Program Changes
FICAM reserves the right to amend, add, or delete classes, programs, policies, equipment, tuition, fees with prior notice of such changes. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students impacted by such changes.
Grading
Students are not graded according to a Grade Point Average (GPA) system but to a “Competency versus Incomplete” system of grading.
FICAM believes that until an ability to effectively use the material being learned is developed then the student is incomplete. The process of education is to understand and be proficient in the application of studied materials. Students may request an opportunity to demonstrate their competency at anytime they feel they are able to successfully use the tools and materials being taught. Theoretical information, such as the background and understanding of the underlying principles, is required to be understood at a minimum of 90% in order to receive a passing competency mark. Students are permitted up to three attempts at passing either a theoretical or practical section of their class. Afterwards they are required to redo that class at an additional expense of 50% of their original class fee. Upon completion of each course, the instructor will provide a detailed evaluation illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of each student.
Unit of Credit
The Unit of Credit used at the school is a clock hour. A clock hour is defined as no less than 50 minutes of any one contact hour in which students participate in learning activities on campus.
We intend to submit our yoga curriculum to the Yoga Alliance of Registered Yoga Teachers to obtain approval of our yoga group of classes to qualify us an RYT200. There may be other such certification opportunities with other organizations.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Each class has a point value. To compute the grade point value for a course, multiply the grade point value by the number of clock hours. For example, a competency mark in a 24-hour course is equal to 72 points (clock hours). Our GPA is based on demonstration of the required skill to be learned in each class. This would equate to a 4.0 GPA. Students are never failed - a class is “incomplete” until demonstration of competence is verified.
Repeating Courses
Students may repeat courses taken at FICAM if they received an incomplete. Students may repeat a course up to three times with an additional fee of 50% for each such repeat thereafter. Credit is given when the competency skill is validated upon repeating a course. Repeated courses will not appear on the student’s transcript.
Incomplete “I” Grade
When a student is unable to complete the requirements of a course by the end of the program, the student may be given an “Incomplete” or a grade of “I”. The instructor will grant a grade of “I” if the student has valid reasons for not being able to finish the work. The student and instructor will complete an “Incomplete Grade” form, which stipulates the work to be completed for a grade. If the coursework is not completed by the determined date, an incomplete will be entered into the record for the course.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings and to arrive on time. Students are expected to inform faculty in advance of any pending dates where a student may be absent. Excused and non-excused absences are considered the same when computing maximum number of allowable absences. Unsatisfactory attendance is when a student does not attend:
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One day of residential training
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A scheduled conference call or online video training session
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Scheduled on-site clinic time
Non-traditional educational experiences allow for students to design their schedules within the assignment period. Therefore, for the purposes of distance training, a student has from Monday at 12:00AM until Sunday at 11:59 PM to submit all written, audio or visual material to FICAM for evaluation if there is a specified time period as set forth by the course outline. Classes will be recorded and then archived online to be available for future viewing.
If a student has unsatisfactory attendance they will be placed on probation until the following conditions are met:
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The student establishes satisfactory progress or meets the conditions of probation.
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The student has corrected the problem that caused unsatisfactory attendance.
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The student has satisfactorily completed worked missed because of the absence either by repeating the sessions missed or performing required work outlined by the instructor.
A student is terminated for unsatisfactory attendance if the student does not meet these conditions within 15 days.
Make-Up Work
Students who have been absent from class for any reason or have been tardy are required to make up work missed from classes. The student is required to discuss make-up work opportunities with the instructor. Any clinic hours that are missed must be made up. Excessive absences from clinic assignments without prior notice may result in termination from the program. Hours of makeup work will be accepted as hours of class attendance. Tests that are not taken as a result of an absence must be made up within a timeframe established by the instructor. There is no additional charge for makeup work.
Tardiness
Attendance and promptness reflect an individual’s level of professionalism and work ethic. Since the school trains students for personal improvement and, by extension, for careers in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, we believe our policies should reflect the expectations of clients and employers. Leaving one to two hours early is equal to one-half day absence. Over two hours early departure equals one full day absence. All class time missed in excess of fifteen minutes must be made up by the student in order to graduate.
Leave Of Absence
The school requires students to provide a written, signed, and dated request for a Leave of Absence prior to the leave of absence. However, if unforeseen circumstances prevent a student from providing a prior written request, FICAM may grant the student’s request for a leave of absence and document its decision in the student’s file. FICAM will collect the written request within 30 days.
A student may be granted a Leave of Absence (LOA) for up to 90 days in any 12-month period.
The number of days in a leave of absence commences the day after the student’s last day of attendance. “A 12-month period” begins on the first day of the student's initial leave of absence.
Upon the student's return from the leave of absence, the student is permitted to complete the coursework he or she began prior to the leave of absence without any penalties.
If a student does not resume attendance at the institution on or before the end of a leave of absence, the student will be treated as a withdrawal. The last date of attendance will stand as the date for refund purposes.
Re-Entry
A student who has canceled or has been terminated and wants to re-enter their training program must notify the Campus Director and follow the required admission procedures. A student who was terminated for any reason can meet with the Campus Director and show why s/he should be re-admitted and how the student will meet program requirements. The decision of the Campus Director will be based on the student meeting program requirements. The timeframe for re-entry will be made 60 days from the date of withdrawal or last date of attendance.
Maximum Time Frame
Students must complete programs within 150% of the program length.
Standards of Academic Progress
The “Standards of Academic Progress” establish a formal process through which the administration and faculty of FICAM can identify and provide assistance to students who experience academic difficulty.
Students who experience academic difficulty are alerted through the Standards of Academic Progress. It is the goal of the institution to support students in every academic phase of their attendance at the Florida Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. When a student is not meeting the Standards of Academic Progress, faculty will conduct a formal meeting with the student in order to prepare a plan of improvement for the student and discuss the possible consequences that may occur if progress is not made.
The standards are not intended to discourage or penalize students who are sincerely trying to make good use of the school’s instructional services. The standards reflect the commitment of FICAM faculty and administration to provide students with as much assistance as possible to ensure success in achieving their educational goals.
The overall objective of the Standards of Conduct is to improve performance by students who are experiencing academic difficulty and to increase public support for the Florida Institute of Complementary & Alternative Medicine and its efforts to provide sound educational programs of the highest quality.
Academic Standards For
Diploma-Seeking Students
Consequences of sustained poor academic performance are summarized below:
Competency Status Results ____
If 30% of semester classes are incomplete Academic Probation
Students must have a competency rating in all classes of their program to graduate and receive a diploma.
These measures are applicable at the end of each grading period.
Academic Probation For
Diploma-Seeking Students
Programs of the institution will measure satisfactory academic progress upon completion of the term. Students moving through the program must complete 70% of their semester classes in order to be considered to be making satisfactory progress. Students who fall below this standard may be placed on academic probation. Students whose competency remains incomplete in any semester classes by end of the term may work on their own to develop their competency, redo the class when next given, or use archives and tutors to work on their skills. When ready, students can request an opportunity to demonstrate their competency and, when done, receive a course completion. The student has twelve months to accomplish this or he/she will need to retake the class all over again. Students who are academically dismissed will be able to re-enter with another group if they follow the re-entry policy.
A student who does not adhere to the attendance policy will be placed on probation for one quarter (3 months of the training year). If, after the quarter, the student has not met the requirements necessary to remove him/herself from probation, the student will be terminated from classes. A student who does not adhere to the grading standard will be placed on Academic Probation. If after the quarter is complete the student has not made the required efforts to remove himself/herself from academic probation the student will be terminated from classes.
Academic Dismissal/Withdrawal
“Academic Dismissal” represents a separation of students from FICAM for at least three (3) months. “Academic Dismissal” occurs after students fail to meet the minimum requirements during academic probation.
The student who withdraws voluntarily is called a “Withdrawn” student. The last physical date of attendance is considered the withdrawal date of the student whether the student is dismissed or withdraws. Any refunds due will be based on the last date of attendance.
Students are eligible to re-apply for enrollment to FICAM after dismissal. This request will be on a petition basis. In order for re-enrollment to be approved, the petition must present evidence of some change in the student’s circumstance. A withdrawn student may re-enter anytime.
Graduation Requirements
The successful completer will be awarded a diploma for programs offered by the Florida Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. There is no governing body that certifies or licenses the successful completer. By successful completion, the graduate can become a practitioner. The student must comply with the following requirements in order to receive a diploma:
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Meet all financial obligations incurred with the institution.
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Complete the total number of hours required by the student’s program and have an overall competency rating of 100%.
Standards of Conduct
Students enrolling in FICAM assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with FICAM’s function as an educational institution. To fulfill its functions of imparting and gaining knowledge, FICAM retains the power to maintain order within the school and to exclude those who are disruptive of the educational process. Unprofessional conduct which discredits the individual or the Florida Institute of Complementary & Alternative Medicine will be subject to termination.
Generally, prohibited conduct for which a student is subject to disciplinary action is defined as follows:
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Physical or sexual assault of any person on FICAM’s campus, conduct which threatens the health or safety of any such person, or the physical or sexual assault of any FICAM student, faculty member or employee.
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Substantial damage to FICAM-owned or leased property or to property of a FICAM student, employee, faculty member or visitor occurring on FICAM-owned or leased property or at the residence of any student, faculty member or employee, or unauthorized entry into or occupation of FICAM’s facilities, which are closed to student activities, or otherwise restricted as to use.
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Any activity that may be construed as hazing ("hazing" is defined as: any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of FICAM).
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Use of alcohol or illicit drugs while on campus or at school related activities. Students at FICAM are training for careers that involve direct interaction with patients and individuals. Performing clinical activities under the influence of drugs or alcohol undermines patient safety and is considered a crime. Persons who engage in such actions while enrolled at FICAM will be reported to the local authorities for criminal actions. Drug testing may be asked of students who display behaviors consistent with drug abuse.
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Non-compliance or violation of any of FICAM’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
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Unsatisfactory academic progress.
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Excessive absence or tardiness.
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Failure to pay fees when they are due.
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Cheating.
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Falsifying records.
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Breach of institutional enrollment agreement.
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Failure to comply with the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of clinical externship sites.
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Carrying a concealed or potentially dangerous weapon.
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Harassment of any kind, including intimidation and discrimination.
Dress Code
School rules and regulations include dressing in a manner appropriate to the CAM practitioner’s community. Florida Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine requires students to wear appropriate, comfortable clothing in and around the training facility. Clothes should be neat and clean for both men and women. Good grooming includes good personal hygiene so as not to provide unhealthy surroundings for yourself or another.
Grievance Procedures
A student, staff or faculty member with a grievance should make an effort to resolve the grievance with the individual against whom the grievance is lodged. If that doesn’t resolve the matter, an appointment may be made with the Director of the school. Grievances should be documented in writing in order to prompt a meeting with the Campus Director. The institutional administration will work to resolve issues within ten days of the receipt of the grievance. If the result of this level of discussion does not produce a fair resolution, the next step would be to notify:
The Commission for Independent Education
Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
Telephone: 1-888-224-6684
(850) 245-3200 |
