KCON to implement holistic admissions process

The Kirkhof College of Nursing will implement a holistic approach to its student admissions process through balanced consideration of attributes, experiences and traditional academic measures beginning fall 2018.

Cynthia McCurren, dean of KCON, said the intention is to bring qualified students with different backgrounds and perspectives together for their educational experiences in order to position them to provide culturally competent care and optimal patient outcomes when they enter the workforce.

"We are pleased to join the national initiative to implement holistic admissions and see this as a way to provide a flexible, individualized way of assessing an applicant’s capabilities, experiences and personal attributes alongside their academic metrics," McCurren said. 

Kristin Norton, director of KCON's Office of Student Services, said holistic admissions is an important step to fulfill KCON’s and Grand Valley’s strategic plans for student recruitment and retention. 

Norton said new criteria to apply for admission into traditional nursing degree programs will include a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, submitting a resume and essay, and completing an interview. The current practice of direct admit for first-year students who meet certain criteria will end in 2020.

McCurren said about half of the country's nursing education programs have adopted holistic admissions. "This change provides a wider lens and a person-centered approach to the review of applicants," she said.