Please continue to check this site for the most up-to-date information.

Rasmussen College is committed to ensuring that your educational journey remains uninterrupted to the greatest extent possible and will continue to provide important updates regarding your academic schedule. 

Click here for previous updates ›

May 21, 2020 (6:00 p.m.)

This update is regarding the Summer and Fall 2020 Terms.

As the Rasmussen College community, and all our communities, continue to navigate the evolving situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been evaluating all available options to allow you to continue your educational journey safely and effectively over the next few terms. With that in mind, we have been staying closely connected to state regulators and accreditation agencies to find a path forward that not only fulfills their requirements, but also ensures that the welfare of our students, faculty and staff is protected based on the latest guidance from federal, state and local health agencies.

While we do not yet have details finalized for all academic programs and courses at this time, we have made the following decisions related to the next two academic terms at Rasmussen College – the Summer term which is scheduled to begin on July 6, 2020, and the Fall term which is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2020:

All Schools of Study: Theory- or lecture-based courses that are delivered online will continue to be delivered online without any change for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms.

School of Justice Studies: Law Enforcement Programs

• Online courses in the Law Enforcement Academic Certificate and Law Enforcement Associate’s degree program will continue to be available in the Summer quarter 2020.
• We are still assessing the availability of residential law enforcement skills courses for the Summer quarter 2020 and will make this information available as soon as it is finalized.

School of Nursing:

• Practical Nursing Diploma program, Professional Nursing Associate’s degree program, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Standard Entrance Accelerated BSN and Second Degree Accelerated BSN Entrance Options).
  • Residential theory- or lecture-based course components will be delivered as online theory courses for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms; as is the case in the current Spring term.
  • We are still assessing the availability of residential laboratory components versus the use of virtual laboratory experiences for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms and will make this information available as soon as it is finalized.
  • We are still assessing the availability of residential clinical components versus the use of virtual, online clinical simulation for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms and will make this information available as soon as it is finalized.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to) BSN Entrance Option)
  • 5.5-Week/11-Week Term: Online courses will continue to be delivered unchanged during the Summer and Fall 2020 terms.
  • Six-month Term: Online courses will continue to be delivered unchanged during this portion of your six-month term.
  • Residential requirements that take place in your current place of employment will continue as long as your employer is still supportive of your placement. If you are unable to complete your residential requirements, these requirements will be offered through virtual simulation coursework or casework.

School of Health Sciences:

• Residential theory- or lecture-based course components will be delivered as online theory courses during the Summer and Fall 2020 terms; as is the case in the current Spring term..
• The residential laboratory component of Anatomy and Physiology courses will be delivered in an online modality; as is the case in the current Spring term.
• We are still assessing the availability of residential laboratory components versus the use of virtual laboratory experiences for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms or the cancellation of laboratory-based course. We will make this information available as soon as it is finalized.
• We are still assessing the availability of residential practicum experiences versus the cancellation of practicum-based courses for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms and will make this information available as soon as it is finalized.

Again, in the coming weeks, you are encouraged to check back on this page every few days for the latest updates and information.

May 21, 2020 (8:00 a.m.)

CARES Act – Higher Education Emergency Relief Grants for Students

As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on Friday, March 27, 2020, funding has been made available to institutions for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to eligible students enrolled in a residential program (also referred to as “in-person,” as defined, below) for certain allowable expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care related to educational disruptions due to COVID-19.

According to the CARES Act and the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education for its implementation, these grants are specifically intended for students who were enrolled in programs with residential course delivery that was disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Based on this guidance from the Department, students enrolled in a fully online program are not eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants. Rasmussen College will be providing emergency financial aid grants to students according to the following conditions:

To be eligible to receive these funds, you must

1. be eligible to receive Federal Title IV financial aid funds and verify your eligibility by filing a 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submitting all documents requested by Rasmussen College by June 10 to complete your aid application (if you are currently receiving federal financial aid, including grants or loans, you have already met this requirement); and
2. a)  have been actively enrolled since March 13, 2020, in a residential1 program, or
   b)  started with the College on April 6, 2020, in a residential1 program and currently are actively enrolled, or
   c)  have been on an approved leave due to the pandemic (i.e., medical leave, short-term leave return, extended quarter break stop-out) from a residential1 program that transitioned to fully online delivery for the Spring 2020 quarter due to the pandemic; and
3. have incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including eligible expenses under your cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care; and
4. complete and electronically submit the CARES ACT EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT STUDENT ATTESTATION FORM. A link to this form will be emailed to you once your eligibility has been confirmed by the College, based on the above criteria being met.

Only students who meet the above eligibility criteria will receive an email with additional information regarding the emergency financial aid grant. Any emergency financial aid grant funds that you may receive may only be used to pay the costs of attendance (food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care) as described above. Submission of the Attestation Form does not guarantee receipt of a grant or any specific amount of funds. If you have any questions, please click here for a detailed FAQ.

Previous COVID-19 Updates

May 15, 2020 4:05 p.m. (Update on future Rasmussen College graduation and pinning ceremonies)
April 22, 2020 5:15 p.m. (Students enrolled in their last quarter of the Practical Nursing diploma, Professional Nursing Associate's degree, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (A-BSN Entrance Options) programs in the Spring Quarter 2020)
April 20, 2020 4:00 p.m. (Decisions regarding future Rasmussen College graduation and pinning ceremonies)
April 13, 2020 12:45 p.m. (New students starting in May)
April 3, 2020 2:10 p.m. (All students)
April 3, 2020 12:20 p.m. (New students starting in Law Enforcement Academic Certificate, Law Enforcement Skills Certificate and Law Enforcement Associate’s degree programs)
April 1, 2020 11:00 a.m. (Update related to admissions requirements in the Healthcare Certificate, Healthcare Associate’s degree, and Health Sciences Associate’s degree programs that include E102 Pathway to Patient Care Seminar Course)
March 26, 2020 6:55 p.m. (Students who are new starts, re-entered or transferred—either programs or campuses)
March 26, 2020 5:30 p.m. (School of Health Sciences students)
March 24, 2020 5:15 p.m. (All students)
March 19, 2020 2:45 p.m. (Students enrolled in Field Experience Courses of Early Childhood Education programs)
March 18, 2020 5:50 p.m. (Wisconsin students)
March 17, 2020 6:30 p.m.  (Wisconsin students)
March 17, 2020 (All students)
March 15, 2020 (Students enrolled in Practical Nursing, Professional Nursing, and Bachelor of Science [pre-licensure entrance options] programs)
March 14, 2020 (Students enrolled in Bachelor Completer programs utilizing the 6-week session/12-week quarter academic calendar)
March 13, 2020 (All students)
March 6, 2020 (All students)