RN-BSN Advising and Admission

Advising Philosophy

Academic advising is an ongoing process where advisors welcome and introduce students to JMU's rich academic culture through communication designed to contribute to student development and academic success. Advisors guide students through the integration of curricular, co-curricular, and personal choices while encouraging students to engage in reflection and self-assessment to provide meaningful change-oriented intervention as appropriate.

RN-BSN Student Support and Advising

Nursing Academic Adviser/Faculty Advisor

In your first semester as a degree-seeking or non degree-seeking student, you will be assigned to an RN-BSN Faculty Advisor who will be your point of contact until you graduate. The faculty advisor will review and complete a semester update on the student’s plan of study beginning when a student enters the RN-BSN pathway. Your faculty advisor will work with you to resolve issues such as:

• Progression through the RN-BSN pathway – Students may seek advice regarding progression. Examples of topics include course selection, completion of General Education courses, transfer credit, and graduation.
• Students are encouraged to seek support for personal or interpersonal challenges that may affect their academic performance or experience.
• Students may seek counsel related to difficulty with time management, organization, study skills, or academic achievement.
• During summer semesters, students will contact the RN-BSN coordinator and/or operations coordinator to seek advice for all RN-BSN related or personal questions and concerns.
• Students must meet virtually with their advisor to review graduation requirements before submitting their application for graduation.

To maintain a productive advising relationship, the student is responsible for:

Being proactive and initiating contact
Giving thoughtful consideration to academic and career goals
Preparing a list of questions and issues to discuss before advising meetings
Actively participating in advising sessions
Knowing the Academic Calendar and related deadlines for add/drop courses
Scheduling courses consistent with educational goals that meet degree requirements
Accepting responsibility for making final decisions regarding academic choices

RN-BSN Coordinator

You may contact the RN-BSN Coordinator, Dr. Karen Jagiello, at jagielkp@jmu.edu if you have unresolved advising issues or questions after you have contacted your faculty adviser. Please seek assistance first from your current advisor. To schedule a meeting with the RN-BSN Coordinator, contact the RN-BSN operations coordinator at 540-568-7612.  If you continue to have unresolved issues you may contact Dr. Jamie Robinson, the Associate Director for Undergraduate Programs at robin6jd@jmu.edu.

RN-BSN Operations Coordinator

The RN-BSN operations coordinator can be reached by emailing RN-BSN@jmu.edu or by calling 540-568-7612. The operations coordinator can answer questions about processes and procedures once you enter the RN-BSN pathway.

Admission Appeals

The admission appeal process is the means by which a denied applicant for admission to the degree-seeking BSN pathway may request a second review by the RN-BSN Admissions and Progression committee. The appeal process is not the means by which a denied student should request consideration for admission for a future academic semester. In that case, a new application must be submitted during the RN-BSN application time frame. Any applicant denied admission or placed on the wait list to the RN-BSN pathway who has met all the pre-requisites stated by the School of Nursing may submit a formal letter of appeal. Students who do not meet the minimum requirements set by the School of Nursing are not eligible to appeal. The committee is interested in circumstances beyond the student’s control and additional information not submitted or available at the time the student applied for admission. Life experiences that may have impacted the student’s academic performance are also considered.

Appeal Procedure

If a student wishes to appeal the admission decision, the student will need to:

1. Submit a formal, one-page letter of appeal stating the reason for appeal along with discussing any circumstances that they believe may not have been considered within the first round of decisions. This letter of appeal should also provide clear evidence of probable future academic success.
2. The student should also provide the committee with updated transcripts and/or grade reports.
3. Appeals must be submitted by mail or emailed to RN-BSN@jmu.edu.

Appeal Review Calendar

A student must request an appeal to the decision within two weeks of receiving the initial decision of denial. If a student does not request an appeal within that time frame, the committee will not review the decision. Once the appeal is submitted, the student will be notified of a decision within three weeks of receiving the appeal. Students submitting appeals will be notified of the final appeal decision via US Mail and email.

In preparing your appeal, please understand the following:

• There is a limit of one appeal per academic term. Decisions rendered are final and non-negotiable.
• Letters of recommendation will not be considered.
• Reporting errors made on the application are not a basis for the reversal of a decision.
• Appeals letters must be submitted by the applicant.
• Appeal letters written by anyone other than the applicant will not be considered.