SUNY Chancellor King Announces Partnership with Educating Character Initiative to Provide Empire State Service Corps Additional Professional Development and Training

August 14, 2026

Multi-Year Grant from Educating Character Initiative to Train 3,000 Service Corps Members Over the Next Three Years

Partnership Supports the Expansion of the Empire State Service Corps, New York State's Largest AmeriCorps Program

Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced a partnership with the Educating Character Initiative to provide professional development and training opportunities for the SUNY Empire State Service Corps. The Educating Character Initiative awarded a $900,000 Institutional Impact Grant to support the Empire State Service Corps as it expands and strengthens professional development and training to promote greater civil discourse and civic engagement, and the development of civic competencies, such as bridging across lines of differences, for all participants in the 1,000-member Service Corps in each of the next three years.

"SUNY's Empire State Service Corps combines paid experiential learning with civic service opportunities that make a profound difference in communities across New York State," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY Service Corps members have stepped up to support their campuses and wider communities, and are an example to their fellow students and to other service-based organizations across the nation. Through continued partnership with the Educating Character Initiative, we ensure that Service Corps members have opportunities to reach their full potential."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "The SUNY Empire State Service Corps members help address New York State's most pressing needs. With the continued support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, and through partnerships like the Education Character Initiative, we are supporting the civic service work of the Service Corps members and uplifting our students with opportunities for personal and professional growth."

In 2025, SUNY began its partnership with the Educating Character Initiative with a capacity-building grant to enhance training opportunities for Service Corps members. With this expanded partnership, SUNY will further strengthen continuous learning as an integral part of the Empire State Service Corps experience. Service Corps members will develop professional skills, as well as interpersonal skills and civic competencies, such as intellectual humility, compassion, and bridging across lines of difference.

Educating Character Initiative Director of Collective Learning Aaron Cobb said, "We are excited about the significance of the work that the Empire State Service Corps is leading, engaging thousands of students, embedding character development deeply in the culture of a signature program, and, perhaps most importantly, making a difference in the communities where they serve. When it is done well, service makes our neighborhoods, communities, and cities better places for everyone and, especially, for those who have the greatest vulnerabilities and needs. We can't wait to hear the stories about the good that will come from this sustained effort."

New York State Commission on National and Community Service Executive Director Beth Tailleur said, "We congratulate the Empire State Service Corps on its partnership with the Educating Character Initiative and its grant award, which will help its AmeriCorps members and staff build valuable skills, preparing them for future careers while they serve across communities and improve New Yorkers' lives. The Commission is proud of the service the ESSC delivers and excited to see the program continue to develop."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said, "Applications to the Empire State Service Corps outpaced available spots four to one, for the second year in a row. That shows us that our young generations have a significant desire for public service. We have not built enough places for them to do it. Doubling the Corps to 1,000 students was the right decision, and this grant makes sure those students will arrive prepared."

State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, "This expanded partnership between the Educating Character Initiative and Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) is a game-changer for professional development and skill-building opportunities for students. By equipping 3,000 additional Service Corps Members with real-life experience and hands-on training, we empower the next generation of public service leaders. I'm grateful for the Educating Character Initiative's investment in higher education and public service, because when we invest in our students, we build a stronger New York."

State Senator Peter Oberacker said, "Community service and civic participation are the backbone of a flourishing democratic society. Thanks to this generous grant, engaged citizens from across New York will receive invaluable training and resources in order to meet local challenges closer to home. I'm proud to support this worthy expansion of the Corps' mission by helping to mold the local leaders of tomorrow."

State Assemblymember Michael Cashman said, "I am thrilled to see the Empire State Service Corps program continue to expand, especially with these new civically focused initiatives. Bringing new opportunities like this to students is essential for them to learn, grow and thrive. I thank the Educating Character Initiative for their collaboration with the Empire State Service Corps on this measure."

State Assemblymember Karen McMahon said, "This partnership reflects New York State and SUNY's commitment to ensuring that service is not only an opportunity to give back, but also a transformative educational experience. Through the Educating Character Initiative, Empire State Service Corps members will develop the professional skills necessary to engage thoughtfully in areas and industries that will play a key role throughout their professional lives. As the Service Corps expands, we are investing in a generation of New Yorkers prepared to lead with purpose, compassion, and a deep commitment to their communities."

State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, "Public service gives students an invaluable opportunity to strengthen their communities while developing skills for their future. This partnership will equip thousands of Empire State Service Corps members with professional skills while fostering civic engagement, compassion, and the ability to bridge differences. I applaud Chancellor King, SUNY, and the Educating Character Initiative for investing in the next generation of thoughtful and engaged leaders."

Students participating in the Empire State Service Corps dedicate at least 300 hours to engage in paid community service and convene regularly to share and learn from each other's experiences. As New York State's largest AmeriCorps program, participating students who complete 300 service hours also receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 for their service.

Through the FY2026-27 Enacted State Budget the Empire State Service Corps is doubling to 1,000 available spots for the 2026-2027 academic year for SUNY students to give back to their communities through service-focused opportunities and include new service areas including disaster recovery. Governor Hochul has championed the Empire State Service Corps since 2025 and funded the program with $2.75 million in the FY25 Enacted State Budget. The Empire State Service Corps is also supported by a federal AmeriCorps grant which is administered by SUNY's partners at the New York State Commission for National and Community Service. In 2025, applications far exceeded the number of available spots for the second year in a row, with applications outpacing the number of campus spots 4:1.

Service areas Empire State Service Corps members traditionally work in include:

  • Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement: Students will serve either on or off campus with organizations such as local nonprofits related to civic engagement and civil discourse, including nonpartisan voter outreach and voter registration.
  • Education: 
    • K-12 Tutoring: Students will partner with local school districts for regular tutoring sessions with students in the community who need more academic support.
    • Early Childhood Education: Students will serve at a host site dedicated to early childhood education and/or development (for example, daycare or Head Start centers).
    • Student Success Coaching: Students will work with elementary, middle and high school students to support academic achievement and combat common challenges external to academics like addressing chronic absenteeism, access to socio-emotional learning, mentoring, and mental health support.
  • Economic Opportunity:
    • FAFSA Completion: Students will serve local communities, in visits to local high schools and through work on campus, to support students in completing the FAFSA or other financial aid forms. 
  • Healthy Futures: 
    • Food Insecurity/SNAP & Basic Needs: Students will serve on or off campus supporting students and others with SNAP outreach as well as basic needs support (which could include shifts at a campus food pantry) or with other food insecurity-aligned work.
    • Independent Living: Students will promote independence and quality of life for aging populations and individuals with alternative abilities.
    • Justice-Impacted Support: Students will support reentry and stability by connecting justice-impacted individuals to resources, opportunities, and community networks.
    • Mental Health Support: Students will be trained to serve as a mental health educator, supporting peers or community members either on- or off-campus with building strong mental health practices and overall wellness initiatives. Students will promote well-being by expanding access to mental health resources, prevention efforts, and supportive services.
  • Environmental Stewardship:
    • Sustainability: Students will serve in campus roles and with local nonprofits and State agencies on sustainability work, such as recycling campaigns, tree planting, pollinator gardens, and sustainability outreach.
    • Climate Action: Students will advance long-term climate initiatives through research, education, and resilience-building that supports healthier communities (e.g. supporting local municipalities, climate-focused campus initiatives, climate outreach campaigns, etc.).
  • Veterans Affairs & Military Families Outreach: Students will serve at host sites dedicated to supporting active military or veterans' affairs for individuals, families, or affiliated groups through outreach, resource connection, and responsive services.

The Empire State Service Corps is part of SUNY's ongoing efforts to support New Yorkers in need by encouraging civic engagement and volunteerism. In March, Empire State Service Corps members hosted a day of service and prepared meal kits at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. In January, members of the Empire State Service Corps assembled literacy kits as part of a day of service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In November 2025, Service Corps members were mobilized to support their communities during Governor Hochul's Day of Hunger Action, and they provided additional assistance during the food insecurity crisis.

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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