07/30/2026
SUNY Cortland will continue to help children learn to swim with the expansion of a free major statewide initiative aimed at improving water safety.
The New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) seeks to prevent drowning, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. among children ages 1 to 4. The effort relies on a partnership between the New York State Department of Health, SUNY and the New York State YMCA Foundation Inc. that increases access to learn-to-swim lessons for children up to age 12.
Established under Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2024, NY SWIMS has invested nearly $260 million in 79 projects across New York state. Cortland has participated in the program since its inception, and the university recently earned a new $82,000 grant as one of nine SUNY campuses that will lead educational efforts in the coming year.
The program also has helped address a statewide lifeguard shortage while training additional water safety instructors. SUNY Cortland’s efforts rely heavily on college students with those skills.
“NY SWIMS has become an important building block for children and families because it helps develop a crucial lifelong skill,” said Brian Tobin ’94, head coach of SUNY Cortland’s swimming and diving teams who has led the university’s participation in the statewide initiative. “We’ve seen so much growth in young swimmers, thanks to the work of our swim instructors and lifeguards as well as continued investment from Gov. Hochul and leaders across New York state.”
Roughly half of the U.S. population lacks basic survival skills in water, according to Tobin, and the problem worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many swimming programs for children were paused.
“It’s been a catch-up ever since,” Tobin said, noting that the grant’s funds previously provided free, quality swim instruction through local school district partners.
In 2024-25, the university welcomed more than 120 third- and fourth-grade students through an optional program with the Cortland City School District and Marathon Central School District. Students were bussed to SUNY Cortland’s campus after the school day, where they participated in swim lessons in the university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center.
Tobin said focusing on specific grade levels was intentional to reach youngsters who may not have received instruction earlier.
“They come out of these lessons better prepared in and around the water,” he said, noting that their enthusiasm and confidence grows with more lessons. “They’re enjoying the learning experience, which is what should happen in education all of the time.”
Future efforts will look to encourage a younger age range — up to age 4 — through partnerships with the Cortland County Family YMCA, YWCA Cortland and local childcare providers. Tobin said the NY SWIMS program is another example of the benefits that SUNY institutions provide to the local community, specifically through college-age water safety instructors.
“(Children) see great role models in our instructors,” Tobin said, noting that many staff members come from education-related disciplines. “It’s invaluable experience for (college students) too, so it’s a win-win all the way around.”