The pandemic is still having a major impact on hospitals dealing with a nursing shortage. However, just as nurses have left the profession, at Maria, we know there are many excited to join it. Nursing makes up the largest portion of the College’s student enrollment. In fact, it’s up nearly 47 percent from last year. Elaine Houston from News Channel 13 visited Maria last week to talk to ADN students Aimee Gould-Pryba and Melaney Szlenka, along with Associate Vice President of Enrollment Katie Lesko, about how the pandemic is inspiring a new generation of nurses.

On Saturday, October 22, 2022, Maria College Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program Director Scott Homer was recognized for “Excellence in Academia” by the New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA). He received this honor for his significant contribution and exceptional dedication to the profession of occupational therapy, and his passion, commitment and hard work.

Despite national headlines of decreased college enrollment, Maria College is seeing just the opposite. For the Fall 2022 semester, the College is reporting the largest incoming class in its nearly 65-year history. This is good news for a healthcare system facing staffing shortages, as the largest increases are in Maria’s nursing programs.

On October 19, 2022, Congressman Paul Tonko and Channel 10 visited Maria College to meet president Lynn Ortale, Ph.D. and to learn more about the Maria’s proposed “Reimagining Nursing Virtual Reality Simulation Hub,” one of 15 Community Project Sites recently submitted by the Congressman to the House Committee on Appropriations for federal funding. If approved, Maria College would receive $770K in funding to implement virtual reality programs for nursing clinical simulation. 

ALBANY – Maria College is enjoying unprecedented growth this year, with the largest incoming class in the college’s history. There are 393 students in the incoming class, an increase of 36 percent over last year. Primarily, students are coming for the college’s nursing program, with the largest growth in the preparatory program where students take prerequisites like anatomy and physiology.