College of Health and Human Sciences School of Nursing Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Option for Second Degree Students Fall 2016 NURSING APPLICATION PACKET Note: Applications may be submitted by mail or hand-delivered. Applications must be post-marked or hand-delivered to the School of Nursing at Biltmore Park by 5:00 PM, February 1, 2016. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered for admission. To the applicant: WCU nursing faculty and staff welcome your application for admission to the ABSN option for second degree students. This application is for those students who already hold a baccalaureate degree or higher and seek the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Accelerated BSN scheduling option. Additional details regarding cost of attendance, financial assistance and the program curriculum can be found at absn.wcu.edu. Persons who are applying to the Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN Program track must complete the application packet for admission to the Traditional Pre-licensure BSN Program which can be found at: bsn.wcu.edu. This application packet is for Fall 2016 admission to the ABSN Program ONLY. If also applying to the Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN Program, you must submit a separate application by the deadline posted. This application packet contains: 1. General information and instructions 2. Application for admission 3. Signature page
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ABSN APPLICANTS ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 2 1. Program location: The ABSN option is currently offered on the WCU Biltmore Park-Asheville site at 28 Schenck Parkway, Suite 309, Asheville, NC. Clinical experiences are in Buncombe and surrounding counties in an approximate radius of 100 miles. Students in the nursing program must have access to reliable personal transportation. 2. Eligibility requirements for applying to the ABSN option include: Graduate of an accredited college or university with a Bachelor s degree or higher. Most Bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited institutions can waive the Liberal Studies requirement so long as the work listed on the transcript meets at least 6 of the 12 required liberal studies categories required by WCU. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all undergraduate course work. Graduate GPA is NOT considered in admission to the ABSN option. Admission to WCU as a degree-seeking student with post-baccalaureate status o Students must apply to WCU by completing the online application form available on the Office of Admissions webpage and having official transcripts from all institutions attended to the WCU Office of Admissions. Completion of the following prerequisites or their approved equivalent with a grade of C or above prior to the ABSN Program start date. Please consult with the WCU School of Nursing Student Services Office so we may work with you on options to complete the prerequisites. o Chemistry 132 - Introductory Chemistry (4 hours) o Chemistry 133 - Survey Organic/Biochemistry (4 hours) o Biology 291 - Human Anatomy/Physiology (4 hours) o Biology 292 - Human Anatomy/Physiology (4 hours) o ENVH 260 and 261 Lab - Etiology of Infectious Disease (3 hours) o PSY 150 - General Psychology (3 hours) o ND 338 - Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition (3 hours) o NSG 101- Introduction to Professional Nursing (1 hour) o NSG 346 - Nursing Pathophysiology (3 hours) TEAS Admissions Assessment Exam: ABSN students must take TEAS Admission Assessment Version 5.0 prior to February 1, 2016. Students may take the TEAS exam only once per application cycle. An application cycle begins the day after the deadline for the previous cycle and ends with the deadline for the current application cycle. The application cycle for Fall 2015 Admission is between July 16, 2015 and February 1, 2016. Only the first TEAS attempt per application cycle will be accepted. Applicants may take the TEAS exam at the WCU Continuing Education Testing Center on the Cullowhee campus or through alternative testing cites located off-campus. Additional information about the TEAS exam and testing centers can be found on the School of Nursing TEAS Guidelines website. Include a copy of your TEAS score in your admission packet. Students who take the TEAS outside of WCU must also ensure that their scores have been released to WCU.
ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 3 Completed ABSN Option Application - received or postmarked by February 1, 2016. o ABSN application o Undergraduate transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable) o TEAS score report o Résumé and cover letter 3. Criteria for Admissions Decisions Admission to the Nursing Major, including the ABSN option, is highly competitive. The ABSN option is designed for highly motivated, high-achieving, second degree students who can meet the demands of a academic program in a contiguous scheduling format. Priority will be given to the best qualified students to fill the limited number of seats in each class. Students will be selected for admission based on a calculated admission score which is used to rank applicants. Cumulative GPA: 50% A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for application to the ABSN option. The GPA is calculated based on the entire undergraduate record (as reported to the WCU admissions office by all nationally accredited undergraduate colleges/universities the applicant has attended). Graduate course work is not considered as part of the cumulative GPA. TEAS Admissions Assessment Exam Scores: 25% The composite score for exams will be used for calculating this component of the admission score. Résumé/Cover Letter Score: 10% Members of the ABSN Admissions committee will assess students résumé and cover letter for evidence of academic, work, and service experiences that will enhance the potential for success in the ABSN track and contribution in the profession. Assessment factors that are evaluated from the résumé /cover letter include, but are not limited to the following: o Statement of purpose included in cover letter o Undergraduate and graduate degrees earned and colleges attended o Work experiences during and after college o Service activities during and after college o Understanding of the role of a professional registered nurse in a hospital setting Interview: 15% The top applicants (ranked based on admission criteria above) will be invited to proceed to the interview process. Students who are invited to progress to the interview stage of the admission process will be interviewed the week of March 28-April 1, 2016. Please keep these dates open for interviews. Students who are not selected for interview will also be notified of this status by email. Students selected for an interview will meet with members of the ABSN Admission Committee. The interview is designed to allow committee members to assess the applicant s communication skills, maturity, motivation, preparedness for rigor of the academic program and interest in helping the nursing profession improve quality of health care for all people.
ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 4 4. The Admission Process Completed applications received by the deadline will be awarded a preliminary score based on the applicant s GPA, TEAS score, résumé and cover letter. Students will be notified by approximately March 14th whether they have or have not been selected for an interview. Interviews will be conducted the week of March 28 th -April 1st. Interviewed applicants will be notified of their admission decision status by approximately April 15, 2016. Waiting list: If any of the students selected for Fall 2016 admission decline their place in the class, the admissions committee may select from the top of the waiting list to fill any seats that have become available. If an applicant is placed on the waiting list but does not acquire a seat in the Fall 2016 class they must submit a new application to be considered for the next class. Accepted students who fail to complete prerequisites (with a grade of C or better) or any additional admission requirements prior to the first day of ABSN classes will NOT be allowed to enter the ABSN Program and will lose their place in the class. Proof of completion of prerequisites will be required prior to the first day of the Fall 2016 semester. Students accepted into the ABSN Program will receive further information about additional requirements for admission upon acceptance to the program, such as an initial criminal background check, urine drug screen, CPR certification and health /immunization documentation. As noted in the WCU catalog, the School of Nursing reserves the right to modify this information. Applicants are personally responsible for ascertaining that their academic records and application packet are complete and correct. The School of Nursing will not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, or disability in either the selection of students for participation in the educational program, or as to any aspects of the clinical training, provided however that with respect to disability, the disability must not be such as would with reasonable accommodation in and of itself preclude the student s effective participation in the educational program and clinical training.
ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ABSN APPLICANTS Read and follow instructions carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that application materials are complete. 1. Application to WCU: List Pre-Nursing as your intended major. If you are not currently enrolled at WCU, you will enroll as an Undergraduate Transfer Student. To begin the WCU application, visit the Office of Admissions webpage and select the Transfer Application. Request official transcripts (including those for AP and IB credit) from all institutions attended be sent to the WCU Office of Admissions: Office of Undergraduate Admission 102 Camp Building Cullowhee, NC 28723 Complete the following WCU admission requirements and track progress towards completion through your Catamount Gateway at gateway.wcu.edu: If you will be taking more than 4 credit hours in daytime face-to-face Cullowhee Campus classes, you must submit complete immunization records to Health Services. o You will not be notified regarding incomplete shot records. o Questions, to request a waiver, or follow-up: Call Health Services at 828-227-7640. Pay your tuition deposit. o Questions or follow-up: Call Student Accounts at 828-227-7324. You will receive hard copy notification about our online pre-registration program CatWalk. Complete all steps in CatWalk (available in early November for spring semester start and available in late April for summer term start) and be sure to do the following: Select Accelerated ABSN as your major. Provide your primary phone number. In the box on the Tell Us About You page: o Indicate if you will also be applying for the traditional BSN program. o Indicate each course prefix/number and term you want to take each course. (e.g. NSG 101 Spring 2016, NSG 346 Spring 2016, ND 338 Summer 2015) Register for any New Transfer Student Orientation session. o Registering for Orientation is required to complete the pre-registration process. o If you will be applying only for the ABSN program, do not submit payment for your session. The initial advisor who is assigned to you (after you complete CatWalk) will contact the Orientation Office to waive your attendance and cancel your session registration. o If you will be applying for the traditional BSN program in addition to the ABSN, your attendance at a Transfer Orientation session is required and you should submit payment. Questions or issues regarding CatWalk: Call the Advising Center at 828-227- 7753. After ALL WCU admission requirements are met AND you ve been cleared in the system to register:
ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 6 You will be contacted by Dr. Jessica Shirley, SON Director of Student Services. You will receive necessary course overrides and an alt PIN to complete your registration. 2. Assemble in ONE packet: a. Completed application to the ABSN Program b. Copies of transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate institutions. Unofficial copies are acceptable for the ABSN application packet. c. Copy of TEAS score report d. Résumé with cover letter e. Signature page 3. Submit the completed ABSN application packet to: Dr. Jessica Shirley, Director of Student Services Western Carolina University School of Nursing 28 Schenck Parkway, Suite 309 Asheville, NC 28803
Western Carolina University College of Health and Human Sciences School of Nursing Accelerated BSN Application ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 7 Last Name: First Name: Address: Street Address City State ZIP Code Home Phone: Email: Cell Phone: Undergraduate Degree (BS/BA) in: University: All communication regarding the status of your application letters will be sent via email to the address provided. It is the applicant s responsibility to notify the School of Nursing immediately of changes in the above information. It is the applicant s responsibility to check email regularly and respond by the stated deadlines. PREVIOUS EDUCATION-List all post-secondary programs you have attended. (Most Recent FIRST) Institution Location Dates Attended Major Degree
ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 8 ABSN Program Prerequisites Please complete the following completion of prerequisites chart for the ABSN Program at WCU. For courses not taken at WCU, please list the approved equivalent course and institution where course was taken. Please list the grade you received in each course. All prerequisites for the nursing major (listed below) must be completed prior to beginning the ABSN option. WCU Course Description Approved Equivalent Course / Institution *Reminder: Get course approval from Dr. Shirley prior to enrolling in a course that would satisfy one of these prerequisite courses. Chem 132 Intro Chemistry & Lab Chem 133 Survey of Organic and Biochemistry & Lab Grade BIOL 291 Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab BIOL 292 Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab ENVH 260/ 261 Lab PSY 150 ND 338 NSG 101 NSG 346 Etiology of Infectious Disease & Lab (Microbiology) General Psychology Normal & Therapeutic Nutrition Introduction to Professional Nursing Nursing Pathophysiology
ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 9 Fall 2016 ABSN Application Prerequisite Completion Plan If you have not completed all prerequisites, please indicate your plan for completion below. List the colleges or university you are currently attending or plan to attend before the start of the Fall 2016 ABSN class in order to complete the prerequisites for ABSN admission. For institutions other than WCU list the course numbers of the approved equivalent course. WCU Course Approved Course Name/Number Equivalent Institution Semester of Completion (Spring/Summer)
CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION SIGNATURE ABSN Fall 2016 Application Packet 10 Students accepted into the ABSN Program must successfully complete additional requirements, such as a criminal background check and urine drug screen, prior to finalizing admission. Failure to successfully satisfy any of the requirements outlined in this application or additional requirements provided upon admission may result in the forfeiture of one s seat in the ABSN Program. I hereby certify that all of the information provided by me in my application packet is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that submitting false or incomplete documents or making false statements will result in my not being admitted to the WCU nursing program OR my dismissal from the nursing program. Applicant Name Date Applicant Signature