MARIANNA—Chipola College is offering free tuition to the first 20 Registered Nurses admitted to the college’s new Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Known in health profession as the RN to BSN, the program is open to Registered Nurses (RN) with licensure in Florida, Alabama, or Georgia.

The Beall Tuition Scholarship Fund in the Chipola Foundation is guaranteeing free tuition to the first 20 RN’s admitted at the junior level for the Spring semester which begins in January. The Beall Fund pays for tuition, but does not cover the cost of textbooks.

Applicants must be licensed RN’s, with an AA degree and have completed all prerequisites before being admitted. Applicants must apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA at www.chipola.edu/financialaid/index.htm or by visiting Chipola’s Financial Aid Office. The process takes a few weeks.

RN to BSN classes are offered in the evening and online. Application deadline for the Spring 2009 semester is Dec. 3.

Chipola’s BSN curriculum also has an emphasis in community health that is not included in the Associate Degree Nursing program of study. Graduates of Chipola’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program have an advantage over graduates of other programs. Chipola graduates must complete only 30 upper-level semester hours to earn the BSN degree.

Admission requirements to the BSN program include: RN licensure in the state of Florida, Alabama, or Georgia; an AA degree from a Florida public institution; a cumulative grade point average of 2.5; and completion of all prerequisite courses.

For information about Chipola’s RN to BSN program, call Dr. Kitty Myers at 850-718-2260.