Governor Hochul Announces Applications Open for 2026–27 Empire State Service Corps Program

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications open for the third year of the Empire State Service Corps program. SUNY undergraduate or graduate students are encouraged to apply on the SUNY website between now and April 17 for one of 1,000 paid civic and service internships for the 2026-27 academic year included in Governor Hochul's FY27 Executive Budget.

"The Empire State Service Corps meets the needs of New Yorkers while offering meaningful public service experience to SUNY students, helping them and our communities thrive," Governor Hochul said. "This transformational program allows us to nurture the next generation of leaders and ensure that they don't have to choose between paid work and civic engagement. As we continue to expand civic engagement opportunities, I look forward to seeing students work toward addressing New York's most pressing needs."

The Empire State Service Corps, annually funded at $2.75 million since the FY25 Enacted State Budget, is New York State's largest AmeriCorps program. In her 2026 State of the State Agenda, Governor Hochul proposed doubling the size of the Empire State Service Corps and including new Service Corps programs to meet New York State's most pressing needs - offering new capacity to assist in areas such as disaster recovery. In 2025, applications far exceeded the number of available spots for the second year in a row, with applications outpacing the number of campus spots 4:1.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, "SUNY's Empire State Service Corps members are future leaders dedicated to helping New Yorkers through their service, while also gaining valuable real-world experience that prepares them for post-graduate life. SUNY is thrilled to continue this program for the third year, with the support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, and provide our students with the opportunity to enrich their communities through their service. I applaud every member of our Service Corps, and the amazing faculty and staff that support them as they make a meaningful difference in the lives of New Yorkers throughout the state."

SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY's Empire State Service Corps, championed by Governor Hochul, has provided hundreds of students with the opportunity to serve their state and contribute to their communities. We thank Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their steadfast support of the Empire State Service Corps, and our dedicated students for taking on this important work."

New York State Commission on National and Community Service Executive Director Beth Tailleur said, "The New York State Commission on National and Community Service is excited for another year of AmeriCorps programming in New York State, and we're delighted to continue supporting SUNY's Empire State Service Corps. This year, 33 AmeriCorps New York programs, including the ESSC, stand proud and ready to serve. I strongly encourage all New Yorkers interested in serving others to apply to an AmeriCorps New York program that fits their interests. Service can be transformative. It binds us to others for a common goal, and it chips away at walls of division and polarization. I'm eager to see the ESSC continue to grow, and to celebrate all the accomplishments of the ESSC and AmeriCorps New York."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, "I have seen firsthand how service deepens learning and builds character. The Empire State Service Corps gives SUNY students the opportunity to serve their communities, earn income, and gain real-world experience at the same time. The demand for this program speaks volumes. Students want to lead and help solve real problems. I commend Governor Hochul and Chancellor King for continuing to invest in this initiative, and I encourage SUNY students across New York to apply. When we invest in service, we invest in the next generation of civic leaders."

Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman said, "The 2026-27 Empire State Service Corps represents a vital investment in both our students and our neighborhoods. By funding 1,000 paid civic internships in the FY27 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul is ensuring that our SUNY students don't have to choose between a paycheck and their passion for public service. I encourage our local students to apply by April 17 to gain the professional experience and financial support they need to become the next generation of New York's leaders."

City Year CEO Jim Balfanz said, "When young people engage in meaningful service opportunities, they develop the durable skills that employers and universities are looking for in their next leaders. It has been exciting to see the high demand for service opportunities and the impact students are making throughout New York State. City Year - a national education-focused nonprofit and an AmeriCorps program - is proud to partner with the Empire State Service Corps to develop the Student Success Coach cohort and looks forward to growing the number of communities and young people across the state who can benefit, thanks to this expansion effort from Governor Hochul."

United Way of New York State and 211 New York President & CEO Therese A. Daly said, "Serving as a host site for the Empire State Service Corps has been an extraordinary opportunity for United Way of New York State and 211 New York. These students brought energy, professionalism, and a deep commitment to community impact-supporting SNAP outreach, connecting individuals to critical resources, and strengthening access to basic needs and services across the state. Their service not only expanded our capacity, but also reinforced the power of young leaders stepping forward to build healthier, more equitable communities. We strongly encourage individuals to apply to participate and organizations across the state to consider becoming host sites."

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 a recognized AmeriCorps program, participating students who complete 300 service hours also receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 for their service.

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.

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.
• 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, or support reentry and stability by connecting justice-impacted individuals to resources, opportunities, and community networks.
• 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. 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: Advance long-term climate initiatives through research, education, and resilience-building that supports 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.

The Empire State Service Corps is part of SUNY's ongoing efforts to support New Yorkers in need and promote civics and service opportunities among SUNY students. In January, members of the Empire State Service Corps assembled literacy kits as part of a day of service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In November 2025, Empire State Service Corps members were mobilized to support their communities during Governor Hochul's Day of Hunger Action, and they provided additional assistance during the food insecurity crisis. In January 2025, Chancellor King announced the addition of a civic discourse component to the general education core competencies, as well as an update to the existing information literacy core competency in order to reflect the rise of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.

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 one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

Contact the Governor's Press Office