SUNY announces free community college for adults over age 25 beginning this fall
New York's sprawling state university system will begin offering free community college access to adult students beginning this fall.
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. said Friday that SUNY campuses are ready to launch Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college program. The program was approved as part of the recently approved state spending plan for fiscal year 2025-26.
Through SUNY Reconnect, starting this fall, community colleges across the state will provide free tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults ages 25 to 55 who don't already have a college degree or who want to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.
'I applaud Gov. Hochul for fighting tirelessly to advance higher education and affordability, and I thank the State Legislature for supporting this proven model to help unleash New Yorkers' full potential,' King said. 'The SUNY Reconnect program, launching for the Fall 2025 term, will help break barriers to a college degree and provide financial support and flexibility for adult students to enroll, and more importantly, to succeed through to graduation at one of our excellent community colleges.'
Dozens of programs will be available among the 33 community college campuses in New York, including Clinton County and North Country community colleges. Eligible programs include associate degree programs in high-demand areas of advanced manufacturing; nursing and allied health; engineering; technology, cybersecurity, and AI; green jobs; and teaching pathways in shortage areas, according to SUNY officials.
Community colleges will hold information sessions this summer to assist all who are interested in eligible degree programs. Information can also be found at this link: suny.edu/freeCC.
'SUNY's community colleges have long been a source of opportunity for New Yorkers. Our campuses provide an excellent education with robust support and an academic curriculum that prepares students for success in the workforce and continued education,' SUNY Board Trustee Robert J. Duffy, Chair of the Community Colleges Committee, said. 'The Governor's free community college program will mean so much for adult learners and our campuses are ready to serve them today.'
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, 'A skilled and knowledgeable workforce is essential to New York State's economic future. Offering free community college to adult learners will provide a gateway to new career opportunities in high-demand fields, and feed critical workforce pipelines,' New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said.
The news comes just days after SUNY officials announced more than $3 million in new funding is coming to the three North Country SUNY campuses in the latest state budget.
'The SUNY Reconnect program will be instrumental in training people to work in high demand fields such as nursing and manufacturing, which is much needed in the North Country considering our bustling manufacturing industry and struggle to hire nurses' State Assemblymember Billy Jones said. 'This funding will also support our local community colleges and provide more educational opportunities for North Country residents, which will also help our regional economy.'
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There's not enough details, but what it looks like if they're targeting all people of Chinese origin who are on international student visas because he's not limiting it to just people who might have ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and if they do have those ties, they don't belong here, especially if they're committing nefarious acts. However, this appears to be much broader and it's terribly misguided and it appears prejudicial and discriminatory. My own father was, came here on an international student visa. And I believe that these people are vital for our economy and for entrepreneurship in this country. And I think this is going to harm America more than help. MARGARET BRENNAN: You said if someone has ties to the Chinese Communist Party they shouldn't be here. Does that mean all the, the students who are children of leaders, for example Xi Jinping's own daughter, shouldn't have been allowed here? REP. KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, if they were engaged in nefarious activities and if they are somehow deeply connected to the CCP, I think that we should be very careful. But in this particular case, they're not only going after people who might fall in that category, but it's anybody who is from China, including Hong Kong by the way, where people are actually persecuted for various freedoms they're trying to exercise, and who come here seeking to exercise those freedoms. So this is a terrible, terribly misguided policy. MARGARET BRENNAN: The Biden administration did conduct heightened vetting, as you know, of Chinese students. Do you think that there is a legitimate argument for expanding this, that certain areas should just be off limits? REP. KRISHNAMOORTHI: I think that you should definitely have heightened vetting, especially in certain critical areas because we know that the CCP tries to steal, for instance, intellectual property or worse. But the way that this is currently structured looks very, very suspicious and you have to remember that the people that are cheering for this policy, what Marco Rubio had called for, is the Chinese Communist Party. Why? Because they want these people back. They want the scientists and the entrepreneurs and the engineers who can come and help their economy. And so we are probably helping them, as well as other countries, more than helping ourselves with this policy. MARGARET BRENNAN: The Defense Secretary is traveling in Asia right now and he said in a defense forum speech that Beijing is quote "concretely and credibly preparing to use military force." He said their military is rehearsing. Take a listen. PETE HEGSETH: Any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. MARGARET BRENNAN: He did not say what the consequences would be. Are you encouraged by what appears to be a statement of support for allies? REP. KRISHNAMOORTHI: I am. I think what he's saying is largely correct, but I think the problem is at the same time he says that, either Donald Trump or even him or others say other things that push away our friends, partners and allies in the region and cause confusion. And so we need to be consistent and thoughtful with regard to our statements, and we need to be also very methodical about our actions in trying to curb military aggression by the Chinese Communist Party in the South China Sea and with regard to Taiwan. MARGARET BRENNAN: Since you track U.S. intelligence, I wanted to ask you if you have any insight into what appears to be the swarm of Ukrainian drones that has destroyed 40 Russian military aircraft deep inside Russian territory overnight. Sources are telling our Jennifer Jacobs that the White House wasn't aware that this attack was planned. What can you tell us about the level of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine right now and helping them with their targets? REP. KRISHNAMOORTHI: I don't want to get into classified information, but what I can say is that it's a little bit more strained in light of what Donald Trump has said recently. The one thing that I can also say is that Trump was right the other day to say that Putin is crazy in the way that he's going after civilian areas in Ukraine repeatedly, and so the Ukrainians are striking back. At the end of the day, the only way that we can bring these hostilities to an end is by strengthening the hand of the Ukrainians. Trump should, at this point, realize that Putin is playing him and aid the Ukrainians in their battlefield efforts. That's the best way to get to some type of armistice or truce at the negotiating table sooner rather than later. MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Congressman Krishnamoorthi thank you for your insights today.
