SUNY Chancellor Johnson Announces Nearly $8 million Secured to Fund Apprenticeship Training and Jobs
June 27, 2019
Funds to help train 3,000 new apprentices via partnerships with employers offering high-paying careers in advanced manufacturing
Albany – Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson today announced that The State University of New York has secured nearly $8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Scaling Apprenticeship Through Sector-Based Strategies Grant, which will create a new apprenticeship program. Known as the SUNY New York College Apprenticeship Network (NYCAN), the program will provide New Yorkers with college instruction, on-the-job training and employment in the advanced manufacturing sector.
"An educated and highly skilled workforce is among the best investments in growing New York’s economy and SUNY is proud to be leading by example to train the next generation of apprentices," said SUNY Chancellor Johnson. "We are grateful to Leader Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Chairwoman Nita Lowey for their leadership in securing the funding needed to provide real-life work experiences for students to achieve meaningful careers."
"This $8 million federal investment is great news for the 30 SUNY community colleges throughout New York State. With these crucial funds, the SUNY system will be able to rev up its new apprenticeship program and help New York students throughout the state get on-the-job training and more importantly, good-paying jobs," said Senator Schumer. "I’m proud of the role I played in securing this funding that will ensure New York’s future workforce is as prepared and educated as possible and will always fight for investments that boost opportunities for stable employment."
"This funding is an important investment in New York’s workforce, helping our SUNY system better connect hardworking New Yorkers to good paying jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector. The pre-apprenticeship programs will especially benefit people that are underrepresented in this field — such as women and people of color," said Senator Gillibrand. "Pre-apprenticeship and work-based learning programs create pathways to the workforce through hands-on experience and on-the-job training. This helps ensure that New Yorkers have the skills to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow and helps bring local development to our communities. I was proud to fight on behalf of SUNY for this funding and will continue to work in the Senate for the resources our communities need to succeed."
"SUNY is using innovative tools to prepare New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds for their dream jobs, and this federal funding will help the 30 community college campuses take their work to the next level," said Congresswoman Lowey. "NYCAN, the new apprenticeship program, will give thousands of apprentices on-the-job training and expand career opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. As Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for workforce investments that prepare New Yorker’s for high-paying jobs and ultimately boost the economy."
"In partnership with the statewide business community and our campuses, this grant award will significantly strengthen and expand career opportunities for thousands of SUNY students," said Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Vice Chancellor of Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline. "As part of SUNY Achieve, NYCAN will help students meet their educational goals and prepare them for the competitive career of their choice."
SUNY Achieve is a transformational initiative that helps students meet their higher educational goals and prepares them for the competitive career of their choice. The program coordinates SUNY’s student success initiatives across the 64 campus university system and is the intentional coordination of a constellation of student support strategies including: Early Alert Systems, Guided Pathways, Math Pathways, Degree Works, Mentoring and Tutor Networks, Transfer Finder, Workforce Development and Re-enroll to Complete.
SUNY’s 30 community colleges, which are hubs of workforce training across New York State, will work with employers to customize the apprenticeship training. SUNY will assist employers in developing high-quality apprenticeship programs.
NYCAN will target unemployed and underemployed adults in New York, with a focus on veterans, women, people of color, and other historically underrepresented groups. The project will combine online pre-apprenticeship training with hands-on job experience, ultimately leading to jobs. NYCAN will enable students to get online Related Technical Instruction, which may lead to credit-bearing credentials certified by SUNY.
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, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire 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 $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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