MCC Daily Tribune

SUNY For All Campaign Promotes Free Online Training Center to Create Pathways to College

New Training Center Launched in December and Accompanying Campaign Supports Governor Cuomo’s 2021 Reimagine, Rebuild, Renew Agenda; SUNY Applauds and Supports Governor’s Call to Expand Center to Offer More a Shot at a Better Career

Individuals Completing Online Training Programs with a High School Diploma or Equivalency are Automatically Accepted to SUNY's 30 Community Colleges or SUNY Empire State College; Application Fees are Waived

New SUNY FOR ALL Campaign Kick Off Videos Online Here with Photos Found Here

Yesterday, Jan. 12, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras launched a statewide campaign supporting SUNY’s new free Online Training Center designed to give New Yorkers—whether they live in urban centers or rural communities—a clear pathway to college and careers in the post-COVID economy. 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.

Registration is open for the Spring semester, which begins on February 1. 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. The application fee is also waived.

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'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.

To learn more, register or attend a virtual informational session, visit https://www.suny.edu/sunyforall.

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
01/13/2021