(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK – January 13, 2021) State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras today launched a statewide campaign supporting SUNY’s new free Online Training Center designed to give New Yorkers a clear pathway to college and careers in the post-COVID economy. Students who complete any one of the Online Training Center certificates with a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential will be automatically accepted to any of SUNY's 30 community colleges or SUNY Empire State College, with application fees waived.

Governor Andrew Cuomo detailed the new Online Training Center during Tuesday’s State of the State Address. In it, he called for the expansion of Center to reach more New Yorkers. Currently, the SUNY Online Training Center offer free high school equivalency, college prep, and employment certification programs in high demand areas such as healthcare, as well as success coaches trained to guide participants. 

SUNY Empire offers prospective students more than 110 flexible online programs, from certificates to master’s degrees. The college has been conducting online instruction since 1995, blended with face-to-face learning at campuses and learning hubs in every region of the state.

Even before the pandemic, it was projected that 65 percent of jobs in the U.S. would require post-secondary education through 2020, and recent projections show that increasing to 70 percent by 2027. Currently, more than 2.2 million New Yorkers between the ages of 25 to 44 have no degree, and 2.6 million between the ages of 45-64 are without one.

“SUNY applauds the Governor for proposing in his State of the State much-needed flexible job training programs to move the state forward in a post-COVID economy,” said Chancellor Malatras. “And SUNY is proud to be a central part of that campaign to give every New Yorker the education and training they need to have a better career. SUNY’s new free Online Training Center will not only provide job training in high demand areas, it will serve as a gateway to our community colleges or SUNY Empire State College. SUNY has been and will continue to provide excellence in higher education that is both accessible and affordable—where our students can gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed for the jobs of our new future and the demands of our society.”

“SUNY Empire State College has been a leader in distance and remote education for five decades. By partnering with the SUNY’s newly created Online Training Center to create seamless pathways into our associates and bachelor’s degree programs, we can make hard working New Yorker’s educational aspirations happen,” said SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea. “Thank you to Governor Cuomo and Chancellor Malatras for your continued commitment to increasing access to education, and for developing a Center that is not only lowering barriers, but is focused on workforce development.” 

SUNY's free Online Training Center offers free certifications in college preparation, like High School Equivalency; Allied Health, like Electronic Health Records and Pharmacy Technician; Business and Industry Certification, like Advanced Manufacturing. Eligible students must be a New York State resident from a low- or moderate-income household, without a post-secondary degree, who may be unemployed or recently laid off.

SUNY's free Online Training Center includes programs offered by the University Center for Academic and Workforce Development (UCAWD), Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) labs, and Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs). These online programs, coupled with success coaches, will help more New Yorkers earn a higher education degree. Additionally, small business owners can start or grow their enterprises with EntreSkills, the free online entrepreneurial education course developed by the New York Small Business Development Center.

SUNY's Educational Opportunity Centers have traditionally served as a launching pad to community colleges, and SUNY campuses have partnerships with many EOCs to give enrollment and orientation programs. The statewide network of ten EOCs and two Outreach and Counseling Centers include 600 faculty and staff. While SUNY's EOCs are located in large urban areas across New York, SUNY's Online Training Center is accessible across the state.

Registration is open for the Spring semester, which begins on February 1. To learn more, register or attend a virtual informational session, visit https://www.suny.edu/sunyforall. New SUNY FOR ALL Campaign kick-off videos are available here with photos found here.

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, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. As of Fall 2019, more than 415,500 students were enrolled in a degree-granting program at a SUNY campus. In total, SUNY serves about 1.3 million students in 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 exceeded $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2019, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are 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 opportunity, visit suny.edu.

About SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College educates 16,000 students per year in person, online, and through a blend of both, at locations in every region of New York and at eight international sites worldwide. Together with one of SUNY Empire’s 800 faculty mentors, each student designs their own individualized pathway to a college degree that accommodates their schedule and awards credit for prior college-level learning. SUNY Empire awards more than 3,000 degrees annually and 94 percent of graduates stay in New York state. Today, more than 89,000 SUNY Empire alumni are entrepreneurs, veterans, and active members of the military, professional athletes, teachers, medical professionals, and leaders in their field, as well as in their communities. To learn more, visit www.esc.edu and follow the college on social media @SUNYEmpire.