Undergraduate Certificate Programs

Undergraduate certificates provide focused study to support a specific career interest and are applicable to at least one undergraduate area of study. Associate and bachelor’s degree program plans may include a certificate.

Current Certificates

• Certificate in Business and Environmental Sustainability (16 credits)
• Certificate in Crisis Prevention and Intervention  (20 credits)
• Certificate in Entrepreneurship (20 credits)
• Certificate in Healthcare Management (20 credits)
• Certificate in Manufacturing Management (24 credits)

How to Enroll in a Certificate Program

Current SUNY Empire Students

Certificate requests can be submitted through the online Degree Add/Change Request Form. Once the Office of the Registrar processes your request, you and your mentor will receive an email.

Not currently enrolled?

If you are not currently enrolled, you can still register for a certificate program. Apply online for the certificate program only. Select the certificate option. Applicants to the undergraduate certificates are required to submit the same admissions requirements as the associate and bachelor’s degrees.

Certificate students who are concurrently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program are eligible to apply for federal financial aid, while those students who enroll only in the certificate program are not.

Completing your Certificate

Once you complete all the requirements of the certificate, your mentor contacts the certificate program coordinator, who conducts an initial review of the student record. Upon finding that the requirements are complete, the program coordinator recommends the student for graduation to the Office of the Registrar.

Learn More

Center for Workforce Development Adult Education

• Career and Technical education programs
• High school equivalency diploma
• English classes for speakers of other languages
• Job placement assistance
• And more!

     Learn More

Learn More

NYS Dept of Motor Vehicles – Permit or license, car registration, driving regulations

NYS Medicaid – New York’s Medicaid program provides comprehensive health coverage to millions of lower-income New Yorkers

NY State of Health Official Health Plan Market Place–Browse low-cost, quality health insurance options

NYS Social Programs – Learn about Social Programs offered for low-income individuals/households, people with disabilities, and veterans

NYS myBenefits – Create or login to your NYS benefits account to register for HEAP, SNAP, recertify your benefits, and more

NYS ACCESS (Adult Career & Continuing Education Services) – Resources to serve the education and employment needs of adults in New York State

Directory of all NYS Agencies – Locate the website, social media, and up-to-date contact for information for all NYS departments, agencies, and committees

Directory of all NYS Services – Find out how to apply for and access services such as the Empire Pass, applying for the Excelsior Scholarship, or starting an LLC

NYS Dept. of Taxation & Finance – Tax information, file state returns

Internal Revenue Service – Tax information, account sign in, file federal returns

Spectrum – Television, phone, and internet service provider.

Greenlight Networks – Internet service provider

Frontier Communications – Internet, phone and TV service provider

T-Mobile – Home internet, phone service provider

All Choice Connect – Satellite communication service in Rochester, New York

ABC
400 West Ave
Rochester, NY 14611
585-325-5116

abcinfo.org

Action for a Better Community is a Community Action Agency that promotes and provides opportunities for low-income individuals and families to become self-sufficient.

ABC Programs:

• Action Front Center
• Bridges 2 Success
• Community Building in Action
• Employment Retention Investment Curriculum
• Energy Conservation Program
• Head Start & Early Head Start
• Health Career Programs
• High Impact Prevention Services for Youth
• High School Equivalency Prep
• Housing Grant Repair & Rehab Intake
• Office of New Americans
• Strategies to Success
• Strengthening Working Families Initiative
• Summer Youth Employment
• Training in Employment and Soft Skills

ABC

Learn More

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP 2024-2025 Regular HEAP benefit is scheduled to open on November 1st, 2024.

A federally funded program that assists low-income households in meeting the high costs of home heating. (heating supply can be natural gas, electric, oil, coal, propane, wood pellets, corn, or kerosene)

If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off.

Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.

Benefits are given directly to the energy supplier not the recipient.

Your household may be eligible for a Regular benefit if:
A member of your household is a United States Citizen or qualified alien
Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides for your household size 
You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits 
You receive Temporary Assistance 
You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone)

Regular Benefit Add-Ons for Households Paying Directly for Heat

The amount of the base Regular benefit will be increased by $61 if the household’s gross income is in the Tier 1 income range.

How to apply for Regular Benefits

Online:
at myBenefits.ny.gov
By phone:
(585)753-6209 or (585)753-6477
In-person:
You may apply in person at your HEAP Local District Contact.
In writing:
Print and mail the completed HEAP application

The 2024-2025 Emergency HEAP benefit is scheduled to open on January 2nd, 2025.

• Eligibility is based on income, available resources, and the type of emergency

Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement

The 2024-2025 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit is scheduled to open October 1nd, 2024.

• If you are a homeowner and eligible, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can help you repair or replace your furnace, boiler and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep your home’s primary heating source working.
• Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to repair or replace your furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment, $4,000 for a repair and $8,000 for a replacement.
• You may call your HEAP Local District Contact to apply. An eligibility interview is required for all HERR applications, but may be completed with applicants in person or by telephone. Your local district contact will decide if you meet all the eligibility conditions, including the income and resource requirements. The district will provide more information on how to submit the application and required documentation.

Clean and Tune Benefit

The 2024-2025 HEAP Clean and Tune benefit is scheduled to open on October 1nd, 2024.

• Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $500. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.
  
• Your household eligibility requirements include filing out a Clean and Tune benefit application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.

Cooling Assistance Benefit

The 2024-2025 Cooling Assistance is scheduled to open April 15, 2025.

• If you are eligible, you may receive one Cooling Assistance benefit per applicant household for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help your home stay cool.
• In circumstances where an air conditioner cannot be safely installed, a fan will be provided.
• Only one air conditioner or fan, not to exceed $800 with installation for a window, portable air conditioner, or fan and not to exceed $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit, will be provided per applicant household. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

Learn More

The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps low income households pay the cost of drinking water and wastewater services.

The program can assist households who have past due bills (arrears) for drinking water and/or wastewater services.

LIHWAP can help prevent your drinking water and wastewater services from being shut off.

LIHWAP is a benefit based on the actual amount of water and/or sewer arrears, up to a maximum of $2,500 per water or sewer provider, or $5,000 if water and sewer services are combined, per applicant household. Benefits are paid directly to the household’s water and/or sewer vendor(s).

Eligibility is based on Income, Household, and amount owed.

Learn More

RochesterWorks offers free employment and workforce development services for every job seeker – the parent, the caregiver, the student, the veteran, the upstart, the entrepreneur.

Services

5 Steps Program
Enhanced Programming
Group Programming
Individual Programming
Online training with Coursera
Recruiting Events
Selective Service Registration
Resources And Support Services
Ticket to Work
Training Grants
Job Readiness Training
Youth Career Center

Learn More

Scammers Use Fake Emergencies to Steal Your Money

Examples of Family Emergency Scams

Scammers are good at pretending to be someone that they’re not. They try to trick you into thinking a loved one is in trouble. Here’s how the scam might work:

(View or share the YouTube version of this video.)

Here’s a real-life example of a family emergency scam:

(View or share the YouTube version of this video.)

If you get a family emergency scam call, here’s how it might go:

 

 

And once the scammer makes you think they’re your grandson and in trouble, they pressure you to quickly send them money. But it’s all a scam. Your family member was never in trouble. Slow down. Verify.

How Scammers Convince You

The scammer may already know a lot about you or the person they’re pretending to be. They may know your name, where you live, and other information they could have found on social media sites or by hacking a family member’s email. And sometimes they simply guess.

But they always say you have to pay right away by wiring money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, sending cryptocurrency, using a payment app, or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the numbers on the back. Here are other tactics scammers use in fake emergency scams:

• Scammers might pretend to be an “authority figure,” like a fake lawyer, police officer, or doctor working with your family member. It makes them sound more convincing, and they hope it scares you.
• Some scammers use artificial intelligence (AI) to clone your loved one’s voice. With a short audio clip — maybe from content posted online — and a voice-cloning program, a scammer could call you and sound just like your family member. 

What do fake emergency scams have in common?

• The scammer will say it’s urgent and that you’re the only one who can help.
• The scammer might tell you it’s important to keep it secret. They don’t want you talking to other family members and friends and realizing it’s a scam.
• The scammers will play with your emotions. They’re counting on you to act quickly to help your family or friend. And they’re counting on you to pay without stopping to check out whether there’s really an emergency. If you get a call like this, you can be sure this is a scam.

What To Do If You Get a Call About a Family Emergency

If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a family member or a friend desperate for money, don’t trust the voice on the line — even if it sounds like your family member or friend. Scammers are good at faking it. Here’s what to do to verify the person’s identity:

• Resist the pressure to react and send money immediately. Hang up — or tell the person you’ll call them right back. If you don’t feel comfortable hanging up, try asking a question only the real person would know the answer to, like “What kind of dog do you have?” or “Where did you spend Thanksgiving last year?”

• Use a phone number you know is right to call or message the family member or friend who (supposedly) contacted you. Ask them if they’re really in trouble.

• Call someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if the caller said to keep it a secret — or sounds like a loved one. Do that especially if you can’t reach the friend or family member who’s supposed to be in trouble. A trusted person can help you figure out whether the story is true.

If You Sent Money to a Scammer

Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. They often insist that you can only pay in ways that make it tough to get your money back — by wiring money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, sending cryptocurrency, using a payment app, or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the numbers on the back. No matter how you paid a scammer, the sooner you act, the better. Learn more about how to get your money back.

Report Fraud

If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.

*This information is from the FTC (Federal Trade Communications) Website

Email is an old technology and it is inherently flawed. Consider following these guidelines to make yourself and your personal information more secure.

General Recommendations:

Passwords: there are two ways to create an email password: 1) use a combination of lower and uppercase characters, special characters (&^%) and numbers; or 2) create a long passphrase (It’s100%coldin Rochester)

Two email accounts: consider using one email account for family/friends, and another account for all business transactions. Why? Some companies will sell your data, and having a second account limits your exposure

Security Do’s: 1) if you suspect that your account with a business has been compromised, change your email password immediately; 2) change your password from time to time; 3) apply all software updates to your device

Security Don’ts: 1) don’t send sensitive information by email; 2) don’t store sensitive information in cloud services like Evernote and Dropbox; 3) don’t ever give out personal information in response to an email. Contact the sender using a number on the website from a trusted source, do not use the number, email, address, or any links given in the email. 

Consider: using Gmail for your email account(s). It is less susceptible to spam and phishing than yahoo, Hotmail, Frontier, and AOL.

Cyber Safety Tips

Internet-enabled crimes and cyber intrusions are becoming increasingly sophisticated and preventing them requires each user of a connected device to be aware and on guard. 

• Keep systems and software up to date and install a strong, reputable anti-virus program.
• Be careful when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network and do not conduct any sensitive transactions, including purchases, when on a public network.
• Create a strong and unique passphrase for each online account and change those passphrases regularly.
• Set up multi-factor authentication on all accounts that allow it.
• Examine the email address in all correspondence and scrutinize website URLs before responding to a message or visiting a site
• Don’t click on anything in unsolicited emails or text messages.
• Be cautious about the information you share in online profiles and social media accounts. Sharing things like pet names, schools, and family members can give scammers the hints they need to guess your passwords or the answers to your account security questions.
• Don’t send payments to unknown people or organizations that are seeking monetary support and urge immediate action.

Cyber-Security-Quick-Reference
Current list of Cybersecurity Alerts & Advisories

*Information source FBI.gov

Ways to Check if a Website is Legit or Trying to Scam You

Hackers and Cybersecurity professionals put a lot of time and effort into making fraudulent websites look as legitimate as possible. Below are some ways to check if a website is legitimate or trying to scam you.

Carefully Look at the Address bar and URL

• Be sure that the site is secured by looking at the address bar (URL) to see if there is an “s” in the URL, which should look like this “https://” to start with or has a lock symbol in the address bar. This does not guarantee against a scam site, but it shows that the site owner is using secured encryption processes to transfer data and protect itself from hackers.

Check the Contact Page

• Review the options for contacting the company. If you don’t see multiple options (phone, email, live chat, or physical address) then proceed with caution.
• Note that one can fake contact details and may lead to calls being made to different call center’s which could lead to phishing scams

Review the Company’s Social Media Presence

• Most legitimate companies have some social media presence and activity. If you see the social media icons on their website, see if they link to a social media channel, and review the company reviews and see if you can find real employees of the company on LinkedIn. 
• Though this would out multiple scams, it is still not a guarantee, if something looks “too good to be true, it isn’t”

Double Check The Domain Name

• Scammers will tend to create “similar” domain names to trick the user into thinking they are on a legit site, like Yah00.com or Amaz0b.net, making subtle changes that you may not even notice. Always double check the address bar to see if you have been redirected to a website that is not legitimate. 

Look Up the Domain Age

• It is easy to look up the age of a website domain. Verifying the age of a site helps provide you with confidence that it has been in business for an established amount of time. Scam and fake sites usually have a short lifespan as they are rooted out early and shut down by legitimate business site owners. 

Watch for Poor Grammar and Spelling

• Legitimate company websites will take great care in having a professional looking site. An excess of spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors could mean the website went up quickly. Occasional typos on a website can happen, but excessive errors could mean you are not on a legitimate site.

Walk Away If It’s Too Good to be True

• Though it is a common practice for some retailers to provide large price discounts on items to move inventory or promote a new product or service, if you find a site that offers an unbelievable deal, then think twice before continuing. If it’s too good to be true, then it probably isn’t legit.

Do Your Research

• • A simple online search for the company’s reviews will tell you a lot about the business. See how recent the reviews are and if you see proactive responses from the company (where available.)
  • Use the Better Business Bureau to research the reputation of a company.

To start, here are the best questions to consider when purchasing a personal computer:

• What is your budget?
• What are you going to use the device for?
  • Working from home, schoolwork, socialization, gaming, etc.
• Do you want a laptop (portable) or desktop (stationary)? If you want a laptop, do you want a 2-in-1, where the laptop can function as a tablet with touch screen features? Check out this 3-minute video that provides an overview of machines available today.

Computer retailers can recommend specific products for you based on the questions outlined above.

We recommend doing research on a product before you purchase it. Major computer retailers have review sections for their products on their websites. Another great resource for product reviews is Youtube. You can find a variety of reviews just by looking up “reviews for [insert device name here].” For example: “Reviews for Dell Inspiron 17 Laptop.”

Taking your research to the next level

If you really want to go the extra mile when researching products, you can investigate the device’s components to get an idea of the capacity of the machine you would be buying. PC hardware specifications, or specs, are a summary of a computer’s internal components and other system information.

Note: An in-depth knowledge of computer specs is not necessary when purchasing a computer. By answering the questions above and seeking the recommendation(s) of a professional, you can be confident in finding and purchasing a device that will meet your needs.

Computer Hardware Specifications For You to Consider

Operating System (OS): Refers to the powerful program that controls and coordinates a computer’s hardware devices and runs software and applications. Today, most devices have one of three: MacOS, WindowsOS, or ChromeOS.

Processor/Central Processing Unit (CPU): Provides the instructions and processing power the computer needs to do its work. The more powerful and updated your processor, the faster your computer can complete tasks.

Processor Speed: Measured in gigahertz (GHz) the higher the rating, the higher the performance of the computer’s processor.

Random Access Memory (RAM): Measured in size by gigabytes (GB), RAM stores short-term data that a PC requires to properly operate. The more RAM a device has, the better it will perform.

Storage capacity: Measured in gigabytes (GB), this refers to the capacity of the storage on a device, i.e. how many photos, videos, documents, etc. your device will store.

Android Support Page – Get manufacturer help for your Android device, searchable by brand

Samsung Support Page – a searchable page for operating all Samsung mobile devices, including set-up, basic operations, and advanced uses

Samsung User Manuals – provides links to the PDFs of all Samsung mobile device models, and provides instructions on how to access the user manual on your phone

iPad User Guide – a searchable user guide on learning the basic of operating an iPad

iPad Support Page  – a page of various weblinks for different iPhone uses including how to back up your data, managing your Apple ID, etc.

Apple’s iPad Forum – a community forum for troubleshooting iPad devices

New to Chromebook– Switch to a Chromebook, Set up your Chromebook, Migrate from Cloud Print, Set up your printer, Chromebook security

Chromebook shortcuts – Chromebook keyboard shortcuts

Chromebook support – Chromebook help

Digital Learn is Interactive and adaptive software that allows you to learn digital skills.

Intro to Email This 15-minute self-paced course is for any person new to email. Learn what email is, how to set-up an email account, how to reply to and send emails, and more.

GCFGlobal.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century by offering self-paced online courses.

From Microsoft Office and email, to reading, math, and more – GCF Global.org offers more than 200 topics, including more than 2,300 lessons, more than 2,000 videos, and more than 50 interactives and games, completely free.

Click Here to Begin

If you’re an Excel beginner, this is the perfect place to start. Excel Easy has several tutorials on how to use Excel.

Microsoft Excel is one of the most used software applications of all time. Hundreds of millions of people around the world use Microsoft Excel. You can use Excel to enter all sorts of data and perform financial, mathematical or statistical calculations.

Click here to begin

LibreOffice is a free alternative to Microsoft Office. It includes six separate programs; the most popular are Writer, Impress, and Calc. Writer is work processor that is a free alternative to MS Word. Impress is used to make presentations, it is a free alternative to MS PowerPoint. Calc is a spreadsheet program that is a free alternative to MS Excel. LibreOffice is completely safe to use and download as long as you download it from their official website.

LibreOffice Help Page This page includes reference materials for every LibreOffice program. Use the Module List in the top left corner to open the drop-down list and select the LibreOffice program (ex: Writer) you’re looking for help with. Alternatively, you can navigate the page by clicking through the Contents Index in the left pane. You can also keyword search at the top of the page. 

LibreOffice Program Guides Download free guides specific to each LibreOffice program or order a printed copy. 

Office 365 Essential Reference Guide

Outlook 2021 Basic Reference Guide

Word 2021 Basic Reference Guide

Word 2021 Intermediate Reference Guide

Word 2021 Advanced Reference Guide

Excel 2021 Basic Reference Guide

Excel 2021 Intermediate Reference Guide

Excel 2021 Advanced Reference Guide

PowerPoint 2021 Basic Reference Guide

PowerPoint 2021 Intermediate Reference Guide

The Lifeline program is a federally funded program that aims to ensure that essential phone access is affordable for low-income individuals and families

Subscribers may receive a Lifeline discount on either a wireline or a wireless service, but they may not receive a discount on both services at the same time.

Lifeline also supports broadband Internet service and broadband-voice bundles. FCC rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household. 
Note: You may receive the lifeline benefit and the ACP benefit together if eligible.

The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). USAC is responsible for helping consumers apply for the program, understand eligibility requirements, and keep their benefit current through an annual recertification process. USAC’s website 

To participate in the Lifeline program, consumers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs.

You can see if you are eligible by reviewing the information available at lifelinesupport.org (click “Do I Qualify?”).

Lifeline partners:

Company Name                       Phone                       Type of Service

Tru Connect                                 800-430-0443             Mobile
Gen Mobile                                   833-528-1380             Mobile
Air Talk Wireless                         855-924-7825             Mobile
Infiniti Mobile                              888-801-0012             Mobile
Frontier Communication        800-921-8101             Home
Access Wireless                           866-594-3644             Mobile
Assurance Wireless                   888-321-5880             Mobile
SafeLink, Straight Talk,           833-333-9227             Mobile
Total Wireless, Simple
Mobile, Walmart Family
Mobile, TracFone

Learn More

Community Broadband Network :

Learn More

Government Assistance Program Accepted Proof:

• SNAP / EBT 
• Medi-Cal / Medicaid
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
• SSDI (Social Security Disability)
• NSLP (National School Lunch Program)
• Public Housing Assistance or Section 8 voucher
• Lifeline
• Cal Grant Financial Aid
• Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
• Head Start
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

If the household does not receive any government benefits, they may provide proof of their yearly gross income. Households that make 250% of the federal poverty level threshold qualify for donations. Any documentation provided to prove income level must display dollar amounts that can be used to figure Annual Income. Must include the number of members in the household on purchase application.

Accepted forms of proof of income include:

• The prior year’s state, federal, or tribal tax return
• A Social Security statement of benefits
• Federal or tribal notice letter of participation in General Assistance
• A Veteran Administration statement of benefits
• A retirement/pension statement of benefits / Social Security benefits

Please note:

• Pay stubs are not accepted
• SNAP/EBT, Medi-Cal/Medicaid cards alone are not accepted.
  A letter/document that confirms the active benefit is required.
• The documentation must be dated within the last 6 months and it must be an active benefit.
• Households will be required to submit eligibility every 15 months.

The goal of the Computers with Causes is to provide a refurbished computer gifted by generous donors towards an educational, future learning program, foster home or disabled veteran in need.

This program provides:

– Refurbished computers

We get an overwhelming amount of gifted computer requests every year. We do a strict need assessment, background, and reference check, which helps us eliminate false requests and benefit those truly in need. If you or your organization truly “are in need”, chances are we will be in contact with you. Sometimes this can be weeks, so please be patient. We have a very limited volunteer staff and strive to meet all application demands in a timely manner.

Be advised that if you are currently receiving assistance from one or more of these sources (TANF, SSI, SSDI, Welfare, Food Stamps, etc..) acceptance of tangible property, gifts, financial assistance or services (Additional income) may affect or terminate your current benefits.

Please do not call our phone lines. Our phone lines are dedicated to accepting donations.

We invite anyone in need of a working computer to complete the application below. We have a full list of the causes we support (causes) with our main emphasis being the assistance of; students, teachers, and parents, the elderly, foster homes, shelters, disabled US veterans and struggling military families, and like-minded nonprofit organizations.

We do a strict need assessment, background and reference check, which helps us eliminate false requests and benefit those truly in need. If you or your nonprofit truly “are in need” and we are able to help, we will certainly contact you. Sometimes this can be weeks, so please be patient. We have a limited volunteer staff and strive to meet all application demands in a timely manner.

Please complete the form and tell us why you are a candidate for a gifted computer. Also be advised that if you are currently receiving assistance from one or more of these sources (TANF, SSI, SSDI, Welfare, Food Stamps, etc..) acceptance of tangible property, gifts, financial assistance or services (additional income) may affect or terminate your current benefits. After the application is submitted, we will review the information provided, then review our inventory, and if we are able to assist you then you will be contacted within 30 days. All applications are valid for 30 days, so if you do not hear from us within that time frame then you can apply again.

Learn More