What Is ASAP?
Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) is a comprehensive program for associate-degree students at Borough of Manhattan, Bronx, Hostos, Kingsborough, LaGuardia, and Queensborough Community Colleges; College of Staten Island, Medgar Evers College; and New York City College of Technology. In addition, fall 2015 marked the launch of our pilot program, Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) at John Jay College, to support baccalaureate students. ACE expanded to Lehman College in fall 2019 and is poised to expand to additional CUNY colleges through funding from the City of New York.
ASAP is designed to help associate degree-seeking students earn their degrees as quickly as possible, with a goal of graduating at least 50% of students within three years. Despite the strengths and assets that students bring to their college experience, a variety of systemic barriers and personal responsibilities preclude many students from timely degree completion. ASAP helps eliminate these barriers by providing students with the academic, social, and financial support they need to graduate with an associate degree in no more than three years. ASAP features include individualized course schedules, required full-time study, and comprehensive and personalized advisement and career development services. Financial incentives include tuition and fee gap scholarships for financial aid-eligible students who have a gap between their financial aid award and tuition, assistance to reduce (or eliminate) the cost of textbooks, and unlimited MetroCards for all ASAP students.
How Did ASAP Begin?
ASAP began in fall 2007 with a cohort of 1,132 students who were deemed fully skills proficient in reading, writing, and math by program start — approximately a third of students required developmental coursework before beginning the program. As of September 2010, ASAP surpassed its graduation target and helped 621 students, or 55% of the fall 2007 cohort, earn their associate degrees within three years versus 25% of a comparison group of similar students. The ASAP three-year graduation rate is more than three times higher than the national urban community college three-year graduation rate of 16%.
Based on early success with the first cohort, ASAP began to target students with some developmental needs at program entry. Cohorts admitted since 2009 have primarily comprised students with one to two developmental course needs based on their scores on the CUNY Assessment Tests. Analysis of the fall 2009 cohort (N=429) revealed that ASAP students were retained at higher rates, moved through their developmental requirements significantly faster, and graduated at considerably higher rates than comparison group students. The three-year graduation rate for the fall 2009 ASAP cohort, of which 76% entered with developmental needs, was 56% versus 22% for comparison group students.
How is ASAP Doing?
There have been fourteen ASAP cohorts totaling 70,000 students admitted across all participating CUNY colleges. The ASAP graduation rate is more than three times the national three-year graduation rate of 16% for urban community colleges (IPEDS). ASAP’s current cross-cohort three-year graduation rate is 53% vs. 24% for comparison group students. Since 2009, ASAP has admitted students with some developmental needs (1-2 developmental course needs based on the CUNY Assessment Test) who also graduate at significantly higher rates than non-ASAP comparison group students. After three years, 48% of ASAP students with developmental needs graduated vs. 21% of comparison group students with developmental needs. To learn more, read our ASAP Evaluation Summary Program Overview.
How is ASAP Funded?
CUNY ASAP is primarily funded by the City of New York through the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity), as well as the State of New York. Historically, ASAP has received grant funds from Robin Hood, the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. ASAP also currently receives funding from the Sidney and Laura Gilbert Scholarship Fund and BNY Mellon to support eligible ASAP alumni enrolled at a CUNY senior college.
How Do I Join?
Please view our Steps to Join page for information about eligibility and steps to join.
How Do I Stay Informed?
Continue to visit our website for regular updates. Also, sign up to join our CUNY ASAP e-newsletter and follow @cunyasap on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
