INFORMATION LETTER
Date: August 2015
To: Students Entering the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program From: School of Allied Health Sciences
Welcome to BCM! On behalf of the administration, faculty, and staff of the School of Allied Health Sciences, it is my honor to welcome you to Baylor College of Medicine. We are anticipating your arrival for Orientation and Registration on Monday, January 4, 2016.
Your enrollment will begin a partnership between you and our faculty that will lead to your completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree either 2 or 3 years from your matriculation date, depending on your entry status.
Information for incoming students is available in this document as well as on the Accepted Applicants website. We encourage you to carefully review the details and recommendations provided. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.
I look forward to you being part of the “Baylor Family.”
Robert J. McLaughlin, Ph.D.
Accepted Applicants Website
We have posted information for incoming students online at
https://www.bcm.edu/education/schools/school-of-allied-health-sciences/accepted-applicants/. We hope this information will assist you in making the transition to being a doctoral student at Baylor College of Medicine.
New Student Orientation Allied Health Orientation
All incoming students are required to attend the Allied Health Student Orientation on Monday, January 4th at 8:00 a.m. (Room M321). To gain access to the building on your first day, you will be required to show a picture ID (e.g. driver’s license or passport) to the security guard at the entrance. The security guard will issue you a visitor's badge that must be worn while you are on campus. Casual dress is suggested, but keep in mind you will have a photo ID made. Bring something with which to write, as you will be completing several documents. Please know that children are not allowed in the main academic buildings of the college. Your first day at Baylor will end with a fun-filled social and dinner at a local restaurant.
Program Orientation
DNP Program Orientation will begin on the afternoon of January 4th (following Allied Health Student Orientation) and continue on Tuesday, January 5, 2015.
Tuition and Fees
New students pay one-half of their tuition on February 1, 2016, and the remaining half on
September 1, 2016. The Student Account Services Office processes your tuition and fee payments.
BSN-DNP Students MS-DNP Students Payment #1* Due 2/1/2016 Payment #2* Due 9/1/2016 Total for Year 1 Payment #1* Due 2/1/2016 Payment #2* Due 9/1/2016 Total for Year 1 Tuition $9,268 $9,268 $18,536 $9,268 $9,268 $18,536 Fees Curriculum Materials $430 $430 $860 $430 $430 $860 Lab Materials $0 $56 $56 $0 $0 $0 Malpractice $6 $6 $12 $0 $0 $0 Matriculation $200 $0 $200 $200 $0 $200 Health Insurance (student only) $1,744 $1,744 $3,488 $1,744 $1,744 $3,488 Yearbook $0 $40 $40 $0 $40 $40 Educational IT $120 $120 $240 $120 $120 $240 Educational Resource Center $75 $75 $150 $75 $75 $150 Facility $2,400 $2,400 $4,800 $0 $0 $0 Documentation $50 $50 $100 $50 $50 $100 Student Activities $20 $20 $40 $20 $20 $40 $14,313 $14,209 $28,522 $11,907 $11,747 $23,654
Immunizations/Health Requirements
The state of Texas requires all students in health care fields to be immunized against certain diseases before beginning study in their field. All students are required to submit copies of their actual
immunization records or actual lab tests indicating immunity. A link to Occupational Health is provided on the Accepted Applicants website. Please note that students must have received a bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster in the last five years (not applicable to students 30 years of age or older).
All students must have complete records on file in Occupational Health by November 30, 2015.
Health Insurance
Every BCM student is automatically enrolled in the health care program for students each academic year. The Student Account Services Office adds the premium charges to each student’s account as of February 1. Health Insurance is billed to you every six months. You may choose to include your spouse and/or child for an additional fee. Students also have the option to waive this coverage if they have insurance through another health plan. More detailed information about the student health insurance program can be obtained by contacting Gloria Cazarez at 713-798-1500. The program will also be explained in more detail at Allied Health Student Orientation.
Medical Dental Total Premium
Student Only $290.65 $17.25 $307.90 Student & Spouse $581.30 $43.74 $625.04 Student & One Child $581.30 $57.05 $638.35 Student & Two or More Children $871.95 $96.85 $968.80 Family (Student, Spouse & One Child) $871.95 $83.54 $955.49 Family (Student, Spouse & Two or More Children) $1,162.60 $123.34 $1,285.94
Housing
Baylor does not have private housing facilities. Most students live in condominiums and apartment complexes located near the Texas Medical Center. Properties in this area are available for rent and for purchase. Refer to the Housing and Life in Houston links on the Accepted Applicants website for some additional resources. Please note that Baylor does not endorse nor gives warranty to the truth or validity of any of the housing listings, realtor information, etc., detailed on or linked to the web site. This information is included as a starting point only. If you have any adverse experiences however, please inform us.
Transportation/Parking
While attending Orientation, you should park in either Garage 4 or Garage 6 (refer to
https://mediasrc.bcm.edu/documents/2014/c4/parkingmap.pdf). Garage parking is $12/day. You will be expected to bear this initial cost of parking.
Financial Aid
There are many financial aid opportunities offered through the College. Please refer to the Office of Student Financial Aid link on the Accepted Applicants website for more information and application forms. If you wish to apply for financial aid, you should do so at your earliest opportunity.
Veteran’s Benefits
If you are in a military program, provide Student Account Services (713-798-4322) with a copy of your contract, military orders, etc., so they may bill the government for your tuition/fees. NOTE: Failure to do this may mean you have to pay certain expenses that ordinarily would be paid by the government, simply because Student Account Services was not informed. Direct your questions regarding veteran benefits to the Registrar’s Office at (713) 798-7766.
Final Transcripts
Official copies of all your college/university final transcripts are required for our records. For students completing a course in the Fall 2015 semester, it is essential that you have a copy of your final transcript sent to the Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia Office immediately following the end of the semester.
Name Changes
If your name has changed since your acceptance to Baylor College of Medicine, you must submit the appropriate documentation (e.g. marriage license) to the Office of the Registrar at Orientation. Please be sure to bring these important documents.
Computers
Baylor requires all Allied Health students to own a laptop that can be used in class. You are required to bring a laptop to DNP Orientation as we will begin exploring online course materials.
Baylor is a PC-friendly environment. We strongly encourageyou to use a PC for all College-related activities. The College uses certain applications that are not always compatible with Mac computers. The BCM IT helpdesk offers limited support for Mac users should you run into difficulty with BCM applications. Students with Mac computers will be responsible for troubleshooting their own technical issues, including those related to electronic exams, presentations, and collaborative projects. Students with Macs will not be given special consideration if assignments or files are late, incomplete, or indecipherable due to technical difficulties.
We will include in every first year student’s financial aid allocation $2,000, which can be used to purchase a new computer or upgrade your current computer. If you already own a computer or can purchase a computer or an upgrade for less than $2,000, you should decline all or part of your financial aid allocation so you borrow only what you actually need. Be aware that financial aid awards are
generally disbursed at the beginning of each semester so half of your award will be available in February and half in July. All computers should have Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 10 and Office
2010/2013/365 (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
All computers that access Baylor resources are required to have up-to-date anti-virus software installed. The College provides Symantec Endpoint Protection antivirus software free of charge to faculty, staff, and students through the college’s Information Technology program. Note: Baylor College of Medicine does not provide technical support for computers owned by students. Technical support is limited to that offered by the computer manufacturer.
Nursing License BSN-DNP Students
All BSN-DNP Students must maintain a current, unencumbered license as a registered nurse issued by the Texas Board of Nursing, or a state participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact, at all times while attending Baylor College of Medicine. If you have renewed your license since submitting your
application, please bring a copy of your new license to the DNP Student Orientation.
If you do not currently have a Texas Professional Nursing License, or a professional nursing license from a state participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact, you must immediately apply for a Texas nursing license. If you need to apply for a Texas license, please visit the Texas Board of Nursing's web site www.bon.texas.gov for further information. We encourage you to begin this process immediately as it may take up to several months to obtain a license. If you are unsure about whether you need to apply for a Texas nursing license, please contact Dr. Jim Walker at (713) 798-8650 as soon as possible.
MS-DNP Students
All MS-DNP students must maintain a current, unencumbered license as a registered nurse, hold authorization/licensure as an APRN from their state of residence, and hold current
certification/recertification as a CRNA. If you have renewed your license or certification since submitting your application, please bring a copy of your new license/certification to the DNP Student Orientation.
AANA Membership
All students are required to maintain current membership in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
BSN-DNP students will complete the membership form during the first week of classes. Students will be required to pay the registration fee online via credit card ($200).
MS-DNP students are required to bring copies of their membership cards to DNP Student Orientation.
Contact Information
Please let us know if we can provide further assistance to you. See you soon! Nurse Anesthesia Program: (713) 798-8650 or [email protected]
