SUNY Chancellor King Celebrates Launch of SUNY Poly’s New Office of Workforce Development During Campus Visit
February 2, 2026
Chancellor King Announced the New Office During a Meeting with Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Students, Faculty, and Staff on how SUNY Poly Opens Access to Great Jobs after Graduation
Utica, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the launch of the Office of Workforce Development by SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) during a visit to the campus. Chancellor King also met with business leaders and entrepreneurs as part of a roundtable discussion with students, faculty, and staff on how SUNY Poly prepares students for upward mobility and success in the workplace.
"Upward mobility and post-graduation success are fundamental to the work we do across the SUNY system," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY is on the move, and I applaud SUNY Poly for being a leader in ensuring students have access to the affordable excellence in higher education and workforce preparation that they deserve. Through SUNY Poly's new Office of Workforce Development, students will receive additional support to help them launch promising careers in the fields of their dreams."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY is dedicated to ensuring that every student is able to earn an affordable, excellent public education that prepares them to thrive after graduation. SUNY Poly is a national leader in advancing science, mathematics, and technological breakthroughs, and this Office of Workforce Development will build on that success."
SUNY Poly has been building on its workforce development resources following a major $44 million transformational investment by Governor Kathy Hochul in the Mohawk Valley region. Specifically, the funding will expand the health science wing and update nursing labs in Donovan Hall, as well as create a semiconductor processing lab for workforce development, and a robotics and advanced manufacturing research and education lab.
SUNY Poly President Winston Soboyejo said, "Preparing a skilled, career-ready workforce is central to SUNY Poly's mission, and the launch of the Office of Workforce Development is a major step forward in expanding that impact. This new office strengthens SUNY Poly's ability to connect education with current workforce needs by growing industry partnerships, expanding career-connected learning, and creating clearer pathways from the classroom to high-demand careers. Through this work, SUNY Poly will help build a stronger talent pipeline for the Mohawk Valley and New York State, while ensuring students and learners are ready to contribute on day one."
The Office of Workforce Development will integrate career readiness, industry collaboration, lifelong learning, internships, and advanced training to prepare individuals for meaningful careers in high-demand fields. The office advances SUNY Poly's strategic plan priorities by aligning education with regional and statewide workforce demand, expanding experiential and career-connected learning, and strengthening partnerships with industry and school districts. In alignment with SUNY priorities, the office will also expand access to non-credit learning opportunities for non-traditional learners, including workforce training, micro-credentials, and targeted upskilling programs that support adult learners, working professionals, and employer needs.
The work of the office aligns with SUNY's goal that every undergraduate student will participate in an internship or other quality experiential learning opportunity. SUNY has been expanding paid internships, and as part of SUNY Chancellor King's State of the State agenda, SUNY has designated regional internship coordinators across the state to assist campuses in identifying internship opportunities. The coordinator for the region is Dalila Hasanagic, who is based at SUNY Poly.
SUNY is committed to nurturing future talent by collaborating with campus and community partners to increase awareness of the array of career pathways available to students and offer hands-on experience through internships. SUNY has worked to expand internship opportunities in multiple ways through the launch of programs including the SUNY New York State Insurance Fund Internship Program, SUNY Educational Opportunity Career Development Internship Program, the Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund, the SUNY Institute for Local News, the Veterans Enrollment and Support Internship Program, and the SUNY Climate Corps.
State Senator Joseph A. Griffo said, "It is important that we continue to provide opportunities for New Yorkers to develop valuable skills and gain important experience that will prepare them for careers after graduation. The Office of Workforce Development at SUNY Polytechnic Institute will be a pivotal partner in this effort. This office will help more students achieve success in the workplace and strengthen businesses and industries across the region and throughout the state."
State Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon said, "As both an alumnus of SUNY Poly and a Member of the Assembly, I have had the firsthand opportunity to witness how this amazing institution strengthens our local economies and transforms student's lives. The launch of the University's Office of Workforce Development will further connect our talented students with the high-demand careers that are driving growth across the Mohawk Valley, the State, and the Nation. I would like to congratulate my alma mater on the achievement of this important milestone, and I thank Chancellor King for his leadership and for visiting our campus to celebrate with us today."
Nate Discavage, Talent Acquisition Supervisor at Indium Corporation, said, "Internships and hands-on learning help students connect their education to meaningful careers. Our partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute reflects Indium Corporation's commitment to developing talent in the Mohawk Valley while contributing to a global industry. We're proud to support SUNY students and strengthen the talent pipeline in our region."
While visiting SUNY Poly, Chancellor King also highlighted the fact that the campus earned the highest recognition from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the "Opportunity" designation which is the gold standard in higher education reflecting the institution's ability to provide broad student access where they move on after graduation to earn competitive wages versus their peers. SUNY Poly earned the Carnegie Opportunity designation by intentionally aligning access, student success, and workforce outcomes. This designation recognizes colleges that enroll students from diverse and historically underserved backgrounds, while supporting graduates in achieving competitive earnings outcomes relative to peers in their regions. SUNY Poly's inclusion reflects sustained efforts to ensure access, persistence, completion, and economic mobility for its students.
Building on this recognition, SUNY Poly has continued to strengthen high-impact programs and institutional supports that advance student success and career readiness. The university has expanded ACE (Advancing Completion through Engagement), providing enhanced advising, financial assistance, and career coaching to help more students stay on track and graduate prepared for the workforce. SUNY Poly has also invested in career-connected spaces such as the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence and deepened partnerships with regional employers, creating clear pathways from education to meaningful employment. Together, these efforts reinforce SUNY Poly's commitment to access, upward mobility, and workforce alignment.
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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