03/20/2026
More members of SUNY Cortland’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) will be able to pursue a paid internship thanks to a new program that aims to help students from low-income backgrounds overcome financial barriers.
Through SUNY’s EOP Paid Internship Scale-Up Initiative, SUNY Cortland will utilize more than $50,000 in state funding to increase student participation in high-impact practices (HIPs). That term refers to educational experiences associated with student learning, retention and career readiness characterized by sustained, meaningful collaboration. Examples include internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, community-based learning, first-year seminars, learning communities, student leadership and employment.
Up to 20 EOP scholars at the university will be able to earn a paid internship stipend paying them $1,920 for a three-credit, semester-long work experience. Cortland is one of 24 campuses to earn approval for its program, which follows the SUNY system’s stated goal of 100% participation in applied learning for EOP students.
“This is wonderful news because it provides high-impact experiential learning opportunities for our EOP students and it means our institution will close an equity gap in paid internship access,” said Mary Schlarb, the university’s assistant vice provost for student achievement. “This initiative also perfectly aligns with SUNY Cortland’s 2024-30 strategic plan goals of fostering academic engagement, improving equity in achievement and enhancing workforce readiness.”
EOP provides educational and financial support to 114 SUNY Cortland students who demonstrate strong academic and personal potential but may have missed out on a college education due to adverse circumstances such as financial hardship.
Nationally, students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students are less likely to participate in paid internships than their peers. Across SUNY, approximately 66% of EOP students who graduated in 2024-25 participated in credit-bearing internships or HIPs, a number that mirrors SUNY Cortland’s institutional data.
Unpaid internship experiences also can create financial and logistical barriers for students due to the costs associated with transportation, housing or missed work.
“Internship experiences are a vital part of ensuring our students can explore career paths that interest them, while also gaining valuable real-world experience,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King J. “For nearly 60 years, the Educational Opportunity Program has provided a pathway for students throughout New York state to access higher education. This grant program means that all EOP students will be able to access high-quality internships that enrich their education, so they can be set on a path to upward mobility and success.”
The majority of SUNY Cortland’s funding will be dedicated to internship stipends that pay students $16 per hour, totaling $38,400. The university also will receive wraparound support grants to cover participation-related expenses and additional funds for administration and programming.
Schlarb noted that the university’s efforts will be collaborative between the EOP Office, Career Services and SUNY Cortland’s multidisciplinary HIPs Council, with hopes to expand partnerships with local employers and alumni.
An additional area of opportunity includes converting some federal work-study positions on campus into credit-bearing internships. The program also will look to support qualified EOP students who are selected to participate in the university’s Business Assistance Internship Program offered through the SUNY Cortland Entrepreneurship Center.
The pilot program has the potential to be renewed after its inaugural year, with overall goals to achieve 100% EOP student participation in high-impact practices and establish a sustainable model for providing equitable access to them.