SUNY nursing training is getting a $10 million expansion at Binghamton University, where New York plans to establish a systemwide Nursing Simulation Center of Excellence. The project is designed to train more nurses, strengthen faculty development and give health-care students more opportunities to practice realistic clinical scenarios before entering the workforce.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the investment Oct. 1. The total includes $5 million in direct SUNY capital funding and a $5 million match from Binghamton University.
SUNY nursing center will expand simulation-based training
The new center will become part of SUNY’s statewide nursing simulation network. That network already includes a Center of Excellence at the University at Buffalo and regional centers at SUNY Canton and Stony Brook University.
Simulation training allows nursing students to practice patient-care scenarios in controlled settings using high-fidelity equipment, trained instructors and realistic clinical environments. New York law allows nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through approved simulation experiences.
Hochul said the goal is to strengthen New York’s nursing pipeline. “Nurses are the backbone of New York State’s healthcare system,” she said in the announcement.
Center will also focus on faculty and clinician training
The Binghamton center will not only train students. State officials say it will prepare faculty members and clinicians to become more skilled in simulation education, clinical instruction, simulation operations and center management.
Plans include new simulation-focused microcredentials and a fully online master’s program aimed at preparing graduates for careers as nursing faculty. At full implementation, those programs are expected to enroll more than 150 students each year.
That faculty focus is important because increasing the number of nursing students does little good if colleges do not have enough qualified instructors to teach them.
Why the investment matters for Upstate New York
The project is based in Binghamton, but the workforce issue is statewide. Hospitals, nursing homes, home-care agencies and medical practices across Upstate New York continue to compete for nurses and other health professionals.
The Mohawk Valley is no exception. Health-care systems in and around Utica and Rome depend on a steady supply of nurses, therapists and clinical staff. Expanding training capacity in the SUNY system could help more students enter those fields without leaving New York for school or work.
It may also help rural and smaller communities over time if graduates choose to practice outside major metropolitan areas.
Simulation can reduce pressure on clinical placements
Nursing programs traditionally depend on hospitals and other health-care facilities to provide clinical training slots. Those placements can be limited, especially when many schools compete for the same sites.
High-quality simulation does not replace all bedside training, but it can give students more structured practice and reduce some pressure on clinical placement capacity.
Investment builds on earlier SUNY spending
The Binghamton project follows a $62 million state investment announced in 2025 to establish nursing simulation centers on three SUNY campuses.
SUNY has also invested more than $4.4 million through its High Needs Nursing Fund across 40 nursing programs, according to the Governor’s Office.
The broader goal is to grow New York’s health-care workforce by 20 percent. Whether that target is met will depend on more than classroom capacity. Pay, working conditions, burnout, licensing, housing and regional recruitment will all affect whether trained workers stay in New York.
What supporters say the center can accomplish
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said simulation-based education can help prepare more skilled health-care workers. Binghamton University officials say students already benefit from simulation through the university’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The new center is expected to expand that work across nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and other health professions.
That interprofessional approach mirrors modern health care, where patient outcomes often depend on teams rather than a single provider.
Workforce shortages remain the larger test
A new training center is a significant investment, but it is not a complete answer to New York’s staffing shortages.
State leaders will still need to track whether more students graduate, whether they become licensed, where they take jobs and whether underserved regions benefit.
For Upstate communities, those results matter more than the ribbon cutting. If the investment produces more nurses and instructors who remain in New York, it could strengthen hospitals and clinics well beyond Binghamton.
