NursingCAS Dispatch
Welcome to the NursingCAS Dispatch – a monthly newsletter intended to keep you up to date with current happenings at NursingCAS. The newsletter will feature:
- User Updates to keep you in the loop, so you can keep your team and applicants in the loop.
- NursingCAS by the Numbers, a metric to showcase application statistics and other relevant data.
- NursingCAS Know-How, an in-depth examination of a NursingCAS feature.
- Social Beat, which will feature nursing and admissions news from around the web.
User Updates
2018 – 2019 Cycle Launch Key Dates & FAQs
As announced in last month’s newsletter, the NursingCAS 2017 – 2018 Application Cycle will close on September 17, 2018 and the NursingCAS 2018 – 2019 Application Cycle will open on August 15, 2018.
Key Dates
- June 4 – the 2018 – 2019 Configuration portal will open
- July 26 – deadline to submit program configurations to be reviewed and approved in time to open on the cycle launch date
- August 15 – the NursingCAS 2018 – 2019 Application Cycle opens!
- September 17 – the NursingCAS 2017 – 2018 Application Cycle closes, last date for applicant submission
- September 21 – last date for processing of transcripts and references for the 2017 – 2018 cycle
Please review the FAQs for more details. And let the NursingCAS team know if you have questions.
Configuration Portal Enhancements
Updated Configuration Portal Interface
We are excited to announce that the Configuration Portal has an updated design. This new design includes easier navigation and increased adherence to 508 accessibility standards.
Reorder Questions and Question Blocks
Users can now reorder questions entered in the Program Editor section by dragging and dropping. Questions can be reordered within and across question blocks, and question blocks can be reordered as well.
Spell-Check Allowed When Creating Emails
When creating Email Templates or sending emails, the spell-check function from user’s browsers is now enabled in WebAdMIT.
Sandbox Environment Refresh
The WebAdMIT Sandbox environment (sandbox.webadmit.org) was refreshed with current (cleansed) production data and program configurations. Any configurations that existed in sandbox before the refresh and were not in production were deleted.
By the Numbers
When applying to nursing programs, applicants are encouraged to request their transcripts as early as possible to ensure they arrive on time to be Verified. The NursingCAS application instructions state that it can take up to two weeks from the time of arrival for a transcript to be Verified. Since the beginning of the current cycle, it has taken an average of 5 days for transcript Verification. During the month of March Verification time was slightly lower.
NursingCAS Know-How
The Utility of Work Groups in WebAdMIT
Work Groups are a crucial tool to streamline your admissions flow. Using Work Groups you can manage WebAdMIT permissions for groups of users, as opposed to setting permissions for individual users one at a time. The Primary User at your institution is the Administrator of your Work Groups and has the power to extend or reduce permissions. You can have as many or as few work groups as you need to customize WebAdMIT to your institution’s workflow.
When creating or modifying a Work Group you must decide two things:
- What actions do I want these users to perform?
- What applicant data do I want these users to see?
Once you have answered those two questions you are ready to start building work groups. Examples of groups you may want to create include:
- Information Technology
- Reviewers
- Interviewers
- Registrar
- Student Workers
The WebAdMIT Help Center has detailed information regarding how to create, set up, and add users to Work Groups. If you are new to NursingCAS or simply need a refresher course we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the documentation. If you have questions or would like additional training, please contact WebAdMIT Support at webadmitsupport@liaisonedu.com or 857-304-2020.
Social Beat
Nurse.com Launches New Career-Focused Digital Guide for Aspiring Nurses
Nurse.com just launched it’s new digital guide, “Design Your Ideal Nursing Career.” This tool includes information about planning a career as a future RN, tips on conflict management, building decision-making skills, and more.
Congress’s Budget for Higher Ed, By the Numbers
Most student aid programs would see increases approaching 15 percent, science agencies more modest but still significant boosts.
States Take a Look at Online Learning Prices
Debate over the actual cost and value of online education continues to polarize participants. Meanwhile, state legislatures are looking for ways to cut costs for students.
Innovation in Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed has released our latest print-on-demand compilation, “Innovation in Higher Education.” You may download a copy free, here. And you may sign up here for a free webcast on the themes of the booklet, on Tuesday, May 8, at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Upcoming Webcast – Building Sustainable Online Programs: Perspectives from SNHU and Nebraska
This upcoming webcast will feature a panel of experts speaking to the multitude of challenges faced by colleges and universities in regards to rapidly changing technology and fiscal pressures.