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
2019 – 2020 Cycle Launch Update
Reminder: the 2019 – 2020 NursingCAS Cycle will open on August 15, 2019. Configuration for next cycle opens the first week in June. Consistent with last year, there will be a short crossover period when both application cycles will be open simultaneously. And the 2018 – 2019 Cycle will close in mid-September. Stay tuned for key dates and more details.
Several updates are planned, including the option for schools to choose organizational-level custom questions in configuration. This change is important because it will help streamline the configuration process for schools that ask the same custom questions across all programs.
Important: if your school would like to use the Organizational-Level Custom Questions Configuration option then please notify Caroline Kane (ckane@aacnnursing.org) by May 1, so we can activate this option for your school in time for the opening of the Configuration Portal for the 2019 – 2020 Cycle. Note, program-level custom questions will remain an option and is the best configuration choice for schools that ask different questions for each program offered.
Please reach out to the NursingCAS team with any questions.
Usage Help Panel Updates
The Usage Help panel is updated with a new look and links. The panel is now labeled Help and includes links to Training Resources, including the new NursingCAS User Guide, which is a handy, brief reference.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Several Webinars will be offered this spring:
- Managing Your Review Process: When You Need to Identify Your Best Applicants – 3/19
- Configuration Portal Training – 3/21
- Introduction to a Centralized Application Service – 4/9
- Making WebAdMIT Work for You – 4/11
- Exploring Emails in WebAdMIT – 4/23
- Building Your Review Process: What You’ll Need Early in the Cycle – 4/25
And an in-person training on Developing a Comprehensive Reporting Strategy and Enrollment Marketing for a Competitive Advantage will be offered on April 3 & 4 in Austin, TX. To see more details, including times, and to register visit http://academy.liaisonedu.com.
Call for Proposals due April 5 for Liaison’s User Conference in Boston, MA
Are you planning to attend Liaison’s Annual User Conference at the Westin Boston Waterfront on June 27 – June 28, 2019? If so, you can share your unique perspective on what it takes to #buildabetterclass and advance admissions and enrollment practices. If you would like to present a session at the User Conference, submit a proposal by Friday, April 5.
This conference is open to NursingCAS users and all university and college staff who utilize a CAS, WebAdMIT, EMP, or another Liaison technology tool. Learn more and register at https://events.liaisonedu.com. Please note that this event is organized and run by Liaison International and there is a registration fee.
NursingCAS Roundtable Discussion on April 3 in Salt Lake City, UT
Join your colleagues on Wednesday, April 3 from 3:15 – 4:15 PM for roundtable discussions about NursingCAS. This free session coincides with the Graduate Nursing Admissions Professionals (GNAP) Conference and the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Convention in Salt Lake City, UT. Topics covered will include New User Experience, Advanced User Experience, Best Practices with Integration, Facilitating a Holistic Review, Best Practices with Interviews, and Facilitating an Online Review Process. Learn more and RSVP.
By the Numbers
2018-2019 Applicants Distributed by Gender
So far the 2018-2019 application cycle displays a gender distribution that is consistent with previous cycles and shadows the gender distribution of nursing as a whole.
NursingCAS Know-How
From the Archives: Best Practices for Keeping Your WebAdMIT Access Secure
Digital security is arguably one of the most important things we should be worried about in 2019. With the WannaCry hack and Equifax scandal in 2017, and likely more cyber-security breaches on the way, let’s all do our best to minimize our risk. Liaison does a great job keeping applicant information secure, but WebAdMIT users also bear the onus of keeping applicant information protected. It only takes one mistake to result in a breach. Cyber-security best practices can be a moving target, but use the following tips for a good start.
Don’t Use Public Wifi When Using WebAdMIT
If you only log onto WebAdMIT via your office computer on campus, this is probably not a huge issue for you. But if you routinely use public libraries, coffee shops, or other public sources of wifi when using WebAdMIT, you should stop immediately. Public wifi is dangerous because you simply don’t know who could be watching and what their motivations are. It is the equivalent of living in a glass house; everything you do is open to scrutiny. There are a variety of strategies unknown persons can use to eavesdrop and steal your data. Learn more about these and how to protect yourself here.
Protect Your Password
Weak passwords are a major reason behind cyber-security breaches. Risks are compounded if you use the same password or set of passwords for all your accounts. Using a strong password is especially important when dealing with sensitive applicant data. If you are afraid of forgetting your passwords, there are several highly reputable, secure password managers that have built-in password generators. Examples include LastPass and 1Password. Password managers also simplify the process of sharing passwords, which should never be shared over chat, text, or email.
Don’t Share Accounts When Possible
The best way to keep a secret is to tell no one. The same principle is true for passwords. Single accounts accessed daily by multiple people are much more likely to be breached than accounts with one user. In the event of a security breach, having a single user for an account makes it much easier to pinpoint the exact circumstances of the breach.
Keep Your Browser Updated
This one may seem like a no brainer, but the reason the WannaCry hack was so disruptive was because so many computers were not updated. To be fair, many of those machines operated specialized institutional software, making updating a difficult process. But many other outdated computers were the result of individual choices, which compounded into a massive issue. If browser updates are disruptive to your workflow, consider switching to a browser like Google Chrome, which installs updates when you close the program.
Social Beat
Details emerge about indictments of wealthy parents who allegedly found ways to rig the system; coaches lose their jobs; and some call for discussion of the many (legal) advantages for families of means.
The 2019 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program is Accepting Applications
Eligible APRNs and nurse faculty can apply now through March 28. The program provides up to 85% of unpaid nursing education debt.
NACUBO’s 2019 Perceptions and Priorities Report
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) recently published a monograph titled 2019 Perceptions and Priorities to bridge the national dialogue about student loan debt, college costs, and free college with the strategic conversations that NACUBO members are having about revenue pressures, business models, and what it takes to address students’ educational needs.
Celebrate Certified CNL Day on March 19
Join the Webinar Hosted by the Commission on Nurse Certification to explore the impact and positive outcomes associated with the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL).
Will AP Changes Give More of an Edge to the Wealthy?
High school counselors say that registration and fee changes will have little impact on those in affluent schools but will discourage those in low-income areas.
More institutions are signing up to share courses online. Some want to work together on concentrations and even majors — but skeptics warn that too much collaboration can dilute the academic experience for students.
How to Balance Continuing Education and a Full-Time Career
It may seem like it would take a superhero to balance full-time nursing work with continuing education and perhaps even a personal life, but take heart. It is possible, even without sacrifice.