For Immediate Release
March 3, 2016

Suffolk Garners Share of $1 Million From State For Enhanced Career Services Targeting Students and Community Members

Suffolk County Community College is one of 15 SUNY community colleges that will receive a share of $1 million to support career centers that utilize collaborations with local and regional workforce partners to link students and community members with enhanced career services and employment opportunities. The $1 million in funding was provided by the 2015-16 State Budget. Suffolk will receive $100,000.

Suffolk County Community College’s I-PROMOTE (Integrating Programs and Resources for Outreach, Motivation and Engagement) initiative will expand collaborations between Suffolk County Community College, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), Suffolk County’s departments of labor and social services, the County legislature’s Welfare to Work Commission (comprised of 15 member social services agencies in the region) and the Long Island STEM Hub. Through I-PROMOTE, students, community members, veterans, people with disabilities and underrepresented populations will be linked to enhanced career services and employment opportunities through a coordinated and innovative program that does not currently exist in Suffolk County.

Suffolk’s college-wide program will partner with NYSDOL to deliver employment services, host career fairs, and offer job readiness workshops and activities at the college, including resume writing and Introduction to Microsoft Office. The partnership will expand access to NYSDOL’s electronic systems, including Jobs Express and Job Zone for job seekers as well as professional development for college staff in case management and metrics.  Services will be offered at all three of Suffolk’s campuses, the Culinary Center in downtown Riverhead, and the downtown Sayville Center. The program will run from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

“This innovative program will formalize and expand our working partnership with the New York State and Suffolk County Departments of Labor to link our students to enhanced career services and employment opportunities through a coordinated and innovative effort,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay. “We thank Governor Cuomo for making the funds available that will enable our college to establish resources ranging from self-service kiosks to campus career services computer labs,” Dr. McKay added.