Graduates secure guaranteed admission to University at Albany

By: Abigail Nawrot

Sports Editor

Acceptance to the University at Albany is now guaranteed for all graduates of Hudson Valley Community College as part of a new Transfer Admission Guarantee and their new Pathways Program.

“Agreements like the ones we are celebrating today are another tool in our efforts to guide students toward completion and their ultimate goals,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy. 

Students would also have access to UAlbany services, including an ID card, peer mentoring, an academic advisor and access to SUNY Albany’s online courses, workshops and events. This is all in addition Hudson Valley Community College’s numerous support services.

However, there are certain academic standards that graduates would need to follow in order to be eligible for the Transfer Admission Guarantee. For example, students are required to meet their program’s respective GPA requirements.

The Pathways Program is reminiscent of Hudson Valley Community College’s “second chance” policy. If a student is initially rejected by University at Albany, their admissions fee for reapplication will be waived after they complete two consecutive semesters at Hudson Valley Community College .

“Our enhanced partnerships with [Hudson Valley Community College]  will ensure that students can create a plan to transfer successfully and graduate with a baccalaureate degree in four years,” said University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez. 

Rodríguez continued, “Our goal is to help these students feel connected to UAlbany before they even arrive, so that on their first day of classes here at the University they already have a sense of community, have made connections and know that they are prepared to succeed here.”

Hudson Valley Community College has aimed to ensure academic success for students pursuing their Associate’s degree by utilizing programs designed to help students smoothly transition into the SUNY system’s four-year programs following graduation.

“We want students to have a clearer understanding of what they are studying and where it will take them,” said Ramsammy. 

Rodríguez and Ramsammy have both said they are excited for this opportunity and the implication these programs will have on the collegiate population.

The new partnership aims to assure Hudson Valley Community College students of their increased chances of academic success. It also serves to increase enrollment and encourage the collegiate population to complete their four-year undergraduate degree.

Ramsammy continued, “This major expansion of our partnership is one step toward closing that completion gap and helping students pave the way to a bright future.”