MCC Daily Tribune

In Recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, Chancellor King Highlights Apprenticeship Programs at SUNY

Apprenticeship Programs at SUNY Engage Employers of All Sizes to Create Well-Paying Registered Apprenticeships in High-Demand Occupational Fields

Chancellor Launches New Search Tool for New Yorkers Seeking Apprenticeships and Businesses Seeking Apprentices

Part of SUNY’s Ongoing Efforts to Support Upward Mobility for All New Yorkers

Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. highlighted SUNY’s apprenticeship programs during National Apprenticeship Week on Monday. National Apprenticeship Week is an annual nationwide celebration for employers, education providers, industry associations, labor organizations, workforce partners, and government leaders to showcase the success and value of Registered Apprenticeships. In recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, Chancellor King launched a new Apprenticeship Finder search tool, Apprenticeship Search, to connect interested New Yorkers seeking apprenticeship opportunities with businesses seeking apprentices.

“SUNY’s apprenticeship programs empower New Yorkers to gain valuable, hands-on experience in a variety of industries,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “Through apprenticeships, New Yorkers can learn while they earn and advance their careers, so they can unleash their full potential and move forward on a path to upward mobility and success. New York State relies on skilled workers, and SUNY is proud to be the premier education source for preparing the next generation of the workforce for careers in high-demand industries.”

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Through SUNY’s apprenticeship programs, New Yorkers are given important opportunities to gain hands-on experience in career fields and industries that interest them, while also supporting New York State’s economy. We thank Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, for their continued investment and support of SUNY’s apprenticeship programs, and the success of our students.”

SUNY currently coordinates activities for 42 campuses that support thousands of students in securing pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships within high-demand occupational fields. Apprenticeship opportunities are available in sectors including advanced manufacturing, education, human services, and agriculture. SUNY apprenticeship programs have supported over 5,350 individuals who have started or completed pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training for new or continued employment in their fields.

To provide New Yorkers with high-quality apprenticeships, SUNY engages with employers of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations, across a variety of sectors, to create well-paying Registered Apprenticeships within high-demand occupational fields. Apprenticeship Programs at SUNY are made possible through appropriations in the New York State budget, with a portion administered in conjunction with the Empire State Development Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The funding allows SUNY to support employers with Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as assist current and future Registered Apprentices. The New York State Department of Labor also works with SUNY to develop and oversee Registered Apprenticeship programs.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Registered Apprenticeships are a form of higher education that allow New Yorkers to earn while they learn, which is critical to supporting families while growing the workforce for high-demand fields. We are grateful for Governor Kathy Hochul's commitment to workforce development and proud to collaborate with SUNY to strengthen these essential pathways to success."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Workforce training is a cornerstone of the State's economic development efforts and, under Governor Hochul, we continue to invest in the programs that are training more New Yorkers for the in-demand jobs of the future. Apprenticeships, like those supported by SUNY and our Office of Strategic Workforce Development, help to engage our underemployed and unemployed communities by providing the tools and the means to employment and careers in high-growth industries."

SUNY is committed to increasing awareness of the variety of career pathways available to students, and offering experiential learning opportunities such as internships and apprenticeships. SUNY has worked to expand hands-on learning experiences for students by launching partnerships with organizations including the New York State Association of Counties, the New York State Insurance Fund, as well as an internship exchange program with the University of Puerto Rico and the conservation organization Para La Naturaleza. SUNY has also launched programs including the SUNY Educational Opportunity Career Development Internship Program, Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund , the SUNY Institute for Local News, the Veterans Enrollment and Support Internship Program, and the SUNY Climate Corps. As part of Chancellor King's 2025 State of the University agenda, SUNY also designated regional internship coordinators across the state to assist campuses in identifying internship opportunities. SUNY additionally has Apprenticeship Business Developers to work with regional businesses in scaling apprenticeship programs.

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.

Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
04/28/2026