SUNY Chancellor King Announces Guaranteed Transfer Pathway Agreement Between Westchester Community College and SUNY Purchase College

Westchester Community College Students Enrolled in Programs Including Computer Science and Environmental Science Can Automatically Transfer to SUNY Purchase College Beginning in Fall 2026

Valhalla, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced a new Guaranteed Pathway Agreement between Westchester Community College and SUNY Purchase College. Through the agreement, students enrolled in associate degree programs including Computer Science and Environmental Science at Westchester Community College will be eligible to automatically transfer to SUNY Purchase College beginning in Fall 2026.

“Ensuring our community college students have the opportunity to seamlessly transfer and continue their education at one of our four-year institutions is an important part of SUNY’s commitment to student success,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “Through this partnership, more Westchester Community College students will be able to pursue the education of their dreams at SUNY Purchase and continue their path to upward mobility. I applaud both campuses for their work to support our students as they continue their higher education journey.”

SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales said, “Through this Guaranteed Pathway Agreement, students at Westchester Community College will be able to easily transfer to SUNY Purchase and continue their education without interruption. We commend both campuses for their work to make this partnership possible, and we are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature for their continued support and investment in SUNY, so our students can thrive.”

Chancellor King joined SUNY Purchase College President Michael Steiper and Westchester Community College President Belinda Miles to make the announcement and sign the Guaranteed Pathway Agreement during his visit to Westchester Community College. Through the agreement, students enrolled in associate programs including Environmental Science, Computer Science, Communications and Media Arts, and Performing Arts, that earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at Westchester Community College will be guaranteed admission to SUNY Purchase beginning in the Fall 2026 semester.

Upon meeting their program requirements, eligible students from Westchester Community College will transfer to SUNY Purchase with junior standing. SUNY Purchase will also guarantee admission to 25 Westchester Community College Viking Roads/Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) graduates into SUNY Purchase’s Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program to earn a bachelor’s degree. SUNY ASAP|ACE helps students gain and maintain academic momentum so they can graduate on time through access to a wide array of resources and support to help them overcome barriers that can prevent them from obtaining a degree.

SUNY Purchase College President Michael E. Steiper said, “We’re proud to partner with Westchester Community College to offer this new Guaranteed Pathways program. Purchase and WCC have a shared mission to deliver a high quality, affordable education to students in Westchester and beyond. Together we’re empowering the next generation across countless fields, we’re fueling the economy of Westchester County, and we’re strengthening families and communities. We look forward to welcoming more students from Westchester Community College to Purchase and ensuring they have the support they need to transfer easily, thrive on campus, and graduate on time.”

Westchester Community College President Belinda Miles said, “This agreement reflects what we do best at Westchester Community College—open doors to an affordable, high-quality education that leads to meaningful opportunity. By creating a seamless pathway to SUNY Purchase, we are ensuring that our students can begin their academic journey close to home, build a strong foundation, and continue toward a bachelor’s degree with confidence and support. The impact extends well beyond the classroom—strengthening families, expanding career possibilities, and contributing to the vitality of the communities where our students live and work.” 

SUNY has worked to expand seamless transfers to help streamline the experience of students moving from community college to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution. In his 2024 State of the University Policy Agenda, Chancellor King outlined steps SUNY would take to modernize seamless transfer to increase completion, which included the conclusion of the work of SUNY’s Transfer Task Force in improving the transfer process. In October 2024, SUNY announced the release of the SUNY Transfer Task Force Report, and in December 2024, SUNY adopted the final Transfer Task Force, Recommendations, which provided a system-wide road map to improve transfer between SUNY campuses and directly support students at all stages of their educational journey.

At last month’s SUNY BOT meeting, senior leadership presented two policies designed to maximize transfer credit and degree applicability for students who move between SUNY campuses. The two new policies, developed by a cross functional committee of faculty and staff from all SUNY sectors, propose minimum course grades and standardized exam scores accepted for transfer credit. The two policies are now open for public comment, with feedback welcome from all SUNY stakeholders before they are presented to the SUNY Board of Trustees later this spring for final approval. Draft policies and the online feedback form can be found here.

In March 2024, SUNY announced a dual admission partnership between Hudson Valley Community College and the State University of New York at Albany to help students earn their associate degree and bachelor’s degree from the two campuses, made possible by the SUNY Transformation Fund. Earlier this month, the State University of New York at Albany also announced a dual admission agreement with Columbia-Greene Community College (C-GCC) so that students will be able to transfer into related bachelor’s degree programs after completing an associate degree at C-GCC.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “For so many students, community colleges like Westchester Community College open the doors to higher education, new opportunities, and brighter futures. This Guaranteed Pathway Agreement with SUNY Purchase builds on that foundation by creating a clear and reliable next step for New York students who are working hard to earn their degrees. The State Legislature remains committed to supporting SUNY and expanding access to higher education. These investments strengthen our students, our workforce, and our region, and I am proud to support an initiative that will make a meaningful difference for so many students in Westchester.”

State Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, “This agreement creates a clear path for students in the lower Hudson Valley to continue their education without unnecessary barriers. Strengthening the connection between Westchester Community College and SUNY Purchase means more students can stay on track, complete their degrees, and enter fields critical to our future. We should be building more pathways like this across SUNY.”

State Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am pleased to join Chancellor King, faculty, and educators in announcing this Guaranteed Pathway Agreement between Westchester Community College and SUNY Purchase – an important step forward in making higher education more accessible. New York has a long-standing commitment to education equity and student success, and this agreement strengthens that commitment by creating a clear, supportive pathway for students who work hard and aspire to continue their education at SUNY Purchase. I thank Chancellor King, Westchester Community College President Dr. Belinda S. Miles, and SUNY Purchase President Dr. Michael E. Steiper for their leadership and shared commitment to New York’s students.

State Assemblymember Chris Burdick said, “I continue to be impressed and grateful for the innovative and nurturing approach of the SUNY system. This is just the latest example why New York has one of the finest public higher education systems in the country. The Guaranteed Pathway Agreement between SUNY Purchase College and Westchester Community College will open doors to many students and lead to an easier path to success. Congratulations to both institutions.”

State Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said, “The announcement of a guaranteed pathway program between Westchester Community College and SUNY Purchase is a huge win for our local students and our local economy. Community college credits that don’t transfer increase the cost of a degree and the length of time students need to spend in school. This agreement means that our WCC students planning to study in specific fields can move forward confidently through their associate programs, knowing that none of their hard work, time, and money will be wasted during the transfer process. It also means we will have more students graduating in a timely fashion, equipped with skills that local employers are looking for. I congratulate the leaders and administrators of WCC and SUNY Purchase who made this agreement possible and look forward to seeing the results of its implementation.”

State Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “This new partnership ratifies a connection that has existed for decades, the importance of Westchester Community College and Purchase College in providing a pathway for students to follow their dreams. These are two great colleges with a history of providing outstanding programs for generations. WCC has given many students a start and choices for academic and career paths. Purchase College has been the next step for many WCC graduates with this new agreement further solidifying the collaboration of the two schools. It is this kind of energy that demonstrates why the SUNY system has had increased enrollment in each of the last three years.”

State Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “The Guaranteed Pathway Agreement creates a supportive path from associate to bachelor’s degrees for SUNY students. It’s an initiative that will remove barriers and sustain momentum, to help more students graduate on time and succeed. I am thrilled that young people in Westchester County will benefit from this forward-thinking program as they seek to make their way in the world.”

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.