Albany, NY — Alfred State is one of the 27 SUNY campuses that selected by State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. to receive an awards through SUNY’s Mental Health First Aid Grant Program. The program provides targeted funding to strengthen campus-wide approaches to student mental health and well-being across the SUNY System. Awards up to $8,000 grants will be givien to 27 SUNY campuses, including 16 state-operated campuses and 11 community colleges.
On an annual basis, when fully implemented, the funding is estimated to support the delivery of Mental Health First Aid training for almost 3,000 faculty, staff, and other non-clinical campus personnel, expanding campus capacity to recognize and respond to students in distress.
“Mental health is health, and our priority at SUNY is to advance every aspect of our students’ growth and to ensure they have the support needed to succeed in their academic, professional, and personal development,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “The grants provided through this innovative program will help ensure more SUNY staff and personnel are trained to recognize and address mental health concerns and to support students in need.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “SUNY students and their loved ones deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing there are supports and staff available to assist in case of mental health challenges or distress. This grant program will help ensure more faculty and SUNY personnel throughout the state will receive important training to take action and help those experiencing mental health distress.”
The Mental Health First Aid Grant Program was first announced as part of Chancellor King’s 2025 State of the University Policy Agenda and reflects the SUNY Board of Trustees’ ongoing commitment to proactive, systemwide strategies that support student mental health. By extending training beyond campus counseling centers, this initiative equips faculty and staff with practical tools to provide timely, informed support and connect students with appropriate professional resources.
The grant funding announced by SUNY will support the creation and expansion of campus Mental Health First Aid programming, including instructor certification, campus-wide training delivery, required materials, and outreach efforts to strengthen mental health literacy. Campuses with existing Mental Health First Aid programs are encouraged to use the funding to expand training for additional students, faculty, and staff and, where appropriate, provide training opportunities to neighboring SUNY campuses.
Tramaine El-Amin, Vice President of Mental Health First Aid, said, “Faculty and staff are often the first to notice when a student is struggling, and they deserve practical, evidence-based tools to respond with confidence and care. These grants will help 27 SUNY campuses expand Mental Health First Aid training, so more educators and frontline staff can recognize the signs of mental health and substance use challenges, start supportive conversations, and connect people to appropriate resources. SUNY is making an important investment in campus wellbeing and in the everyday moments when being prepared can make a difference.”
Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized, evidence-based training program that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The training emphasizes early recognition, supportive response, and connection to professional help, reinforcing SUNY’s focus on prevention, awareness, and coordinated care. Additionally, the training will also include SUNY produced culturally competent supplemental materials.
State Assemblymember Joe Sempolinski said, “I want to thank Chancellor King for making these Mental Health First Aid training grants to 27 SUNY campuses across New York, including Alfred State College. As Ranking Member of the Assembly Mental Health Committee and a member of the Higher Education Committee, I know how important it is to take a proactive approach to student mental health and well-being. This training will help SUNY faculty, staff and students recognize when someone is in distress and respond appropriately.”
The SUNY campuses which will receive grants through the Mental Health First Aid Grant Program include:
- State University of New York at Albany
- Alfred State College
- State University of New York at Binghamton
- SUNY Brockport
- State University of New York at Buffalo
- Clinton Community College
- Farmingdale State College
- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
- SUNY Fredonia
- Genesee Community College
- SUNY Geneseo
- Hudson Valley Community College
- Jamestown Community College
- SUNY Maritime College
- SUNY Morrisville
- SUNY New Paltz
- SUNY Niagara Community College
- SUNY Oneonta
- Onondaga Community College
- SUNY College of Optometry
- SUNY Oswego
- SUNY Plattsburgh
- SUNY Schenectady County Community College
- State University of New York at Stony Brook
- Sullivan County Community College
- Tompkins Cortland Community College
- Westchester Community College
SUNY has led efforts to support students’ mental health and to advance efforts to train more mental health professionals in New York State. Thanks to increased State investment in SUNY, the SUNY Board of Trustees now allocates nearly $10 million in recurring annual funding to support state-operated campuses in expanding mental health services and $3 million in recurring annual funding to support mental health services at community colleges. SUNY also has an easy-to-use website to support students who may be struggling with mental health distress to identify support services and available resources. In July 2025, Chancellor King announced the fourth class of SUNY/OMH Scholarship Program recipients, as part of the SUNY effort to strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on serving New Yorkers who may have historically lacked access to quality mental health care.