Student Policies:
Attendance: Students are expected to attend every class and to be punctual. The instructor records all attendance. Tardiness is recorded by the instructor, rounded to the nearest quarter hour and calculated into the overall attendance. Students are required to maintain a minimum pace of progress throughout the program. The pace of progress is measured by dividing the cumulative number of hours the student has completed by the cumulative number of hours scheduled. All students must maintain a 90% attendance average per payment period to be considered meeting SAP and to complete the program within the maximum timeframe. The maximum time frame a student has to complete is 111% of the program length. The program consists of two payment periods the first payment period consists of 1 – 300 scheduled hours, the second payment period consists of 301 – 600 scheduled hours. The SAP evaluation periods will be at 301 scheduled hours and 600 scheduled hours. If a student misses more than 10% of the program of the first payment period, he/she will be put on warning (see Warning Policy). For VA Beneficiaries any absences that affect the rate of pursuit must by law be reported by the school to the VA in 30 days. It is the responsibility of the student to get any material missed due to absences. Absences may be excused by providing a written excuse approved and documented by the instructor. Unexcused absences must be made up. If a student is absent for several consecutive days, NVSTM will attempt to contact the student and make a determination of the student's intention to return to classes or withdraw within 14 consecutive days from the last date of attendance. If NVSTM determines the student to withdraw, the appropriate refund will be issued based on the last day of attendance and the NVSTM Refund Policy.
Excused Absence Policy: An excused absence has to be approved and documented by an NVSTM Instructor. Approved excused absences are for: illness, family emergency or unforeseen circumstances. Excused Absences do not have to be made up. The total number of excused absences may not exceed ten percent of the clock hours in the payment period. Make up for unexcused absences will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Academic Progress: Students must maintain no less than an average grade of 70% in order to be considered making satisfactory academic progress. A student’s mid-point and final grade is calculated by taking the average of their theory and practical grades. Theory and practical work will be graded according to the following scale:
- A = 90% - 100%
- B = 80% - 89%
- C = 70% - 79%
- F = 69% and below
Students must maintain no less than average grade of 70% during the entire program. If a student falls below 70%, the student will be placed on a warning (see warning policy) until the next evaluation. Tutoring is available and the cost is $25/hour.
Warning: Students failing to meet minimum requirements for attendance or academic progress at the mid-point (end of 1st payment period at 300 scheduled hours) will be placed on warning until the next evaluation period. During the warning period, students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and financial aid funds will be disbursed to eligible students. Students will be placed on an academic plan and must be able to meet requirements set forth in the plan by the end of the next evaluation. At the end of the warning period, the student's progress will be re-evaluated. If the student is meeting minimum requirements in both attendance and academics, he or she will be determined to be making satisfactory academic progress. If the student fails to meet minimum requirements, he or she will be terminated from Title IV programs and terminated from the program, unless the student appeals the decision and prevails upon appeal.
Appeal Process: If a student is determined not to be making satisfactory academic progress, the student may appeal the determination within 10 calendar days. Reasons for which students may appeal a negative progress determination include death of a relative, injury or illness to student, or any other allowable mitigating circumstance. The student must submit a written appeal to the school with supporting documentation of the reasons why the determination should be reversed. The information should include what has changed about the student's situation that will allow them to achieve SAP by the next evaluation point. Appeals will be reviewed by the President and a decision will be made within 30 calendar days. The appeal and decision documents will be retained in the student file. If a student prevails upon appeal, the SAP determination will be reversed and federal financial aid will be reinstated, if applicable.
Withdrawals: All withdrawals must be made in writing. The date of the institution's determination that the student withdrew should be no later than 14 calendar days after the student's last date of attendance as determined by the institution from its attendance records. The institution is not required to administratively withdraw a student who has been absent for 14 calendar days. However, after 14 calendar days, the institution is expected to have determined whether the student intends to return to classes or to withdraw. Students will be responsible for unattended classes until a written letter of withdrawal is received. Unofficial withdrawals for clock hour students are determined by the school through monitoring clock hour attendance at least every thirty (30) days. The refund is calculated based on the student’s last date of attendance. No refunds can be made if a student has attended 75% or more of the program, Students who have attended less than 75% of the program will receive a refund check within 30 days (see refund policy). Any student who withdraws from the program or fails to complete training will have a notice placed in his or her file as to the progress at the point of withdrawal. Students who withdraw prior to completion of the course and wish to re-enroll will return in the same satisfactory academic progress as at the time of withdrawal.
Dismissals: Students can be dismissed from the program if the following requirements are not met:
- Failure to maintain 70% GPA
- Failure to meet attendance policy
- Failure to pay tuition
- Inappropriate or potentially dangerous conduct
Refund Policy: An applicant not accepted to the program will receive a full refund less the $50 application fee. A full refund will be given when a contract is cancelled within 3 business days of signing the enrollment agreement regardless of whether a student has started training, less the application fee. Prior to the first day of class, if an applicant provides written notice of a withdrawal 3 business days after enrollment the student will receive a full refund excluding the non-refundable $50 application fee. Subsequent to the 3 business days after enrollment and/or on the first day of class (whichever occurs last), an applicant is considered a student and once a student starts the program the application fee, books, and supplies are nonrefundable. The refund policy applies to all terminations by either party including student decisions, cancellations and school closure. The withdrawal date will be determined by the postmark, by the date of personal delivery, the date of unofficial withdrawal by the school, or expiration date of leave of absence. Subsequent to the 3 business days after enrollment and/or on the first day of class (whichever occurs last), a student can cancel the enrollment agreement by providing a written notice of withdrawal from the program and will then receive a refund based on the scheduled hours accrued by the student. Any money due to a student who unofficially or officially withdraws shall be refunded within 45 days of the date of the school determines the student is withdrawn. Unofficial withdrawals are determined by monitoring student’s attendance once a month. Subsequent to the 3 business days after enrollment and/or on the first day of class (whichever occurs last), a student who withdraws from the program prior to completion is charged a $100 cancellation fee. The refund is calculated based on the students last date of attendance. In the case of disabling illness or injury, death in immediate family, or other documented mitigating circumstance, a reasonable settlement will be made. If a program is cancelled subsequent to a student’s enrollment, and before instruction has begun, the school shall provide a refund of all monies paid or completion of the program is provided. If the school closes and instruction has begun the school will provide a prorated refund of tuition to the student. Students who do not return from a leave of absence; the last date of leave is used as the termination date. The refund calculation is as follows:
|
HOURS
|
REFUND
|
|
1-150 hours
|
75%
|
|
151-300 hours
|
50%
|
|
301-450 hours
|
25%
|
|
451-600 hours
|
0%
|
Leave of Absences (LOA): A leave of absences is only granted in extreme cases, due to the nature of the program. Arrangements will be made to reenter the program at a point to be determined by the Director of Education. All LOA’s require a student to apply in writing and in advance of the LOA unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so. A leave of absence extends a students’ contract period and maximum timeframe by the same number of days taken in the leave of absence. The time given for an LOA will not exceed half the program length. No additional charges are incurred to the student as a result of an LOA. If the student does not return at a mutually agreed upon time, the student will be dismissed from the program and is required to re-apply. If a student does not return from an LOA, when calculating the refund, the withdraw date will be the last day of attendance. Students returning from a leave of absence must return to school in the same satisfactory academic progress status they had prior their departure. Students are not eligible for federal student loans while on an LOA. Students who have received aid and fail to return can have their repayment grace period begin retroactively from the date the LOA began.
Reentry: Students can re-apply by submitting a request to the Director of Education. If they have been dismissed or withdrawn from the program, students are readmitted on an individual basis, and a $50 reapplication fee may apply.
Student Conduct: Students are expected to behave with professional, ethical, and honest conduct at all times. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated; and such behavior will cause a student to be reprimanded and/or dismissed from the program. A student may be dismissed for any conduct such as, but not limited to:
- Cheating, forgery, plagiarism, or theft
- Any verbal, physical, sexual, or racial harassment
- Possession/use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons
Non-discrimination Policy: Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage prohibits discrimination against current and prospective students and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender or sexual orientation.
Student Records: Student records are kept confidential and will not be released or published as “directory information” without written consent from the student. The school shall provide and permit access to student’s records as required for any accreditation process initiated by the institution, NACCAS or licensing body. Students have the right to all records on file. Official Transcripts and Diplomas are available upon request.
Cell Phones: All cell phones must be turned off during class.