New York Governor Kathy Hochul is set to propose an expansion of the state’s free community college program during her 2026 State of the State address. This initiative aims to create new pathways for aspiring nurses at a time when thousands of nurses have recently gone on strike in New York City over staffing ratios and working conditions.
The initiative, known as SUNY and CUNY Reconnect, was introduced last year and allows residents between the ages of 25 and 55 who do not hold a degree to return to school at no cost. The program specifically targets adults pursuing careers in “high-demand” fields, including nursing, cybersecurity, teaching in shortage areas, and artificial intelligence. Under the proposed expansion, any adult interested in nursing will be eligible, even those who have previously graduated with degrees in other fields.
This expansion directly addresses a critical workforce shortage; New York is projected to face a deficit of up to 40,000 nurses by 2030. In a statement, Hochul emphasized the importance of investing in education, saying, “When New York invests in these students, we aren’t just supporting their higher education journey. We’re creating a stronger state workforce.”
On the same day as the governor’s announcement, nearly 15,000 nurses from top hospitals across the city participated in a strike. The labor action followed unsuccessful negotiations over staffing ratios at medical institutions operated by Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Health System, and NewYork-Presbyterian. The strike highlighted ongoing tensions between labor and management amid critical staffing discussions.
In response to the potential impact of the strike, Governor Hochul declared a disaster emergency on the preceding Friday, aiming to ensure that healthcare services remain available to the public.
As part of her address, Hochul also plans to broaden the range of eligible fields within the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program. New sectors including logistics, air traffic control, transportation, and emergency management are expected to be added to the list of high-demand industries. Currently, there is no cap on the number of students who can participate in the program. To date, SUNY and CUNY campuses have received approximately 16,500 applications and enrolled over 11,000 students in its inaugural year.
The state has already allocated $47 million for the current school year to support this initiative. A spokesperson for the governor indicated that the projected costs associated with the proposed expansion will be included in the upcoming state budget. Hochul expressed pride in expanding the program, stating, “I’m proud to add more fields like transportation and emergency management so that New Yorkers statewide and across industries can take advantage of this win-win program.”
This expansion not only aims to address the immediate needs of the nursing workforce but also seeks to provide broader educational opportunities for New Yorkers, aligning with the state’s long-term economic goals.
