Press Release: Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins Awards Pace University $2.175 million to Expand Healthcare Simulation Labs

Funding from New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins will help prepare the next generation of nurses and clinicians

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins awarded Pace University $2.175 million in funding to support capital improvements and technology upgrades at its Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation in Pleasantville.

The Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation—part of Pace University’s College of Health Professions— expands hands-on training opportunities for students in high-demand health programs, helping prepare more nurses and clinicians.

“The need for healthcare professionals is surging, and the shortage we face is compounded by limited training facilities and lack of faculty. Pace is a regional and national leader in health education simulation, and this investment will enable it to increase its capacity and train more nurses. The better we prepare them, the better our healthcare will be for all New Yorkers. These simulation suites allow students to learn in spaces that are modeled after emergency departments, labor and delivery rooms and clinics. They are videoed to receive playback and debriefings by their professors. I was pleased to lead the Senate when we passed legislation to encourage simulation, and I am delighted to support such high-impact learning in Westchester,” said Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins.

In 2021 alone, U.S. nursing schools turned away more than 91,000 qualified applicants due to a lack of faculty, facilities, and clinical placement opportunities.

Recognizing the critical role simulation plays in addressing these challenges, New York State enacted legislation allowing nursing students to complete a portion of required clinical training through simulation-based experiences. Modernizing Pace’s simulation labs will allow the University to expand enrollment capacity and prepare more highly skilled, practice-ready nurses.

It is estimated that these labs will enable Pace to graduate and place more nurses at hospitals throughout the Hudson Valley; in fact, leading regional health systems, including New York-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai, have written letters of support underscoring strong employer demand for Pace nursing graduates as the University expands its training capacity.

The state investment at the Pleasantville Campus will fund simulation suite upgrades, enhanced equipment, and expanded digital infrastructure—ensuring students have access to immersive training technologies that closely mirror real-world clinical practice.

More than 20,000 hours of simulation are conducted each year to replicate a wide range of healthcare scenarios—including pediatrics, maternity, medical-surgical, and critical care settings.

“This investment reflects the Majority Leader’s extraordinary commitment to both education and public health,” said Pace President Marvin Krislov. “As part of our growth strategy and forward-looking transformation, we are investing in high-demand healthcare education that supports student success, strengthens our programs, and builds a pipeline of skilled professionals for the communities we serve.”

By expanding and modernizing its simulation facilities, Pace will be able to prepare even more practice-ready nurses, physician assistants, and allied health professionals to meet those demands.

Pace’s College of Health Professions ranks among the top in New York and the region, with several nationally ranked programs. The University’s nurse practitioner program is ranked among the top five in the state, by Nurse Journal, and its physician assistant program is ranked number three in New York City by BestValueSchools.org.

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.