Welcome New Students!
Congratulations on your acceptance to Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing (BSMCON). Now that you have accepted your offer of admission, be sure to continue following the items on your "New Student Checklist" listed below. This page will serve as a resource throughout your journey to the first day of class, with reminders and information you need to know.
Questions? Reach Out To:
Julie Semo, MSEd
Student Onboarding Coordinator
Email: Julie_Semo@bshsi.org
Or review the contacts listed at the bottom of the page.
New Student Checklist
- Celebrate! Share this moment with your family, friends and supporters.
- Review the information on this page.
- Respond to your offer in your application portal here by May 8.
- Start the financial aid process by submitting the 2025-2026 FAFSA as soon as possible.
- Purchase your myCB CastleBranch account and start clinical compliance onboarding.
- More information can be found here: CB New Student Onboarding
- Sign up for Welcome Session here
- Review:
- Technology Requirements
- Financial Aid (below)
- Academic Calendar & Catalog
- Patient Care Tech (PCT) Trainee program information here (if interested)
- Policies
- ACA 1.03 Clinical Compliance Requirements
- ADM 3.09 Transcripts
- ADM 3.10 Transfer Credit
- ACA 1.04 Nursing Student Dress Code
- ACA 3.05 Nursing Program Attendance
- BSN Curriculum Plan
- Save these dates:
| Respond to your offer | May 8, 2025 |
| Deadline to purchase CastleBranch account | May 13, 2025 |
| Student Portal creation instructions sent | May 13, 2025 |
| College emails sent from IT | May 19, 2025 |
| Deadline to login to College email and create Student Portal | May 20, 2025 |
| Deadline to submit updated official transcripts | June 1, 2025 |
| Attend New Student Employment opportunity Zoom meeting (mandatory for those interested in interviewing on June 5; MUST REGISTER AHDEAD OF TIME) | June 2, 2025 |
| New Student Employment Onsite Interviewing Event (Must have attended June 2 Zoom and have applied by June 3 | June 5, 2025 |
| Attend Welcome Session at BSMCON - sign up for date and time here | June 10, 2025 June 12, 2025 |
| IT Day time slot assignment sent to College email | June 24, 2025 |
| CastleBranch Requirements due | July 8, 2025 |
| Campus Connections date/time assignment sent to College email | July 15, 2025 |
| Deadline to complete Online Readiness Survey & Student Success Survey | August 5, 2025 |
| Attend Campus Connections at BSMCON | August 6, 2025 |
| Attend IT Day at BSMCON | August 7, 2025 |
| Deadline to Pay Student Bill | August 8, 2025 by 12:00 PM (noon) |
| Term begins | August 11, 2025 |
Technology Requirements
Review all Technology requirements here: BSMCON Technology Requirements
BSMCON Standard Technology Initiative
BSMCON has implemented a Standard Technology Initiative in which all incoming Pre-Licensure BSN students are required to utilize a BSMCON-issued laptop computer to complete the academic program. BSMCON decided to implement this initiative to ensure that all students have adequate and standardized technology resources to support a hybrid learning environment, academic programming, remote testing capabilities and continuity of Information Technology (IT) support.
The cost of the laptop will be added to your Registration Bill, and you will pick up your laptop at the IT session.
Financial Aid
Start financial aid process by submitting the 2025-2026 FAFSA as soon as possible at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. A FAFSA is required for using Federal Financial Aid. (Federal Direct Loans and Federal Pell Grant), Scholarships, and the BSMH Guild Tuition Benefit (for Bon Secours employees).
- BSMCON School Code: 010043
After you submit your FAFSA, reach out to your Financial Aid Counselor, Kathy Welsh, to schedule a Financial Aid Counseling Session. You will meet with Ms. Welsh to review a personalized financial plan.
Kathy Welsh, AS
Financial Aid Counselor
Schedule an appointment here
Kathy_Welsh@bshsi.org
804-653-6047
Below is a video resource by Kathy Welsh, your Financial Aid Counselor
Welcome Session: June 10 or June 12
Welcome session is an on-site event to kick-off your journey in the Nursing program at the College of Nursing.
Sign up on Sign-Up Genius here (Note: Slots can fill up fast, so select your date and time as soon as you are able. There is also a limited time option for a make-up day on June 23).
- Available dates and times:
- Tuesday, June 10, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 10, 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12, 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Location: BSMCON, 8550 Magellan Parkway, Suite 1100, Richmond, VA 23227
- What to Bring:
- Driver's license (or official ID)
- Clothes that are easy to change in/out of (for uniform try-on)
- Phone to keep track of passwords and to scan a QR code to place your uniform order
- Vehicle information (license plate number, vehicle make and model)
- What to Expect: At Welcome Session , you will...
- Take a photo for your student ID badge
- Try on and place your order for your uniforms and white coat (Your White Coat is provided free of charge, as a gift from your faculty as you enter this profession. You will be required to purchase 2 embroidered top and recommended 2 sets of pants. The charge of your uniform will be added your bill).
- Fill out enrollment paperwork (BSMH Security Agreement, Student Clinical Agreement, Essential Standards & Policy Agreement, any outstanding enrollment items)
- Login to your College email
- Review FERPA permission in your Student Portal account
- Have the option to meet with your financial aid representative
- Review CastleBranch requirements
- Provide your primary vehicle information
Campus Connections: August 6
Campus Connections is the last stop for your transition to campus. At this on-site event, we will prepare you for everything you need to confidently start your first week of classes.
- Time: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. you will be assigned a time slot and will receive it via email on July 15
- Location: BSMCON, 8550 Magellan Parkway, Suite 1100, Richmond, VA 23227
- What to Bring:
- Comfortable clothes for walking around campus
- An umbrella for walking between buildings (optional, if it rains)
- What to Expect: At Campus Connections, you will...
- Meet your future classmates and first semester practicum group
- Meet your Program Director & review program expectations
- Prepare for your first week with your student success adviser
- Tour campus
- Conduct final checks for financial aid and billing, Blackboard and online readiness, clinical compliance, and registration and records
IT Day: August 7
You will receive your BSMCON-issued laptop at this event and begin set-up for the device. This will also be when you get logged into all remaining school accounts, including ATI, Examsoft, Examplify, ADS, Blackboard, etc.
- Time: Between 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., you will be assigned a time slot and will receive it via email on June 24
- Location: BSMCON, 8550 Magellan Parkway, Suite 1100, Richmond, VA 23227
- What to Bring:
- College email account long-in: usernames and passwords
- Nexus Student portal account username and password
- What to Expect: At your IT Session, you will...
- Set up your new BSMCON-issued laptop
- Create an ATI & Examsoft account
- Download Examplify
- Review remote testing guidelines
- Receive a direct login for your Blackboard account (for logging in on the app)
- Review Blackboard
- Login to your ADS account
- Receive your BSMCON-issued laptop
- Receive your uniforms, white coat, student ID badge, and parking pass
Contacts
Name + Title | Can answer questions about | How to contact |
| Julie Semo Student Onboarding Coordinator | Onboarding
| Julie_Semo@bshsi.org or set up phone call here |
| Kathy Welsh Financial Aid Counselor |
| Kathy_Welsh@bshsi.org or Set up an appointment here |
| Harris King Busar |
| Harris_King@bshsi.org |
| Michelle Hence, DNP, RN Assistant Professor, Practicum Coordinator |
| Leslie_Hence@bshsi.org |
| Allison Peterson Manager, Career Services |
| Allison_Peterson@bshsi.org |
| Student Access & Accommodation Services |
| www.bsmcon.edu/student-access-and- accommodation-services-saas |
