CUNY Chancellor Matos RodrÃguez Applauds Queensborough for Helping Students to 'Dream About the Possibilities of Their Chosen Careers' During Campus Visit to Celebrate Governor Hochul's NYSOP Program
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez visited Queensborough on September 23 to meet with adult learners to highlight the impact of Governor Hochul’s New York State Opportunity Promise (NYSOP) program, also known as CUNY Reconnect, which offers free community college for adult learners ages 25-55 pursuing degrees in eligible high-demand industries. Under CUNY's Reconnect program, community colleges offer access to the New York State Opportunity Promise (NYSOP) scholarship.
President Christine Mangino gave a warm welcome to the Chancellor and other guests including CUNY and Queensborough senior administrators, faculty, and NYSOP students.
"We're thrilled to highlight the NYSOP program," said President Mangino. "We have the most NYSOP students in the CUNY system and we're extremely happy that the Governor is supporting this program. And so, congratulations to you, our students, for your decision to come back to school."
Chancellor Matos Rodríguez noted that, "Queensborough is a student-centered campus, allowing students to dream about the possibilities of their chosen careers, possibilities they may not have considered before but are anchored in passion and interest. We support this opportunity to celebrate their success that not only changes their lives but strengthens our workforce. CUNY Reconnect is a special program because there is no university that has a bigger connection to the large population we have in New York State." The Chancellor added, "Older students have a different set of needs, a different set of experiences; both are an asset."
Marvin Gayle, Professor and Chairperson, Engineering Technology, expressed his deep appreciation to Chancellor Matos Rodríguez, thanking him for his long-term support of Queensborough's initiatives and for the opportunity to showcase the work of students in the Engineering department.
Participating students at the event, mostly evening students, are majoring in study areas across the board, including Cyber Security, Computer Science, Health Sciences, and Music Production. Hands-on demonstrations in the Advanced Manufacturing and 3D labs were given by Engineering Technology students to illustrate the various types of facilities and programmatic opportunities available to adult learners who enroll at CUNY through NYSOP.
Following the demonstration, the Chancellor joined a roundtable conversation with NYSOP students to learn more about their experiences in the program.
Some have returned to college to switch careers, and some have come from halfway around the world to pursue their dream of a better life. Some used to think college was not for them, and some haven't been in a classroom since high school. All agreed that tutoring services at Queensborough have played an important role in their academic success.
Sara Lagares, a first semester student, has returned to college after ten years to transition to a new career. "I've worked in the technology sector for many years but I'm also a musician and always wanted to be a sound engineer. My job in technology was going well, but I felt like I'd been denying myself and wanted to see where [an artistic career] could take me. Now, I know where I belong."
###
