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1 Table of Contents SOUTHERN CAREERS INSTITUTE LOCATIONS... 2 ADMINISTRATIVE AND CAMPUS OPERATIONS... 4 ACCREDITATIONS, LICENSES, AND APPROVALS... 5 HISTORY OF SOUTHERN CAREERS INSTITUTE... 6 OWNERSHIP... 6 CAREER-FOCUSED CURRICULUM... 6 MISSION STATEMENT... 6 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT... 7 Enrollment Process and Entrance Requirements... 8 Applicants in the Pharmacy Technician Program... 8 Admissions Procedures... 9 CLASS SCHEDULES AND HOLIDAYS TUITION BY PROGRAM STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS Institutional Scholarships Reverse Start Policy EDUCATION Academic Policies Withdrawals Reentries Leave of Absence Academic Advising and Tutoring Grading Scale Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy EXTERNSHIPS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS STUDENT SERVICES Student Housing Student Guidance and Advising Resource Materials Tutoring RULES OF CONDUCT GRIEVANCES OR COMPLAINTS CAREER SERVICES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES General Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Statement of Non-Discrimination Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy Sexual Harassment PROGRAMS OF STUDY Administrative Assistant Business Accounting Specialist HVAC Medical Assistant Medical Billing & Coding Specialist Medical Office Specialist COURSE DESCRIPTIONS Page 1

2 SOUTHERN CAREERS INSTITUTE LOCATIONS Southern Careers Institute, Inc. (TWC# S0470) 2301 South Congress Avenue, Suite 27, Austin, Texas Phone (512) Fax (512) Branch Campus Locations Southern Careers Institute, Inc. - Brownsville (TWC# S3380) 1424 W. Price Road, Suite K, Brownsville, Texas Phone (956) Fax (956) Southern Careers Institute - Corpus Christi, Inc. (TWC# S0640) 2422 Airline Road, Corpus Christi, Texas Phone (361) Fax (361) Southern Careers Institute (TWC# S4333) 6963 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas Phone (210) Fax (210) (North Campus Location) Southern Careers Institute, Inc. - Harlingen (TWC# S3379) 603 Ed Carey Drive, Harlingen, Texas Phone (956) Fax (956) Southern Careers Institute South Texas, Inc. (TWC# S0630) 1500 North Jackson Road, Pharr, Texas Phone (956) Fax (956) Southern Careers Institute #1, Inc. (TWC# S0708) 238 SW Military Drive, Suite 101, San Antonio, Texas Phone (210) Fax (210) (South Campus Location) Corporate Office 1701 Directors Boulevard, Suite 800, Austin, Texas Phone: (512) Fax (512) Catalog Publication Date: March 1, 2013 Volume Number: Effective Date: March 1, 2013 Page 2

3 Approved and Regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges, Austin, Texas Southern Careers Institute reserves the right to modify, upon approval of the Texas Workforce Commission and the Commission on Occupational Education, the offering of programs, individual courses of study, tuition, hours of classes, the school calendar, and other materials listed in the publication or herein attached or inserted. Approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges, Austin, Texas. Accredited by the Commission on Occupational Education, Atlanta, Georgia. The information contained in this catalog is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. Colin Ellis School Director Austin Dan Grimm School Director Brownsville Lisa Ruszczyk School Director Corpus Christi Nick Davis School Director San Antonio North Campus Location Angie Keyes School Director Harlingen Jim Mullen School Director Pharr Rosemary Hernandez School Director San Antonio South Campus Location Page 3

4 ADMINISTRATIVE AND CAMPUS OPERATIONS Corporate Officers Joseph Fox President and Chief Executive Officer Rachel Lang Chief Financial Officer James Alexander Vice President of Operations JoAnn Navarro Vice President of Admissions Sandy Vann Vice President of Career Services Corporate Directors Open Director of Education Open Director of Financial Services Susie Burns Director of Default Prevention Dan Grimm School Director Brownsville School Directors Colin Ellis School Director Austin Lisa Ruszczyk School Director Corpus Christi Nick Davis School Director San Antonio North Campus Location Angie Keyes School Director Harlingen Jim Mullen School Director Pharr Rosemary Hernandez School Director San Antonio South Campus Location Page 4

5 ACCREDITATIONS, LICENSES, AND APPROVALS The Commission of the Council on Occupational Education accredits Southern Careers Institutes. (Copies of the accreditation and/or approval are available upon request.) Council on Occupational Education 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite #325 Atlanta, Georgia Phone (770) Toll Free (800) Southern Careers Institute locations are approved by the Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges: Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges 101 East 15 th Street, Rm. 226T Austin, Texas Phone (512) Page 5

6 HISTORY OF SOUTHERN CAREERS INSTITUTE Southern Careers Institute (SCI) was founded in The Institute received its initial accreditation from the Commission on Occupational Education, a nationally United States Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, in SCI, Austin, expanded to its present facilities in The school added medical and business programs to its curriculum in 1992 and added pharmacy in The expansion of the company evolved as follows: The Pharr (South Texas) branch campus was opened in May of The Corpus Christi branch campus was opened in August of The San Antonio campus was opened in The Brownsville, Harlingen and Corpus Christi 2 campuses were added in November of In 2009, SCI was acquired by SCI Acquisition Company, Inc. The San Antonio North campus was opened in OWNERSHIP The ownership of SCI is SCI Acquisition Company, Inc., which is wholly owned by Tall Oak Learning, LLC. CAREER-FOCUSED CURRICULUM SCI offers a Diploma in the following career fields. Administrative Assistant Business Accounting Specialist Medical Assistant HVAC Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Medical Office Specialist Pharmacy Technician MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Southern Careers Institute is to instruct students to such competency levels that they are qualified for employment and become gainfully employed in their chosen profession. SCI's primary commitment is to develop each student's potential to the utmost by an intensive and comprehensive program. It is committed to maintaining a highly qualified teaching and supervisory staff who strive to meet the academic needs of each student. Our goal is to stimulate, motivate, and educate our students so that, upon graduation, they will be qualified to pursue a productive career. Page 6

7 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT Austin Campus The campus occupies approximately 19,985 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. Brownsville Campus The campus occupies approximately 19,902 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. Corpus Christi Campus The campus occupies approximately 19,000 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. San Antonio (North Campus) The campus occupies approximately 34,000 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. Harlingen Campus The campus occupies approximately 15,000 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. Pharr Campus The campus occupies approximately 19,000 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. San Antonio (South Campus) The campus occupies approximately 28,931 square feet and has spacious, well-designed facilities consisting of classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, break areas for students and employees, a learning resource center and restrooms. SCI provides an environment suited to the students needs, offering ample room to learn, gain experience, and promote growth. SCI maintains the necessary equipment and supplies required to teach each program. Adequate student parking is also available. CHANGES IN CATALOG INFORMATION Page 7

8 This is an official document publishing the policies, procedures, and regulations of SCI. Each student is responsible for knowing and complying with the information contained in this publication. To view a complete list of disclosures and consumer information please visit HEALTH AND SAFETY SCI attempts to provide safe facilities and a workplace free from hazards. Students are expected to use common sense at all times to prevent injury to themselves or others. The school maintains first aid kits for emergencies. All accidents and injuries must be reported to an instructor or to a member of the management team. ADMISSIONS Enrollment Process and Entrance Requirements Admission to SCI requires that applicants complete the following process: Interview with an Admissions Representative Tour the campus Provide verification of high school graduation or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Complete an enrollment agreement Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Any applicant, who has not reached the age of 18 at the time of the admissions process, must provide verification of a high school diploma or GED and have written permission from a parent or legal guardian. Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English for all programs except ESL. Students enrolling in the ESL program will also fill out an employer verification and statement form to verify employment job skills currently possessed. Applicants must be physically capable of completing the course work and being employed in the career for which they are being trained. All applicants who meet these criteria are eligible for enrollment. SCI accepts students without regard to sex, religion, or ethnic background. SCI will not tolerate the abuse, exploitation, or neglect of anyone, including elderly or disabled persons. A list of GED providers is available upon request. SCI reserves the right to deny admission to any person for any nondiscriminatory reason. Applicants are notified promptly of their admission status. Applicants in the Pharmacy Technician Program Applicants who intend to enroll in the Pharmacy Technician program must possess a high school diploma or GED at the time of enrollment. In order to be eligible for approval of externship in a retail or hospital pharmacy, students must be registered with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee. Registration as a trainee requires: 1. Completion of an online application, including payment of a non-refundable fee of $53.00; and 2. Completion of a fingerprint session including a fee of approximately $ Page 8

9 Registration may take up to six (6) months to complete; therefore, pharmacy technician students are required to complete the application and fingerprinting process during their first three-week term. Students who have felony convictions will be not be approved. Additionally, the pharmacy board also closely scrutinizes certain types of misdemeanors, which may result in denial of registration or additional requirements by the board. Admissions Procedures After satisfying the admissions requirements, students will complete necessary paperwork, including Enrollment Agreement (to be signed by parent or guardian if the student is a minor), and make satisfactory financial arrangements. ORIENTATION All new students are encouraged to attend an orientation session, which is held prior to classes starting. During the orientation new students will be given the opportunity to ask any questions they may have regarding the training. Page 9

10 CLASS SCHEDULES AND HOLIDAYS Normal business hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Morning class hours are from 7:00 am to 12:35 pm, afternoon class hours are from 1:00 pm to 6:35 pm and evening class hours are from 7:00 pm to 10:40 pm. All classes are held Monday through Friday. Class days and times are subject to change at the discretion of the School. Class Schedule MORNING PROGRAMS AFTERNOON PROGRAMS MONDAY-FRIDAY EVENING PROGRAMS FIRST PERIOD FOURTH PERIOD SEVENTH PERIOD 7:00 am-7:50 am Class 1:00 pm-1:50 pm Class 7:00 pm-7:50 pm Class 7:50 am-8:00 am Break 1:50 pm-2:00 pm Break 7:50 pm-8:00 pm Break 8:00 am-8:45 am Class 2:00 pm-2:45 pm Class 8:00 pm-8:45 pm Class 8:45 am-8:55 am Break 2:45 pm-2:55 pm Break 8:45 pm-8:55 pm Break SECOND PERIOD FIFTH PERIOD EIGHTH PERIOD 8:55 am-9:45 am Class 2:55 pm-3:45 pm Class 8:55 pm-9:45 pm Class 9:45 am-9:55 am Break 3:45 pm-3:55 pm Break 9:45 pm-9:55 pm Break 9:55 am-10:40 am Class 3:55 pm-4:40 pm Class 9:55 pm-10:40 pm Class 10:40am-10:50am Break THIRD PERIOD 4:40 pm-4:50 pm Break SIXTH PERIOD 10:50 am-11:40 am Class 4:50 pm-5:40 pm Class 11:40 am-11:50 am Break 5:40 pm-5:50 pm Break 11:50 am-12:35 pm Class 5:50 pm-6:35 pm Class At the discretion of the School Director, the school may be closed to avoid extreme weather. Under this condition, make-up time may be scheduled on Saturdays. Page 10

11 The campuses will be closed on all official holidays. The calendar for 2012 and 2013 is as follows: Term Calendar 2013 Term Start Date Term End Date 2/4/2013 3/23/2013 3/26/2013 5/7/2013 5/9/2013 6/20/2013 6/24/2013 8/5/2013 8/7/2013 9/18/2013 9/23/ /1/ /5/ /18/2013 Holiday Calendar 2013 Holiday Start End Spring Break 3/11/13 3/16/13 Good Friday 3/29/13 3/30/13 Memorial Day 5/27/13 Independence Day 7/4/13 Labor Day 9/2/13 Thanksgiving Day 11/28/13 11/30/13 Winter Break 12/23/13 1/5/14 Page 11

12 TUITION BY PROGRAM (With the exception of the Registration fee, Books and Fees are included in the cost of tuition) Administrative Assistant Business Accounting Specialist Costs Registration $50.00 Costs Registration $50.00 Tuition $13, Tuition $15, Total Cost $13, Total Cost $16, Medical Assistant Medical Billing And Coding Specialist Costs Registration $50.00 Costs Registration $50.00 Tuition $18, Tuition $16, Total Cost $18, Total Cost $16, Medical Office Specialist Pharmacy Technician Costs Registration $50.00 Costs Registration $50.00 Tuition $15, Tuition $16, Total Cost $15, Total Cost $16, HVAC Costs Registration $50.00 Tuition $19,925 Total Cost $19,975 Page 12

13 STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS Financial assistance is generally a combination of grants and loans which supplement the student s contribution toward training. As an accredited post-secondary institution, SCI has various federal financial assistance programs available to qualified students. These programs exist to assist students in paying for educational expenses. SCI will assist students in developing financial plans to pay for their education through a combination of student/family contributions, financial aid, if eligible, and finance plans. Eligibility for financial assistance is determined by Financial Aid office personnel, who are trained in using standard, federally-approved method of needs analysis. Students will be interviewed individually to determine a financial arrangement that suits their needs and personal situation, and which meets the requirements of the school. Students may be required to make monthly payments while attending school. Payment amounts are based upon the program in which the student is enrolled and the amount of financial aid the student may be receiving. Failure to keep all payments current may result in termination. Applying For Student Financial Assistance All students applying for financial assistance must have a personal interview with a member of the Financial Aid office staff. During this interview process, the staff member can provide guidance on the process of completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any other forms necessary to determine eligibility and apply for financial assistance. It is the student s responsibility to provide any requested documents in order to verify eligibility and process the application in a timely manner. Federal Pell Grant The Federal Pell Grant is a grant to students who qualify under the financial need guidelines. Application is made through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (FAFSA) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) The Federal SEOG is a grant that the school distributes to students based on financial need and the availability of funds. Application is made through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) The Federal Direct Loan is a low-interest rate loan provided by the Federal Government. The amount is determined according to financial need. Applications for the Federal Direct Loan Program are available in the Financial Aid Office. Federal PLUS Loan The Federal PLUS Loan is a low interest rate loan available for the parents of dependent, undergraduate students enrolled at least half time. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. Page 13

14 Institutional Scholarships SCI has scholarship opportunities as listed below: Sponsors - If requested, SCI will match sponsor s contribution with an additional grant to a student who is sponsored by another organization. After Pell grant is applied to cost of program, SCI will match up to sponsor s contribution not to exceed cost of program. If the Pell Grant is not applied for, SCI will match ½ of sponsor s contribution up to cost of program. Any portion of program cost which is not covered by grants, sponsor, and scholarship will be paid by student while in school or with a school or a federal loan. Alternative Financing For those students who qualify, alternative financing is available through several financing companies. The Financial Aid Office will assist students in tailoring payment plans to fit their individual needs. Co-signers may be necessary, depending upon credit history. Veterans Veteran benefits are available for those who are eligible. Social Security Benefits Eligible students may obtain Social Security benefits. For more information see the Financial Aid Office. REFUND POLICY Reverse Start Policy Any new student who is withdrawn during the first three-week term and fails to attend during the first week of the second three-week term, the fourth overall class week, will be considered a reverse start and will not receive academic credit for any completed coursework. Cancellation Policy A full refund will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment contract within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) after the enrollment contract is signed or within the student s first three scheduled class days (does not apply to Seminars). Institutional Refund Policy and Return to Title IV When a student withdraws from school, two calculations will be performed. The first of these is Return to Title IV. Federal Law specifies how the school must determine the amount of federal financial assistance that a student earns when the student withdraws. The law requires that when a student withdraws during a charging period, the amount of Student Financial Aid program assistance that is earned will be determined by a specific formula. If a student received (or the school received on the student s behalf) less assistance than the amount that is earned, the student may be able to receive additional funds. If more assistance was received then was earned, the excess funds must be returned. This process must be completed within 45 days of the date of determination, and returns will be made according to Federal Guidelines. The amount of assistance that is earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if a student completes 30 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, he/she earns 30 percent of the assistance originally scheduled to be received. Once a student completes more than 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, all of the assistance for the period is earned. Page 14

15 The second calculation that will be performed is School s Institutional Refund. 1. Refund computations will be based on scheduled course time of class attendance through the last date of attendance. Leaves of absence, suspensions and school holidays will not be counted as part of the scheduled class attendance. 2. The effective date of termination for refund purposes will be the earliest of the following: (a) (b) (c) The last day of attendance, if the student is terminated by the school; The date of receipt of written notice from the student; or Ten school days following the last date of attendance. 3. If tuition and fees are collected in advance of entrance, and if after expiration of the 72 hour cancellation privilege the student does not enter school, not more than $100 in nonrefundable administrative fees shall be retained by the school for the entire residence program or synchronous distance education course. 4. If a student enters a residence or synchronous distance education program and withdraws or is otherwise terminated, the school or college may retain not more than $100 in nonrefundable administrative fees for the entire program. The minimum refund of the remaining tuition and fees will be the pro rata portion of tuition, fees, and other charges that the number of hours remaining in the portion of the course or program for which the student has been charged after the effective date of termination bears to the total number of hours in the portion of the course or program for which the student has been charged, except that a student may not collect a refund if the student has completed 75 percent or more of the total number of hours in the portion of the program for which the student has been charged on the effective date of termination. 5. Refunds for items of extra expense to the student, such as books, tools, or other supplies should be handled separately from refund of tuition and other academic fees. The student will not be required to purchase instructional supplies, books and tools until such time as these materials are required. Once these materials are purchased, no refund will be made. For full refunds, the school can withhold costs for these types of items from the refund as long as they were necessary for the portion of the program attended and separately stated in the enrollment agreement. Any such items not required for the portion of the program attended must be included in the refund. 6. A student who withdraws for a reason unrelated to the student s academic status after the 75 percent completion mark and requests a grade at the time of withdrawal shall be given a grade of incomplete and permitted to re-enroll in the course or program during the 12-month period following the date the student withdrew without payment of additional tuition for that portion of the course or program. 7. A full refund of all tuition and fees is due and refundable in each of the following cases: (a) An enrollee is not accepted by the school; (b) If the course of instruction is discontinued by the school and this prevents the student from completing the course; or (c) If the student's enrollment was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in advertising, promotional materials of the school, or representations by the owner or representatives of the school. A full or partial refund may also be due in other circumstances of program deficiencies or violations of requirements for career schools and colleges. Page 15

16 8. REFUND POLICY FOR STUDENTS CALLED TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE. A student of the school or college who withdraws from the school or college as a result of the student being called to active duty in a military service of the United States or the Texas National Guard may elect one of the following options for each program in which the student is enrolled: (a) if tuition and fees are collected in advance of the withdrawal, a pro rata refund of any tuition, fees, or other charges paid by the student for the program and a cancellation of any unpaid tuition, fees, or other charges owed by the student for the portion of the program the student does not complete following withdrawal; (b) a grade of incomplete with the designation "withdrawn-military" for the courses in the program, other than courses for which the student has previously received a grade on the student's transcript, and the right to re-enroll in the program, or a substantially equivalent program if that program is no longer available, not later than the first anniversary of the date the student is discharged from active military duty without payment of additional tuition, fees, or other charges for the program other than any previously unpaid balance of the original tuition, fees, and charges for books for the program; or (c) the assignment of an appropriate final grade or credit for the courses in the program, but only if the instructor or instructors of the program determine that the student has: (1) satisfactorily completed at least 90 percent of the required coursework for the program; and (2) demonstrated sufficient mastery of the program material to receive credit for completing the program. 9. The payment of refunds will be totally completed such that the refund instrument has been negotiated or credited into the proper account(s), within 60 days after the effective date of termination. In case of prolonged illness or accident, death in the family, or other circumstances that make it impractical to complete the program, the school shall make a settlement which is reasonable and fair to both parties. RETURN TO TITLE IV Federal Law specifies how the school must determine the amount of federal financial assistance that a student earns when the student withdraws. The law requires that when a student withdraws during a payment period, the amount of student financial aid program assistance that is earned will be determined by a specific formula. If a student received (or the school received on the student s behalf) less assistance than the amount that is earned, the student may be able to receive additional funds. If more assistance was received then was earned, the excess funds must be returned. This process must be completed within 45 days of the date of determination and returns will be made according to federal guidelines. The amount of assistance that is earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if a student completes 30 percent of the payment period, he/she earns 30 percent of the assistance originally scheduled to be received. Once a student completes more than 60 percent of the payment period, all of the assistance for the period is earned. EDUCATION SCI programs are divided into three-week modules which are scheduled continuously throughout the year. There are breaks every six weeks, on nationally recognized holidays and in the spring Page 16

17 and winter. Re-entry students are eligible to begin classes at the beginning of each three week module. Acceptance of Transfer Credits into Southern Careers Institute s Programs A prospective student requesting credit for previous training must do so prior to starting school and must provide a transcript and detailed course descriptions for review. SCI will then evaluate the documentation and make a decision regarding the appropriateness of the request. If prior credit is accepted, SCI will make the appropriate adjustments to the program length and charges, within the guidelines of state and federal law. SCI will only consider credit that is less than three (3) years old and awarded by an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Transfer courses must be current, relevant and comparable to SCI offerings. Students may transfer in no more than 30% of the curriculum hours. Transfer of Credits from one Program to another Program. If a student transfers from one SCI program to a different SCI program, only courses previously taken, that are required in the new program, can be credited to the new program. The credits must be current and relevant to the new program. Any transferred courses must meet the minimum GPA requirement at the time of the signing of the new Enrollment Agreement to be considered eligible for transfer. Test Outs SCI does not allow students to test out of coursework, or provide credit by examination. SCI believes that due to the unique and comprehensive nature of its programs, which are delivered primarily through practical modalities, it is in the in the best interest of students to attend all scheduled coursework. Transferability of Southern Career Institute s Credits to another School SCI makes no promises regarding the transferability of its credits; acceptance of credits is the decision of the receiving institution. Many Colleges and Universities will not accept transfer credits from Southern Careers Institute. Academic Policies A school shall record a full day of absence when the student fails to attend all of the scheduled classes on that day. The school shall record a partial day of absence for any period of absence during the day. Make-up work will not be authorized for the purpose of removing an absence. Assignments that were not turned in on the day of an absence, or were assigned on the day of an absence, may be completed by the student and turned in for a grade. However, assignments of this nature will not impact the student s attendance record. Non-school days referred to in the school calendar will not be considered as days of absence. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. Students who are not in attendance at the time it is taken are considered absent from that class. A student who arrives late will have the absent mark changed to a tardy. Students who leave class early are also marked tardy. Any student who misses more than 50% of a class session by either arriving late or leaving early will be considered absent for the day for that class. Page 17

18 Withdrawals A student must notify the School Director or designee in writing of intent to withdraw to be considered officially withdrawn. If a student withdraws or reenters after being terminated, he/she will be charged at the cost in effect at time of reentry. Reentries SCI encourages previously withdrawn students to return to school to complete their education. Reentry is contingent on space availability, program schedules, and requires final approval from the School Director or designee. Applicants are eligible for consideration of up to three (3) enrollments (i.e., initial enrollment plus two reentries) within a 12 month period. Applicants may only reenter into original program of study; otherwise the applicant is considered to be in a new program. Reentry date must be within 12 months of the last date of attendance. Prospective reentries who were withdrawn due to lack of meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) must return on probationary status. If a prospective reentry exhausted all probationary periods during prior enrollment, he/she must meet the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) requirements each term until SAP requirements have been met; If it is determined that a potential reentry is unable to meet SAP, for whatever reason, he/she must not be allowed to return. Applicant must meet with the Director of Student Services or the Student Service Coordinator to review reasons for previous withdrawal. An applicant seeking a second reentry must be considered by a reentry committee. The prospective reentry is required to provide a detailed plan to convince the committee of his/her commitment to completing the training. All reentered students must meet on a weekly basis for the first three weeks with a student service coordinator to review attendance and barriers to success. Leave of Absence A leave of absence can only be issued for jury duty, a medical reason for the student, for a member of the student s immediate family, or for extenuating circumstances. The leave of absence will be reasonable in duration and will not exceed a total of 60 calendar days in any twelve-month period. The leave must be for a specific and reasonable purpose. Only two leaves of absences will be allowed during a twelve month period. The total of the two leaves must not exceed 60 calendar days in that calendar year. The school attendance records shall clearly show that a leave of absence has been granted. A written request for a leave of absence, properly signed by both the student and an authorized school official, must be placed in the individual student file. If the student fails to return from the leave, he/she shall be automatically withdrawn from school. Academic Advising and Tutoring Students educational objectives, grades, attendance, and conduct are reviewed on a regular basis. The education department notifies students if their academic standing or conduct is unacceptable. Failure to improve academic standing or behavior may result in further action up to and including withdrawal. The school provides tutorial sessions and academic advising for students who are experiencing academic difficulties. Students are encouraged to seek academic assistance through their instructor or the education department. Page 18

19 Grading Scale The progress and quality of students work is measured numerically. The meaning of each grade is listed below. Grade Percentage Rating Excellent Above Average Average 69 0 Failure In order to maintain satisfactory progress, the student must have at least a cumulative 70% average of all courses on a grading scale of 100%. Students receive grades on their classroom and laboratory work and are evaluated for satisfactory progress purposes at the end of each six week period. Student grades are expressed in a numeric format. Students may be allowed to take make-up tests by making arrangements with the instructor. Students will receive final grades based on work completed. Progress Reports are provided to students after each three (3) week Term. Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Southern Careers Institute requires that every student receives a current catalog at the time of enrollment which includes the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. All SCI students are expected to meet minimum Academic, Attendance and Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. At the end of each six-week Term progress will be measured relative to attendance, Grade Point Average (GPA), and Maximum Time Frame (MTF)/Rate of Progress. For students receiving Title IV Student Aid (TIV), an additional evaluation will be completed at the end of each Payment Period should that not fall at the same time as a regularly scheduled evaluation. Attendance At any point at which students have missed more than ten consecutive school days, they are considered to be in violation of the Attendance standard. This standard is not subject to a Probationary or Appeal process and the students will be immediately withdrawn. When students have missed more than 20% of the program s scheduled hours in the current enrollment, they are considered to be in violation of the Attendance standard unless they are beyond the point at which a refund of tuition is due. Refunds are not due beyond 75% of the enrollment period. This standard is not subject to a Probationary or Appeal process and the students will be immediately withdrawn. The program length is the catalog program scheduled hours less any transfer hours. Continued attendance for those beyond the 75% point of the enrollment period must be approved by the School Director or designee. Page 19

20 These attendance standards apply to all students in both quarter credit hour programs and clock hour programs. Students whose enrollments have been terminated for not meeting attendance requirements must meet the re-entry requirements defined in the Definition section to be considered for re-entry. Cumulative GPA At the end of each six-week Term, students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 70% on a 100 point scale to meet the GPA standard. These GPA standards apply to all students in both quarter credit hour programs and clock hour programs. The cumulative GPA is calculated using all courses in the program with the exception of repeated courses (R grade) or unless another exception applies. See the Definitions section for exceptions for transfer credits, re-entry students, withdrawals, incompletes and repeated courses. Students will also have an evaluation completed at the end of each payment period (see definitions below). Students not meeting the GPA measurement at the end of any payment period will be placed on FA Warning for the following payment period. See FA Warning status as described below. See Academic Probation section for consequences of not meeting GPA requirements. Decisions based on not meeting the GPA requirements may not be appealed. Maximum Timeframe (MTF)/Rate of Progress Students must be progressing at a rate which would allow them to complete their educational program within the Maximum Time Frame (MTF). The MTF is defined as 150% of the scheduled program length. See Definitions for exceptions. Authorized Leaves of Absences are excluded from the MTF calculation. For programs measured in clock hours, the MTF for the student to complete the program is no more than 150 percent of the published length of the program, as measured by the cumulative number of clock hours the student has completed as well as calendar time. See Definitions for exceptions. For programs measured in Quarter Credit Hours (QCH), the MTF for the student to complete the program is no more than 150 percent of the published length of the program, as measured in attempted credit hours. See Definitions for exceptions. At the end of each six-week Term, students Rate of Progress through the program will be measured to determine if they are on track to complete all course work within the MTF or 150% of the expected program length (see Definitions for exceptions). Rate of Progress is also measured at the end of each payment period (as defined below). For QCH programs, Rate of Progress is met when a minimum of 67 percent of the attempted QCH are successfully completed. For clock hour programs, students must attend a minimum of 67 percent of the scheduled clock hours. See Academic Probation and Financial Aid Warning and Appeals sections for consequences of not meeting MTF requirements. Page 20