SUNY Chancellor Visits Delhi to Promote Internships

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited SUNY Delhi on February 6 to learn about Delhi’s workforce development and student internship programs. With a shared belief that hands-on learning is crucial for student success and upward mobility, Dr. King was eager to hear about internship experiences directly from the campus community. 

The Chancellor led a lively roundtable discussion with a group of Delhi students, faculty, staff, and industry partners about how internships and other real-world projects strengthen skill development and career readiness.

Students from various programs from accounting and culinary arts to criminal justice and construction management expressed their appreciation for the internship opportunities they have enjoyed at Delhi. For some, they were the deciding factor in coming to study at Delhi. Not only are internships valuable for hands-on learning and resume development, they are also a great tool for industry connections and often lead to permanent job offers.

A representative from Cornell Synchrotron, one of the internship sites for the mechatronics programs, said they have hired 12 interns from Delhi over the last few years and it has been a very successful collaboration. “The students come in with a lot of skills and interest. We train them over the course of a few months and then really put them to work to help us expand. It’s hard to find this combination of skills and preparedness, so it’s been a tremendous value for us.”

Rob Mazzei, Director of Career and Transfer Services at SUNY Delhi, said the amount of inquiries he receives from employers about hiring students is “incredible.”

“Companies want our graduates. They want the first shot at them. Our students are prepared and ready to work. They’re going to hit the ground running.”

The Chancellor then toured some of SUNY Delhi’s applied technologies facilities to see students in action in welding, plumbing, mechatronics, and construction labs. Acting President Mary Bonderoff shared with him the college’s plans to expand facilities to accommodate even more students in these high-demand programs.

Dr. King visited Open House at the MOSAIC Multicultural Center, meeting with more students and campus members. His final stop was the Delaware County Regional Innovation Council meeting at Bluestone, where members from local businesses and industries gathered to discuss opportunities to attract and retain workforce in the area. The Chancellor appealed to the Council to donate money for Delhi’s facility expansion and to partner with SUNY Delhi for student internships.

The Chancellor’s visit coincided with an announcement from SUNY that it is investing nearly $10 million in annual state funding to provide internships or other experiential learning experiences for students on their path toward completing a college degree. The funding was secured through Governor Kathy Hochul’s and the New York State Legislature’s historic $163 million increase in direct operating aid to SUNY’s State-operated campuses this year.

Dr. Bonderoff said, “As a core part of SUNY Delhi’s mission, applied learning encompasses a range of activities and skills demonstration to prepare students to enter the workforce upon graduation. A majority of our academic programs incorporate required internships into their curricula, allowing our students to gain a competitive edge in the job market. We hear directly from employers that these real-world skills and job experiences set our students apart. Faculty do a tremendous job developing relationships with industry partners. Looking toward the future, I’m confident these opportunities and relationships will continue to strengthen.”

SUNY Delhi has identified several areas to utilize its funding, including:

• Providing high-quality applied learning opportunities by hiring ten student interns to assist with various projects on campus. Each internship will align with academic programs and will be tailored to the student’s interests and career goals.
• Hiring a Director of Career and Transfer Services to bolster student success by assisting students throughout their academic careers as it relates to obtaining internships as well as permanent employment upon graduation.
• Implementing the platform Handshake to improve job placement rates, career development resources, enhancing alumni engagement, and offering data-driven insights to support continuous improvement in career services. Handshake will also be available for employers to provide access to job postings.
• Leveraging SkillsFirst, a campus resource used for resume creation, cover letter writing, and electronic portfolio development.
• Supporting student professional development opportunities including conferences, networking events, student memberships to professional organizations, competitions, and business etiquette training.
• Offering financial support for students to ensure they have access to opportunities from the pre-employment/recruitment stage through completion of the internship/work experience.