SUNY students will have more civic and career preparation opportunities thanks to the expansion of the Empire State Service Corps program.
The program, which is SUNY’s AmeriCorps branch, has attracted significantly more interest than available slots since it was founded in 2024, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. A newly announced expansion will double the 500 available slots starting in the fall, with 1,000 spots now available for students.
Students who participate in the program spend a minimum of 300 hours on paid community service with regular meetings to reflect on what they have learned. The program’s impact is far-reaching across the state, with the inaugural cohort assisting over 74,000 New Yorkers in a combined 102,000 service hours.
Hochul doubles Empire State Service Corps program size
According to a New York State news release, the expansion will help fill a need for paid service opportunities throughout the state, including at Binghamton University. In 2025, Binghamton’s Empire State Service Corps grew to 47 members from the previous year’s 35 to serve a combined 10,000 hours of service.
“The Empire State Service Corps supports local communities across New York State, while engaging students in meaningful paid service opportunities,” said Hochul. “With the expansion of the SUNY Service Corps, even more students will have the ability to give back to local communities and secure life-changing experience and on-the-job training as they prepare for a wide range of careers.”
The program spans a wide range of fields including civic engagement, veterans affairs and environmental stewardship. Students also have multiple options in the education field including tutoring, early childhood education and student success coaching.
Health is a significant field for the program, with students able to help with mental health, food insecurity and independent living for older residents or those with alternative abilities. The expansion will introduce new fields to the program, including disaster recovery efforts.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: More SUNY students can join paid service corps this fall
Reporting by Riccardo Monico, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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By Riccardo Monico, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
