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Tag: SUNY

  • SUNY expands student support to boost on-time graduation | Long Island Business News

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    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • expands program to 34 campuses.

    • Over 7,000 students enrolled; targeting 10,000 by fall 2026.

    • Program aims to improve retention, credit completion and graduation rates.

    • increases spots to serve more students.

    State University of New York Chancellor was at Farmingdale State College on Wednesday to announce the expansion of a strategy that is designed to help students graduate on time.

    The Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) – together, the programs are known as ASAP|ACE – aim to ensure that students get the support and services they need to overcome barriers in obtaining a degree.

    Now, the model is expanding across the SUNY system. ASAP supports students pursuing associate degrees, while ACE focuses on baccalaureate students.

    “ASAP|ACE is a proven, evidence-based strategy to improve and completion,” King said in a news release about the program’s expansion.

    “We will continue our efforts to support more SUNY campuses to implement ASAP|ACE to take full advantage of this program,” he said.

    King’s visit comes just days after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York students can apply to nearly 130 colleges and universities – including SUNY, City University of New York and 50 private colleges – for free in October. A complete list of those schools is available here.

    Calling it “College Application Month,” Hochul said in a written statement that the initiative “is about breaking down barriers and helping every student take that critical first step toward college success.”

    Meanwhile, the ASAP|ACE program was launched at 25 campuses last year, thanks to the SUNY Transformation Fund. In the fall of 2024, it served 4,270 students. A year later, it expanded to more than 7,000 students at 34 SUNY campuses. In addition, 14 currently participating campuses added spots to serve more students. This expansion was made possible through $12 million in allocated funding from the 2025-2026 state budget that places SUNY ASAP|ACE on the path to reach 10,000 students by next fall.

    Now in its second year at Farmingdale State, the ACE program increased from 215 students to 230 this year, with the campus program on the path to serving 250 by spring.

    “Farmingdale has a robust portfolio of academic support programs, and we are proud to be among the SUNY campuses to participate in ACE,” Farmingdale State College President Robert Prezant said in the news release.

    At Farmingdale, the program focuses on “success, retention, persistence, and graduation rates,” Prezant said. “Our ACE students become a part of a welcoming and inclusive community, where they meet success through the support of our talented and dedicated staff, a team that has developed a compassionate network of support to help our students thrive.”

    Through the program, eligible students receive financial support for such essentials as textbooks, groceries and transportation, along with personalized advising, academic support and career development resources.

    Early results show that students enrolled in the program attempt and earn more credits and re-enroll at higher rates than comparable peers, according to SUNY officials.


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    Adina Genn

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  • New York invests $300M in Stony Brook quantum hub | Long Island Business News

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    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • pledges $300M for hub at Stony Brook

    • Hub will feature the state’s first hybrid quantum

    • Facility expected to open in 2029 after three years of development

    • Project aims to enhance secure internet and tech-driven economic growth

    New York State is investing $300 million to launch the Quantum Research and at . The initiative aims to integrate research, computing and to address complex societal challenges and build a “faster, smarter and more secure internet,” according to the university.

    The 150,000-square-foot facility will be home to the Stony Brook Quantum Institute, the state’s first university-based hybrid quantum data center, and the SUNY Stony Brook Quantum Education Consortium. Planning and construction are expected to take about three years, with an anticipated opening in 2029.

    Calling Stony Brook University a “research powerhouse,” Gov. said in a news release that the university “will now be able to reach new heights in quantum.”

    Hochul made the announcement on Wednesday at Stony Brook’s New York State Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology.

    “We know that to provide our state and nation with a brighter future, we need to invest today, and that is what New York is committed to do,” she said.

    The funding comes at a time when organizations are navigating pauses and cuts in federal funding.

    Hochul said that “when national investment in research and innovation is at risk, New York State is doubling down, and SUNY is on the move.”

    Speaking about Stony Brook University’s quantum network, which she described as the largest in the nation, President Andrea Goldsmith said in the news release that through “such transformative research, in partnership with New York State and SUNY, we are accelerating technological advancement and its positive impact across our state and beyond.”

    The hub, she said “will spearhead the future of and networking. Today’s historic investment further advances Stony Brook’s leadership in quantum science and technology, and showcases the bold ground-breaking research across our campus that delivers solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said the investment would drive economic growth.

    “The creation of the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub marks the next step in expanding research capacity, cultivating top talent, and advancing breakthroughs that will drive economic growth and cement New York’s position as a global leader in quantum technology,” Knight said.

    “This investment will give Long Island the bandwidth to be at the forefront of the next era of science and innovation,” Stony Brook alumna and State Senator Monica Martinez said in the news release. “The future Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at Stony Brook will build the infrastructure necessary to expand human understanding and drive the discoveries of tomorrow, creating new economic opportunities that strengthen our region and position New York to lead.”

     

     

     

     


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    Adina Genn

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  • Study Finds Cannabis Users Have Lower Chance of Cognitive Decline | High Times

    Study Finds Cannabis Users Have Lower Chance of Cognitive Decline | High Times

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    The use of cannabis was associated with lower rates of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), according to the findings of a new study from researchers affiliated with the State University of New York (SUNY). The research found that participants who use marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes reported less confusion and memory loss compared to those who do not use weed. 

    The new study, which was published online last month by the journal Current Alzheimer Research, found that recreational cannabis use had the most significant impact on cognitive decline.

    “Compared to non-users,” the authors wrote, “non-medical cannabis use was significantly associated with 96% decreased odds of SCD,” according to a report from Filter.

    People who used cannabis for medicinal reasons or for both recreational and medical purposes also showed “decreased odds of SCD.” However, the differences did not rise to the level of statistical significance.

    The authors of the study note that previous research has found a link between heavy cannabis use and cognitive performance. Past studies have shown that frequent or heavy marijuana use was associated with lower verbal recall performance, subjective memory complaints and lower cognitive function, among other signs of mental decline.

    “However, the cognitive implications of cannabis are not only determined by the frequency of cannabis consumption,” the researchers wrote, adding that other factors including the particular product used, method of consumption, and reason for use could also “impact the cognitive effects associated with cannabis use.”

    “Our study addresses these knowledge gaps by comprehensively examining how reason, frequency, and method of cannabis use are associated with SCD among US middle-aged and older adults,” the authors of the study added.

    To conduct the study, researchers at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York analyzed health survey data from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The researchers note that the system’s cognitive decline model “was restricted to respondents aged 45 years and older in Washington DC and 14 US states (GA, HI, MS, OR, PA, TN, TX, WI, CO, MD, MI, OH, OK, and NY).”

    The total sample included 4,744 observations with valid SCD responses.

    Survey Asked About Memory Lapses And Confusion

    The survey asked respondents, “During the past 12 months, have you experienced confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse?” Respondents were given the option to reply yes, no, don’t know/not sure, or to refuse the question.

    The researchers analyzed the survey data based on three cannabis variables including frequency of use over the past month, ranging from zero to 30 days; reason for cannabis use, which included non-user, medical, non-medical or both; and the method of cannabis consumption, such as non-user, smoke, eat, drink, vaporize, dab or other.

    “We found that non-medical cannabis use was significantly associated with reduced odds of SCD in comparison to non-users,” the researchers wrote, adding that there are several possible reasons for the study’s findings.

    The researchers offered several possible reasons that could explain why cannabis use was associated with reduced rates of self-reported cognitive decline. They note that many people use cannabis to help them sleep, citing a recent study that found that “more frequent sleep disturbances were associated with higher dementia risk in a national US older adult sample.”

    “Several studies have found that cannabis use might enhance sleep quality, expedite sleep onset, and reduce sleep disturbances. Non-medical cannabis use could have contributed to the observed decrease in SCD due to its potential benefit on sleep quality,” the discussion section of the new paper said.

    The results of the study were not consistent for some variables, however. Researchers found an association between the method of cannabis consumption, including a higher prevalence of SCD among cannabis smokers. The research also found an association between the frequency of use and cognitive decline.

    “Although increased frequency and different methods of cannabis use showed positive associations with SCD, these relationships were not statistically significant.”

    The researchers stressed that the study does not refute previous research that has shown frequent or heavy marijuana use was associated with cognitive decline. Instead, they said that the mixed findings indicate the need for further research on the subjects.

    “Our findings underscore the importance of considering multiple factors, such as the reasons for cannabis use, when examining the relationship between cannabis and SCD,” the authors wrote in their conclusion. “Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms contributing to these associations.”

    The authors noted several limitations to the study, including a reliance on self-reported data. They also reported possible bias in responses from participants in states that have not legalized medical cannabis, noting that “individuals in such states may be more likely to underreport or misreport their cannabis use.”

    The study was published as an “article in press,” indicating that it has been accepted by the journal and copyedited and formatted for publication. Further corrections or proofreading changes could come before the article’s final version is published.

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    A.J. Herrington

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