Nursing Program

The ROTC Nurse program is a program from which KU Army ROTC has long been a leader in producing excellent officers. Students interested in attaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at KU, Washburn University, Baker University, Mid America Nazarene College, or the University of St Mary may enroll in ROTC. Students may enroll as freshmen, sophomores, or as late as their junior year in college. The ROTC benefits are also available to students interested in pursuing a Master's degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon successful completion of the program, students are commissioned as officers in the Army Nurse Corps.

Washburn Nursing Home Page

Army Nurse Benefits Include:

SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS:  There are 2-year, 2 1/2-year, 3-year, and 4-year scholarships available to nursing students.  These scholarships provide:

1. Tuition:  Full tuition
2. Textbooks and lab fees:  $900 per year
3. Monthly stipend of $300 living stipend per month for Freshmen, $350 for Sophomores, $450 for Juniors, and $500 for Seniors during the academic year.

NONSCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS:  Students not on scholarship are eligible to receive the tax-free stipend once contracted.  They are also eligible to receive a commission in the Active or Reserve Army Nurse Corps.

Criteria for a Scholarship Includes the Following:

• US Citizenship
• Enrolled or anticipating enrollment in an accredited BSN or MSN program
• Minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Minimum SAT of 920, or ACT of 19
• Medically qualified
• Maximum 30 years of age on 31 December of the year you graduate
• Good moral character
• Willing to serve as an Army Officer upon graduation - Active Duty/Reserves    

What is the Student’s Responsibility?

• No obligation for taking the class during your Freshman and Sophomore year, without a scholarship
• Attend the Kansas University  accredited BSN program.
• Attend a minimum of 2 years of ROTC classes and complete all requirements
• Attend and successfully complete Advanced Camp 
• Maintain a GPA of 2.5 for scholarship cadets, 2.0 for non-scholarship cadets
• Receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and pass the nursing state board examination (NCLEX)

The Nurse Summer Training Program

Nursing students have the opportunity to attend a summer training program usually between their junior and senior years in the nursing program.  This training is divided into two phases:

Advanced Camp

A 35-day field training exercise that provides the student an opportunity to learn and be evaluated on basic military skills (i.e. orienteering, water survival, and leadership).  This is an exciting, confidence producing camp located at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington.

Nurse Summer Training Program

For three weeks after Advanced Camp, nursing students will work in an Army hospital throughout the country, to include Hawaii, as well as a few select seats in Germany and Korea. Each student will be assigned an Army Nurse Corps officer as their preceptor/instructor to guide them through the nursing process for three weeks.  The student will learn valuable management and leadership skills and have the opportunity to apply them in a health care environment.

**Both room and board are provided for both experiences and the student receives approximately $800.00 for the entire summer experience.

You will have an opportunity to receive a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps.  After commissioning, you will attend the Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, en route to your first clinical assignment as an Army Nurse.  Assignments are based on your input of location preference and your performance throughout both nursing and ROTC programs.  After just one year at your initial assignment, you will have the opportunity to attend a clinical specialty course in one of the following areas:

• Perioperative Nursing
• OB/GYN Nursing
• Critical Care Nursing
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing

Army Service Obligation:

An individual incurs no obligation to the military through application for a scholarship or initial scholarship acceptance.  An obligation occurs only at the time that the military begins paying for a student’s education.  Active duty commitment for scholarship students is four years.  You then have the choice to exit active duty and complete the remainder of your total eight-year commitment in either the active or inactive reserves.  Active reserves requires serving as an Army Nurse Corps Officer one weekend a month and for two weeks every summer.  Inactive reserves requires only that your name is placed on a roster for call-up in a national emergency.

Scholarship Application Procedures

High school juniors and seniors normally complete four-year scholarship applications.  Three-year and four-year scholarship winners must attend a university designated as a Partnership in Nursing Education or PNE (of which there are presently 41 programs nationally).  For more information or to obtain a scholarship application, ask your high school guidance counselor or visit the Army’s Web Site at:  www.rotc.monroe.army.mil/scholarships/.  You may also write or call:

The Jayhawk Battalion- Army ROTC
Room 203, Military Science Bldg
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-2524
(785) 864-1113
FAX (785) 864-4395
goldbar@ku.edu

Scholarship deadlines:  4-Year Scholarship: 15 November (regular cycle)

2 and 3-Year Scholarship:  15 April /    Green to Gold Scholarship:  1 April