Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Empire State Service Corps will double in size, growing from 500 to 1,000 available spots and will include new program areas to meet New York’s most pressing needs. This expansion was proposed in Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State Agenda to increase capacity and to assist in new areas such as disaster recovery. Demand for the program has significantly outpaced the number of available spots, with applications exceeding the number of campus spots 4:1. Growth will help SUNY meet the widespread demand for paid service opportunities, and these positions will be distributed to every corner of the state, including areas that traditionally have had few AmeriCorps opportunities.
“The Empire State Service Corps supports local communities across New York State, while engaging students in meaningful paid service opportunities,” Governor Hochul said. “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.”
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.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “The Empire State Service Corps empowers SUNY students to give back, learn on the job, and uplift others. This impactful and empowering program is available as a result of Governor Hochul’s vision, and we thank her, the State Legislature, and the SUNY Board of Trustees for their support. By doubling the SUNY Service Corps, Governor Hochul is providing more SUNY students throughout the state with the opportunity to support local communities and be ready to step up in times of crisis, while building civic connections and career readiness.”
The Empire State Service Corps was launched in Fall 2024, thanks to Governor Hochul’s investment of $2.75 million allocation included in the FY25 Enacted State Budget. The first cohort of Empire State Service Corps and Empire State Summer Service Corps members logged a combined 102,343 service hours during the 2024-25 program, serving 74,638 New Yorkers. Empire State Summer Service Corps members also supported 200 new SNAP application submissions during the Summer 2025 session. Doubling funding in the FY27 Enacted State Budget to $5.5 million, Governor Hochul will ensure that the Empire State Service Corps has 1,000 available spots for SUNY students to give back to their communities in a variety of service-focused opportunities.
Focus 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. In addition, thanks to support from the Ibis Group, 25 Corps Members will receive training in the Science of Reading to support literacy in schools.
- 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 support 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.
