NCCC and area colleges form nursing consortium

Jan. 14, 2026

SARANAC LAKE -- North Country Community College has joined with Clinton Community College, SUNY Canton and SUNY Jefferson to form a new regional nursing consortium aimed at increasing enrollment, expanding instructional capacity and strengthening the healthcare workforce across Northern New York.

The four colleges will receive more than $60,000 to establish the collaborative network as part of a $1 million statewide investment through SUNY’s new High Needs Nursing Fund. The initiative is designed to address critical nursing shortages by improving access to education, maximizing existing resources and helping students move more quickly into high-demand healthcare careers.

Through the consortium, qualified nursing applicants placed on a waitlist at one institution may be redirected to a partner college with available capacity. The collaboration will also allow faculty to be shared across campuses in high-demand specialties, helping programs remain fully enrolled and responsive to workforce needs.

“As we know in the North Country, we are in need of all healthcare workers, and nurses really are the underpinning of that,” said Sarah Maroun, vice president of academic affairs at North Country Community College. “Two of the biggest factors affecting how many nurses enter the workforce each year are enrollment capacity and access to faculty and clinical placements. This partnership directly addresses both.”

Maroun added that the consortium is especially important for adult learners and local residents seeking career advancement.
“We know we have many qualified individuals in the North Country who want to come back to school and improve their economic situation,” she said. “The more we can facilitate that for our residents, the better off our communities and healthcare systems will be.”

College leaders say the benefits of the partnership extend beyond students and faculty to healthcare providers throughout the region.

“If we can help students move into their education more quickly, that benefits our healthcare facilities, it benefits the students, and it benefits our colleges as well,” Maroun said.

The collaboration builds on recent enrollment momentum across the region. Clinton Community College reported a more than nine percent increase in overall enrollment this past fall, including a 50 percent increase in nursing students.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to meeting the region’s healthcare needs,” said Maggie Courson, vice president of academic affairs at Clinton Community College. “By working together, we can open more doors for students, strengthen nursing education and ensure our graduates are ready to serve communities across the North Country.”

Leaders from all four institutions expressed optimism that the consortium will accelerate the preparation and hiring of nurses, helping to ease critical workforce shortages and support the long-term health of North Country communities.