Description
The College seeks to enroll and retain high-potential students who meet initial Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) benchmarks but face barriers to immediate nursing program entry. The Nursing Bridge Merit Scholarship Program is designed to provide structured financial support and a guaranteed matriculation bridge to the nursing program at St. Paul’s School of Nursing -- Queens.
Program Objectives
The primary objectives of this initiative are twofold:
- Enrollment Access: To assist a specific demographic of prospective students who have demonstrated academic aptitude via the SLE-Q but remain ineligible for direct admission to the College’s nursing program.
- Strategic Retention: To offer a robust academic and financial framework that incentivizes students to complete the Medical Assistant curriculum as a foundational precursor to their nursing education.
Scholarship Structure and Funding Limits
Qualified candidates will be eligible for a merit-based scholarship of $1,000 per 12 week term. This award is applicable upon the completion of each of the six terms comprising the Medical Assisting program, culminating in a maximum aggregate value of $6,000.
This scholarship has no cash value and is non-refundable. It cannot be used to generate a credit balance check for the student.
Institutional Funding Caps
To ensure fiscal sustainability, the program adheres to the following limits:
Annual Award Limit: Total scholarship disbursements shall not exceed $85,000 per fiscal year.
Term Capacity: A maximum of three (3) new scholarship awards will be granted per academic term.
Eligibility and Maintenance Requirements
To ensure academic rigor and program integrity, NBMS recipients must adhere to the following criteria:
- Initial Assessment: Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 19 on the Wonderlic SLE-Q (maximum of two attempts).
- Program Continuity: Recipients must maintain continuous enrollment and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. If the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for two consecutive terms, the student will forfeit the scholarship and bridge eligibility. Any interruption of the program must be substantiated by documented extenuating circumstances and approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs.
- Attendance: Recipients must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance of the scheduled course hours for every course in which they enroll. Chronic absenteeism could lead to forfeiture of scholarship and bridge eligibility.
- Professional Conduct: Any violation of the College’s Code of Conduct will result in immediate forfeiture of the scholarship and bridge eligibility.
- Graduation Benchmarks: Eligibility for the nursing bridge is contingent upon graduating with a minimum 3.0 GPA and achieving certification via the Certified Clinical Medical Assisting (CCMA) Exam. The student must attempt the CCMA exam within 30 days of graduation.
Selection and Nursing Pathway
- Committee Review: All applications will undergo a formal review by the NBMS Committee. Selection is competitive and based on the applicant's demonstrated potential for success in the nursing field and their alignment with the program’s mission and scholarship program’s stated objectives.
Furthermore, the program establishes a defined matriculation pathway. Students who successfully fulfill all NBMS and MA program requirements will be granted direct admission into the Nursing program, bypassing traditional competitive barriers.
Matriculation Pathway
The program establishes a defined matriculation pathway. Graduates meeting these benchmarks are exempt from SLE-Q and HESI re-testing provided they commence nursing studies within two semesters of MA graduation and satisfy standard college and clinical requirements.
Those who fail to meet these benchmarks must satisfy the admissions criteria for the nursing program in place at the time of application.
Administrative and Enrollment Procedures
The enrollment process is standardized to ensure compliance and transparency:
- Documentation: Submission of a comprehensive MA enrollment packet, including official transcripts, valid identification and personal statement.
- Contractual Agreement: Execution of a formal scholarship agreement outlining performance expectations and the terms of provisional nursing acceptance.
- Financial Planning: A mandatory consultation with a member of the Financial Aid Department to integrate the scholarship into a formal FAFSA-based financial plan.
- Committee Review: Upon completion of the NBMS Application and its required documentation, the NBMS Committee will determine scholarship eligibility.
Transfer Credit & Curriculum Integration
The College acknowledges that specific coursework completed during the Medical Assisting program may be eligible for transfer credit into the Nursing curriculum.
- An official audit of transferable credits will be conducted upon MA graduation.
- Transfer credits are subject to the grade requirements of the Nursing Department (typically a grade of "C+" or higher).
Through this proactive recruitment model, the College will provide a viable alternative for students, allowing them to gain clinical experience and financial support while securing their future standing in the nursing profession.