ACE program students with Drs. Bruce Simon and Sue McNamara during a stop on Freddy’s Amazing Race, an orientation activity that helped students learn the history of SUNY Fredonia, and specifically, the university’s mascot.

For the 150 students in the Advancing Completion Through Engagement (ACE) program at SUNY Fredonia, it’s all about support, structure, and community.

The first students from SUNY Fredonia were admitted to the ACE program last spring, in the initiative supported through the historic $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund, championed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

The program is aimed at raising degree completion rates and narrows opportunity gaps by removing financial barriers to full-time study, providing structured pathways to help students gain and maintain academic momentum, and creating connected communities through integrated support and engagement activities.

ACE and the affiliated ASAP program for community colleges was established at 25 campuses across the state, currently serving 4,200 students, and originated at City University of New York.

The SUNY Fredonia students in the program represent nearly all academic programs in education, business, natural sciences, the arts, communication, and other social sciences. Approximately 60 percent of Fredonia ACE students are first generation college students. The program supports Pell-eligible students, and 72 percent of current ACE scholars have a household income of less than $60,000.

“It is exciting to see how the program is already helping Fredonia ACE students thrive academically and personally,” noted Dr. Sue McGee, who serves as director of the ACE program on campus.

Students participating in the program noted the importance of the program in their pursuit of higher education.

Sophomore Nikko Sandgren from Rochester, NY, who is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies, commented on how the program helps her in pursuit of her studies, “ACE has benefitted my college experience by helping me build confidence that I always have people to support me. I know that no matter the problem I may be facing, the ACE program and advisors have my back. They helped me organize my classes and workload, afford summer classes, and give me an opportunity to work with other ACE students.”

Giulianna Lalomio from Gowanda, a sophomore Writing major who has a minor in Environmental Studies, addressed the importance of the program’s financial support, noting, “The ACE program has enabled me to find confidence in my financial situation. This is especially applicable to textbook costs, where I was able to utilize a voucher that covered the total of all my course materials last semester and this semester.”

An integral part of the program includes activities to create connections with fellow ACE students, and contacts with advisors to keep students engaged. Franklin Lema Castro from Machias, a sophomore majoring in Business Administration, added, “The activity workshops are very helpful, you get filled with new ideas and ways to improve in a specific area. The advisors are also very helpful and friendly, especially with the check-in meetings, they help you stay on track and see where you can improve.”

ACE/ASAP program support also includes funds from Robin Hood, Brightway Education Foundation, Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women, Lumina Foundation, Summerfield Foundation and the American Ideas Foundation.