Welcome New Students! 

Congratulations on your acceptance to Bon Secours Southside College of Health Sciences (SCHS). Now that you have accepted your offer of admission, be sure to continue following the items on your “New Student Checklist” listed below. This page will serve as a resource throughout your journey to the first day of class, with reminders and information you need to know.   

Questions? Contact you Student Onboarding Coordinator, Julie Semo at julie_semo@bshsi.org, or review the contacts at bottom of page.   

New Student Checklist

1. Celebrate! Share this moment with your family, friends, and supporters.

2. Review the information on this page.

3. Respond to your offer in your application portal here.

4. Start the financial aid process by submitting the 2025-2026 FAFSA as soon as possible.

5. Purchase your myCB CastleBranch account & start clinical compliance onboarding. More information here: CB New Student Onboarding

6. Review:

   1. Technology Requirements

   2. Financial Aid (below)

   3. Academic Calendar & Catalog

   4. Policies 

      1. ACA 1.03 Clinical Compliance Requirements

      2. ADM 3.09 Transcripts 

      3. ADM 3.10 Transfer Credit

      4. ACA 1.04 Student Dress Code

      5. ADM 2.08 College Attendance

      6. ACA 3.05 Nursing Program Attendance

   5. AASN Curriculum Plan

7. Save these dates: Find the column associated with the term you will start

Technology Requirements

Review all Technology requirements here: view “Requirement Set C” on the Technology Requirements site here.

SCHS Standard Technology Initiative

SCHS has implemented a Standard Technology Initiative in which all incoming AASN students will be required to purchase a Bon Secours SCHS-issued laptop computer to complete the academic program. Bon Secours SCHS decided to implement this initiative to ensure that all students have adequate and standardized technology resources to support a hybrid learning environment, academic programming, remote testing capabilities and continuity of Information Technology (IT) support. 

The cost of the laptop will be added to your Registration Bill, and you will pick up your laptop at Orientation. 

Financial Aid 

Start financial aid process by submitting the 2025-2026 FAFSA as soon as possible at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. A FASFA is required for using Federal Financial Aid (Federal Direct Loans and Federal Pell Grant), Scholarships, and the BSMH Guild Tuition Benefit (for Bon Secours employees).

• SCHS School Code: 012744

After you submit your FAFSA, the Financial Aid Specialist, Helen (Page) Robbins, will contact you to schedule a Financial Aid Counseling Session. You will meet with Ms. Robbins to review a personalized financial plan.

Below is a video resource from Page Robbins, your Financial Aid Specialist.

• Text Summary of Financial Aid Overview Video 

•  Finance Timeline and Student Checklist

Drop-In Session

The Drop-In session is an on-site kick-off to your journey into the Nursing program at SCHS. 

• Time: Stop by anytime between 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – no appointment necessary 

• Location: SCHS, 430 Clairmont Ct., Suite 200, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 

• What to bring: 

  • Driver’s license (or official ID) 

  • Vehicle information (license plate number, vehicle make and model)

  • Clothes that are easy to change in/out of (for uniform try-on)

  • Phone to keep track of passwords and to scan a QR code to place your uniform order

• What to expect: At your drop-in session, you will...

  • Be on campus for about 1-1.5 hours

  • Take a photo for your student ID badge

  • Try on and place your order for your uniforms & white coat (Your White Coat is provided free of charge, as a gift from your faculty as you enter this profession. You will be required to purchase 2 embroidered tops, and 2 sets of pants. The charge of your uniform will be added to your bill.)

  • Fill out enrollment paperwork (BSMH Security Agreement, Student Clinical Agreement, Essential Standards & Policy Agreement, any outstanding enrollment items)

  • Meet with your financial aid representative

  • Meet with career services

  • Login to your college email
  • Review FERPA permissions in your Student Portal account

  • Review CastleBranch requirements

  • Provide your primary vehicle information

Orientation (Tuesday before classes start)

Orientation is the last stop for your transition to campus. At this on-site event, we will prepare you for everything you need to confidently start your first week of classes.

• Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Boxed lunch will be provided. 

• Location: SCHS, 430 Clairmont Ct., Suite 200, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 

• What to bring:

  • College email account log-in: usernames and passwords

  • Nexus Student portal account username and password

• What to expect: At Orientation, you will:

  • Receive and set-up your SCHS- issued laptop

  • Review remote testing guidelines & set-up software

  • Meet your future classmates

  • Meet your Program Director & review program expectations

  • Prepare for your first week with your student success advising team

  • Tour campus & simulation spaces

  • Conduct final checks for financial aid & billing, Blackboard & online readiness, clinical compliance, and registration & records

  • Receive your uniform, white coat, & student ID badge

CONTACTS