by A new program has come to Herkimer College, making some programs high in demand.
SUNY Reconnect is a new program being offered on Herkimer College’s campus. This is a free program for New York State residents aged 25 to 55 with no prior degree.
SUNY Reconnect helps cover the remaining balance after FAFSA and TAP are applied. It covers tuition, books, and fees. The only things not covered are housing, transportation, and meals. SUNY Reconnect provides adult learners with a flexible schedule so they can balance work and family life while earning their degree.
Rosemarie Etienne, Coordinator of SUNY Reconnect, said, “You have ten semesters to get your degree and need to be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours.” Etienne explained that the ten semesters to get your degree doesn’t start until you begin receiving funding.
Learners can be either full-time or part-time. Etienne said that after you graduate, you don’t need to stay in New York State. “Many people are eligible for the Reconnect program and funding, but don’t know it,” Etienne said.
Popular programs include Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, and Quality Assurance. Etienne said these degrees are offered online, which could be contributing to their popularity. After these programs, Health Professions and Childhood Education are the next most popular. “People enrolled in these degrees are often looking for promotions or to move up in their careers,” Etienne said.
April Harris, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Cybersecurity, said that the Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics program has “exploded.” Harris said they had previously partnered with North Country Community College and averaged 30 students. With SUNY Reconnect, they now have over 200 students.
Harris acknowledged that the program has been through some rough moments. At one point, there were discussions about eliminating the program at Herkimer College. Now with SUNY Reconnect, the program is doing better than it ever has before.
Harris said that they have had to double classes and add more sections. Courses are being offered off-step and over the summer. She said that she has never needed an adjunct before, and now she has three.“I’ve never been as busy as I am now, but it’s a good thing,” Harris said. With the increase in students, Harris said, “I wish I had more in-person students; many of our students are online.”
Etienne is the primary contact for SUNY Reconnect and the advisor for many adult learners and has late evening hours for them.
Current degrees at Herkimer College through the SUNY Reconnect program are Childhood Education, Computer and Network Security, Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, Electrical Technology, Engineering Science, Health Professions, Physical Therapist Assistant, Quality Assurance- Science and Supply Chain Management. Etienne said that the list is still growing and they are looking at high-demand fields. More degrees can be added in the future.