Chancellor King Announces Expansion of School of Nursing at SUNY Brockport During Campus Visit
April 23, 2026
$15 Million Project Will Create Additional Laboratory and Simulation Space for the Nursing Program; Photos Available Here
Builds on SUNY's Commitment to Expand Nursing Opportunities and Address the Healthcare Staffing Shortage in New York State
Supports Governor Kathy Hochul's Goal to Grow New York State's Health Care Workforce by 20 Percent
Brockport, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the expansion of SUNY Brockport's School of Nursing during a visit to the campus. As part of the expansion, SUNY Brockport's Hartwell Hall will undergo a $15 million renovation to create additional laboratory and simulation space for the nursing program. The renovations will allow the campus to train more nurses and directly supports Governor Kathy Hochul's goal of growing the state's health care workforce by 20 percent.
"SUNY is at the forefront of providing access to innovative training opportunities and tools to help prepare the next generation of nurses and health care professionals to enter the workforce," said SUNY Chancellor King. "This expansion of SUNY Brockport's School of Nursing will make it possible for more New Yorkers to access a world-class nursing education, so they can help grow New York State's health care workforce. SUNY remains dedicated to continuing to invest in nursing education at our colleges, and to achieving Governor Hochul's goal of increasing the number of high-skilled health care workers in the state."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through the expansion of SUNY Brockport's School of Nursing, SUNY is ensuring our students receive a high-quality education, while also working to achieve Governor Hochul's goal of increasing New York State's health care workforce by 20 percent. We thank Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for their steadfast investment and support for SUNY's nursing programs, and our students."
The expansion of SUNY Brockport's School of Nursing includes a $15 million renovation to Hartwell Hall, which will add an additional 6,000 square feet of laboratory and simulation space and double the amount of available space. Renovations are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
SUNY Brockport President Heidi Macpherson said, "SUNY Brockport has a long history of educating outstanding nurses who have made a difference to communities across New York State, and especially here in Monroe County. This much-needed expansion of our nursing education facilities will equip us with the space and technology necessary to grow our traditional nursing program. We are grateful for the support of SUNY and Chancellor King as we work together to meet Governor Hochul's goal to increase New York State's healthcare workforce by 20 percent."
State Assemblymember Steve Hawley said, "This investment in SUNY Brockport's School of Nursing is a major step forward for our region. By expanding and modernizing Hartwell Hall we’re not only creating more opportunities for students, but also strengthening our health care workforce at a time when the demand for skilled nurses has never been greater. This $15 million renovation will help ensure that more graduates are trained with the hands-on experience they need to succeed while supporting the long term health and well being of our communities. I’m encouraged to see this kind of forward thinking investment in education and workforce development right here in Western New York."
SUNY Brockport's nursing program has experienced significant growth over the last 15 years, with enrollment growing from 205 undergraduate students in 2010 to approximately 900 students in 2026. In that time period, SUNY Brockport has also added five new academic programs, four of them at the graduate level, including the campus's first doctoral program, a doctor of nursing practice. As part of its expansion of the School of Nursing, SUNY Brockport will launch a master's in nursing education in Fall 2026.
SUNY has led the effort to expand nursing opportunities and address the health care staffing shortage in New York State. In February, SUNY announced over $700,000 in awards from the High Needs Nursing Fund to equip campuses with the tools, training, and resources to expand simulation-based education in SUNY nursing programs and in February SUNY announced the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program to support students in nursing and teaching degree programs focused on shortage areas. In December 2025, SUNY announced a $1 million investment from the High Needs Nursing Fund to expand academic pathways to nursing careers, including stronger partnerships with SUNY campuses and Education Opportunity Centers. In May 2025, Governor Hochul announced a $62 million investment to establish exemplar SUNY nursing simulation centers at the State University of New York at Buffalo, SUNY Canton, and State University of New York at Stony Brook. To further support simulation-based learning in the SUNY System, SUNY also announced the second cohort of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship to help advance simulation-based education within SUNY's nursing licensure programs. Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect program also funds nursing and allied health fields for eligible adult learners to increase the number of health care workers in New York State, and In her 2026 State of the State Agenda, Governor Hochul proposed expanding SUNY Reconnect to include adults attaining a nursing degree, even if they have already earned a college degree in a different field, to strengthen the state's nursing workforce.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
Share this:
Holly Liapis
518-320-1311
Email the Office of Communications
