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SUNY Chancellor highlights Reconnect during campus visit

March 31, 2026

SARANAC LAKE -- State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited North Country Community College's Saranac Lake campus as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour on Tuesday, March 31. Chancellor King has been visiting SUNY community colleges throughout the state to promote New York's free community college program for adult learners, which officially began at the start of Fall 2025 classes. Under Governor Kathy Hochul's SUNY Reconnect initiative, New York State is providing free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don't already have a college degree and want to pursue an associate degree in high-demand fields.

A group of people sit around tables in a classroom, talking"Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program is enabling adult learners throughout New York State to unleash their full potential and achieve upward mobility by earning degrees in high-demand fields," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Through SUNY Reconnect, campuses like North Country Community College are providing their students with the opportunity to achieve their academic and personal goals. I applaud North Country Community College for its outstanding offerings and support of our adult learners."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Governor Hochul's innovative SUNY Reconnect program has transformed the lives of adult learners across New York State by increasing access to higher education. We are proud to work with Governor Hochul on this initiative and thank her and the State Legislature for their continued support and investment in SUNY's adult learners."

During his visit, Chancellor King highlighted North Country Community College's nursing, radiologic technology, environmental science, and addiction counseling programs, which are all eligible for SUNY Reconnect and attract adults looking to enroll in or return to college to advance their careers in high-demand fields. North Country Community College ensures that SUNY Reconnect participants receive enough financial aid and support services, including a single point of contact, extended hours, and prep courses, to complete their associate degree. To learn more about SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at North Country Community College, visit https://www.nccc.edu/reconnect/.

North Country Community College President Joe Keegan said, "We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul, Chancellor King, and the Legislature for their continued investment in community colleges and the students we serve. Programs like SUNY Reconnect demonstrate how that investment is already expanding access, strengthening enrollment, and delivering meaningful results—and how it will continue to do so well into the future. At North Country Community College, SUNY Reconnect is enabling more students to pursue programs aligned with critical regional and statewide workforce needs, including addictions counseling, environmental science, nursing, and radiologic technology. By reducing financial barriers, this funding is helping students pursue their goals and build careers that offer long-term stability and economic mobility."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "A free associate degree in fields such as nursing and the health sciences can open doors for eligible adults looking to expand their skills. The SUNY Reconnect program creates pathways to well-paying and in-demand careers, which ensures we will have a highly skilled workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to advance initiatives that are making New York State an affordable place to live and work."

New York State Higher Education Corporation Acting President Doris B. González said, "At HESC, our mission is to ensure higher education is accessible to every student in New York, and we proudly champion initiatives that align with this goal. The SUNY Reconnect Program underscores New York State's commitment to expanding college access and opportunity. Programs like the nursing program at North Country Community College highlight how SUNY institutions are empowering adult learners with the skills needed for high-demand careers in critical fields. We extend our gratitude to Governor Hochul for her leadership in breaking down financial barriers and to Chancellor King for his dedication to promoting this transformative initiative. These efforts open doors to meaningful careers for adult learners and strengthen our communities and workforce."

New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, "We're proud to see SUNY Reconnect creating real opportunities at North Country Community College, especially in programs like nursing that are so critical to our communities. When adult learners are given the chance to return to school without the burden of cost, they don't just change their own lives, they strengthen our workforce and our state. We're excited the state is proposing to expand SUNY and CUNY Reconnect so even more New Yorkers can access an affordable path to opportunity."

State Senator Dan Stec said, "SUNY Reconnect is a vital resource in helping adult learners cultivate the skills necessary to compete in today's economy. The program at North Country Community College will help our communities grow and ensure our residents can find fulfilling careers in high-demand fields in our region and state. This is an investment that will continue to yield dividends for years to come."

State Assemblyman Michael S. Cashman said, "Community colleges are a critical part of our workforce system. The State University of New York's Reconnect program is directly creating opportunities in high-demand fields especially in areas like nursing, radiologic technology, environmental science, and addiction counseling that are essential to our regional economy. I am very proud of the work North Country Community College's faculty and staff are doing to support adult learners. When we align educational access with workforce needs, both our students and our community's benefit. I look forward to continuing to support SUNY initiatives that expand opportunity and meet the demands of today's workforce."

To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:

  • Allocated $4 million to community colleges to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations. North Country Community College has used its allocation of $100,000 to continue to develop marketing and recruitment strategies targeted to eligible adult learners, as well as employers and community-based partners; use Student Success Coaches to support adult learners with onboarding, early career advisement, and program mapping including during evening and weekend hours; hire a part-time Associate Director of Recruitment focused on adult learner enrollment services; and provide student support services from the Learning Assistance Center and IT Help Desk at the Saranac Lake campus library with extended evening and weekend hours.
  • Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment. North Country Community College is using its allocation to adopt software for the Nursing Department that streamlines clinical placements and assessments of clinical assignments and experiences, as well as train full-time and part-time teaching and clinical faculty to learn the system.
  • Announced a $1.1 million in grant funding for the SUNY Adult Learner Leadership Initiative to help community colleges ensure degree completion for adult learners. North Country Community College received a $50,000 grant to participate in the Adult Learner Leadership Initiative and implement strategies including targeted marketing and recruitment of adult learners with multiple, tailored information sessions, availability of academic offerings and non-academic supports on evenings and weekends including cohort model coaching and investment in a live chat and texting platform, and the campus is using online and blended learning practices, including streamlining and evaluation of online course structures within the learning management system to ensure consistency.

SUNY Reconnect funds degrees in high-demand fields including:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Engineering
  • Technology
  • Nursing and Allied Health Fields
  • Green and Renewable Energy
  • Pathways to Teaching in Shortage Areas

Governor Hochul's FY2026-27 Executive Budget expands SUNY Reconnect to include careers in logistics, air traffic control and transportation, and emergency management, as well as to make it easier for adult learners to return to college to pursue nursing if they already have a prior degree.