Thanks to donors, Binghamton offers students hands-on educational experiences that connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations, as well as opportunities to work directly with scholars and researchers who are at the forefront of their fields.
![Nursing students practicing](/foundation/annual-report-2018-19/img/nursing.jpg)
Students and faculty in the Decker School of Nursing have access to an important learning tool: top-of-the-line simulation equipment in the Innovative Simulation and Practice Center, thanks to generous support from the Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker Foundation.
The College of Community and Public Affairs works with local school districts to implement Summer Zone, the Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) summer skills retention program for middle school students and their high school youth mentors. The program, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation for South Central New York, is designed for children who face economic barriers to learning and other challenges that hinder their academic success.