SUNY Chancellor King Visits Buffalo State University to Highlight Empire State Summer Service Corps
August 13, 2025
Governor Hochul's Initiative Connects Students with Community Service and Career Development
Nearly 225 SUNY Students are Serving This Summer in Paid Civic and Service Internships
Photos From Today's Visit Are Available Here
Buffalo, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited Buffalo State University and celebrated the Empire State Summer Service Corps during a meeting with students who are participating in the program. The summer corps program is part of Governor Kathy Hochul's Empire State Service Corps initiative that connects students with community service and career development opportunities through paid civic and service internships.
Students participating in the program dedicate at least 300 hours to paid community service – and convene regularly to share and learn from each other's experiences. During its first application cycle for the 2024-2025 academic year, almost 2,000 SUNY students submitted applications for 500 spots across 45 SUNY colleges and universities. SUNY expects to announce the 2025-2026 Empire State Service Corps in the fall.
"The Empire State Service Corps, thanks to the strong support of Governor Hochul and state leaders, helps empower SUNY students from all backgrounds with paid internships that can lead to fulfilling careers in service and a lifelong commitment to civic engagement," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Buffalo State University students participating in this program are shining examples of passionate future leaders who are learning important skills and will be ready to hit the ground running after graduation. I am so proud of all our Empire State Service Corps students, and I thank them for their commitment to our state and the communities that count on them."
SUNY Trustee Eunice A. Lewin, Co-Chair of the Student Life Committee, said, "Through Governor Hochul's leadership, the Empire State Service Corps helps support local communities and offers students opportunities to get on the job training while also giving back. I was proud to join Chancellor King at Buffalo State University, and we are proud to help ensure that more SUNY students, including from here in Western New York, will be able to participate and secure service internships going forward."
Buffalo State University Interim President Bonita R. Durand said, "At Buffalo State, we prepare our students to be contributing citizens in the places where they live and work. Civic engagement is an empowering act that allows every individual to contribute to shaping the future of our society. Programs like Empire State Service Corps reflect our institutional values and I am incredibly proud of our students who have participated."
As part of Chancellor King's goal of ensuring that every SUNY student experiences a high-quality internship or high-impact practice, SUNY expanded the program to include a summer session. A total of 224 students from 45 campuses are serving across all regions of the state this summer. Five students from Buffalo State University are participating this summer, with eight committed during the coming academic year. During the fall semester, the college plans to place students with community agencies, including Milligan's Food Pantry.
State Senator Sean M. Ryan said, "The Empire State Service Corps gives students the chance to make a real impact in their communities while gaining the skills and connections they need for successful careers. By fostering civic engagement and professional growth in young adults, we're investing in a stronger future for our state."
State Assemblymember Jonathan Rivera said, "As we welcome Chancellor King to Buffalo State University and celebrate the incredible contributions of the Empire State Summer Service Corps, it's impossible not to be reminded of the power of public service to shape not only stronger communities, but stronger leaders for the future. I was proud to help secure $2.75 million in this year's state budget to ensure this program continues to thrive, giving SUNY students paid opportunities to serve, learn, and grow. The dedication these students show in their community service endeavors, is exactly the kind of civic spirit we should be nurturing."
State Assemblymember Karen McMahon said, "I congratulate the students who have taken part in the Empire State Summer Service Corps. Their willingness to contribute to various programs and initiatives with the goal of supporting the community is admirable. I'm pleased that the State has prioritized this program, giving students the opportunity to explore career choices while making a difference."
The Empire State Service Corps provides paid civic and service internships in the following areas:
- Civic Engagement/Civil Discourse: Students serve either on or off campus with organizations such as local nonprofits related to civic engagement and civil discourse, including nonpartisan voter outreach, voter registration and engaging campus peers in voter activity.
- Early Childhood: Students serve at a host site dedicated to early childhood education and/or development. (For example, daycare or head start centers).
- FAFSA: Students serve either in local high schools or work on campus to support students with completing the FAFSA.
- Food Insecurity & SNAP Basic Needs: Students serve on or off campus supporting students and other individuals with SNAP outreach as well as basic needs support (could include shifts at campus food pantry) or with other food insecurity aligned work
- K-12 Education: Students partner with local school districts for tutoring sessions on a regular basis to support recovery from pandemic era learning loss.
- Peer Mental Health: Students are trained to serve as a peer mental health educator typically at a campus/community wellness or counseling center. Students support peers either on or off campus in supporting strong mental health practices and overall wellness initiatives.
- Student Success Coaching: Students work with middle and high school students to combat common challenges like addressing chronic absenteeism and access to socio-emotional learning, mentoring, and mental health support.
- Sustainability: Students serve in campus roles or off-campus with local nonprofits / state agencies or other organizations focused on sustainability work (such as recycling campaigns, tree planting, pollinator gardens, sustainability outreach, building sustainable civic habits, etc.)
- Veterans Affairs Outreach: Students serve at host sites dedicated to supporting active military or veterans' affairs for individuals, families, or affiliated groups.
Governor Hochul and the state legislature committed $2.75 million to continue to fund the Empire State Service Corps in the FY26 Enacted Budget. The Empire State Service Corps also received an AmeriCorps grant, which allows the students to earn an education award that can be used towards college expenses such as tuition or books and supplies. Empire State Service Corps is a proud AmeriCorps partner.
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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