Gov. Kathy Hochul paid a visit to LaGuardia Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 27, where she took part in a roundtable discussion on the CUNY Reconnect program, a free community college program that allows adult learners to earn a college degree and secure high-quality jobs, and promoted a new expansion of this free community college initiative for New Yorkers between 25 and 55 years of age that will proactively address the impacts of AI on the workforce.
Beginning this January, New Yorkers in this age group will be able to enroll in a SUNY or CUNY associate degree program in a high-demand field for free, even if they have already completed a college degree in another field. Through this initiative, tens of thousands more adult learners will have access to the CUNY Reconnect program, as individuals with existing credentials will be allowed to pivot from one career to another and gain valuable qualifications in high-growth sectors without accumulating debt for tuition, fees, books and supplies.
“As AI continues to reshape the global economy, I’m taking action to ensure more New Yorkers have the skills they need to succeed,” Hochul said. “By expanding access to free community college, we’re making it even easier for adult learners to pivot into fast-growing, high-demand sectors without taking on a single dollar of tuition debt.”…