FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Tuition and Financial Aid Questions
-
Who is the RNBS program for and how is it structured?
Our RNBS program is intended for people who already have their associate’s degree or diploma in nursing and are looking to further their careers by earning their Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing. This program is an online program with a few mandatory attendance requirements at the Portland campus. The RNBS program is designed for working RNs, there is more flexibility in the schedule (students can be part time or full time), and classes are offered in different formats, including online and weekend intensives.
- How long is the
program?
Depending on your courseload and previous educational background, the program typically lasts between 7 and 11 quarters. Students can complete the program in less time if they have a lot of course credit from previous degrees or education and if they are able to attend full time. All required courses (both nursing and non-nursing) in the RNBS program must be completed within five years of admission in order to graduate.
- Does the program
have residency restrictions?
RNBS students must live in the state of Oregon or in the counties that border Oregon in Washington, Idaho, or California. Clinical options are not available for people who live beyond this area, and thus they are not eligible for this program.
- Is there any
required in-person instruction?
The two-day in-person Orientation is mandatory. In terms of courses, most courses are offered in both fully online and intensive format. Intensives are held in Salem and occasionally Portland, and they require attendance for two 2-day sessions during the term. Attendance at graduation is not required but it is highly encouraged.
- How do I know
if my prerequisite coursework will transfer to OHSU?
Credits can transfer to OHSU if the course is from an accredited institution, if the course is college level (100 level or higher in OR institutions), and if the course meets the grade requirement of a “C” or higher. In terms of course content requirements for prerequisite coursework, please review the course descriptions for the specific prerequisite coursework required available at http://www.ohsu.edu/son/academic/rnbs-transcripteval.pdf on pages 3 and 4.
- Can I apply without
all my prerequisites and other requirements complete?
In terms of prerequisites, it is fine to have classes still in progress while applying to the RNBS program. For this program, applicants must show that they have or will have an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing prior to matriculation. Applicants must indicate a feasible plan regarding how they plan to complete the required prerequisites prior to matriculation. Applicants who are waiting to take the NCLEX must indicate their NCLEX test date in their application and send us a copy of the RN license as soon as it is received. Applicants must show that they have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- How do I know
which courses count for the Humanities and Social Sciences elective
categories?
• Social Sciences include Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Business, Criminology, and Sociology.
• Humanities include History of Art, History of Music, English (not English Composition), Linguistics, Philosophy, Religion, Speech and Theater Arts, Foreign Language, Communication, Journalism, and Women's Studies.
- It has been years
since I got my associate’s degree/took nursing coursework. When
do my credits expire?
For the RNBS program, prerequisite/co-requisite coursework does not expire.
- When can I apply
to the RNBS program and when can I start?
Applications for the RNBS program are open two times per year for two different start dates:
• Applications are open October 1 until December 30 to begin the program in the Spring term.
• Applications are open from April 1 until June 30 to begin the program in the Fall term.
- What do I need
to do to apply?
• Applicants need to fill out the online application available at www.ohsu.edu/son/. This online application will include an application essay as well as a printable signature page which should be printed and turned in with your application packet.
• Request each college you have attended to send the official transcript(s) to you showing completion of all academic work. Do not open the envelopes in which transcripts are received. For our purpose they are official only if the seal is intact. Include all transcripts in your application packet.
• Include a copy of your nursing license in your application packet.
• Pay a $120.00 nonrefundable application fee online in the online application by credit or debit card.
Tuition and Financial Aid Questions
- How will I be
billed?
The OHSU Business Office will bill you for your tuition and fees. For the 2007-2008 academic year, tuition and fees total $339 per credit for RNBS. A $35 late fee is assessed if your registration is received later than the deadline. You may pay the entire amount of your tuition and fees at once or you may pay by installment. After 30 days a 1% interest charge is added to the amount owing on subsequent billings. Students are required to pay off the balance of their tuition by the end of each term, or make a special arrangement with the OHSU Business Office. A credit card payment option is available. Refunds for cancelled registrations are as follows: 100% refund if cancelled before the end of the 12th day of the term, 50% before the end of the 26th day, and no refund after that. If you cancel your registration, it is your responsibility to notify the Registrar's Office. - Are there any
other costs besides tuition? What's an articulation fee?
In addition to the cost of books and course materials each term, there is a one-time articulation fee payable the term you are ready to graduate. Billed at $10 per credit, this fee is charged to articulate, or translate, lower division ADN credits into upper division OHSU nursing credits on your OHSU transcript. The articulated credits are recorded on your OHSU transcript.
- Can I get financial
aid for OHSU Nursing courses?
The Financial Aid Office at OHSU handles a variety of loans and scholarships. Almost all types of the financial aid sources require formal admission to the program. Several types of aid require full-time study; however, some financial aid is available when attending less than full-time. Many financial aid programs have very early application deadlines. For a list of financial aid sources, contact the Financial Aid Office.
- Can I get financial
aid for required non-nursing courses I take at another school?
Yes, but there are restrictions for financial aid received from OHSU. RNBS students are limited to taking degree-applicable courses from four year “partner” institutions (for example SOU, OSU, PSU, EOU) in order to receive financial aid from OHSU to cover tuition for non-nursing courses. In addition, paperwork must be submitted prior to and at the end of the term in which the aid is to be received. Talk to the Financial Aid Office for details.
- What is Orientation?
All new students are required to attend a two-day in-person Orientation prior to starting coursework in the RN to Bachelor's program. This is where OHSU student opportunities, rights, and responsibilities are discussed. Students learn how to use OHSU's electronic resources (email, online course web sites, library access) and meet faculty and fellow students. Orientation for entry into Spring term is held on campus in Portland in March just prior to Spring classes beginning. Orientation for entry into Fall term is held on campus in Portland in September just prior to Fall classes beginning.
- How can my past
experience and learning count?
Admitted students may challenge some courses by exam or portfolio. Students challenging or doing a portfolio for a course receive full credit for the course if they are successful. They register, pay tuition for the course, and receive a "P" for Pass on the OHSU transcript, rather than a letter grade. Students are not penalized for not passing by challenge or portfolio; in this case, they must complete the course as an actual course, as scheduled on their program of study.
- What is my Program
of Study (POS)?
Prior to the start of their first term, new students complete a Program of Study Survey designed to assist them in figuring out how to fit studying for upper-division college courses into already busy lives. On the basis of the student's response to the survey, the Program of Study Adviser will recommend an appropriate Program of Study (POS) for completing the required nursing courses. Your POS will call for you to take one or two nursing courses each term, totaling a 3-10 credit load each term.
- Can I update
my Program of Study if my plan for completing courses changes?
Once you are admitted to the program, the expectation is that you will be continuously enrolled until you finish all the required nursing courses. If it becomes necessary for you to take a leave of absence for one or more terms, you notify the Program of Study Advisor with your reason for needing a leave and the length of time before you will return. If you need a leave or leaves for longer than a total of 4 terms, you will be asked to withdraw and reapply to the program later when you are able to be continuously enrolled.
- Where do I get
my textbooks and other course materials (CD-ROMs)?
Students can order text books through the OHSU Bookstore online at http://www.ohsu.edu/mednursbookstore. Click on "OHSU Student Book lists" then School of Nursing," then find "RN/BS Nursing" under the current term, and then find your course or courses, and the required texts will be listed. You can also phone the OHSU Bookstore toll free at 1-877-342-3907. Order course CD-ROM packages through I-Media Publishing at http://www.i-mediapub.com or by phone at 541-535-5552.
- What kind of
computer and computer software do I need to do this program?
All School of Nursing students (on campus and distance) are required to possess minimum computer skills and have access to a computer with predetermined minimum capabilities as well as access to the Internet, independent of the School of Nursing and University resources. For more specifics, link to the School of Nursing Computer Requirements.
| For Questions About... |
Who to Call |
Where They Are |
Phone Numbers |
|
Student
issues, curriculum, University concerns |
Program
Director |
Statewide
RN/BS Office, |
503-494-3558 fax
503-494-4350 Email:
salveson@ohsu.edu |
|
Admission,
challenge exams & portfolios, course waivers, incompletes,
articulation, graduation, program of study advising, orientation,
registration, leaves of absence (LOAs) |
Program
Coordinator and Program of Study Adviser |
Statewide
RN/BS Office, |
541-552-6736 fax
541-552-6055 Email:
cookl@ohsu.edu |
|
Professional
and personal issues, advice on clinicals
and graduate programs, problem solving |
Your
Regional Faculty Advisor |
See
Faculty Advisors Contact Information
Chart |
|
|
Transcripts, grade reports |
503-494-5876 or 1-800-775-5460 Email: saddlerc@ohsu.edu
|
||
|
Financial aid |
Staff |
503-494-7800 or 1-800-775-5460 |
|
| Billing |
Donna
Feathers |
Phone:
503-494-5710 or 1-800-775-5460 Email:
feathers@ohsu.edu |
|
|
Ordering books |
Staff |
1-877-342-3907 |
|
|
Ordering
course CD-ROMs (course materials) |
Staff |
541-535-5552 |
|
- How do I contact
my Faculty Advisor?
Each student in the program is assigned to a regional Faculty Advisor. Faculty Advisors are available to work one-on-one with advisees when professional and personal issues arise that impact the educational experience. Faculty Advisors often provide advice on opportunities for clinical experiences or graduate educational programs. They also act as a sounding board when a student just needs to problem solve. Locate the Faculty Advisor for your county by going to the Faculty Advisor Contact Information Chart.