College credit for volunteering in Puerto Rico: Here's how

ALBANY - Hundreds of SUNY students willing to volunteer with rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico will receive college credit for their time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

Cuomo unveiled the state's latest efforts to assist the hurricane-battered U.S. territory during a news conference in Manhattan, vowing to send teams of volunteers in June to help rebuild homes and remediate mold.

About 500 SUNY and CUNY students will work alongside building and construction trade workers to make up the bulk of the volunteer teams, Cuomo said.

They will work two- or four-week stints and gain college credits in return.

Any student at any SUNY school from any major can apply to participate, according to a SUNY spokeswoman. Further details "will be forthcoming," she said.

“They (the students) will receive credit for their time, their service in Puerto Rico," Cuomo said. "They will be in courses and training and education that is related to the reconstruction of housing and infrastructure and aided by the professionals."

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Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico in September, leaving much of the island of 3.4 million residents without power.

Almost all of the power had been restored before Wednesday, when a subcontractor's error led to an islandwide blackout seven months after the storm.

Cuomo has repeatedly pledged support and resources to Puerto Rico since the storm, vowing Thursday that New York would have a presence in the territory during long-term rebuilding efforts.

He said he and state officials would travel to the island on April 29 to put together a roadmap for the volunteer teams, who will begin heading to Puerto Rico in June.

New York had about 1 million residents of Puerto Rican descent as of the 2010 census. That was more than any other state.

SUNY officials responsible for developing the student volunteering program will be in Puerto Rico with Cuomo on April 29, according to SUNY.

"This work will align with and complement that of the SUNY task force, which was convened in October to support short- and long-term efforts to recover and re-build a sustainable, resilient and vibrant Puerto Rico," SUNY spokeswoman Holly Liapis said in a statement.

Robert Mujica, Cuomo's budget director, said skilled workers from the building and construction trades would set up "boot camps" to train the SUNY and CUNY students.

Supplies will be provided by nonprofit organizations, he said.

"Students will also be helping to enhance Puerto Rico’s rebuilding capacity by mucking and gutting and rebuilding homes, remediating mold, repairing and strapping roofs," Mujica said.

JCampbell1@Gannett.com

Jon Campbell is a correspondent with USA TODAY Network's Albany Bureau.