SUNY Expands Academic Momentum Campaign to Strengthen Student Success Across Campuses
February 9, 2026
The State University of New York has announced expanded investments in its Academic Momentum Campaign, a systemwide initiative designed to increase student retention, accelerate degree completion, and improve overall student success outcomes. First introduced in the 2025 State of the University Address and launched in Fall 2025, the campaign provides campuses with financial support and technical assistance to implement proven, evidence-based strategies that help students persist and graduate.
As part of this next phase, SUNY has named an inaugural cohort of 24 faculty and staff members as Academic Momentum Fellows. Selected through a competitive process, these individuals represent diverse campuses and regions across New York State and bring expertise in structured advisement, degree mapping, early alert systems, first-year experience, teaching and learning, course scheduling, and gateway course completion. The Fellows will support campuses in adopting and scaling strategies that remove barriers to student progress and promote academic momentum.
Columbia-Greene Community College is proud to share that Nikki Childrose, Director of the Center for Innovation, Teaching & Learning and Professor of History, has been selected as a member of this inaugural cohort. Her participation reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to advancing innovative, student-centered practices that support academic achievement.
In addition, 23 SUNY campuses have elected to participate in a new professional learning community focused on redesigning gateway courses—typically first-year English and Math courses that serve as critical entry points for students. Because success in these courses strongly influences persistence and graduation outcomes, the redesign initiative will incorporate the latest research and best practices into course content, structure, and delivery to improve completion rates and long-term student success.
The Academic Momentum Campaign builds on SUNY’s broader student success efforts, including the continued expansion of ASAP|ACE, the nation’s leading student support and retention model. Together, these initiatives reflect SUNY’s strong, systemwide commitment to ensuring that every student has access to the support, resources, and academic pathways needed to thrive in college and beyond.
…
State University of New York. (2026, February 9). SUNY expands Academic Momentum Campaign with inaugural cohort of fellows and gateway course redesign initiative. https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/2-26/2-9-26/acmo.html