SUNY Geneseo’s ACE Program Will Help Students Graduate On Time

Commencement 2026 (SUNY Geneseo/Mat Johnson)

SUNY’s Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program is expanding to SUNY Geneseo.

ACE supports bachelor’s students, while ASAP serves community college students. Together, they will help 10,000 students at 44 SUNY campuses maintain academic progress and graduate on time by Fall 2026.

This fall, up to 150 eligible Geneseo ACE students will have access to comprehensive advisement, academic and career support, and funding for essential costs such as textbooks, groceries, and transportation to help them overcome barriers to earning their degree.

“We couldn’t be more excited to join the ACE network, and we’re deeply grateful for SUNY’s leadership and investment in expanding opportunity for students across the system,” says Costas Solomou, vice president for enrollment management. “This is exactly the kind of bold, student-centered work that brings our identity as an equity-centered honors college to life—ensuring more Geneseo students are supported with the mentoring, advising, and financial resources they need to overcome barriers and thrive.”

SUNY reports that ACE pilot programs produced strong results between Spring 2024 and Fall 2025. ACE students earned more credits than similar students by their third semester, and retention rates reached 8.6 percentage points higher by the fourth semester. These positive outcomes remained consistent across semesters and student groups, underscoring the program’s early impact on academic momentum and timely degree completion. The ACE and ASAP program expansions was made possible through an additional $8 million in allocated funding in the FY2026-27 Enacted State Budget, bringing the total state investment in this successful program to $20 million annually.​

“As New York’s public honors college, Geneseo is proud to join the ACE program and advance our commitment to academic excellence, student success, equity, and timely degree completion,” says President Melinda Treadwell. “By pairing Geneseo’s distinctive liberal arts foundation with the proven support model of ACE and the strong support from the SUNY Board of Trustees, we will ensure more students have the resources, guidance, and momentum they need to thrive from their first semester through graduation.”

“Higher education should be affordable and within reach,” says New York State Senator Pam Helming. “Helping hard-working students overcome barriers, complete their education, and enter the workforce sooner can benefit not only the students themselves, but also the employers and communities that depend on a skilled workforce. As with any public investment, it is important to evaluate results and ensure resources are being used effectively. I look forward to seeing the impact this initiative has on students at SUNY Geneseo and the communities they will go on to serve.”

To learn how ASAP and ACE can empower students to achieve their academic goals and graduate on time, visit SUNY ASAP/ACE. Read more about SUNY’s expansion of the ACE and ASAP initiatives.