Columbia-Greene Community College ready for next wave of students through SUNY Reconnect expansion

Enacted 2026-2027 State Budget allows for Columbia–Greene to strengthen state’s nursing and healthcare workforce

HUDSON, N.Y. (June 15, 2026) – Columbia–Greene Community College stands ready for the next wave of students who are taking advantage of SUNY Reconnect, a state program that allows for eligible adults ages 25 to 55 to pursue an associate’s degree in a high-need, high-demand field.

This year’s state budget expands the program, particularly in allowing adult learners to pursue nursing if they may have had a prior degree in another field starting this fall.

“As an engine of opportunity for the Hudson Valley, SUNY Reconnect has been an incredible program for us at Columbia–Greene to support the needs of the workforce, particularly in healthcare,” said Dr. Victoria L. Walsh, president, Columbia–Greene Community College. “Through our partners in government and particularly thanks to Chancellor King and the SUNY board of trustees, this continued investment and expansion of the program will not only dramatically change the lives of New Yorkers who enroll, but the communities they live and engage in.”

SUNY Reconnect provides free tuition, fees, educational materials, and supplies for each eligible enrollee. Eligible students currently must be a resident of New York State or eligible for in-state tuition, between the ages of 25-55, does not currently have a degree, can have college credits, certificate, or microcredential(s), and/or enrolled in approved associate degree program at a SUNY college.

At Columbia–Greene, SUNY Reconnect programs include course study in nursing, computer science, cybersecurity, environmental science, automotive technology, and education. SUNY has invested $35,000 at Columbia–Greene to support these high-demand fields, in addition to a $50,000 grant to participate in the Adult Learner Leadership initiative.

For more information about Columbia–Greene Community College and its academic programs, please visit columbiagreene.edu.

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About Columbia–Greene Community College: A campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), is a comprehensive, two-year institution offering a variety of transfer and career programs leading to the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Studies degrees, as well as micro credentials, one-year certificate programs, and specialized courses geared toward community interest.