SUNY Schools Across Long Island Announce Significant Expansion of Highly Successful Student Retention, Graduation Support Program:  ASAP|ACE

Program to Empower Students with Financial, Academic, & Personal Support  to Boost Graduation Rates, Close Opportunity Gap

November 2, 2026, Farmingdale, NY – Nassau Community College leaders, in partnership with leadership at SUNY Farmingdale, SUNY Old Westbury, and Suffolk Community College announced the expansion of its Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) program for Community Colleges across New York State. This expansion will mean that 300 students at NCC will receive important resources to help students gain and maintain academic momentum so they can graduate on time.
  
Launched at SUNY in 2024, ASAP|ACE programs provide wraparound support to help students overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree. Eligible students access an array of resources and supports, including funding to cover textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, as well as academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advisement, and additional career development activities.
 
Through an additional $8 million in allocated funding in the FY2026-27 Enacted State Budget, ASAP|ACE will expand to serve 10,000 students at 44 SUNY campuses by the Fall 2026 semester, bringing the total state investment in this successful program to $20 million annually.  
 
Nassau Community College has opted into offering ASAP because it is continually looking for proactive initiatives to increase overall student outcomes and help students graduate on time.  NCC’s commitment is to nurture, guide and empower each student on their journey through higher education. To learn more about ASAP at Nassau Community College, visit ncc.edu/ASAP.

“At NCC, we are committed to helping students succeed and reach their educational goals,” said Nassau Community College ASAP Director Samantha La Scala. “Expanding the ASAP program allows us to support more students by connecting them with the individualized guidance and resources they need to overcome challenges, stay on track toward graduation, and achieve long-term academic success.”

About Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College (NCC), a campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to prepare students to start, and continue, their successful journeys through higher education. Serving more than 18,000 full-time and part-time students annually, NCC offers 60+ degree and certificate programs. Through on-campus and online offerings, the College educates local and international students and boasts more than 166,000+ alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, NCC is located in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, the College has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence, affordability, and ease of transferability to four-year schools.

Media Contact:  Brett Spielberg | brett.spielberg@ncc.edu | 516.572.9634