MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – SUNY Orange announced on Wednesday (Oct. 22) that, for the second consecutive academic year, the College has successfully reached its target enrollment goal of 150 students for its Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) program, an initiative supported by grant funding from the State University of New York (SUNY).

ASAP is a transformative degree completion program that incentivizes students to enroll full-time and acquire their associate’s degree in two years, thereby increasing student completion rates and narrowing opportunity gaps. The program provides eligible students with financial support for books, academic services, transportation and more.

SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young shared the successful enrollment results during a morning breakfast, where she was joined by Dr. Lisa Castillo Richmond, SUNY Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Deputy for Student Success, as well as the College’s ASAP leadership team and six ASAP students. New York State Assembly members Jonathan Jacobson and Brian Maher were in attendance, along with Valerie Best and Kirsten Warth representing State Senator James Skoufis.

“The ASAP program is a key contributor to SUNY Orange’s strategic approach to enrollment, including helping shape this semester’s 6.1 percent enrollment increase,” said SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young. “Students today face many barriers that prevent them from completing a college degree. Finances are often at the top of that list. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s support of ASAP and thank Chancellor King for his leadership in bringing the program to SUNY.

“Our SUNY Orange ASAP team has done a wonderful job creating ways to advise, engage and energize our students to keep them on their path. I’m also happy to share that SUNY Orange’s ASAP program is viewed as an exemplar program within our SUNY community college ranks, with approximately 72 percent of our continuing ASAP students on track to graduate on time.”

The College initiated the ASAP program during the Spring 2024 semester and seven students from that first cohort will be graduating at the conclusion of this current semester, with another 49 students on pace to graduate next May or August. The combined grade point average (GPA) of students in the program is 2.94.

With ASAP and other programs in place, overall student enrollment this Fall was up 6.1 percent compared to Fall 2024. Additionally, full-time enrollment grew modestly (+3.3%) while part-time enrollment demonstrated much stronger gains (+9.4%), showing the continuing trend of more students balancing academics around work and family obligations.

To be eligible for ASAP, students must reside in New York State or qualify for in-state tuition, have applied for both FAFSA and TAP financial aid or the Dream Act application, and receive at least $1 of federal or state financial aid.

They must also enroll in and maintain a full-time student status (12 or more credit hours) and previously have earned no more than 21 credits (excluding credits earned in high school) from another accredited college or university. Students must also enroll in selected degree programs within the following academic communities at the College: Arts and Media; Business; Culture, Society and the Mind; Education and Human Services; Justice and Community Engagement; and STEM.

Students in the program receive a cost of attendance award, a textbook stipend and monthly $50 gift cards for transportation and other academic-related expenses. They also are assigned a dedicated success coach who will be with them from the start of the time in the program until the end, providing individualized academic, career, and transfer advising. They also enter a community of ASAP peers, with opportunities to connect and network through events, activities and workshops pertaining to academic, career, and transfer.

In addition to having reached its enrollment cap from a funding standpoint, the program is also supporting a waiting list of 27 students who can participate in ASAP events and work with the success coach, but don’t receive any financial incentives from the program.

To learn more about ASAP at SUNY Orange, visit https://sunyorange.edu/asap/ or email: asapprogram@sunyorange.edu.

Additional Quotes

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.: “SUNY is committed to the success of every student, and our expansion of the proven ASAP and ACE programs across our system ensures our students are on track to complete their degree on time and pursue their aspirations. I applaud Governor Hochul and state leaders for their continued support of SUNY, and I thank the SUNY Orange administration, faculty, and staff for their unwavering commitment to student success.”

Dr. Erika Hackman, SUNY Orange provost: “The ASAP program not only makes a college degree more accessible and attainable, it supports students completing their degree so they can pursue their bachelor’s degree or find meaningful employment more quickly. Our students deserve credit for putting in the work and succeeding in the classroom, but I also wish to acknowledge our SUNY Orange ASAP team for its role in our students’ progress. Thanks to Madeline Torres-Diaz, AVP for Student Engagement and Completion; ASAP Director Ally Vincent; and ASAP Success Coach Sarah Gordon for their commitment to our students and this program.”

Ally Vincent, SUNY Orange ASAP director: “Our students are the reason we do the work that we do. Their drive inspires us every single day. We have wonderful partners at SUNY and leadership here at SUNY Orange, and our team thanks them for believing in the power of education and in programs like ASAP. That continued investment of both time and funding allows us to change lives, open doors, and strengthen the communities we serve. It is a privilege to do this work – to watch our students grow, to celebrate their milestones, and to see them become the next generation of leaders, professionals, and change-makers.”

Nigel Corney, SUNY Orange ASAP student: “ASAP has changed the way that I view college. The staff is constantly leading you into the next step in your career. I may not know what my future will be at the moment, but I can safely say that ASAP will have been a major influence in what I decide to do in life once I finally get there. My experience with this program has shaped me into where and who I am today and I will continue to keep moving forward under ASAP to achieve whatever path that I will follow in order to lead a successful future.”