Queens College’s (QC) academic program for international students, the Global Student Success Program (GSSP), has been shut down and will end all operations at the end of Fall 2026.
The GSSP program was designed to support international students and their transition to a U.S. college environment with their structured first-year program. The program was a partnership between QC and Navitas – a global education provider.
With the help of GSSP, international students were able to easily adapt not only to college but to a new educational system, city and country. The program provided resources and individualized support to help students navigate that transition and build connections with the campus, their peers and New York City.
With three full-time staff members based on campus – the Executive Director and two Student Success Advisors – the program offered a structured, cohort-based curriculum which included first-year general education courses and selected major courses, with additional instructional time in each class.
Students also had access to leadership opportunities through the Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor, Orientation Leader programs, academic workshops, English-language programming, and social activities. The GSSP office in King Hall 210 provided a welcoming space for students to ask questions, participate in activities and connect with their peers.
The Knight News reached out to GSSP Executive Director Emma Berryman-Moore to discuss how the program benefited students and how the closure would affect them as a whole.
“GSSP’s greatest strength has been its people: our students, staff, and instructors. Our events, programming, and advising were important, but what mattered most was being present for students and colleagues – reaching out proactively, offering help, and responding to individual needs,” said Berryman-Moore.
She added, “Queens College and Navitas senior leadership jointly agreed to conclude the program, and both organizations have been working together to support an orderly transition. Everyone directly affected was notified when the decision was announced.”
In an interview with GSSP student worker PanhaPich Touch – junior Finance and Economics major – he shared, “The GSSP program helped me a lot. When I first arrived in New York, I was unable to find things to do or even make friends so the GSSP office would be my safe space. My first friends were actually people who came to the office.”
“When I transitioned to general admission, I was able to easily adapt to the study styles and find resources because they [GSSP] gave me the confidence to do so prior.”
Regarding his reaction to the program’s closure, Touch added, “I was expecting it to happen next year but it was so sudden. We were all so shocked. Before the announcement, I was working [in the office] and one of the advisors mentioned that the CEO of the program is coming to deliver news unrelated to the closure but they eventually said that the program will be shut down.”
Program graduate, Syed Ajmain Tausif – junior Computer Science major – said in an interview with The Knight News, “GSSP has given me the comfort of home while I was in New York and provided a community which has helped me succeed in my courses.”
“A part of studying abroad is finding your own community and still having that feeling of home.”
“During my first year, I attended many events GSSP hosted which brought students from different countries and cultures together,” said Tausif. “When I saw these events, I wanted to help host them as well so I became one of the volunteer helpers and now I’m a lead Student Ambassador. Inviting students to the events at the office created a safe space for them to meet other people and get to know their peers better.”
When asked how he felt about the shutdown of the program Tausif said “I’m devastated to be honest. Oftentimes when I want to study, relax or even when I’m on campus and have nothing to do, I would go to the GSSP office because it was the spot where I always felt at home.”
As GSSP moves forward in their closure they will no longer recruit new students after the partnership between QC and Navitas concludes. Students who meet QC’s direct-entry requirements may continue to apply through the college’s regular admissions process.
Further questions regarding QC’s general admissions and future plans can be directed to Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs and Graduate Studies Maria DeLongoria. Students are also encouraged to visit The Knight News website for future updates.
