At age 42, Tom Hawley knows a thing or two about answering the call. For more than 16 years, he's served the City of Syracuse as a firefighter, responding to emergencies, protecting lives, and helping his community. But recently, another kind of call came through. It didn't come from a dispatcher. Instead, it came from inside. It was the call to return to college through the SUNY Reconnect program.
"I looked at all of the options. I knew Electromechanical Technology was what interested me. Maybe being an engineer wasn't what I wanted to do, but I like getting in there, seeing how things work, putting my hands on things - not necessarily designing them, but understanding and working with them."
SUNY Reconnect is a new, free community college program for prospective students between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree. SUNY Reconnect covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied.
When New York State Governor Kathy Hochul was rallying support for the program, she came to the Onondaga Community College campus in January 2025. OCC student Josh Barr shared his story - and how much such a program would help him. SUNY Reconnect was approved by the New York State Legislature a few months later.
This semester isn't Hawley's first on a college campus. After graduating from Corcoran High School, he tried college. But like so many 18-year-olds, he wasn't sure what he wanted to study. He decided to go into the workforce, first in a warehouse, and then with the Syracuse Fire Department. With eligibility for retirement just over three years away, he saw SUNY Reconnect and OCC as a way to set himself up for what comes next. "I heard about it in the news. The Governor was talking about how she wanted to do this. I was waiting to see what the legislature was going to do and how it was going to play it out. As soon as I knew it was a thing, I looked into it. Over the summer I said, 'Now's the time.'"
The thought of returning to the classroom after two decades away was a little daunting, but only initially. "At first, I was a little nervous. It had been a while in an academic setting, except for fire training. I was wondering if I was going to remember everything from high school. I got right back into it. For the most part, it hasn't been as challenging as I thought it was going to be."
Hawley says OCC's mix of students - some straight out of high school, others like him returning after years away - makes it easier to feel at home in the classroom. He hopes to finish his degree around the time he retires from the Syracuse Fire Department.
Wherever he works next, Hawley's advice for others who may be considering returning to school is simple. "If you're considering it, do it. Don't second guess yourself. A lot of people think you can only have one career in your life. But you can always do something different as long as you're willing and able. Just do something you enjoy. Don't stick with something you don't like that is going to make your life miserable."
