State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras earlier this month launched a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program auto-enrollment program for approximately 10,000 SUNY students facing food insecurity, who are eligible for benefits but may not be signing up following the expansion of the program by Governor Andrew Cuomo in October 2020. An internal survey of SUNY students showed that only 23 percent of eligible students had previously considered enrolling in SNAP.
In order to be eligible for SUNY’s new SNAP auto-enrollment, students must be engaged at least half-time in career and technical education program, remedial course, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a second language, which are available within SUNY’s free Online Training Center, Educational Opportunity Centers, and Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking labs.
“Within our Educational Opportunity Centers alone, 50 percent of our students have suffered from food insecurity at some point, which is why SUNY is tackling this issue on multiple fronts, whether it is having food pantries on or near campuses to this important program of automatically enrolling eligible students into the SNAP program,” said Malatras.
Hudson Valley Community College President Ramsammy said, “Students at Hudson Valley Community College and young people across New York are facing unprecedented challenges. Under the leadership of Chancellor Malatras, the State University is taking bold steps to address those challenges. Students can now receive ready and reliable access to SNAP benefits while they pursue an opportunity to increase their education and career skills through SUNY for All. The state’s Educational Opportunity Centers are a valuable tool for moving New Yorkers toward a brighter future, and we are so pleased that Chancellor Malatras has chosen to make this announcement at our own Capital District Educational Opportunity Center.”
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