SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – August 27, 2024) State University of New York Chancellor John B. King participated in a panel at Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC) on Aug. 21, 2024. The panel featured Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf, university leadership, military-affiliated alumni, and students.
The conversation centered on efforts to support military-affiliated students, including legislative efforts to expand eligibility for New York State’s veteran tuition assistance program. Students highlighted their personal experiences receiving assistance from SUNY Empire and the importance of building support through face-to-face interaction with direct resources in university spaces.
“Since I took this job, to me it was very important that we delivered excellent quality opportunities to veterans and that we are thoughtful as a system about how to make it easier for veterans to come to SUNY and succeed at SUNY,” SUNY Chancellor John. B. King, Jr., said.
“I’m so proud to be the president of an institution that serves our remarkable military-affiliated students in ways that truly matter to them,” President Lisa Vollendorf said. “I’m grateful for their service, and I’m grateful for the unique perspectives and experiences they bring to SUNY Empire.”
“The chancellor’s interest in our work and SUNY’s commitment to better support military affiliated students is very encouraging,” Anne Sweet, assistant director of military student services, said. “His visit to the Veteran and Military Resource Center gave our students an opportunity to share their experiences of how SUNY Empire has helped them customize their degrees and graduate quickly.”
Robin Hodges, an alumna and current student at SUNY Empire pursuing a master’s degree in business management, praised the VMRC and SUNY Empire for providing supportive, flexible, and affordable programs that allowed her to finish her degree and utilize her military credit hours. Hodges was named one of SUNY Empire’s Bluebird Award winners for the 2023-24 academic year and is heavily involved with the African American Veterans Monument.
“When I came back to Buffalo, I wanted to finish my degree and I searched to find out who would accept my military credit hours and SUNY Empire was the first school that I found and the one that I stuck with,” Hodges said. “Throughout my years of being here, it’s been an awesome experience. I can’t say enough about the staff, the professors, and the learning environment. It’s a great school for veterans.”
Empire State University serves over 1,000 military-affiliated students, the most of any SUNY institution, according to data from the most recently completed academic year. You can learn more about the Veteran and Military Resource Center on Empire State University’s website.