SUNY Chancellor King Announces Additional Mental Health Resources for Student Veterans
October 27, 2026
SUNY Will Expand Peer-to-Peer Advisement Opportunities for Student Veterans and Mental Health Resources on Campuses
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the expansion of mental health resources for student veterans. Through the expansion, SUNY will create a peer-to-peer advisement program for student veterans and provide additional specific resources on SUNY campuses to further support these students as they transition back into civilian life.
"There is a place at SUNY for every student, and we are proud to support our military-connected students at every stage of their academic journey," said SUNY Chancellor King. "With the expansion of these programs, we are ensuring our student veterans will be able to access the resources they need to transition back into civilian life, build their future, and succeed in earning their degree. SUNY's campuses are enriched through the unique experiences of student veterans, and we admire their contributions every day."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY is grateful to our veteran and military-connected students for their dedication to New York State, and our nation. These expanded mental health resources will help ensure our veteran students are supported as they re-enter civilian life and add to the robust services available to veteran students throughout the SUNY system."
Through a grant from the New York Health Foundation, SUNY is partnering with the CUNY Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work and Teachers College, Columbia University, to replicate two evidence-based support programs for veteran students.
- The first initiative is the Project for Return and Opportunity in Veteran Education (PROVE) internship program, which will be initially established on three SUNY community college campuses. First-year Master of Social Work students from the State University of New York at Albany, State University of New York at Stony Brook, and the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College CUNY will work with Hudson Valley Community College, Westchester Community College, and Suffolk Community College to create environments for student veterans to more easily access the resources they need to successfully transition from military life to student life and find a community of other student veterans. Through this partnership, SUNY will fund stipends for 10 graduate social work student interns.
- The second initiative will include a partnership with Teachers College, Columbia University, to support a Farmingdale State College student veteran to provide peer mental health support to fellow student veterans and connect them with clinical resources using the Interpersonal Counseling 3-Session (IPC3) protocol developed through the Global Mental Health Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University. This evidence-based protocol reduces stigma and provides an accessible triage and engagement tool to bridge mental health gaps. Several student-facing Farmingdale State College staff members will also receive training in the IPC3 protocol to ensure the sustainability of the program.
New York State Department of Veterans' Services Commissioner Dr. Viviana M. DeCohen said, "Our Student Veterans deserve more than the opportunity to pursue a college education. They deserve an environment where they feel welcomed, understood, supported, and empowered to thrive, which is exactly what SUNY and CUNY continue to provide. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul, SUNY Chancellor John King, the SUNY Board of Trustees, and our outstanding partners for recognizing that academic success and mental wellness go hand in hand. By expanding peer-to-peer support, strengthening access to mental health resources, and fostering meaningful connections among Student Veterans, we are helping ensure that no Veteran has to navigate the transition from military service to campus life alone. At the New York State Department of Veterans' Services, we have made holistic wellness a central priority, and initiatives like these reflect our shared commitment to caring for the whole Veteran. This Veterans Day, throughout Veterans Month, and every day, we stand united in supporting the health, well-being, and future success of All Who Served."
Leora Shudofsky, LMSW, Director and Educational Coordinator for PROVE (Project for Return and Opportunity in Veterans Education) at CUNY said, "This year, PROVE is serving student veterans and other Military-Connected students at sixteen NY college campuses (10 CUNY, Fordham Lincoln Center, Fordham Rose Hill, and the New School plus three SUNY campuses) and I am excited to see this program expand further in partnership with New York Health Foundation, Teachers College, and SUNY. Together, we can continue to provide student veteran with assistance in their transition to college while we train the next generation of social workers to be sensitized to this vital population."
Thomas R. Bailey, President of Teachers College, Columbia University, said, "Providing evidence-based support to students throughout their educational journeys is paramount to their success and a core part of our work. We are eager to partner with SUNY on expanding the Interpersonal Counseling 3-Session (IPC-3) protocol for student veterans, developed through our Global Mental Health Lab. This accessible, peer-delivered mental health intervention is a valuable resource for supporting veterans as they transition to civilian and college life. With this program, TC is proud to build on our legacy of advancing innovative solutions that solve real problems across psychology, health and education."
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, said, "New York owes a tremendous debt to the men and women who have served our nation. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, I know that the transition from military service to college life can present unique challenges. Expanding peer-to-peer advisement opportunities across SUNY campuses will help student veterans connect with individuals who understand their experiences and can guide them toward academic and personal success. Coupled with enhanced mental health resources, this initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring that those who served our country receive the support, respect, and opportunities they have earned. I applaud SUNY for investing in programs that strengthen veteran success, improve student well-being, and help build a more supportive campus community for all."
State Assemblymember Steve Stern, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said, "As the Chairman of the New York State Assembly Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I applaud SUNY Chancellor King's announcement that our local heroes, who are pursuing educational opportunities at our superb SUNY campuses, will have access to the services they need and deserve. Far too many of our returning soldiers are struggling with mental health challenges. The veteran-to-veteran model, which has been utilized effectively for many years by the Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer-To-Peer Services Program, has a proven track record of success and will ensure that our student veterans are being supported by a peer who understands their experience. I have every confidence that this program will provide a safe environment for our student veterans to receive critically important support services to help them achieve their highest potential."
State Assemblymember Kwani B. O'Pharrow said, "Supporting our student veterans means ensuring they have the resources, guidance, and community they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. This expansion is an important step toward breaking down barriers, prioritizing mental health, and reminding our veterans that they never have to navigate their journey alone. Those who served our country deserve our unwavering support as they build their next chapter."
SUNY is committed to supporting veterans and military-connected students on their path to a college education. In September, SUNY expanded the Military Tuition Rate program to all 64 SUNY campuses. Additionally, SUNY has launched the Veterans Enrollment and Support Internship Program, appointed SUNY's first-ever Assistant Director of Enrollment for Military and Veteran Recruitment, expanded prior learning assessment to help both adult learners and current and former military members to advance their careers, and partnered with the Defense Health Agency's Medical Education and Training Campus to create degree pathways that recognize military medical training for academic credit. SUNY also provides free college application waivers for military-connected students year-round, to up to seven campuses.
To further support veterans and military-connected students, SUNY has created a dedicated one-stop shop website, www.suny.edu/military, which includes information on available credit for military service and experience; tuition assistance, such as the Veterans Tuition Awards program approved by Governor Hochul; specialized scholarships, and dedicated campus services like veteran lounges and associations for all 64 SUNY campuses. The website also connects veterans with services offered by the counties where each campus is located, helping them stay close to home and community, and is regularly updated as new information becomes available.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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