-demand fields.
“SUNY Rockland Community College empowers students with the opportunity to transform their lives, make an impact, and chase their dreams with a high-quality education,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “Through Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program, community colleges throughout New York have been able to welcome adult learners to pursue degrees in high-demand fields with free tuition, fees, books, and supplies. I applaud SUNY Rockland Community College for providing a well-rounded and engaging education to adult learners, to help them advance their careers, enrich their communities, and support our economy through the SUNY Reconnect program.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program promotes upward mobility for New York’s adult learners and is responding to workforce needs in high-demand fields. Through SUNY Reconnect, community colleges like SUNY Rockland Community College will continue to offer programs that support our ongoing efforts to ensure all students are provided with the remarkable education they deserve.”
SUNY Rockland Community College President Dr. William P. Mullaney said, “We’re honored to welcome Chancellor King to Rockland Community College as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour. By removing financial barriers for adults returning to college, SUNY Reconnect is making education more accessible and helping individuals gain the skills needed in high-demand fields that lead to family-sustaining wages.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Education is not only a key part of workforce development but also critical in building confidence in our workforce. Free community college for adult learners in fields like automotive technology, computer science, and nursing empowers New Yorkers and opens doors to great-paying careers. I thank Governor Hochul for advancing initiatives that create a strong pipeline of skilled workers for the jobs that serve and sustain our communities.”
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation President Dr. Guillermo Linares said, “Governor Hochul’s unwavering commitment to expanding access to higher education is transforming lives across New York State. SUNY Reconnect is a game-changer for adult learners, providing them with the resources and opportunities to pursue high-demand careers that strengthen our communities and economy. It is exciting to see programs like the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at SUNY Rockland Community College thrive under this initiative, preparing students to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.”
NYSUT President Melinda Person said, “Programs like SUNY Rockland’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program show what public higher education does best: connect learning to service. Every student who trains here is preparing to change lives, helping New Yorkers regain independence, strength and confidence. SUNY Reconnect is giving more adult learners the opportunity to step into these vital, high-demand careers that support both our healthcare system and our communities.”
State Assemblymember Karl Brabenec said, “Chancellor King’s visit to SUNY Rockland shines a spotlight on the incredible opportunities available right here in our community. Programs like SUNY Reconnect give adults a second chance to build rewarding careers in fields where we need skilled professionals most. I applaud the Chancellor’s commitment to expanding access and helping more New Yorkers achieve success.”
SUNY Reconnect Funds Degrees in High-Demand Fields Including:
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Artificial Intelligence
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Cybersecurity
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Engineering
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Technology
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Nursing and Allied Health Fields
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Green and Renewable Energy
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Pathways to Teaching in Shortage Areas
Supporting SUNY Reconnect Implementation
To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:
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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.
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SUNY Rockland Community College received $120,000, which will be used to fund stipends for existing staff to support adult learners with individualized advising; provide staffing support for re-engagement, application support, and weekend enrollment assistance and services; create and launch a digital marketing campaign and other supports; provide faculty stipends and assessment tools to evaluate and award Credit for Prior Learning; and support additional student services staff stipends and hourly staffing needs for SUNY Reconnect program implementation, including technical and financial system updates, award packaging processes, and other operational needs.
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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.
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SUNY Rockland Community College will allocate its $35,000 to the Nursing program to purchase and install advanced audio/visual equipment and instructional technology, and support faculty training for the development of a new simulation debriefing environment. With this simulation lab expansion, SUNY Rockland Community College anticipates it will be able to expand its nursing program capacity by an additional 15 to 20 students per semester in the 2025–26 academic year through increased clinical training capacity.
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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 (SUNY) 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, and the country’s oldest school of maritime studies. SUNY also manages the state’s only college of optometry and one U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory.
In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students through its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach. SUNY oversees nearly 25 percent of all academic research in New York, with $1.16 billion in research expenditures system-wide in FY2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty.
There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY graduate.
To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
