SUNY Oneonta’s Career Planning & Networking Center helps students connect their academic experience with their career interests and plans for life after graduation. Its work brings together career advising, internship support, employer engagement, and professional development so that students can explore options and gain experience as part of their education.
During 2025–26, the Center recorded 4,760 student interactions, an increase of 187.5 percent over the prior year, and supported 527 internships. These figures show growth in engagement with career services and the reach of internship opportunities across the university.
“Internships allow students to explore their interests, build on and complement learning in courses, work with professionals and practitioners in the field, and gain relevant career experiences and competencies,” said Christy Funsch, director of the university’s Career Planning and Networking Center (CPNC). “Internships also present networking opportunities and can help level the playing field for students without family and friend connections on which to draw. Employers consistently say that internship experience is the most influential factor they consider when deciding between two otherwise equally qualified job candidates.”
In summer 2026, more than 130 Oneonta students got firsthand practice in disciplines ranging from art to sport management during internships across the state and country and even abroad. These students received more than $500,000 in funding for internship stipends.
Read about some of these students’ experiences at https://suny.oneonta.edu/news/students-complete-summer-2026-internships.