Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) Program

Student Benefits of ACE

Joining this community of learners provides you with the following advantages:

• Personalized advising from your first semester through graduation
• Specialized Career development preparation
• Cost of Attendance Award (up to $550/year) after financial aid applied
• Textbook/Supplies assistance up to $150/Semester
• Monthly funds deposited on FredCard ($50/month - up to $440/year)
• Priority course registration 
• Opportunities to take classes with other ACE students
• Winter/Summer course scholarships
• Access to a wide range of workshops and activities to support academic & personal growth

Eligibility Requirements for ACE

In order to qualify for the ACE program for Fall 2024, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be an incoming TRANSFER student with an earned associate degree or 60 accepted transfer credits; OR
• Be an incoming FRESHMAN bringing in less than 18 dual credit hours from their high school
• Meet Fredonia’s undergraduate Admissions requirements APPLY NOW
• Be eligible for in-state tuition.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application. Students who are unable to complete FAFSA/TAP due to immigration status must complete the New York State DREAM Act application. *For Fall 2024, students are not required to be in receipt of Pell but must be in receipt of at least $1 of federal or state financial aid. 
• ACE students cannot participate in the Educational Opportunity Program, 3-1-3 Early Admit, or majors that require an audition or portfolio review to be accepted.
• Adhere to all ACE program requirements.
• Commit to the completion of an ACE-eligible major within two years (transfer) or four years (freshmen). Transfer eligibility for certain majors may be impacted if you have not completed prerequisite coursework at your prior college. Transfers must be able to complete their Fredonia requirements within 60 credits to be eligible.
• All majors are eligible except majors that require a portfolio or audition. Excluded majors include:
  • Theatre Production and Design B.F.A. 
  • Dance B.F.A.
  • Acting B.F.A.
  • Musical Theatre B.F.A.
  • Music Composition Mus.B.
  • Music Education Mus.B.
  • Music Performance Mus.B.
  • Visual Arts B.A.
  • Visual Arts and New Media: 
    • Animation and Illustration B.F.A.
    • Ceramics B.F.A. 
    • Drawing and Painting B.F.A.
    • Graphic Design B.F.A.
    • Film & Video Arts B.F.A.
    • Photography B.F.A.
    • Sculpture B.F.A.

Student Expectations and Responsibilities

As an ACE student we will expect you to do the following on your pathway to a degree:

• Attend monthly one-on-one meetings with your ACE academic advisor (unless otherwise agreed on by your advisor);
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application each year, and accept any federal and state grant aid awarded;
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 throughout your time at SUNY Fredonia;
• Commit to graduating within four years (freshmen) or two years (transfer) and adhere to course schedules and degree maps approved by your advisors;
• Maintain full-time status by enrolling in at least 15 credits per semester;
• Enroll in summer or winter courses if 30 credits, or a minimum 2.0 GPA,  are not earned by the end of each academic year;
• Attend at least four ACE workshops or activities of your choice across each semester;
• Attend career development opportunities each academic year;
• Respond promptly to all communications sent out by ACE staff.

ACE Information Sessions

We are offering several short ACE Information Sessions to introduce you to our team, review the program benefits, and help you enroll. We have a range of upcoming information session options to choose from. We are offering in-person sessions on FredReady days. We also have multiple virtual sessions you can join from home. The virtual sessions will be held on Zoom.

Information Session Dates

• Wednesday, June 5, 2024 6:00-6:30 PM (Virtual)
• Thursday, June 6, 2024 4:00-4:30 PM (Virtual)
• Monday, June 24, 2024 3:30-4:00 PM (Virtual)
• Monday, July 8, 2024 1:30-2:00 PM (In-Person)
• Wednesday, July 10, 2024 1:30-2:00 PM (In-Person)
• Friday, July 12, 2024 1:30-2:00 PM (In-Person)
• Thursday, July 18, 2024 3:00 - 3:30  (Virtual)

To sign up for a session, fill out our RSVP form and choose the preferred session you would like to attend. If you opt for one of our virtual sessions, you will receive an email with a calendar reminder that includes the Zoom link you will use to connect with us on your scheduled day & time. If you opt for one of our in-person sessions, you will receive an email with a calendar reminder and instructions for where the information session will be held on campus.

If you cannot attend any of the above sessions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we can connect with you and identify a time to meet, virtually or in person, that works with your schedule.

Follow us on Instagram!

Follow us on Facebook!

The SUNY ACE program is based on a national model of academic and wraparound support to help students succeed toward graduation. The ACE program is based on the principles of the successful CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) in community colleges. In the Spring of 2024, ACE/ASAP programming is being rolled out at 25 SUNY campuses, including Fredonia, thanks to investment from the SUNY Transformation Fund included in Governor Hochul's enacted state budget. 

In a recent 5-year randomized control study at John Jay College, it was found that ACE has a statistically significant impact on both four-year graduation rates and five-year graduation rates: The final report presents results showing that ACE students were estimated to graduate within five years at 68.8%, 11.7 percentage points higher than the control group rate of 57.1%.