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State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. today joined the presidents of the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College to announce a dual admission partnership to help students earn their associate degree and bachelor’s degree from the two SUNY campuses.

The SUNY Transformation Fund – established in the historic 2023-24 State Budget by Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature – is making it possible for SUNY campuses to strengthen advisement and expand programs that enable students to move across campuses as they earn their degree.

While national studies show 80% of first-year community college students plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree, only 16% earn one. Increasing seamless-transfer pathways, including dual-admission opportunities for students, is a goal Chancellor King presented during his State of the University address. As Governor Hochul announced last fall, at least 19 SUNY campuses are investing SUNY Transformation Funds to address this challenge.

HVCC is the largest source of transfers to UAlbany with about 200 students transferring to complete their bachelor’s degree each year. To help more HVCC students pursue a bachelor’s degree, the partnership ensures:

• Prospective students will be able to indicate their interest in enrolling in the program as part of their application to HVCC. Upon completion of their associate degree, students will have junior year status at UAlbany. The UAlbany application fee will be waived.
• Students will have access to dedicated counseling from a UAlbany transfer advisor-in-residence located at a new office hub located in Hudson Valley’s Campus Center.
• UAlbany will stay connected with HVCC students as they pursue an associate degree at HVCC. They will receive a UAlbany identification card, have access to the UAlbany library, meet with faculty, attend special events, and participate in student activities at the university.
• Those seeking to live on the UAlbany campus after transferring from Hudson Valley will have access to priority on-campus housing options. They will receive preference on transfer enrollment scholarships at UAlbany as well.
• Participating students will have the option of enrolling in a UAlbany First-Year Experience course and benefit from UAlbany peer mentors, academic advisors, and financial aid counselors.

"SUNY is committed to ensuring our community college students have a seamless transfer pathway as they look to continue their education at a four-year institution,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “Thanks to funding from Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature through the $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund, HVCC can expand on its already strong partnership with UAlbany to help more students gain their college degrees. There is a place for everyone at SUNY and this is another example of how our campuses are expanding access to higher education.”

University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, “Through this partnership, the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College will make transfer a seamless experience for students. Dual-admitted students will be immersed in the UAlbany community while they are attending HVCC, receiving academic advising and support and participating in student life. When they complete their associate degree at HVCC, they will already be on track to transfer to UAlbany and successfully complete a bachelor’s degree. I am grateful to my colleagues at HVCC for their partnership and to SUNY for the SUNY Transformation Fund support that helped make this dual-admission program possible.”

Hudson Valley Community College President Dr. Roger Ramsammy said, “We are thrilled to introduce this unique partnership with the University at Albany to further support students seeking to continue their education, both here in the Capital Region and within the SUNY system. This enhanced agreement guarantees access, guidance, and support to help make the transfer process both seamless and successful for students. More of our graduates choose to transfer to the University at Albany than anywhere else, and we're proud that this partnership provides them with a clear vision for their future and allows them to maximize their time and resources as they work toward their academic goals.”

New York State Senator Neil Breslin said, "The dual enrollment agreement between HVCC and the University at Albany expands access to educational opportunity by creating a new pathway to a four-year degree for students from the Capital District and beyond. I applaud the SUNY administration, as well as the leadership of these two critical institutions, for working to make the promise of higher education a reality for all of our region’s youth."

New York State Senator Jake Ashby said, "This partnership is a win for both institutions, for the Capital Region's future and for area students and their families seeking a world-class education at an incredible value. The dual enrollment option will make the life changing impact of a college degree more affordable and our workforce more attractive to innovative job creators. I want to applaud Chancellor King, President Rodríguez and President Ramsammy for their vision and leadership, and I look forward to supporting this key strategic initiative."

New York State Assembly Higher Education Committee Chair Patricia Fahy said, "Innovative partnerships such as these are exactly how we reverse the troubling trend of dropping enrollment across our institutions of higher education in New York. SUNY Albany & HVCC's new agreement will enable hundreds, if not thousands of students to achieve their dream of attaining higher education, without having to pursue a traditional four-year college path. As a first-generation community college graduate, I know first-hand the value of a community college education and the doors it can open. I look forward to seeing the success of this initiative and couldn't be more thrilled to see this opportunity offered to students across the Capital Region and New York State."

Assembly Member John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "This new dual enrollment partnership between University at Albany and HVCC will create opportunities for students who want to pursue a four-year degree by creating a pathway with increased access through HVCC. This innovative program will bridge both schools and students will benefit from the resources that the program will provide. I applaud all of the partners who are implementing this program and look forward to its success."