Bloomberg Philanthropies Recognizes SUNY Oneonta

Bloomberg Philanthropies has recognized SUNY Oneonta as an American Talent Initiative (ATI) High-Flier, a group of 28 high-graduation-rate institutions that are national leaders in college access and success for lower-income students. SUNY Oneonta received the distinction for its high Pell share, and innovative recruitment, enrollment and retention practices. Over the next year, ATI and Bloomberg Philanthropies will work with High-Fliers to amplify what they have learned to other four-year colleges and universities across the nation. The full list of ATI’s 28 High-Fliers is listed below.

An initiative led by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program and Ithaka S+R, ATI serves as a growing nationwide alliance of high-graduation-rate colleges and universities grounded in the belief that they can collectively expand access for tens of thousands of high-achieving, lower-income students. By doing so, these institutions are increasing socioeconomic diversity within their respective student communities.

"The economic fallout from the pandemic has made it even more important for schools across the country to adopt innovative new ways to attract and retain students from under-represented backgrounds," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th mayor of New York City. “I applaud ATI's 28 High-Fliers for leading the way in this work and increasing the diversity of their campuses. We hope their efforts serve as an example for other schools that are committed to creating opportunity for more lower-income students, so we can accelerate national progress on this critical challenge.”

Since ATI’s launch in 2016, SUNY Oneonta has maintained one of the highest Pell shares among its 137 peers. The university has achieved this progress through initiatives like the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which is on track to bring in the largest cohort in university history this fall. In addition to expanding the EOP, Oneonta has also re-established the Access to College Excellence (ACE) program for students who are otherwise inadmissible through general admission but show potential and promise.

“SUNY Oneonta has for many years worked to establish programs that increase access and support for Pell-eligible students,” said university President Alberto J.F. Cardelle. “The State University of New York’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), the federal College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and our own Access to College Excellence (ACE) program have been providing talented students who may not have had regular pathways to higher education an opportunity to join the academic community at SUNY Oneonta. Each of these programs provides students with counseling, mentoring and other wraparound services that support student success and increase retention and graduation rates.”

In addition to these initiatives, SUNY Oneonta is one of the newest members of ATI and has pledged to maintain its leadership on access and success through the initiative’s Accelerating Opportunity campaign. Along with its fellow ATI members, the university has set public, aspirational lower-income student enrollment goals for the first time to help combat the lingering impacts of the pandemic. SUNY Oneonta has maintained its Accelerating Opportunity goal of at least 20 percent Pell enrollment and looks to build on where it started upon joining ATI last fall. The university also is advancing a shared commitment among all 137 ATI members to close retention and graduation gaps.

As a result of SUNY Oneonta’s leadership in ATI and the Accelerating Opportunity campaign, thousands of additional lower-income students across the United States are accessing and earning bachelor’s degrees. Data shows these students are historically more likely to have higher wages, pursue graduate degrees, become entrepreneurs, and engage in their communities.

“SUNY Oneonta is committed to supporting our students’ success through a holistic lens driven by a shared set of values designed to help ensure our students’ well-being, building a nurturing community where all students matter and have a sense of belonging,” said Tracy Johnson, the university’s Vice President for Student Affairs.

For more information on ATI and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ other initiatives to expand college access and success, please visit: https://www.bloomberg.org/education/expanding-college-access-and-success/.

List of American Talent Initiative High-Fliers (in alpha order)