When Gary Bays decided to return to college after 10 years away from the classroom, he faced a challenge familiar to many adult learners: how to pay for it.
With help from SUNY Reconnect, Bays earned a Nursing degree with high honors from SUNY Jamestown Community College in May and saved about $10,000 during his final academic year.
“There is no timeline to success and it is never too late to better yourself,” Bays said recently. “Being able to afford school easier with this program was a huge weight off my shoulders in a way that I wouldn’t have to find the money or apply for more high interest loans.”
SUNY Reconnect helps students 25 and older attend community college at no or little cost. The program covers tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied.
“Being in or applying for a particular in-demand program was the first step to be eligible for funding,” Bays explained. “You must also have the FAFSA filled out, and Reconnect covers anything that isn’t covered by other financial aid and before loans.”
Eligible Reconnect programs at JCC include health care, computer technology, education and advanced manufacturing. Except for nursing students, Reconnect participants cannot already hold a college degree and must enroll in at least six credits each semester.
JCC reported having 115 Reconnect students during the fall 2025 semester and 150 during the spring 2026 semester. The average age of JCC’s Reconnect participants was 36 in the fall and 37 in the spring, with a mix of first-time college students and those returning after previous college experience.
The most popular degree programs among JCC Reconnect students were cybersecurity, with 33 students in the fall and 37 in the spring, and health information technology, with 28 students in the fall and 37 in the spring.
The Nursing program enrolled 19 Reconnect students in the fall and 23 in the spring, including Bays, who attended part time and earned dean's list recognition during four semesters.
While attending JCC, Bays worked as a caregiver for people with special needs. He recently accepted a position as a registered nurse in the behavioral health unit at Olean General Hospital.
He said he chose to return to college because "I love caring for others and really wanted to better myself so I could provide an even higher level of care through additional education and skills."
Bays said JCC's curriculum challenged him, while the college's small class sizes allowed him to ask questions and receive help when needed.
"I also really liked making new friends, young and older,” he said. “This program had people from all ages of life and many backgrounds and experiences, and we were able to help integrate into helping each other grow.”
For more information about SUNY Reconnect, visit sunyjcc.edu/Reconnect.