SUNY Canton Celebrates Success of ASAP|ACE Program

Jacquelyn Rainville said she entered SUNY Canton as a confused and nervous first-year student. Now, the junior from Akron has excellent grades in the Criminal and Forensic Investigation program, is active in the student government, is completing a Presidential Internship, and is seeking new ways to be involved in campus life.

“I can say with confidence that the ACE program played a huge role in my success,” she said. “I am living proof that with the proper support and community that these programs offer, a student can thrive.”

Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) are designed to support student retention, graduation and career preparation. ASAP is designed for two-year students, and ACE is for four-year students.

Rainville spoke to her peers, SUNY Canton administrators, SUNY leaders and an elected official about her experiences during a celebration of the continued growth of the ASAP|ACE program.

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran said the college has participated in ASAP|ACE since it debuted during the 2023-2024 academic year. The program is designed to help students stay on track and graduate on time by providing comprehensive academic, financial and personal support.

“When you add it all up, you can see that the ASAP|ACE program leads to student success,” Szafran said. “It helps students in so many ways.”

SUNY ASAP|ACE University Director Jennifer Bashant, Ph.D., described the initiatives as rigorously evaluated student-success models. She noted that SUNY Canton welcomed 320 students just as the statewide program expanded to 44 SUNY campuses, ultimately serving more than 10,000 students.

“ASAP|ACE goes well beyond just talking about student success,” Bashant said. “It creates the conditions for it, enabling students to set free the potential that they’ve already had within them.”

Assemblymember Scott Gray highlighted the growth of SUNY Canton’s program from an initial cohort of 150 students and credited support from SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., the State Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul. Gray described ASAP|ACE as an intensive support initiative that can lead to meaningful student outcomes.

Gray, who spoke directly to the assembled students, said, “We can talk about the program, we can talk about all the attributes of the program, but you folks are the real reason that we’re doing this.”

Participants in ASAP|ACE receive a dedicated academic advisor, leadership and career development opportunities, textbook assistance, a monthly stipend, and a cost-of-attendance award after financial aid is applied. To qualify, students must be eligible for in-state tuition, receive at least $1 in federal or New York State grant aid, complete required financial aid applications, and participate in program activities.

According to SUNY Canton’s ASAP|ACE Program Director Kelsey Guerard, SUNY Canton is expected to distribute approximately $400,000 in direct student aid this year. Approximately 35 of SUNY Canton’s students are funded through the Robin Hood Foundation.