Suffolk County Community College recently organized a press conference to highlight its greatest participation in Suny’s program for the progress of success in associate trajectories (Advancing Success in Associate Pathways – ASAP), a transforming program whose objective is to eliminate barriers for the completion of studies and increase students’ success.
The event highlighted the comprehensive support that ASAP provides to students, which includes financial assistance, personalized academic advice, professional development and community development activities designed to help them overcome obstacles and graduate in time.
Suny Asap launched in the spring of 2024 with 4200 students on 25 campus thanks to the support of New York governor, Kathy Hochul, and the New York state legislature through the historic Suny transformation fund of $ 75 million, which demonstrates her commitment to student success throughout the state.
The program is part of the vision of Suny’s rector, John B. King Jr., and Suny’s board of directors to boost student success and ascending mobility within the system.
In May 2025, Governor Hochul and the state legislature established $ 12 million in recurrent funds to support Suny’s expansion to 7,050 students in the autumn of 2025, with a view to reaching 10,000 students for the fall of 2026.
As the largest community school in the Suny system, this additional financing allowed Suny Suffolk to expand its program in 2025, going from supporting 150 students to support 250 ASAP students.
The initial metrics of the Suffolk ASAP program reflect promising indicators of success. The program continues to demonstrate outstanding results, including a student persistence rate of 87% and a general average of 3.2. Suffolk was also praised by Suny to get 47% of its students to enroll in at least one summer course in the summer of 2025, thus maintaining their academic impulse towards the timely completion of their studies.
In addition, 25% of the Spring Cohort of 2024 of Suffolk obtained its title during spring and speaking past, and it is expected that another 17% graduate in January 2026.
It should be noted that 18.8% of students are parents who combine university with their family responsibilities. Suny’s investment in the program also provides greater support for registration growth, staffing and long -term program sustainability.
Dr. Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College, inaugurated the event talking about the University’s commitment to student success and added: «ASAP eliminates financial barriers, offers structured roads to help students obtain and maintain their academic impulse, and create connected communities through integrated support and participation activities, all this with the aim of drastically increased the rates of rates of timely completion of participating students ».
Outstanding students
During the press conference, 3 students shared their personal stories, illustrating how the wide offer of ASAP allows them to achieve their educational goals.
The first speaker student, Yuriko Castilloresident of Hauppange, New York, and photography student in his last semester at the Michael J. Grant campus, is a talented artist who has won numerous awards, including an honorable mention in the student exhibition of last spring.
He recently received the Frank Livernoche scholarship. Castillo has maintained an average of 4.0 while raising his children. She commented: «The ASAP program has helped me in many ways: it has provided me with funds for registration, books and transport, early registration and access to dedicated tutors. As a mother, I have also benefited from the support of the Brightway Foundation for nursery and other related expenses ».
The second speaker student, Julio Salgadohe is a student of the Michael J. Grant campus of Bay Shore who studies his first semester in ASAP. He currently studies general studies and plans to change criminal justice.
“Being part of the ASAP program has greatly facilitated my experience in Suffolk,” he said. “Financial support is important, but it is best to connect with my academic advisor, who listens to my goals and guides me during the semester.”
The third speaker student, adebajo omowunmiby Coram, New York, heages his last semester in Suffolk with specialization in liberal arts and sciences: General Studies at the Ammerman Campus. You will get your AA title in January 2026.
It was already accepted in the Practical Nursing program (LPN) to a registered nurse (RN) of the Helene Fuld Faculty, where you attend class week. Although this semester could have started full time, he decided to finish his career in Suffolk.
He currently works in a rehabilitation center as a graduate practice (LPN) and combines work, studies and care of his children. In his comments, he added: «Any program can offer financial aid, but Dr. Gerome Bell, director of the ASAP program, and Sonya Lorrain, Academic Advisor of ASAP, are always there to provide support and inspiration. When I crossed a crisis, they encouraged me. My education would not be complete without ASAP ».
For more information about the ASAP program at Suffolk County Community College, visit: https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/current-students/asap.jsp
