Section 2749.220  Selection Criteria for Award of Scholarships

a)         Nursing scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following:

1)         Recipients continuing with their nursing education (for the same nursing degree sought) from the previous academic year will receive preference over other applicants;

2)         If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, ISAC shall, in consultation with the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, consider the following factors in granting priority in awarding scholarships:

A)        Financial need, as determined by information submitted by the applicant on the FAFSA and provided to ISAC by the U. S. Department of Education, of students who will pursue their education on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already have a certificate in practical nursing, a diploma in nursing, or an associate degree in nursing and are pursuing a higher degree.  (Section 5(3)(A) of the Law)

B)        A student's merit, as shown through the student's grade point average, class rank, and other academic and extracurricular activities (Section 5(3)(C) of the Law), including, but not limited to:

i)          A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; or

ii)         Class rank in the 50^th percentile or higher.

C)        The number of credit hours remaining for the applicant to complete the certificate, diploma or degree, beginning with those with the fewest remaining.

D)        The date the completed application was received, beginning with the earliest date and then in date received order.

b)         Nurse educator scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following:

1)         Recipients continuing with their nursing education (for the same nursing degree sought) from the previous academic year will receive preference over other applicants;

2)         If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, ISAC shall, in consultation with the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, consider the following factors in granting priority in awarding scholarships:

A)        Financial need, as determined by information submitted by the applicant on the FAFSA and provided to ISAC by the U.S. Department of Education of students who will pursue their education on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already have a baccalaureate degree in nursing and are pursuing a higher degree. (Section 6.5(b)(1) of the Law)

B)        A student's status as a registered nurse who is pursuing a graduate degree in nursing to pursue employment in an approved institution that educates licensed practical nurses and that educates registered nurses in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. (Section 6.5(b)(2) of the Law)

C)        A student's merit, as shown through the student's grade point average, class rank, experience as a nurse, including supervisory experience, experience as a nurse in the United States military, and other academic and extracurricular activities (Section 6.5(b)(3) of the Law), including, but not limited to:

i)          A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; or

ii)         Class rank in the 50^th percentile or higher.

D)        The number of credit hours remaining for the applicant to complete the degree, beginning with those with the fewest remaining.

E)        The date the completed application was received, beginning with the earliest date and then in date received order.

c)         Scholarship awards shall be distributed as follows:

1)         At least 40% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees in nursing;

2)         At least 30% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing associate degrees in nursing or a hospital-based diploma in nursing;

3)         At least 20% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing a graduate degree in nursing; and

4)         At least 10% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing.  (Section 5 of the Law)

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 12574, effective August 1, 2024)