Herkimer College Enhances Student Success with Launch of Advancing Success in Associate Pathways; Alesha L. Bowman Appointed Director
Herkimer College has deepened its commitment to making sure its students succeed at every step.
This spring, the College launches its version of the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways or ASAP, an initiative led by the State University of New York (SUNY) system and funded through the SUNY Transformation Fund. Herkimer is one of 13 SUNY community colleges selected to replicate the City University of New York (CUNY) ASAP, which dramatically increases associate degree completion.
Herkimer College has also appointed Alesha L. Bowman as director of ASAP. Bowman has most recently served as assistant professor of Herkimer’s Fashion Buying & Merchandising A.A.S. program. The College is also in the process of hiring a senior advisement specialist specifically for students enrolled in the ASAP program.
An entrepreneur and small business owner, Bowman also spent several years working in multicultural student affairs in higher education. In her last role, she served as director of multicultural student services at DePauw University in Indiana.
Bowman holds a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Marketing and a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration, both from the University of Central Missouri. She also earned a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education from the University of Central Missouri. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Rockhurst University.
“I'm looking forward to helping students navigate the obstacles ahead with the strategic resources set in place to help them finish the course line,” Bowman said. “As a PELL recipient in undergrad, I understand the barriers associated with, it and I hope that through my leadership students can get excited about the possibilities of their futures.”
“My goal is to make the ASAP team notable for being a student-campus connection that will always show up,” she added. “I want them to think of us as their own personal cheer squad - we chant for their wins, hype up their successes, and rally behind them when they're in need.”
ASAP offers structured pathways to help students gain and maintain academic momentum toward a degree and create a connected community through integrated, comprehensive wraparound supports and engagement activities. ASAP supports include tuition and fee assistance to close gaps after financial aid, travel and textbook expenses, individualized advisement services, academic support, and career development activities.
Since its inception in 2007, ASAP|ACE (Advancing Completion through Engagement – SUNY's baccalaureate version) has collectively served more than 90,000 CUNY students and has been replicated across seven states.
“ASAP has a strong, nationally recognized track record of increasing retention and graduation rates,” Herkimer College Provost Michael Oriolo said. “We will be able to assist 50 students this spring semester, and an additional 150 in the fall 2024 semester.”
To be eligible for ASAP at Herkimer College, students must be New York State residents and be enrolled full-time in one of several ASAP-approved degree programs on campus.
For more information on ASAP at Herkimer College, visit Herkimer.edu/asap.
Alesha L. Bowman newly appointed Director of ASAP