Program aligns with union’s vision for accessible public higher education
NYSUT President Melinda Person joined SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. at Dutchess Community College this week for the launch of the SUNY Reconnect Tour, celebrating a new program that will provide free community college for adults ages 25–55.
Starting this fall, SUNY Reconnect will cover tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults without college degrees who pursue associate degrees in high-demand fields like nursing, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.
“SUNY Reconnect is a bold step toward making higher education truly accessible,” Person said at the launch event. “By removing financial barriers, it gives thousands of New Yorkers the chance to return to school, build new careers in high-demand fields and strengthen their families.”
The program reflects key priorities from NYSUT’s New Deal for Higher Education campaign, which calls for public higher education that’s affordable and connected to community needs.
SUNY Reconnect addresses real challenges adult learners face by not only eliminating costs but also providing wraparound supports. At Dutchess Community College, partnerships with early childhood programs help ensure college students who are also parents can focus on their studies.
“It moves us closer to the vision we’ve laid out in our New Deal for Higher Education campaign: a system that’s public, affordable and deeply connected to the needs of students and communities,” Person added.
The initiative comes as New York faces workforce shortages in the exact fields the program targets, making it both an educational and economic development strategy that puts working families first.
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