More TC3 employees will soon receive training to help students in distress.
Tompkins Cortland Community College has been awarded a SUNY Mental Health First Aid Grant, part of a systemwide effort to strengthen student mental health support. The funding comes from a SUNY program announced by Chancellor John B. King Jr. and includes TC3 among 27 campuses statewide.
The Mental Health First Aid Grant Program provides up to $8,000 per campus. SUNY estimates the funding will support training for nearly 3,000 faculty, staff, and other non-clinical personnel each year.
“Mental health is health, and our priority at SUNY is to advance every aspect of our students’ growth,” King said. “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.”
At TC3, the grant will focus on increasing mental health literacy across campus.
“This SUNY Mental Health First Aid grant will enable Tompkins Cortland Community College to expand mental health literacy across our campus by training more employees to recognize early signs of distress and respond with confidence,” said Matt Kiechle, TC3’s director of health and wellness services.
He said faculty and staff often serve as the first trusted adults students turn to. The training aims to help employees provide early support and connect students with resources before situations escalate.
SUNY first announced the Mental Health First Aid Grant Program as part of the chancellor’s 2025 State of the University Policy Agenda. The initiative reflects an ongoing effort by the SUNY Board of Trustees to address student mental health through prevention, awareness, and early intervention.
The program expands training beyond counseling centers and equips staff with tools to recognize concerns and guide students toward professional help.
State Sen. Lea Webb praised the initiative and its inclusion of TC3.
“This nationally recognized and evidence-based program will deliver critical training for faculty and staff to ensure that students in crisis receive timely and appropriate assistance,” Webb said. “Investing in mental health education strengthens our campus communities and ensures students have access to timely, compassionate support.”
Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized, evidence-based training program. It 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 care, reinforcing SUNY’s focus on coordinated support for students.
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