POUGHKEEPSIE – The State University of New York (SUNY) awarded Dutchess Community College a $10,000 grant to improve transportation access and support students who struggle to access a safe, reliable means of getting to class.
Many DCC students live on campus or in rural areas, and many are low-income. These students are disproportionately more likely to rely on public transit to get to and from class, work, medical appointments, grocery shopping and anywhere else they may need to go.
“Transportation is crucial to access and success for our students who commute to school, field experiences, different DCC locations, and jobs — sometimes in the same day. When they must choose between covering transportation costs or feeding their families, they rightly choose to take care of their loved ones,” said DCC President Dr. Peter Grant Jordan. “This funding will allow us to build on our previous work to mitigate or eliminate one of the major barriers to access and completion that our students face. We truly appreciate Governor Kathy Hochul, the State Legislature, the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor King, and our entire system leadership, and thank them for their foresight and support on behalf of students in our region.”
DCC will use the funding to strengthen partnerships with local transit and government agencies, improve route communications and explore other ways of making transportation work better for students. The College is one of five SUNY campuses to receive the funds and is part of a larger SUNY effort to address basic needs insecurities that can stand in the way of current and prospective students’ ability to access and complete a higher education.
