NursingCAS Program User Guide

Cycle Timeframes

Applicant Portal

The Applicant Portal opens in mid-August and closes in late January, over a 17-month period. You can view the specific cycle dates, including final processing dates (e.g., last date to submit transcripts, last date to request letters of recommendation, etc.), on the NursingCAS Application Cycle Dates page.

Configuration Portal

Between late May and late July, configurations are entered into the prelaunch environment. The Account Manager, Client Success Manager, and AACN review submitted configurations in August.

WebAdMIT

You can view new applicants and initiate a transfer settings shortly after the new cycle opens in mid-August.

Program Participation Requirements

AACN requires all programs to designate two contacts at your institution who will receive all communication from AACN and NursingCAS, including the configuration, application, and WebAdMIT launch notifications.

Applicant Portal

The first three sections of the NursingCAS application (i.e., Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information) compose the core application. They contain questions that are commonly asked of applicants across all participating programs, such as an applicant's biographic information, standardized test scores, and experiences. The fourth section of the application is Program Materials, which is customized by you through the Configuration Portal (discussed in the next section).

You can access the NursingCAS application and NursingCAS Applicant Help Center to review the applicant experience. You can also create a test application in the Applicant Portal; we recommend creating a new account and adding "test" to your name (e.g., TestJohn TestDoe).

For a general overview of the applicant experience, review the following documents:

Applicant Processing Reference Guide: learn how applicants move through the application and Liaison processes applicant materials, such as transcripts and official test scores.
Application Statuses Reference Guide: review what each application status means and how you can interact with applicants at different stages.
- Review the requirements for the NursingCAS Complete application status.
NursingCAS Quick Start Guide and FAQs: a suggested timeline for completing and submitting the application, links to important pages including cycle dates and fees, and a FAQs section.

You can direct any applicant inquiries related to the application to NursingCAS Customer Service.

Letters by Liaison

When applicants request letters of recommendation, the recommender receives an email with a link to log in to Letters by Liaison, the Recommender Portal. Applicants can request several types of evaluations, including:

Recommendations with Likert scales: the recommender rates the applicant on various Likert criteria.
Recommendations with a letter upload: the recommender uploads a letter of recommendation.
Recommendations with Likert scales and a letter upload: the recommender rates the applicant on various Likert criteria and uploads a letter of recommendation.

Configuration Portal

Use the Configuration Portal Quick Start Guide to make sure you configure your program(s) efficiently and completely in the prelaunch environment. Be sure to check out your CAS's configuration options and review the best practices found throughout. If any optional sections of the application are required for your program (e.g., experiences, test scores, etc.), you'll want to note this on your program home page.

Once you've configured your program, you'll need to have it approved by the Account Manager, Client Success Manager, and AACN before it is available to applicants. If your program is reviewed after the cycle launches, AACN will approve it.

Review the Program Transcript and Coursework Requirements and Application Statuses table below to learn how your transcript and coursework requirements affect the applicant's Application Status and the GPAs provided to you.

Program Transcript and Coursework Requirements and Application Statuses

This table is from the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center. All links below will redirect you to that help center.

Note that only bachelor's degrees and above are confirmed as awarded (if applicable) during verification.

If your program requires... (Note: see the Colleges Attended & Transcript Entry sections for more information on transcript and coursework requirements.)	...then WebAdMIT does the following with GPAs...	... and your application's final status is...
Official Transcripts + Full Coursework Entry	Calculates three GPAs and makes them available to your programs: By course subject By school By academic year	Verified
Official Transcripts + Prerequisite Entry Only	Provides your programs with per transcript and overall GPAs.	Verified
Official Transcripts + No Coursework Entry	Provides your programs with per transcript and overall GPAs.	Verified
Unofficial Transcripts + Prerequisite Entry Only	Does not calculate or provide GPAs to programs.	Complete
Unofficial Transcripts + No Coursework Entry	Does not calculate or provide GPAs to programs.	Complete
No Transcripts + No Coursework Entry	Does not calculate or provide GPAs to programs.	Complete

WebAdMIT

Review the WebAdMIT Manual for any questions related to working in WebAdMIT. The Reference Guides and WebAdMIT Training and Support sections are additional resources as you configure WebAdMIT for your needs. Documents commonly requested include:

API Overview: learn how to set up an API and schedule automatic data exports from WebAdMIT into your SIS/ERP.
Application Coupons Reference Guide: learn how to request coupons to offset application fees and disperse them to applicants. To purchase coupons, use the Coupon Code Payment Gateway. To learn more about purchasing coupon codes, review our FAQs.
Background checks through CastleBranch.
Data Dictionaries and Master Code Lists: a comprehensive list of all fields available in the Export Manager and Report Manager, including associated lookup tables.
Manual Designations: learn how to add additional programs (i.e., designations) to an application in WebAdMIT.
Requesting Official GRE CAS Codes: a guide on how to create CAS-specific codes in order to receive official GRE scores in WebAdMIT.
Social Security Number (SSN) Documents Reference Guide: a guide on how to configure a PGP key to receive an encrypted file that contains the applicant's CAS ID and SSN.
Transfer Settings Guide: a review of how programs and templates built in WebAdMIT are carried forward each cycle.

The Release Notes feature new enhancements in the Applicant Portal, Applicant Gateway, Configuration Portal, Letters by Liaison, and WebAdMIT, in addition to upcoming training opportunities.

For any questions, contact the Client Support Specialist Team.

Cycle Enhancements

2022-2023

The table below contains enhancements for NursingCAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal	Section	Enhancement Details	Implementation	Availability
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Biographic Information	The Preferred Name question was added.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Academic History – Colleges Attended	If an applicant selects Unlisted French Speaking Canadian or Other Foreign Institution, they must complete a new required field for the college’s country. If you created exports to pull a college's country data, you must edit and select the new college country fields. Review the Country Field for Manually Entered Foreign Institutions release note for more information.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Professional Transcript Entry (PTE)	The PTE fees were increased: 1-3 transcripts: $75 4-6 transcripts: $100 7 or more transcripts: $150	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available now
Applicant Portal	Chatbot	Liaison has partnered with Ada to offer an AI chatbot. The chatbot, nicknamed Cassie, leverages an API with CXone Expert, which hosts the CAS-specific Applicant Help Centers. Applicants can access this chatbot once they are logged in to the application. The chatbot responds with information and links to the CAS-specific Applicant Help Center and, if needed, directs the applicant to live support with customer service.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Fee Waivers	If an applicant is eligible for a fee waiver but the fee waiver fund is depleted, then applicants can be alerted that they qualified for the fee waiver even though they could not be awarded one.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Configuration Portal	Program Details	You can edit the Program Code program attribute, which may be useful for importing program data into your Student Information System (SIS).	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Program Details	The following program attributes are available: Program Type Seats Available	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
WebAdMIT	Export Manager	The Official GRE Subject field groupings and associated fields were removed. Be sure to review your existing exports to review and update your criteria, if applicable.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	In Progress Applicants Search Page	CASs can now create a custom Program Plans question and answer values that are available in: The In Progress Applicant search page as a filter. Pre-configured exports for application statuses that you have partial viewing rights to. The Applicant Header, List Manager, and Export Manager.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch

2021-2022

The table below contains enhancements for NursingCAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal	Section	Enhancement Details	Implementation	Availability
Applicant Portal	Academic History – Standardized Tests	Applicants can report their AP (Advanced Placement), CLEP (College Level Examination Program), and IB (International Baccalaureate) tests under the Standardized Tests section.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Coupon Codes	You can offer organization-specific coupon codes to applicants. Applicants can only use the coupon for a program at your organization.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Submit Application	Since programs decide their coursework requirements, applicants can now submit to programs that don’t require coursework regardless of the other programs in their cart.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Configuration Portal	Documents	Several new document types were added.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Kira Talent Assessment	Kira Talent offers on-demand, timed video and timed written assignments that can be combined with the standard admissions process. You can link your Kira assessment to your program in the application by selecting Kira Assessment.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Organization Details	Instead of rebuilding your program in the prelaunch environment, you can import your program from a previous cycle's production environment into the prelaunch environment. You can access the Import from Previous Cycle button in the Configuration Portal prelaunch environment. Visit the Import Your Programs page for more information.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Program Details	Dual Degree/Joint Degree is now available as an answer option on the Degree Type drop-down.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Question Rules	Two Question Rules are now available: Show Document Question Rule: request or require a document upload based on an applicant’s response to an Extended Profile or program-level question. Program Availability Question Rule: show or hide your programs based on an applicant’s response to an Extended Profile or program-level question.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Letters by Liaison	Evaluation Ratings	The evaluation rating scale was updated to better reflect standard rating scales.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Applicant Details Page	You can now view which applicants reapplied from a previous cycle in WebAdMIT. The Applicant Previously Applied to Organization field tracks this information and populates as Yes or No. Additionally, you can view if an applicant received an income-based or service-based fee waiver on the Application Financials panel.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Clipboard	You can now add multiple applicants to your Clipboard by uploading a CSV file of their CAS IDs. Review the Using the Clipboard page for more information.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Export Manager	The Hispanic field in WebAdMIT aligns with the Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic/Latino Origin? optional question from the Applicant Portal. Currently, when users export this field from WebAdMIT, an applicant’s response populates as: Yes (if the applicant selected Yes) or No (if the applicant selected No or didn’t answer the question). A new Hispanic (Yes / No / Blank) field has been created to accurately reflect an applicant’s response to this Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic/Latino Origin? question: Yes (if the applicant selected Yes), No (if the applicant selected No), or Blank (if the applicant didn’t answer the question). The Hispanic (Yes / No / Blank) field is available in the: Applicant Header List Manager Export Manager Race and Ethnicity subpanel under the Personal Information panel (note that this field is labeled as Hispanic) The original Hispanic field is still available in WebAdMIT.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch

2020-2021

The table below contains enhancements for NursingCAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal	Section	Enhancement Details	Implementation	Availability
Applicant Portal	Coupon Codes	You can purchase coupons that offset the cost of the application and can cover the application processing fee, your program fee, or both fees.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Biographic Information	The Gender Identity question and answer options are updated. Additionally, a Preferred Pronouns question is added.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Family Information	Applicants can opt out of adding information to the Family Information section.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Other Information	Two questions about an applicant's physical or mental impairment and academic reassessment under the Background Information question were removed.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Submit Application Page	Applicants can submit their applications to programs that don’t require coursework regardless of the other programs in their cart. Previously, if an applicant selected multiple programs, some requiring coursework and others not, they were not able to submit to any of these programs before entering their coursework. Additionally, the Submit Application page lists the term on each program’s tile. Previously, applicants needed to click the additional information icon to view the program’s term.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Configuration Portal	Organization Details	You can offer applicants a deep link to the application's Add Program page with your programs pre-filtered. This allows applicants to quickly access your programs without needing to set their own filters. If an applicant has not yet created an account, the deep link will first instruct them to create an account, and then will take them to the pre-filtered Add Program page.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Configuration Portal	Questions	You can configure both organization- and program-level questions for your programs. This allows you to configure one set of questions that are asked by all programs in that organization for the CAS and cycle, and another set of questions that are asked by individual programs, as needed. Additionally, when you create a question in the Configuration Portal, you can choose to hide the question in the full application PDF in WebAdMIT. These questions will still display on the Applicant Details page in WebAdMIT and be available in the List Manager and Export Manager.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Letters by Liaison	Recommendations	Recommenders can automatically reuse a completed recommendation for an applicant who requests they complete additional recommendations that are the same recommendation type as the original (e.g., academic, personal, etc.). Once activated by the recommender, any time the same applicant requests the same recommendation type, the system will automatically complete the recommendation and submit it. Recommenders will receive an email every Friday that records if the recommendation has been reused, and if so, for which programs. This feature can be turned off at any time by the recommender.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch