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.”

This announcement of the expansion of the CUNY Reconnect program came just days after federal data showed New York State had the fastest-growing economy in the country during the second quarter of 2026. New York's real gross domestic product rose 4% from the first quarter to the second quarter. In addition to being the highest increase in real gross domestic product among all states, this jump was nearly double that of the national growth rate, which was 2.2%.

Launched in 2025, the CUNY Reconnect program has already assisted more than 15,000 adult learners, providing them with free access to community college in high-demand fields, thus letting them save thousands of dollars per year.

When the CUNY Reconnect program first launched, eligible applicants were not allowed to have a college degree, unless they were enrolling in nursing programs. The expansion eliminates this requirement.

Hochul was joined in the roundtable discussion at the Long Island City -based school by CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams and Professional Staff Congress (PSC-CUNY) members.

“CUNY is empowering adult New Yorkers — whether starting fresh or returning with a prior degree — to master high-demand fields like cybersecurity, tech, engineering and healthcare in an economy that is being reshaped by AI,” Rodríguez said. “Governor Hochul’s expansion of Reconnect reinforces this vital mission by ensuring cost is never a barrier for students looking to re-skill, elevating our city’s workforce and securing New York’s economic future.”

“Governor Hochul’s expansion of Reconnect strengthens our commitment to making higher education more accessible and affordable,” Adams said. “For LaGuardia Community College students, this investment will open doors to new educational and career opportunities, helping them gain the skills needed to succeed in today’s evolving workforce. By removing financial barriers, we can empower more students to achieve their goals, strengthen New York City’s workforce and contribute to the state’s long-term economic growth.”

I was born and raised on Long Island and reside in Bayside. Graduated Cum Laude from Hofstra University. Big Mets, Jets and Islanders fan.

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