For the second straight year, the Empire State Services Corps will include students from Tompkins Cortland Community College. When the statewide program that pays college students for doing community service work debuted last year, TC3 was awarded five spaces. TC3 was so successful in utilizing those spaces that the allotment was increased to eight spaces this fall.

Students participating in the program commit to dedicating at least 300 hours a year to engaging in community service and will convene regularly to share and learn from each other's experiences. State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. celebrated this year’s participating students as an example of civic education and engagement as part of SUNY’s observance of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

“Ensuring students become well-rounded, civically engaged members of society is a core component of a SUNY higher education,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “As we observe Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and celebrate the foundational aspects of the American Democracy, the participants of the Empire State Service Corps represent the living embodiment of service to our great state. I applaud every member of our Empire State Service Corps, and the outstanding staff and faculty who support these future leaders across our SUNY campuses as they work to advance public education, civil discourse, and civic engagement.”

At TC3, students will work in one of two areas: Peer Mental Health or Food Insecurity/SNAP Basic Needs. Three students will be trained to serve as a peer mental health educator at the TC3 Health and Wellness Counseling Center, working with peers in supporting strong mental health practices and overall wellness initiatives. Five students will provide support with SNAP outreach while working in the Panther Pantry, an on-campus resource helping the campus community fight food insecurity.

Statewide, nearly 500 students will be able to participate in the Empire State Service Corps, which is funded from $2.75 million championed by Governor Kathy Hochul in the New York State budget and is a recognized AmeriCorps program, meaning that participating students who complete 300 hours also receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,500 for their service.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed on September 17, on the anniversary of the adoption of the United States’ Constitution in 1787.