SUNY Chancellor King Announces Grants to Build Community and Combat Student Loneliness
October 29, 2026
Grant Program Will Support Campuses as They Implement Strategies to Create a Sense of Belonging and Increase Student Involvement in Clubs and Support Services
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced grants to strengthen students’ sense of community and combat loneliness. The grants will support campuses as they work to implement strategies to build community, increase student involvement in clubs and support services, and ensure space for social engagement, including tech-free spaces.
"Building relationships and finding community are essential parts of college because learning is a social experience," said SUNY Chancellor King. "There's no AI chatbot that can replace human interaction, and we are proud to be providing these grants to our campuses so they can prioritize student engagement programs that help combat loneliness and ensure our students feel like they belong."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY is committed to providing our students with a high-quality education and increasing access to resources that support students’ mental health and contribute to a sense of belonging on their campus. Part of the academic experience is meeting new people, appreciating new experiences, and broadening perspectives, and we want to do everything we can to help uplift our students and help them achieve those goals."
SUNY will provide campuses with a grant of up to $15,000 to develop or enhance initiatives that strengthen student belonging, reduce loneliness, and foster meaningful social connection. The funding can be used to support activities including the creation of device-free lounges or community spaces, student-led belonging and social connection initiatives, peer mentoring and peer support programs, community meals and conversation events, and campus-wide campaigns that promote connection, belonging, and community.
Mental health concerns among college students are widespread, with sense of belonging and connectivity among students being a primary area of concern for many campus leaders and staff. In 2023, then-Surgeon General Vivek Murphy identified loneliness as a public health crisis for Americans. This is especially true for college students: nearly 60 percent of undergraduate students surveyed in Trellis Strategies' Student Financial and Wellness Survey report that they were sometimes or always lonely — with higher rates of loneliness for LGBT students, former foster youth, and students facing basic needs insecurity.
Research from Active Minds has also found that college students who report feeling lonely are four times more likely to experience severe psychological distress. Additionally, a study from the nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization RAND and Brown University found that nearly one in five young adults ages 18-21 reported using artificial intelligence for mental health support. Nationwide, experts have identified strategies to combat campus loneliness, including campus counseling centers and more peer interactions or clubs. In addition, some colleges are creating device-free spaces to support face-to-face interactions.
Through support from Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, the SUNY Board of Trustees allocates nearly $10 million in ongoing operational funds to support mental health services across State-operated campuses and $3 million for mental health services at community colleges. SUNY has a steadfast commitment to proactive, systemwide strategies that support student mental health. In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month, Chancellor King highlighted initiatives across the SUNY System to increase mental health awareness and connect the campus community with resources. As part of the Empire State Service Corps, which was recently expanded to 1,000 spots, students act as peer mental health educators. In August, Chancellor King highlighted SUNY's commitment to student mental health support services with SUNY Optometry's mental health first aid training program. In January, Chancellor King launched the SUNY Mental Health First Aid Grant Program, which provides targeted funding to strengthen campus-wide approaches to student mental health and well-being. In February, SUNY announced the expansion of SUNY's Mental Health Internship Program to provide paid, hands-on learning opportunities for community college students pursuing careers in mental and behavioral health.
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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