SUNY Sullivan outlines nursing program growth after $1.09 million transformation grant

Dr. Charisse Taylor, director of the nursing programs at SUNY Sullivan, told the legislature on Friday that the college’s nursing program currently enrolls 65 students across three cohorts — two daytime cohorts and one evening cohort — and that the college has received three grants this year to expand training capacity.

Taylor said SUNY’s Transformation Grant totaled $1,090,000 for SUNY Sullivan, with $780,000 of that directed specifically to the nursing program. She said the college also received a “High Need Simulation Grant” to upgrade simulation labs and a Mother Cabrini Health Care grant to supplement nursing faculty salaries and benefits. “We received several grants for the nursing program,” Taylor said. “That $780,000 came specifically to the nursing program.”

Taylor outlined how the program is organized: a senior daytime cohort, another daytime cohort and an evening cohort whose classes and lab work run approximately 6 p.m.–9 p.m. and clinical shifts that can extend into the evening. She said the evening schedule and offering of prerequisites and co‑requisites at night enable working adults to enter the program.

Taylor also described new and upcoming offerings approved by the New York State Education Department and SUNY: a certified nursing assistant program beginning in spring, an accelerated LPN‑to‑RN cohort beginning in May and a summer NCLEX review boot camp for graduates who have not yet passed the licensing exam. On outcomes, Taylor reported an 81% pass rate on the NCLEX, which she described as “above the threshold.”

Taylor described the LPN‑to‑RN option as an accelerated pathway: LPNs can take a challenge exam administered by the National League for Nursing to validate prior LPN learning and skills, potentially shortening the time to an RN credential. She said the accelerated LPN cohort will be offered in a compressed schedule to accommodate work schedules.

College leadership also briefed the legislature on broader workforce and program planning. Legislators said the college is exploring additional health‑care training, including medical imaging curricula, and seeking to scale allied health, respiratory care and medical assistant programs. SUNY Sullivan is participating in a Carnegie Corporation pilot on sustainability and is expanding outreach events and summer offerings. Taylor said the college is monitoring a state proposal to expand free community college eligibility for adults age 25–55 and is preparing scenarios in case the proposal advances in the state budget process.

The college said officials are tracking enrollment and retention: retention of fall cohorts into spring is above 70% overall, and some targeted programs — for example, an Equal Opportunity Program cohort — reported 100% retention. Taylor said the college is expanding supports intended to help students complete degrees and certificates, and noted the college’s recent work on simulation lab upgrades and faculty supports funded by grants.

Taylor closed by encouraging prospective students to consider the evening and accelerated offerings, stressing flexibility for working adults and the college’s efforts to provide prerequisites and co‑requisites in the evening so that employed students can advance without leaving jobs.

The college presentation was followed by a brief exchange with legislators and a recognition of SUNY Sullivan’s partnerships with local providers. No formal action or vote on college programs was taken during the session.