Governor Hochul Announces 200 New Child Care Spots at 12 High-Demand SUNY Campus Centers
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of 200 more spots at 12 high-demand SUNY campus child care centers. The expansion of child care accessibility on SUNY campuses is made possible with $1.72 million in additional funding for improvements. The SUNY community colleges that were awarded funds include Broome, Dutchess, Genesee, Hudson Valley, Jamestown, Niagara County, Schenectady, Suffolk County for two locations, Tompkins, Cortland, Ulster, and Westchester.
“Quality child care is the cornerstone of a child’s development and is a crucial investment in the success of our future generations,” Governor Hochul said. “Investing in child care centers on SUNY campuses empowers our students, staff and faculty to pursue a higher education with ease while supporting working families.”
The New York State investment was part of Governor Hochul’s 2023 Budget and her wide-reaching initiative to ensure that students, faculty, and staff on all SUNY campuses have access to high-quality child care centers. Demand for child care spots have risen significantly, and on some campuses, as many as 80 percent of students with dependents report they have trouble meeting their child care needs. This announcement was made today by SUNY Chancellor King during a visit to Niagara County Community College, where he joined President William Murabitoto tour the John R. Oishei Child Development Center and speak with student parents and the program director.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, SUNY offered approximately 4,500 child care slots across the 46 SUNY campuses that have a child care center onsite. The centers served 795 student-parents — up from 650 the year before — as well as faculty, staff, and local community members. SUNY campuses invest about $6 million annually to provide child care services. Last year, $10.8 million was allocated to SUNY to address child care deserts as well as fund improvements and expand capacity.
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King said, “Having that college degree is more important than ever to compete for good jobs in New York’s rapidly evolving workplaces, and for many of our students, services like child care are essential for them to earn their spot at graduation. My thanks to Governor Hochul for ongoing support and funding for these services, as well as the leadership on campuses for the care they provide our students and their families, and their ongoing work to build up resources for the communities we serve.”
Niagara County Community College President Dr. William J. Murabito said, “Child care can be a barrier to seeking higher education or anyone balancing family and career. Having a child care center right here at Niagara County Community College is a tremendous asset not only for students who are parents, but also our own employees with children. We’re excited about this new funding because it will allow us to dedicate more space to the center, serve more students, and provide a wider range of programming for children across all of their developmental stages.”
Source: The Office of the Governor