Maria College has been awarded a five-year, nearly $5 million grant from the New York State Department of Health to enhance student support services and address the region’s critical nursing workforce shortage.
The funding, awarded through the department’s new Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program (HELP), will provide $999,587 annually from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2030, totaling $4,997,935. This is one of the first major initiatives of the newly established state office, which aims to ease training obstacles and expand healthcare access in underserved areas — key steps in rebuilding and retaining the healthcare workforce after the pandemic.
“This funding embodies Maria College’s mission of transforming lives through education,” said Maria College President Dr. Lynn Ortale. “It enables more students to stay enrolled, graduate, and begin successful careers in healthcare.”
The purpose of the HELP grant is to increase the number of students entering healthcare professions by offering comprehensive wraparound services that address the academic, financial, and personal barriers many face. By doing so, the initiative aims to strengthen the healthcare pipeline across New York state, especially in regions with identified workforce shortages such as the Capital Region.
To support these goals, the grant provides a variety of resources designed to promote student success and retention. These include an alumni nurse mentorship program, academic coaching, enhanced advising, emergency financial aid, stipends, and new professional development connections with Maria alumni working in healthcare. These resources are designed to support students as they balance school with full-time jobs, parenting, and financial challenges.
“This is about more than just helping students to achieve their academic goals,” added Maria College Provost Dr. Wendy Trevor. “It’s about providing the tools, support, and mentorship they need to become practice-ready professionals, who stay in the field, especially during those critical first years.”
Healthcare workforce shortages are well documented both nationally and across the Capital Region. Contributing factors include an aging population, particularly in the northeast, as well as the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to widespread burnout and attrition among healthcare workers. These shortages have intensified competition for qualified candidates and made retention increasingly difficult.
By identifying regional healthcare needs and directing support to students committed to filling those gaps, this initiative positions Maria College to play a key role in stabilizing and growing the local healthcare workforce.
Maria College currently enrolls more than 610 nursing students, most of whom live and work in the Capital Region. Alumni often take positions in local hospitals, long-term care facilities, and primary care settings. By incorporating alumni mentorship into the program, the grant strengthens the pipeline from education to employment and beyond.
“Our students are committed and capable, but they face real challenges,” noted Dr. Wendy Parker, director, community health programs. “This grant lets us support them academically and financially, so they can finish what they started and make a difference in their communities.”
The grant also provides Maria College with the capacity to hire new student success coaches and advising staff to ensure every student receives personalized guidance from the moment they arrive on campus through graduation and into their professional career.
For more information about Maria College’s nursing programs and student services, visit mariacollege.edu.