Information for First-Years

INFORMATION FOR PRE-NURSING STUDENTS

A nursing major who is not ready to start the program

Minimum requirements for application & admission to the nursing major

Admission to Rockford University does not guarantee admission to the nursing program.  In order to be successful as a Rockford University nursing student, the nursing department has established minimum entrance requirements prior to enrolling in courses with the intent of pursuing a major in nursing. These include:

1. A high school cumulative grade point average of 2.75.
2. Successful completion with a minimum grade of “C” in at least one course in biology, one course in chemistry and statistics.
3. Make application to the nursing program no later than September 1 of the sophomore year. Late submissions will not be accepted.
4. Complete the nurse entrance exam; cost to student is $65.00 and must be paid prior to the test date in Student Administrative Services.
5. Demonstrate math competency by the following means:
   • ACT math score of 20 or higher within the last 5 years or
   • College Algebra or MATH 120 or
   • Math Placement exam score of 3 or higher and
   • TEAS V math score proficient or higher

Students will be notified of their status by letter from the chairperson no later than November 1. When notification of an offer of admission to the nursing program is received, the student will make an appointment with his or her academic advisor to complete the Declaration of Major form.

Requirements of all applicants:

1. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.75 at the time of application. For transfer students, a CGPA will be determined from course work accepted in transfer, which must be a minimum of 2.75 for consideration.
2. Maintenance of a minimum CGPA of 2.75 from Rockford University at the end of the semester in which application is submitted.
3. Achieve any “C” grade in each of the required natural and social science support courses (see list of required supporting courses). A student who receives a grade lower than a C- in any required natural and social science support course may repeat the course and have the repeated course grade counted toward the CGPA.  Only one of the required natural and social science support courses may be repeated. If a student receives a grade lower than a C- grade in more than one of the required natural and social science support courses, they will not be considered for admission to the major. All students must inform the Registrar’s Office when they are repeating classes.
4. Science courses older than five years will not be considered as equivalent to Rockford University courses.
5. Students who are granted medical withdrawals and medical incompletes in required natural and social science support courses have a maximum of two times to achieve a passing grade of “C-” or better. For example, a student enrolls in Biology 209 and receives a medical incomplete. That student then makes arrangements with the instructor to repeat Biology 209 the next time it is offered. The student fails to achieve a passing grade and then withdraws from the course with a “MW” (medical withdrawal). The student repeats Biology 209 again and then receives a passing grade. The student (who has essentially attempted the same course three times) may not be considered for admission into the nursing program.
6. Students who have been denied admission to the nursing program due to a CGPA of less than 2.75 may submit an application requesting admission to the nursing program, if admission criteria are met, during the next application period. Automatic admission to the program for the next academic year is not guaranteed. Each student case will be considered individually and are handled on a space-available basis.
7. There are essential capabilities necessary for admission and progression at Rockford University in the complex discipline of nursing. To enter or progress in the nursing curriculum, the candidate must be able to perform all of the essential capabilities (with or without accommodations). See Appendix A of the Nursing Student Handbook for Essential Capabilities of Nursing Majors.
8. All students admitted to the nursing major are required to complete a background check and a random urine drug screen.
9. The nursing faculty reserves the right to consider the merit of individual cases.

Requirements for Progression and Retention in the Nursing Major