Application deadline March 13

Genesis HealthCare (GHC) has established a loan forgiveness program at Boston College that provides financial assistance to graduate students at the Connell School of Nursing who have expressed an interest in geriatric nursing and/or palliative care. Students who are named Genesis Nurse Scholars will receive up to $25,000 in forgivable loans, made on a year-to-year basis, in exchange for a commitment to work full time at a GHC facility following graduation. GHC will forgive one year, or up to $25,000, of tuition for every two years of full-time employment with Genesis.

The GHC Nurse Scholars Program will be available to graduate students in the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College who are enrolled in either the traditional master's track, or the master's entry track (please see attached descriptions). Full tuition amounts are reflected in the chart below. Students will be responsible for covering any additional tuition expenses, if any, and can apply for additional aid from Boston College through the normal channels. 

The current cost per credit is $1050. In future years, this cost will be updated to reflect any tuition changes. Boston College will notify GHC of any change in fees by July 15 of the year preceding the academic year of the loan.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Genesis Nurse Scholars Program (NSP), candidates must:

• Be full-time students enrolled at Boston College's Connell School of Nursing
• Have a specialty focus in gerontologeal or palliative care nursing
  
• Make a two-year full-time employment commitment to Genesis HealthCare for each year of tuition covered by the Nurse Scholar Program.

Application Process

Through a competitive application process, Boston College will select up to three candidates for the GHC loan. The selection committee will be comprised of the dean of the Connell School, the associate dean for graduate studies at the Connell School, and a faculty member specializing in geriatric nursing. Once three finalists are selected, Boston College will forward the students' transcripts, resumes and letters of recommendation to GHC. Boston College will indicate each candidate's degree track and the anticipated cost per year of the student's course load.

Selection Process

Members of the Genesis HealthCare Nurse Scholars Program Board will review applications, conduct personal interviews, and select finalists. Finalists will be asked to submit to a background check and drug screening, in keeping with the company's normal hiring process. Those candidates whose applications are not recommended for approval will be encouraged to submit an application the following year.

Responsibility of Students

Selected students who agree to become Genesis Nurse Scholars will sign a loan forgiveness agreement with GHC. Students accepted into the NSP will agree to:

• Satisfactorily complete the degree track approved for NSP funding with a 3.0 average or better
• Begin full-time employment at a Genesis HealthCare nursing center within 60 days of graduation
• Meet GHC pre-employment requirements such as background checks, drug screening, and others per GHC policy
• Maintain a performance appraisal rating of at least "effective" as defined by GHC policy
• Work a sufficient number of hours in order to maintain full-time status (32 hours per week)
• Gain professional licensure certification within six months following graduation
  
• Comply with other requirements of GHC's NSP as may be in effect at the time funds are disbursed

Award Process

GHC will transfer funds up to $25,000 toward the selected student's tuition to Boston College. Funds will be transferred on or before August 15 for the student's upcoming academic year.

Download Genesis Scholarship Application Form »