NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a $2 million investment from the state to add 12 apprenticeship programs at the City University of New York for its associate degrees starting in the fall 2023 semester, an expansion major in CUNY’s credit-for-credit offering of apprenticeships in in-demand industries.
The additions build on the five existing learning programs integrated into CUNY’s associate degree programs in software engineering, consulting, finance, risk management, and cybersecurity.
“Apprenticeships are an essential launch pad for impactful, high-paying careers, and we are proud to build a strong curriculum for CUNY students,” Governor Hochul said. “With this additional $2 million investment, we can expand apprenticeship programs for associate degree programs and open up new opportunities for New Yorkers across the state.”
New learning offerings will be launched at CUNY’s 10 associate degree colleges; In addition to CUNY’s seven community colleges, two-year degrees are offered at the College of Staten Island, Medgar Evers College, and New York City College of Technology.
The employers who arrange the apprenticeships will pay the students, and the students will earn nine course credits.
“Apprenticeships have always been a great route for young people to enter the fields, providing hands-on work until they are ready to do the job on their own,” said the City University of New York chancellor. , Felix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Students need experience and professional connections beyond the classroom more than ever so they have clear career paths when they graduate. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for investing in our students, and we extend our thanks to employers who welcome our students from two one-year degree programs to high-demand jobs in their offices as we work together to strengthen our workforce.”
CUNY students will prepare for internships at companies such as JPMorgan Chase, EY, Citi, American Express, Deloitte, AIG, Mastercard, and Wells Fargo, which are members of the New York Jobs CEO Council.
The Jobs Council is a coalition of CEOs from some of the city’s largest employers with the goal of employing 100,000 low-income and diverse New Yorkers, including 25,000 CUNY students and graduates, by the end of the decade.
“As a CUNY graduate, I know how many opportunities this institution offers New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “The apprenticeship programs provide students with skills and real-world experiences that help them develop their interests and set them on the path to a better future. With Governor Hochul’s $2 million investment in the CUNY apprenticeship program, all students, especially our black and brown students, will have more opportunities to find well-paying jobs in finance, technology, and other fields.”
The expansion will create apprenticeships for hundreds of students, according to the governor’s office. Most of them are Associate of Applied Science (AAS) programs, two-year programs designed to prepare students for direct entry into a career after graduation, compared to the graduate degree. more fundamental associate that traditionally leads students to progress to a bachelor’s degree. program.
“These programs are a game-changer for students and employers,” said Kiersten Barnet, executive director of the New York Jobs CEO Council. “Students benefit from work-based learning opportunities that also serve as direct pathways to competitive entry-level positions. Employers have access to a broader pool of talent that reflects our city’s rich diversity.”