Launched in 1966, by the New York State Legislature, The Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program is designed to reach qualified high school graduates who might not attend college otherwise. The program starts during the summer, with intensive workshops for all matriculating freshmen. During their first semester, SEEK Program participants are organized into learning communities —groups who take at least three courses together and develop their own informal support network. Supplemental instruction covers all first-year classes and some upper level courses; free tutoring is available.
SEEK Student centers such as: The Learning Center (D112), The Writing Center (D113), and The Computer and IT Lab (D308) are also available to support students’ academic development during their entire undergraduate college career. Staff counselors help students apply for financial aid and address personal, social, and career issues
The Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program of Queens College is located in Lloyd Delany Hall. Delany Hall is named after Dr. Lloyd Delany, who was a professor in the Psychology Department and was appointed the first African American Director of the SEEK Program at Queens College .
In October 2011, The City University of New York (CUNY) celebrated the renaming of its landmark SEEK program in honor of Percy E. Sutton, a prominent African-American political and business leader, civil-rights activist and lawyer who served as Manhattan Borough President from 1966 to 1977 and died in 2009.
The celebration took place at The Great Hall of City College of New York (CCNY) on Oct. 12, 2011. It included famous civil rights activities, politicians, former SEEK Alumni and Educators. The former SEEK Program is now officially the The Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program.