Farmingdale State is expanding its student support program

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

In January, 76 students participated in the Accelerate, Complete and Engage (ACE) program for the first time. Currently, 215 students are participating in the second semester of the program, which is an initiative of the State University of New York. Last week, the university held a ceremony 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 distinguishes ACE at Farmingdale is that it has provided students with a community and a home away from home that has contributed to the cultural and intellectual life of the college. This is what we do so well at Farmingdale, creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment.”

Farmingdale is one of 12 SUNY campuses participating in ACE, a SUNY initiative that also includes the Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP) on 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,” said SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. in a press release. “SUNY is proud to scale ASAP and ACE as proven models of student success on our campuses, and we look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of SUNY graduates at (Farmingdale State) and throughout the system.”

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

“ACE is founded on a simple belief: Income should never limit someone’s potential or dreams,” New York State Sen. Monica Martinez said in a press release. “Higher education is not just for those who have the means; is 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 do not hold anyone back from academic success.”

Students rated the program highly.

“I joined the ACE program looking for a supportive community to help me navigate my academic path and prioritize my well-being,” Matthews Pyroll, a science, technology and society major, said in a press release. “The program exceeded my expectations by providing consistent guidance through monthly meetings that have become a cornerstone of my mental and financial stability. These sessions provide a safe space to discuss challenges, receive coaching and obtain additional support if needed. I am grateful for the transformative support of the ACE program, which has enabled me to grow academically and personally.”

“ACE provides me with many resources so that I can come to work during the day or have someone to talk to about how school is going,” Malik Mattison, Aeronautical Science: Professional Pilot Program student, said in a news release. “Being a part of ACE gave me a chance to meet new friends while being new here and not knowing anyone on campus. My ACE Success Coach was also a huge help to me during my first semester, helping me create action plans on an academic and personal level, directing me to necessary campus resources, and helping me set and stick to long-term and short-term goals.”