Farmingdale State grows student support program

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A program at Farmingdale State College that provides students with financial, academic, and personal support to boost graduation rates and close opportunity gaps is growing.

The Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) program first welcomed 76 students in January. Now in its second semester, the program, a State University of New York initiative, has 215 enrolled students. The college held a celebration last week to recognize the program’s impact.

“ACE provides students with the financial support and material resources they need to achieve their academic goals,” Farmingdale State President Robert Prezant said in a news release about the program. “But what makes ACE special here at Farmingdale is that it has provided students with a community, and a home away from home, which has contributed to the cultural and intellectual life of the college. That is what we at Farmingdale do so well, creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment.”

Farmingdale is one of 12 SUNY campuses to participate in ACE, the SUNY initiative that also includes an Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP) at some campuses.

“Student success drives everything we do at SUNY, and we are committed to meeting students and their families where they are to ensure they thrive,” SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. said in the news release “SUNY takes pride in scaling ASAP and ACE as proven models for student success across our campuses and we look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of SUNY graduates at [Farmingdale State] and across the system.”

At Farmingdale, ACE is open to all majors. The program provides free holistic services for Farmingdale State first-generation students and those who have demonstrated need, including individualized counseling, leadership and career development, peer mentoring, interactive workshops and events, and financial support, including academic scholarships, textbook stipends, and transportation assistance. ACE’s primary goal is to narrow opportunity gaps and increase timely bachelor’s degree completion rates for participating students.

“ACE is based on a simple belief: income should never limit someone’s potential or dreams,” New York State Senator Monica Martinez said in the news release. “Higher education isn’t just for those with the means to afford it; it’s for anyone who has the passion and determination to succeed. The ACE Program, and others like it, exist because of this principle. They help level the playing field and ensure that financial constraints don’t hold anyone back from academic success.”

Students gave the program high marks.

“I joined the ACE program seeking a supportive community to navigate my academic journey and prioritize my well-being,” Matthews Pyroll, a Science, Technology and Society major, said in the news release. “The program has exceeded my expectations, providing consistent guidance through monthly meetings that have become a cornerstone for my mental and financial stability. These sessions offer a safe space to discuss challenges, receive coaching, and access additional support when needed. I’m grateful for the ACE program’s transformative support, empowering me to thrive academically and personally.”

“ACE provides me with many resources, allowing me a space to come to throughout my day to get work done, or having someone to talk to about how school is going,” Malik Mattison, a student in the Aeronautical Science: Professional Pilot Program, said in the news release. “Being a part of ACE has allowed me a chance to make some friends, being new here and not knowing anyone on campus. My ACE success coach has also been a huge help to me here during my first semester, helping me make action plans academically and personally, directing me to necessary campus resources, and helping me make long term and short-term goals, and stick to these goals.”