SUNY Canton Receives $358K to Expand Nursing Education Through Partnerships
Funding will be used to increase the number of spots available for Nursing students in Syracuse, Plattsburgh, Watertown, Saranac Lake, and Canton.
SUNY Canton is eyeing new ways to fill healthcare positions in the region by expanding nursing capacity through two innovative partnerships.
In December 2025, the college received nearly $358,000 from the State University of New York’s 2025 High Needs Nursing – Supporting Innovation & Partnerships funding. It will be used to establish a Northern New York Nursing Consortium and to offer the Practical Nursing Program in the Syracuse area. The partnerships will work with the college’s new plans to create a new SUNY Canton Nursing Simulation Center, according to Health, Science and Criminal Justice Dean Michele Snyder, Ph.D.
“The new grant is part of our continuing efforts to expand the number of students in the region’s nursing programs,” Snyder said. “We’re improving coordination among area colleges and creating clear, stackable academic pathways to much-needed careers in rural and urban regions of the State.”
One of the initiatives outlined in the new grant establishes the Northern New York Nursing Consortium, a collaboration led by SUNY Canton that includes Clinton Community College, Jefferson Community College, and North Country Community College. The consortium aims to maximize existing capacity by aligning admission criteria, redirecting qualified students to programs with available seats, strengthening articulation agreements from Practical Nursing programs to two-year Registered Nursing associate degrees, and culminating with four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. SUNY Canton offers all three of these programs.
“We plan to pilot faculty sharing through virtual instruction, which will allow students to access specialized instruction regardless of where they are studying,” Snyder said.
The second initiative establishes a partnership between SUNY Canton and the Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center to deliver SUNY Canton’s Practical Nursing program near the East Adams Neighborhood. Demand for this program currently exceeds capacity in the area. The program would offer virtual instruction, with labs, simulation, and clinical experiences provided locally. The program is expected to enroll 20 students in 2026 and expand to 40 students the following year, pending approval from SUNY and the New York State Education Department.
The SUNY investment came as part of a funding opportunity designed to strengthen New York’s nursing workforce. It is the latest in a series of competitive grants SUNY Canton has secured to enhance its in-demand Nursing course offerings. Previously, the college received $8 million to establish its Regional Nursing Simulation Center in Wicks Hall. The significant, transformative investment was announced by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul in May 2025. It will allow the college to more than double access to the college’s programs.
“The new simulation center will augment our hands-on learning opportunities and further strengthen SUNY Canton’s commitment to offering affordable, accessible and applied experiences within the School of Science, Health and Criminal Justice,” said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran.
Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college’s career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.