SUNY Adirondack, UAlbany Partner to Create Seamless Pathways for STEM Students

Students interested in STEM disciplines can enter UAlbany as a college junior from SUNY Adirondack through a new dual admission program.

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (May 4, 2016) -- SUNY Adirondack and the University at Albany signed an agreement today that will grant participating students dual admission to science, technology, engineering and math programs at both institutions.

Students who choose to participate in the program will be enrolled at SUNY Adirondack and will be required to maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA while pursuing an associate’s degree. Upon completion, students will be given credit for meeting the SUNY General Education requirements and will seamlessly transfer to the University at Albany as college juniors.

SUNY Adirondack students who earn an associate degree in Liberal Arts: Mathematics and Science can pursue bachelor’s degrees in atmospheric science, biological science, chemistry, forensic chemistry, mathematics and physics from the University at Albany. Students pursuing associate degrees in computer science will also be able to transfer into a University at Albany bachelor’s degree program.

The University at Albany is one of the top three transfer colleges for SUNY Adirondack students each year.

"We are committed to providing students with a seamless pathway from our programs to our four year partners like University at Albany and are excited about this enhanced opportunity for SUNY Adirondack students to plan their educational future within the Capital Region," said SUNY Adirondack president, Dr. Kristine Duffy.

Each year, more than 30,000 students transfer from one State University of New York (SUNY) campus to another. UAlbany welcomes roughly 1,500 transfer students into its academic programs per year. The new program will fit within SUNY’s Transfer Paths program, which guarantees transfer of its 30 general education requirements as well as discipline-specific courses in the major, resulting in true junior status for students who complete two years of study. There were 52 Transfer Paths in place for the start of the 2015-16 academic year within SUNY, ranging from aerospace engineering to nursing to theater.

"There is a common thread among employers seeking skilled workers in the U.S.: a need for college graduates with an educational background in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics," said University at Albany Provost James Stellar. "Through this program, SUNY Adirondack and UAlbany will help provide students better pathways to start their careers in high-demand fields and meet the growing demand for STEM workers around the world."

The partnership was made official today with a signing ceremony held at the SUNY Adirondack campus and is an expansion of recent dual admission and transfer agreements with SUNY Plattsburgh, The College of Saint Rose and Siena College. Students will be able to take part in the program in the 2017 fall semester.

About SUNY Adirondack

SUNY Adirondack is a growing campus of the nation’s largest university, the State University of New York. With locations in Queensbury and Wilton, SUNY Adirondack also offers online courses, on-campus housing at the Queensbury campus and serves students via credit and continuing education programs.

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