By LUCA GROSS / Press Republican
PLATTSBURGH — SUNY Plattsburgh officials hosted a special reception Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the growth and success of the Advance Completion through Engagement program, an initiative designed by New York state to help students graduate.
Gov. Kathy Hochul launched ACE in the fall of 2023, and SUNY Plattsburgh was awarded more than $900,000 from the state’s transformation fund of $75 million to support efforts to improve graduation rates among first-year and transfer students.
SUNY Plattsburgh’s pilot program began in spring 2024 with a cohort of 33, it has since expanded to serve more than 300 students in New York, offering advising, peer mentoring and other services to support a timely graduation.
Karen McGrath, Vice President of Enrollment and Student Success, expressed gratitude to Gov. Hochul and the state on behalf of SUNY Plattsburgh and introduced ACE students in attendance as well as University officials and members of the ACE Program staff.
McGrath shared the history and goals of the program at SUNY Plattsburgh before introducing Sara Welch, ACE program director and two ACE students, Kevin Lee, a junior majoring in robotics, and Christian Barjon, a sophomore in the nursing program.
Alexander Enyedi, SUNY Plattsburgh President, also spoke briefly to praise the ACE program for its success, as well as to thank the staff and ACE Advisors for their continued dedication to the students.
Welch said the program’s growth has been rapid and well-supported by both the campus and state with a positive impact on the “wonderful students,” enrolled in the program.
“It’s not just 335 students, it’s 335 students with benefits and a support system,” she said.
She also emphasized that support reaches beyond the classroom.
“It doesn’t end with class, these students are living full lives and they need to know they have a person on campus who will support them.” Welch said.
For Barjon, a sophomore in the program, ACE has made a “substantial difference,” in his life, crediting the workshops and advising offered.
“The workshops are very helpful, a lot of people might think ‘planners,’ and ‘calendars,’ might not be very helpful but it does,” he said.
“I am so organized now, I am no longer thinking of a meeting I had today, that I knew about two weeks ago. I know when everything is and I have time blocked for everything.”
Barjon encourages those eligible for the program to take advantage of the resources they offer.
“A lot of people, myself included, might just join without knowing what it is, but once you get into those meetings and go to the workshops, it connects you with resources,” he said.
“I needed the advice, I am young and naive, I needed the push.”
For Anny Nelzy, a junior who was part of the inaugural cohort, the program has been a major source of assistance and support at SUNY Plattsburgh.
One of the biggest lessons the program helped Nelzy learn, when to ask for help.
“I would say, the biggest part is to be attentive, know when to ask for help and that it’s ok to ask for help,” she said.
“I struggled with asking for help when I first came to college, I thought it would make me weak, or I was bigger than that. But once I was at college, and realized the workload, I thought ‘ok I’m going to ask for help,’”
Nelzy praised ACE advisors for being a support system for both academic and personal purposes.
“I felt really great and they are great at their jobs, they have a good attention to detail, when you talk to them they listen and give you solutions.” Nelzy said.
“Even if you just want to complain about something, because it doesn’t just stop at your last class we all carry it around.”
According to the SUNY Plattsburgh website, Advancing Completion through Engagement is a comprehensive academic support program to help students complete their bachelor’s degree in four years.
ACE is part of the SUNY replication of the City University of New York Accelerate, Complete, and Engage program, also known as ACE.
Some benefits of ACE include a dedicated advisor and ACE peer mentor who will assist in navigating college, textbook assistance up to $150 per semester, a monthly stipend of $200 for transportation and groceries, career counseling and graduate school preparation, as well as personal, academic and financial counseling.
