Section II: Admission to the College

Section II: Admission to the College jeff
 

Diversity Statement

Diversity Statement mshake

The faculty and staff of Lakeview College of Nursing value and are committed to fostering diversity in the classroom, the College, and the profession. By respecting differences in culture, age, gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, national origin, differing abilities, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation, we enrich the learning environment, improve the practice and profession of Nursing and enhance personal creativity and professional growth.

Non-discrimination Policy

Non-discrimination Policy jeff

Lakeview College of Nursing does not discriminate on the admission of students on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, ancestry, or disability.  Additionally, the College prohibits students discriminating against others based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, ancestry, or disability.

Admission Academic Requirements

Admission Academic Requirements jeff

Applicants should have a minimum of 45 credit hours completed at the time of application to be considered for admissions. The following are the requirements for consideration for admissions into Lakeview College of Nursing: 

  1. Minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

  2. Admission Test Scores

  3. 60 Credit Hours in General Education and Prerequisite Courses with a grade of “C” or better.  (Must be completed before starting any LCN nursing courses.  Please see appropriate prerequisite plan for listing of required coursework within academic requirements section of catalog).

    • All general education and prerequisites must be completed from a regionally accredited college or university

    • Lakeview College of Nursing accepts CLEP Examination Credit for equivalent general education and prerequisite coursework. Credit may be awarded for CLEP Examinations depending upon the score earned on the examination and other factors as indicated below.  Please visit The College Board website, http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

    • Limitations of credits earned through the CLEP Examinations are as follows: (1) duplicate credit in the same subject is not awarded in any case; (2) the total number of credits that may be awarded is limited to 30 credits.

Additional Admission Test Information

If an applicant has a disability and needs to request accommodations for the Admissions Test, the applicant needs to contact Vicky Welge at studentsfirst@lakeviewcol.edu or 217-709-0939.

It is highly recommended preparing for this test by purchasing a study guide and reviewing in some manner. An internet search for “nursing school entrance exam” will provide the resources needed to prepare.

Lakeview College of Nursing reserves the right to change admission requirements or to make appropriate revisions, amendments, or corrections at any time, with or without notice.

Transfer Credit Policies

Transfer Credit Policies jeff

Academic Forgiveness Policy

Last 48 hours of completed coursework

Lakeview College of Nursing understands that a student may have had difficult times in their life, resulting in sub-standard academic performance at previous institutions. Applicants in this situation can write a statement asking the Admission Committee to exclude this previous coursework from the cumulative GPA calculation. The cumulative GPA will then be calculated using the last 48 credit hours of coursework, which must be a 2.5/4.0. Students requesting academic forgiveness will not qualify for an early admission decision.

Time Limitations

Science Course Time Limit

There is a time limitation on the prerequisite science courses needed for the nursing program. Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Chemistry I & II, and Microbiology MUST be taken no more than 5 years prior to the start of the nursing program, unless the student is currently a licensed RN.

Note: If one of the two-part courses (Anatomy & Physiology Part I, Anatomy & Physiology Part II, Chemistry I and Chemistry II) is completed within the last five years, then credits for the other part of the course will be recognized as long as it meets other transfer guidelines.

A student with prerequisite science courses that are not recognized due to time limitation will need to either repeat the course or pass a college proficiency test. For more information regarding the proficiency options please contact the admissions office. Note: There is a cost associated with proficiency exams.

International Students

International Students jeff

Documentation

All applicants must have established legal residency within the United States.  Lakeview College of Nursing does not issue I-20s for student visas and therefore requires each student to be either a U.S. Citizen or Permanent U.S. Resident.  Documentation will be required at the time of application.  A naturalization certificate or a green card may be used as documentation for those born outside the United States.

Application Procedure

Application Procedure jeff
 

Degree-Seeking Students

Degree-Seeking Students jeff

Fall Deadlines (processing begins January 15th)

  • Early Decision – March 1st *
  • Regular Decision – April 1st

Spring Deadlines (processing begins June 15th)

  • Early Decision – August 1st *
  • Regular Decision – September 1st

* Applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale may apply for an early decision.

Admission decisions are mailed out approximately 30 days after the admission deadline. See dates listed above.

To complete a full admission application, the applicant must submit all of the following:  

  • A completed online application.
  • Respond to a list of essay questions.
  • Two (2) reference forms from a recent employer or an educator.  References from relatives or personal friends will not be accepted. 
  • A current course schedule along with a plan for completing any remaining prerequisite coursework, if currently enrolled. The official transcript evaluation will reflect plans for completing the required prerequisites.
  • Official transcripts from each individual college institution attended. Paper and electronic transcripts are accepted. International transcripts and credentials must be translated into English with letter grades through a foreign evaluation service. All transcripts must come directly from the college attended or the foreign evaluation service.
  • A current copy of the Illinois nursing license, if licensed LPNs or RN.
  • A naturalization certificate or a green card may be used as documentation for those born outside the United States. 
  • $30 non-refundable fee is payable to Lakeview College of Nursing.

After the application has been processed, applicants will receive an e-mail confirmation that contains additional information about the program and an evaluation of official transcripts (if applicable). This e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address provided on the application for admission.

All application documents submitted to Lakeview College of Nursing for admission or transfer purposes become the property of the College and will not be released to the student or third parties. Transcripts from other institutions will not be forwarded to other educational institutions or agencies unless specified by state or federal regulation.  A student who needs copies of documents from other institutions must contact those institutions directly.

Transferring from another Nursing Program

Transferring from another Nursing Program jeff

Applicants that have attended another nursing program need to provide the additional information at the time of application: 

  1. One (1) of the two (2) required references must be from the Dean/Director/Chair or faculty member of the program from which was attended.
  2. Course syllabi for any nursing course in which the student is seeking to transfer. Only nursing courses with a grade of “B” or better will be considered for transfer. 
  3. Copies of results from Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) testing or Kaplan (KAP) if applicable.

Additional Requirements for Admission

Additional Requirements for Admission jeff

Applicants admitted under a provisional admit status must submit additional documents for consideration to full admit status:

  • Official transcripts showing completion of prerequisite requirements with a grade of "C" or better. Transcripts must be provided before the semester drop date.

  • Completed health record requirements

  • Completed background check

Student Orientation

Student Orientation jeff

Student orientation is mandatory for all new incoming students. Orientation may occur the week prior to the start of a semester. Failure to attend will prevent a student from starting any clinical course.

Classification of Students

Classification of Students jeff

Classification of students is based upon the number of credit hours earned in required general education courses and required nursing courses that are applied to the Lakeview College of Nursing curriculum. Students are considered to be enrolled after they have attended the first day of the first class for which they are registered.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Non-Degree Seeking Students jeff

A non-degree seeking student is defined as a student not admitted to the nursing program and enrolled in Chemistry, Statistics, or Medical Terminology.

Application Process
Students applying to take Chemistry, Statistics or Medical Terminology can fill out the non-degree application indicating exactly which class(es) they want to take as listed on the application. The student must submit transcripts verifying prerequisites have been met for the non-degree courses in which they are enrolling. Once the non-degree application has been processed, and the student has been registered, an email will be sent to the e-mail address provided on the application. Students enrolled as non-degree seeking will not be eligible for financial aid (including Lakeview scholarships). Enrollment as a non-degree student does not constitute admission into the nursing program. Non-degree students must apply for admission to be considered for degree status.

Health Record Requirements

Health Record Requirements jeff

Health records are mandatory for all degree-seeking students. All documents need to be uploaded into the CastleBranch system by the provided due date. Any questions or problems, please contact CastleBranch directly.

Requirements:

  • Current Physical Examination - must be within the last year
  • Tetanus Booster (Tdap) – Booster must be within the last 10 years (Tetanus Toxoid (TT) not acceptable).
  • Positive Hepatitis B Titer - If non-immune, the series must be started and a repeated titer submitted. You must upload documentation of each shot as they are received.
  • Seasonal Flu Vaccination (required annually)
  • Positive Varicella Titer If non-immune, the series must be started and a repeated titer submitted. You must upload documentation of each shot as they are received.
  • Positive MMR Titer – If non-immune, the series must be started and a repeated titer submitted. You must upload documentation of each shot as they are received.
  • Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) - (one of the following)
    • The two-step TB test must be done when entering college. A single-step technique can be used for annual renewals if the current test has not expired. Otherwise, a two-step must be completed again.
    • A student may elect to have a TB Quantiferon drawn in place of the skin test. 
    • Quantiferon Gold Blood Test - Required if a student has had BCG vaccine or a past positive.
    • A student with a history of a positive result a required negative chest x-ray to have a been done within 1 year of admissions. The student will be required to do yearly TB questionnaire during enrollment. 
  • 10 Panel Urine Drug Screen - Must be completed through the CastleBranch system.
  • CPR Certification – Only two courses accepted are: The American Heart Association-BLS Healthcare Provider –OR– The American Red Cross-CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers.
  • Meningococcal Vaccine - Proof of immunization.
  • Hepatitis A is highly recommended but is not required.

Additional information regarding health requirements is provided within the enrollment packet.

Background Checks

Background Checks jeff

All nursing students who are offered admission are required to have a criminal background check completed through CastleBranch. Students will receive the appropriate information to complete this requirement once admitted. Clinical agencies may deny a students participation in the clinical rotation because of a felony or misdemeanor conviction. As participation in clinical experiences are a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation, denial of participation by a clinical site may result in delay of graduation or the inability to graduate from the nursing program.

Students who question their qualification for licensure in the State of Illinois should go to www.idfpr.com and complete and submit the Non-Binding Advisory Opinion form (currently no fee required). This is a pre-application process to verify licensure qualifications. If you plan to seek licensure in another state, please refer to that state’s board of nursing to verify qualification for licensure.

Readmission Policy

Readmission Policy jeff

A student who has been academically dismissed or who have withdrawn from the nursing program may apply for readmission. The readmission policy is as follows:

  1. A student who has been academically dismissed must sit out for one semester (summer included).
  2. A student is only eligible for for readmission if the date the student desires to resume the program is less than two years form the date the student withdrew or was academically dismissed. If a student desires to return more than two years from the date the student withdrew or was academically dismissed, the student must apply to the College through the standard admissions process.  
  3. A student’s application for readmission may be reviewed by the Admission Committee no more than two (2) times. If readmission is not granted after the second application, the student becomes ineligible for readmission.
  4. If health concerns were a factor for the student leaving the College, then documentation for the ability to meet the technical standards with or without accommodations to continue in the program must be provided with readmission paperwork.
  5. A student may only be readmitted once (1) into Lakeview College of Nursing.
  6. A student repeating a clinical nursing course must repeat both the theory and clinical components of the course.
  7. A student readmitted into Lakeview College of Nursing is required to meet the readmission course progression requirements. Any LCN courses that are being repeated due to a previous failure or withdrawal must be passed with a “C” or higher, except N311: Foundations of Professional Practice that must be passed with an “A” or “B.”  To remain in the program, a student cannot withdraw or fail any course in which he/she has been previously enrolled.
  8. A readmitted student is allowed to withdraw from one class that has not previously been taken. The remainder of the coursework must be passed with a “C” or higher with the except N311 Foundations of Professional Practice, which must be passed with an “A” or “B,” and must follow the guidelines included within the Student Academic Progression (SAP) policy.
  9. Must meet graduation requirements at the time of graduation.

Note: Military students who have had to withdraw from a course(s) due to military obligations are exempt from the Readmission Policy.

Readmission Criteria

In order to be considered for readmission, a student must meet the following readmission criteria:

  1. Must have successfully passed all 200 level courses.
  2. Minimum cumulative LCN GPA of a 2.00 on a 4.0 scale.
  3. Must be able to meet  the standards as outlined in the Student Academic Progression Policy in order to maintain enrollment and graduate and meet all graduation eligibility.
  4. Documentation of remediation strategies to ensure success upon return.
  5. Must apply for readmission within two calendar years of leaving the college.
     

Steps for Readmission

A student seeking readmission who have been academically dismissed or who have withdrawn from the Nursing Program must submit the required documents to the Director of Enrollment by:

February 1st June 1st September 1st

The committee will meet the 3rd or 4th week of the month deadline.

The following items will be required when applying for readmission:

  1. A completed readmission application form.

  2. A letter addressed to the Admissions Committee requesting readmission with the following points: Description of the reason(s) for being dismissed or withdrawn from the program;

    1. Identify the behaviors for the dismissal or withdrawal;

    2. Steps the student took during the period of absence to prepare her/himself to return to the program; 

    3. Plan for the implementation of changes that will promote success.

  3. Release of "I understand that this form and the information contained within it, once submitted to Lakeview College of Nursing, is considered confidential and I waive my right to review it" form.

  4. Payment of readmission fee

The student will be notified by e-mail the date they will need to meet with the Admission Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure Lakeview has the correct contact information.  

Readmission into Lakeview College of Nursing will be dependent upon the availability of clinical space. If the number of applicants exceeds available space, applicants may be deferred to a subsequent semester. Readmission to the College is not guaranteed. The decision of the Readmission Committee cannot be appealed.

Approval of a readmitted student is considered an appeal approval for Federal/State student aid in regards to the student's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status.

Re-admitted students will be required to update their criminal background check and drug screen by the due date for health records. If readmitted, requirements will be provided at the time of the committee's decision.