The State University of New York at Potsdam has launched a new strategy that focuses on retention and graduation of the students. The Advancing Completion Through Engagement (ACE) Program is intended to increase students’ successful completion of their academic programs and graduate within expected time.

The ACE Program, which started this semester, is a comprehensive student support program. It merges academic career counseling, peer counseling, and special programs to address all the difficulties that may occur throughout the college years.

SUNY Potsdam Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Emily Thompson spoke of why the program was being developed. ”We acknowledge today’s learners are confronted with numerous hurdles that may affect their completion of programs,” she said. The ACE Program is our response to these challenges and it is a coordinated and student centered approach to the provision of support.

The other component of the ACE Program is the early alert system, which targets students who perform poorly academically or emotionally. Teachers can mark students as absent or possibly inactive, inactive in assignment submissions and possibly showing signs of stress. This data is then disseminated to a group of specialists such as advisors and counselors who can then get in touch with the students in question.

The program also has an impressive system of peer mentoring, where the students in the higher classes will be assigned to the new comers with a view of helping the new students. These peer mentors play the role of guiding and assisting new students, in their class schedules, extra curricular activities etc.

Another key component of the ACE Program is the career development. Career development services are expected from students right from their freshman year in the college. The program provides the students with workshops, internships and individual consultations on the choice of further education and occupation.

From the respondents, virtually all the students and faculty members interviewed expressed satisfaction on the new arrangement. One of the students to testify to this was Sarah Chen, a sophomore biology major. “It has been very helpful to have an advisor who calls me frequently,” she said. I’ve got more confidence regarding academic achievements and career choice.

It has also been observed that the faculty members have also attributed to the program. Dr. Michael Roberts, a professor in the English department, said, “The early alert system has been helpful to notify professors to act quicker when students are in danger of failing. It’s always fulfilling when students get back on track as a result of the right guidance.

The ACE Program is seen in the context of SUNY Potsdam’s attempts to meet the new demands and enhance the learning process. The university has also been increasing its online and hybrid course delivery to accommodate its growing need for flexibility.

As the program proceeds, university leadership is tracking improvements in retention and graduation in relation to the program. Preliminary evidence indicates that students who are enrolled in ACE Program are more likely to remain enrolled and to make consistent progress toward their programs of study.

The implementation of the ACE Program is at a time when so many colleges and universities are struggling with enrollment and retention issues. Specifically in the area of student support services, SUNY Potsdam plans to move away from the trend above and become a model for student support.

The university is also planning for the future growth of the program to possibly increase the percentage of support for certain students like first generation, first year, or students of color.

SUNY Potsdam’s commitment to the evolution of the ACE Program remains strong, as does its commitment to the delivery of superior education and the success of every student. By adopting this new prospect of student support, this university is well positioned to transform the lives of it students and the community at large.