Director of SUNY Plattsburgh’s Completion Program Looks to Future After Successful First Semester

SUNY Plattsburgh sophomore Anny Nelzy said she raised her GPA from 3.09 to 3.44 in large part thanks to the new Advancing Completion through Engagement program.

In its inaugural semester in spring 2024, the ACE program connected Nelzy and 32 other students with individualized advisement and financial assistance.

“We had an incredible group of students that were responsive and communicated well with staff,” said Sara Munson, who started as ACE program director in February.

‘Widening the Net of Support’

The program is designed to fill a gap for students who don’t qualify for other support programs that assist low-income, first-generation or disabled college students like the Educational Opportunity Program, the Cardinal Achievement Program and TRIO Student Support Services.

“We’re widening the net of support,” Munson said, adding that select students qualify for both ACE and TRIO and can take part in both programs.

The first cohort ended the spring 2024 semester with an average GPA of 3.34, she said.

Participants in ACE benefit from a dedicated adviser they meet with at least twice a month, $150 each semester to offset the cost of textbooks, $275 per semester to go toward the cost of attendance and $50 of Cardinal Cash each month to help with living expenses.

“The financial assistance is intended to remove barriers for students, specifically barriers that may not allow them to attend school full time,” Munson said.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, students must be eligible for a federal Pell Grant and in-state tuition. Students enrolled in the program must complete 30 credits a year.

Most ACE students will enter the program the first semester of their first year, she said, but there are also openings for transfer students who have completed an associate degree.

The benefits of the program follow students until they graduate; four years for first-year students or two years for transfer students, Munson said.

‘Unwavering Support from Advisers’

“Having an ACE adviser separate from my academic (faculty) one really helped because it allowed me another point of contact if I had any schedule questions, any concerns with my trajectories in my courses and just another ear to have should I ever need to confide in them about something,” said Nelzy, a biomedical science major from Brooklyn, N.Y., who arrived in the United States when she was three years old after emigrating from Haiti with her family.

“ACE played a tremendous part in my success last semester, and I look forward to seeing what else I can accomplish with them in my corner,” she said.

Before the ACE staff was in place, Nelzy formed an “instantaneous relationship” with her first adviser, Lauren Gonyea, coordinator of TRIO Student Success. Then when Gray Adkins started in February 2024 as an ACE program adviser, Nelzy started meeting with him.

Adkins was “very easy to transition to as he showed me the same kindness and unwavering support I was already used to receiving from Lauren. I appreciate both the relationships I’ve formed with them as I know I can go to those two for anything that I’m going through, whether it’s academic or personal,” Nelzy said.

‘Fosters Sense of Belonging’

Amber Mitchell ’27, a student from Queens, N.Y., said the program was “incredibly impactful” for her, increasing her confidence to effectively navigate the college experience.

“It provides invaluable studying resources, tips and access to books through the bookstore, which has been crucial for my academic success,” Mitchell said. “Being part of a community that genuinely cares about my well-being and academic journey has been immensely supportive. The program not only enriches my learning experience but also fosters a sense of belonging and encouragement.”

Program at Capacity for Fall Semester

For the fall semester, the program is at capacity with 185 students taking part, Munson said, but she is keeping a waiting list of interested students who qualify.

To help with an increased caseload, the program brought on Keagan Briggs in July as a part-time ACE program coach.

The advisers tailor their assistance to each student based on what they need, Munson said.

It could be help with graduate school preparation, career or financial counseling, she said. Key is connecting student proactively with resource like tutoring at the Learning Center, the Career Development Center and Accessibility Resources Office, she said.

“We want to start out with a focus on getting in touch with particularly those tutoring resources early rather than waiting to be struggling and have to go (then),” Munson said.

Informational meetings in the fall will allow students to meet the staff of different student services offices and become familiar with what they offer, she said.

The ACE staff also reminds students about important deadlines like course registration so they can sign up for the right courses, complete their degree requirements and graduate on time.

On-time graduation is a cost-saving measure, so students won’t take on extra debt to complete their degree, Munson said.

The program is mainly funded by the SUNY Transformation Fund, which aims to increase student retention and degree completion. The Robin Hood Foundation, the largest poverty-fighting organization in New York City, provided SUNY Plattsburgh with $63,636 to fund expenses for New York City residents in the program.

New Group of Students ‘Very Invested in Their Future’

For incoming students joining the program in the fall, admissions and student financial services helped the ACE staff identify which students were eligible, and they were invited to complete an interest form, Munson said.

“From what I can tell with this new group, they’re already in communication, coming to info sessions, scheduling intake appointments to talk about their schedules,” Munson said. “(We’re) very invested in their future: we want to just help and support that process.”

The ACE staff has completed dozens of half-hour virtual intake appointments with a couple of local students meeting with them in person, Munson said.

Path to Director Role

A Plattsburgh native, Munson came to the program director role from her position at the university as procurement and training outreach coordinator. There, she created user guides and trained campus staff on a new procurement software program.

Before that, she worked at Behavioral Health Services North for 12 years as a home finder for a foster care program, recruiting and training people to be foster parents.

“It was incredibly rewarding work, and I was inspired to always work in a field that supported people to achieve their goals, and I knew the ACE program would align with that idea,” Munson said.

Munson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University at Albany and said she’s looking forward to applying to SUNY Plattsburgh’s new master of science in social work program.

Students that participated in ACE in the spring have had positive feedback for her, she said.

“I think a lot of our students felt genuinely cared for,” Munson said. “A lot of them did say the most helpful benefit was the financial piece, which was great.”

To learn more about ACE, call Munson at 518-564-2810, email [email protected] or visit plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/student-support/advancing-completion-through-engagement.

— Story, photos by Assistant Director of Communications Felicia Krieg; Nelzy photo provided