March 24, 2020 (5:15 p.m.)

Rasmussen College is committed to ensuring that your educational journey remains uninterrupted to the greatest extent possible. To that end, we have evaluated many options and ideas on how to continue to provide you with the high-quality educational services that you have come to expect in the next academic term. We have been working with state regulators and accreditation agencies to find a path forward that fulfills their requirements while also protecting the health and welfare of the Rasmussen community. This message is to inform of the plans that we have put in place for each of our impacted programs for next term. Please review the remainder of this update carefully to ensure you understand how these changes will affect you.

As events around us continue to evolve, we also want to say that Rasmussen College has never been more proud of our students, faculty and staff as you have answered calls for action to volunteer your time, talents and resources to those in need. This spirit of kindness and humanity is one of the things that is deeply embedded in the mission of the College; you are living the mission, and it makes us feel honored to have you as part of our Rasmussen College family. If you have questions, you may send your questions to [email protected] or you may contact your Admissions Advisor or Student Advisor.

We wish each of you the best and hope that you and your families remain safe and healthy.

Spring Quarter 2020 (April 6 –June 27): 

All Schools of Study:

If you currently take all of your courses online, there will be no changes to your course schedule for Spring Quarter 2020. This includes courses delivered in the 5.5-week/11-week quarter format and 6-week/12-week quarter format for Bachelor Completer programs.

School of Justice Studies: All Law Enforcement Programs

• All residential law enforcement skills courses for Spring Quarter 2020 are cancelled and will be rescheduled in a future term.
• Online courses in the Law Enforcement Academic Certificate and Law Enforcement Associate’s degree program will continue to be available in Spring Quarter 2020.

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 replaced by online theory courses.
• Residential laboratory components will be replaced by online, virtual laboratory experiences.
• Residential clinical rotations at off-site clinical locations and on-campus residential clinical simulation will be replaced by virtual, online clinical simulation (all applicable hours will align to programmatic accreditation standards).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN Entrance Option)

• 5.5-week/11-week Term: Your online courses will continue to be delivered unchanged during Spring Quarter 2020.
• Six-month Term: Your 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 replaced by online theory courses.

States with Campus-Based Restrictions: As of the date of this update, government-imposed orders in the States of Illinois, Kansas and Wisconsin have implemented restrictions that will prevent Rasmussen College from offering any course that requires residential presence. The possibility exists that other states will impose similar restrictions. For students in states with imposed residential restrictions, any courses with a residential laboratory or externship component will be cancelled. Rasmussen College’s advisors will work to identify new schedule opportunities, as available. If an alternative scheduling opportunity is not available, then it may cause you to be required to take a [Short Term Leave]* until residential restrictions have been lifted.

*The bracketed text was corrected from Stop Out to Short Term Leave on 03/24/2020 at 8:10 p.m.

States without Campus-Based Restrictions: As of the date of this update, the States of Florida, Minnesota, and North Dakota, are still allowing residential presence with social distancing protocols. If a course is started during Spring Quarter 2020and a state imposes a restriction that does not allow further residential presence, then students will be allowed to complete what they can during the term, but will receive an incomplete grade for the term and will be required to complete any remaining requirements in a future academic term after residential restrictions are lifted.

Anatomy and Physiology Courses: The residential laboratory component of these courses will be moved to an online modality.

Medical Assisting Diploma Program

• In states without campus-based restrictions, courses with a laboratory component will be converted to a modality that requires a mix of residential presence laboratory and virtual laboratory to minimize physical presence on campus. Social distancing protocols will be observed on campus.
• All students scheduled to be in a residential externship in Spring Quarter 2020 will still be scheduled as planned.
• Students in a state that is restricting residential presence will complete online activities that are part of the externship course, will receive an incomplete grade at the end of the term, and will complete any remaining hours in a future academic term.
• Students in a state that is not restricting residential presence will complete resident externship requirements if a site can be secured. If an externship placement is started and the state issues an order restricting residential presence, then students will be given an incomplete grade for the course and will complete remaining hours in a future academic term. If an externship placement cannot be secured, then students will complete online activities that are part of the externship course, will receive an incomplete grade at the end of the term, and will complete remaining hours in a future academic term.

Medical Laboratory Technician Program

• In states without campus-based restrictions, laboratory components will continue to be offered on campus following social distancing protocols.
• Residential externship placements will be offered if an externship site will still accept students. If a site cannot be secured, students will be able to complete some externship hours through enrichment or simulation events and will receive an incomplete grade for the term, but any remaining hours will be completed in a future academic term.

Pharmacy Technician Program at Minnesota Campuses

• Residential externship placements in Minnesota will be offered if an externship site will still accept students. If an externship site cannot be secured, then students will be unable to remain enrolled in the course for Spring Quarter 2020. If an externship placement is started and the state or county subsequently issues an order restricting residential presence, then students will be given an incomplete grade for the course and will complete remaining hours in a future academic term.

Physical Therapist Assistant Program

• Residential externship placements have been cancelled for Spring Quarter 2020. They will be rescheduled for a future academic term. Students’ schedules will be adjusted, where possible, to prevent an interruption in enrollment.

Radiologic Technology Program

• In states without campus-based restrictions, laboratory components will continue to be offered on campus following social distancing protocols.
• Residential externship placements will be offered if an externship site will still accept students. If an externship site cannot be secured, then students will be unable to remain enrolled in the course for Spring Quarter 2020. If an externship placement is started and the state or county issues an order restricting residential presence, then students will be given an incomplete grade for the course and will complete remaining hours in a future academic term.

Surgical Technologist Program

• In states without campus-based restrictions, laboratory components will continue to be offered on campus following social distancing protocols.
• Residential externship placements will be offered if an externship site will still accept students.If an externship site cannot be secured, then students will be unable to remain enrolled in the course for Spring Quarter 2020. If an externship placement is started and the state or county issues an order restricting residential presence, then students will be given an incomplete grade for the course and will complete remaining hours in a future academic term.