State University of New York Chancellor John King announces system membership in Complete College America Alliance
Indianapolis, IN (DEC. 19, 2023) – Complete College America (CCA) today announced that the State University of New York (SUNY) has officially joined the Complete College America Alliance, a coalition of states, systems, institutions of higher education and other organizations committed to increasing the number of students who successfully complete college and attain degrees and credentials.
“New York is making historic investments in proven strategies that help close college completion gaps, such as the recent expansion of the ASAP, and the $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund,” said Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America. “Joining the Alliance is yet another proof point to show how seriously the State University of New York’s leaders take their commitment to creating an even more high-performing, affordable and accessible system of higher education.”
SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “Far too many Americans have some college, but no degree, and many of those students had to leave school. That’s why SUNY is investing in more wraparound services, such as food pantries and child care, to bolster student retention, all thanks to a significant investment by Governor Kathy Hochul. We are also implementing two nationally recognized programs developed by CUNY with a track record of proven success, ASAP and ACE, to ensure students finish the degrees they start. SUNY is proud to join this coalition dedicated to student success and upward mobility, the Complete College America Alliance.”
Recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) show that the U.S.’s national college completion rate has stalled, with rates even falling for some populations. At SUNY, about 67 percent of first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree students graduate within six years; and 28 percent of associate degree students finish within three years.
The New York State Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a new $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund to improve student success, support innovation, and help meet the state’s future workforce needs. Participating in the CCA Alliance will support SUNY as it works to enhance student support services, improve academic programs, increase enrollment, and modernize campus operations.
As the 51st Alliance member, SUNY will join with other states and state higher education systems working collaboratively to advance policies and practices designed to improve student success and college completion, particularly for students from historically-underrepresented backgrounds and from under-resourced households. Higher education leaders within the SUNY campus network will be able to share new learnings and receive guidance and support in crafting policies aligned with the state’s priorities.
About Complete College America
Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions through data-driven policies, student-centered perspectives, and equity-driven practices. Since its founding in 2009, CCA connects a national network of forward-thinking state and higher education leaders and introduces bold initiatives to help states and institutions confront inequities, close institutional performance gaps, and increase college completion rates, especially for marginalized and historically excluded students.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, 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, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022, 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 alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
