Conference Schedule

Tuesday, April 10

8:00-9:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:15 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Carolyn Chow, M.A., Director of Admissions and Multicultural Student Affairs, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, WA and Chair, Graduate Nursing Admissions Professionals (GNAP) Steering Committee.

9:15-10:0 a.m.
GNAP Keynote Address
Challenges and strides: Where we've been, where we are, and where we're going.
Speaker: Kay Baker, Associate Dean for Students (retired), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.

10:00-11 a.m.
Admissions Overview & Panel Discussion
Panelist will present their perspectives on where admission trends and requirements are going in graduate education.
Speakers: Jacqueline K. Min, BS, Graduate Outreach Coordinator, Ohio State University;
Barbara A. Johnston, PhD, RN, CNE, Associate Dean Graduate Programs & Professor, Texas Tech University; Marianne Cardillo Lyons, MS, RN, Interim Director of Admissions & Outreach, Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies; Kay Thurn, PsyD, RN Associate Dean, Graduate Nursing Saint Xavier University School of Nursing
Moderator: Carol Ladden, MSN, RN, Assistant Dean Admissions and Financial Aid, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

11:00-11:15 a.m.
Break

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Accelerated Nursing Program Panel
Explore how to recruit and retain this cohort for BSN, Direct Entry MSN, PhD, and DNP programs.
Speakers: Carol Ladden, MSN, Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA and Marianne Cardillo Lyons, MS, RN, Interim Director of Admissions & Outreach, Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.

International Candidates
Explore how to council prospective students, how to determine admission requirements, and credentialing processes.
Speaker: Grace Colman, MPA, Associate Director of Enrollment Management, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA and Donna Rae
Richardson, JD, RN, Director of Governmental Affairs and Professional Standards, Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

12:15-2:00 p.m.
Lunch

2:00-3:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Students with Disabilities
What you need to know and traversing the ins and outs of accommodating students with disabilities: Admisssions and Retention.
Speaker: Judy Martin-Holland, PhD, Assistant Dean, Academic Services and Diversity University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

New Recruiters
"Nuts & Bolts" - For the new graduate recruitment officer in the first year or two. Basics and discussion on the essentials.
Speakers: Elaine R. Cusker, PhD, Assistant Dean, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY and Stephen Held, Director of Recruitment, Admission, Progression, and Retention, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing, Edwardsville, IL.

3:00-3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15-4:15 p.m.
Program Session
DNP/PhD Panel
How to counsel applicants when they ask "Which option is best for me?" Discuss how to council prospective applicants in making decisions.
Speakers: Carolyn Chow, M.A., Director of Admissions and Multicultural Student Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA and Clay Hysell, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Early Evening Reception
Relax and join your colleagues for a casual early evening. Connect with your local and national counterparts. Celebrate the work of Graduate Admissions! Plan a fun place to go to dinner!

Wednesday, April 11

8:00-9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

9:00-10:15 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Background Checks
Discuss common issues associated with implementing background checks, suggestions for how to structure written policies and a demo of how students and administrators submit and access the background checks.
Speaker: Joe Finley, Vice President, CertifiedBackground.com.

Diversity
Discuss issues facing higher education to recruit and retain diverse students.
Speakers: Carolyn Chow, M.A. Director of Admissions, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Rhoda Younger, Student Affairs Officer, University of California, Los Angeles; Clay Hysell, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; and Judy Martin-Holland, PhD, Assistant Dean, Academic Services and Diversity University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

10:15-10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30-11:15 a.m.
Form and function? What's our product?
Sure we have great programs, but are we preparing our students for what employers need and expect? Do the students feel prepared? Do the employers get what they need? How do we prepare students in our accelerated programs for the work force? What do employers think of accelerated grads?
Panel presenters: Students from UCLA and Case Western Reserve and local employers.

11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
GNAP Organizational Planning Meeting
Begin planning the 2008 Graduate Nursing Admission Professional Conference.
Carolyn Chow, Chair, GNAP Network Steering Committee.

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General Information

Registration
The registration fee for the 2007 Graduate Nursing Admissions Professionals conference is $359 for network members and $389 for non-network members. The deadline for early registration is March 20, 2007. The registration fee after March 20 is $439. E-mail messages confirming registration for this meeting will be sent to all participants.

Register online at www.aacn.nche.edu/Registration/registration.asp

Hotel Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802; (714) 750-4321. Room reservations can be made by calling the Anaheim Hilton at (800) 222-9923. When calling please indicate that you are with NSNA and that you are part of the AACN sub-block. The deadline for hotel reservations is March 12, 2007 and the room rate is $103 single/double.

Transportation
The Anaheim Hilton is located approximately 14 miles from the John Wayne Airport (SNA) and 35 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). A shuttle ride from SNA costs approximately $15 (one way) and a taxi cab costs approximately $35 (one way). A shuttle ride from LAX costs approximately $18 (one way) and a taxi cab costs approximately $85 (one way). Please visit www.ocair.com or www.lawa.org/lax/ for additional information

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Registrations that are canceled up to one week before the meeting will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations received with less than one week's notice will be refunded minus a $150 administrative fee. There will be no refunds for no-shows.

AACN reserves the right to cancel this conference and any group activity that does not meet minimal group requirements. Non-refundable airline tickets are the responsibility of the registrant.

Additional Information
For more information contact AACN, One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 463-6930. If you require any special access in order to take part in this meeting, please contact Shana Cohen at AACN or by e-mail at scohen@aacn.nche.edu.

Information about this and other AACN conferences is available at the AACN Web site, www.aacn.nche.edu