SUNY helps USNCC with education program for sailors

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras and Randi Cosentino, president of USNCC, made the joint announcement.

SUNY’s inaugural class of nearly 130 students will enroll in the Naval Leadership and Ethics course as well as the Introduction to Literature, Introduction to College Writing, and Contemporary Mathematics courses for the spring term at SUNY Empire State College. 

Citing “its experience in military-supportive education,” SUNY Empire State College will provide online course delivery and student-support services, with SUNY Online providing additional coaching and support for USNCC students.

SUNY Empire State College says it serves more than 450 active-duty, guard, and reserve students stationed around the world, and about 600 veterans of all branches of the military. 

“We are very excited to make this announcement,” Cosentino said. “Working with institutions, like SUNY Empire State College, will bring to the members of our maritime-service community programs that are going to be of high value to them and help them achieve their educational goals. The pilot will allow us to collect important data that will inform the development of the USNCC. Working with leading colleges will help us explore outcomes around the design of the program, the processes involved, working relationships and overall impact.”

The concept of USNCC came from a study seeking to identify opportunities to better prepare enlisted service members and to support them throughout their career. Naval leadership directed the USNCC to begin pilot programs to identify the best way to help enlisted naval service members access “naval-relevant education opportunities.”