Penn Foster College A.S. in Veterinary Technician Degree Program Online Student Enrollment Agreement

Transcription

1 Penn Foster College A.S. in Veterinary Technician Degree Program Online Student Enrollment Agreement Penn Foster is pleased to make its Veterinary Technician Degree Program (the Vet Tech Program or the Program ) available to you in connection with its collaboration with Medical Management International, Inc., doing business as Banfield Pet Hospital ( Banfield ). This is your official Penn Foster Online Student Enrollment Agreement ( Enrollment Agreement ) for the Vet Tech Program offered by Penn Foster, Inc. ( Penn Foster ). The terms and conditions of this Enrollment Agreement are set forth below. Please review them carefully as they will govern your participation in the Vet Tech Program. To indicate your acceptance of this Enrollment Agreement, please sign your name in the signature block at the end of this application and submit the signed form to Penn Foster. Please note that your enrollment in the Vet Tech Program is on a Semester by Semester basis and will not be effective, with respect to any Semester, unless and until Banfield has provided Penn Foster with confirmation of your eligibility under the Banfield Tuition Assistance Program (defined below) for the applicable Semester. Charter hospital associates must receive written authorization from their charter hospital owner in order to participate in the Vet Tech Program. By submitting this enrollment application, you are representing that: (a) you are not an employee of a Charter hospital; or (b) you are an employee of a Charter hospital and you are in compliance with any eligibility requirements established by your hospital for your participation in the Banfield Tuition Assistance Program. Please also note in order to participate in the Vet Tech Program, you must have internet access and that arranging for and supporting such access is your responsibility and cost. If you have questions or require additional assistance, please call VET TECH PROGRAM SCOPE. (a) Program Structure. The Vet Tech Program consists of four semesters (each semester, a Semester ). Each Semester typically takes between 6 to 12 months to complete and consists of a defined set of courses. Both your acceptance of this Enrollment Agreement and Banfield s confirmation of your eligibility for the Vet Tech Program under the Banfield Tuition Assistance Program (defined below) are required for your enrollment in each Semester. Certain courses and programs must be successfully completed within defined periods for you to receive a Vet Tech Degree (defined below). Those requirements can be found on the Penn Foster website at pennfoster.edu by clicking the tab for the College Program Veterinary Technician program curriculum overview. In addition, proctored examinations are subject to only one retake, and certain un-proctored tests may not be retaken Penn Foster reserves the right to cancel the enrollment of any student who fails to complete a Semester within 48 months following enrollment, or who does not comply with the Program Rules of Conduct. (b) Rules of Conduct. While enrolled in the Vet Tech Program or any other Penn Foster educational offering, you are responsible for complying with all standards and policies set forth in the Penn Foster Student Handbook, including the rules regarding academic integrity (individually and collectively, the Rules of Conduct ). A failure to comply with the Rules of Conduct may result in disciplinary action up to and including your dismissal from the applicable course or Program

2 or, in the case of misappropriation or unauthorized use of materials, legal action. Without limiting the foregoing, you understand and agree that (a) you are required to do your own work; (b) you are required to read all course materials and complete all course assignments; (c) plagiarism or any other form of cheating is prohibited and may result in you failing a course and/or being dis-enrolled from the Vet Tech Program; (d) you may not collaborate on tests or assignments; (e) you must protect the security of your Penn Foster passwords and may not provide access to Penn Foster s online course or Vet Tech Program resources to any third party; and (f) you must comply with Penn Foster s Terms of Use regarding your participation of the Penn Foster-Banfield online Community and any other Penn Foster website. (c) Equipment. You will be responsible, at your own expense, for acquiring, installing and maintaining all equipment and hardware as may be necessary to connect to the Internet, take courses and use Penn Foster s online services. Penn Foster will provide the minimum specifications for that equipment and hardware to you and provide you reasonable advance notice of any change to those specifications. (d) Credits Required for Degree. You will be awarded an Associate of Science Degree from Penn Foster (the Vet Tech Degree ) upon successful completion of the Vet Tech Program and full payment of the Program tuition (and any additional fees you may incur in connection with your participation in the Program). A total of 77 academic credits are required to complete the Vet Tech Program. Penn Foster, in its discretion, may apply academic credits you have previously received from other veterinary programs against the Vet Tech Program credit requirements provided that (i) the other programs meet Penn Foster s approval criteria and (ii) the documentation supporting your completion of the third party program coursework is satisfactory to Penn Foster; however, a minimum of 58 credits must be earned through successful completion of Penn Foster courses in order for you to be eligible to receive the Vet Tech Degree from Penn Foster. (e) Participation in Penn Foster - Banfield Community. In connection with your enrollment in the Vet Tech Program, you will be given access to Penn Foster s online community website and other websites associated with the Vet Tech Program (the Penn Foster Websites ), subject to your agreement to the Terms of Use associated with those websites. The Terms of Use can be accessed from each such website. (f) Optional Courses. If you wish to enroll in any Penn Foster course other than those included within the Vet Tech Program ( Optional Courses ) and you are still an employee of Banfield, Penn Foster will offer those courses to you at a Banfield-negotiated discount from Penn Foster s standard course list price. You understand that you are responsible for the entire tuition for an Optional Course and that Banfield will not pay any portion of the tuition, or reimburse you for any tuition payment made, for an Optional Course. (g) Privacy Policy. The Penn Foster Privacy Policy describes how Penn Foster collects and stores certain personal information that it obtains from you. You may access the Penn Foster Privacy Policy, including information about how you may opt out of certain Penn Foster communications at 2. BANFIELD TUITION ASSISTANCE TERMS: eligibility for tuition assistance from Banfield is governed by the Banfield Credentialed Veterinary Technician Development Program Policy and Conditions and Criteria Procedures (the Banfield Tuition Assistance Program ). Charter hospital owners may require additional or different eligibility requirements for the Banfield Tuition Assistance Program. Accordingly, if you are associated with a Charter hospital, you should check with that hospital s owner to ensure that you meet any such additional eligibility requirements. You understand and acknowledge that you will not be eligible for Banfield tuition assistance with respect to a Semester if you (a) cease to be a Banfield employee during the course of that Semester (other than if your association with Banfield is terminated by Banfield during such Semester other than for cause ), or (b) cancel your enrollment in the Semester, or (c) fail to complete the Semester within 48 months following your initial enrollment in the Vet Tech Program, or (d) lose your eligibility under the additional eligibility requirements of your hospital, if any, if you are a Charter hospital associate. If you successfully complete the Vet Tech Program and receive licensing credentials, you may be eligible for additional tuition reimbursements from Banfield. Information on Banfield tuition reimbursement policies are detailed in the Banfield Veterinary Technician Development Program Policy and Conditions and Criteria Procedures. PENN FOSTER HAS NO CONTROL OVER OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BANFIELD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER BANFIELD TUITION ASSISTANCE OR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. ALL DECISIONS AS TO PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY ARE MADE BY BANFIELD IN ITS SOLE

3 DISCRETION. YOU HEREBY FULLY RELEASE AND DISCHARGE PENN FOSTER (AND ALL PENN FOSTER RELATED PARTIES AND PERSONNEL) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES AND ANY AND ALL CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE, NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY BANFIELD TUITION ASSISTANCE OR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS. 3. VET TECH PROGRAM TUITION. (a) Tuition and Tuition Payment Schedule. The tuition fee for each of the four Semesters of the Vet Tech Program is $1,200, for a total Program tuition fee of $4,800. Tuition for each Semester includes all study materials, instructional support and exams for that Semester. Penn Foster reserves the right to update or substitute course materials, as necessary, for the benefit of your academic experience, at no additional cost to you. The tuition fee for each Semester is payable as follows: $100 is due and payable at the end of each the first six months following your enrollment in the Semester; and The remaining $600 balance is due and payable at the end of month six of the Semester. Should you decide to cancel your enrollment in a Semester, the cancellation and refund policy set forth below in Section 4 will apply. (b) Payment Terms Applicable if Eligible for Banfield Tuition Assistance. For so long as you remain an employee of Banfield, the $600 payable over the first six months of the Agreement (the Individual Tuition Amount ) will be paid by you via an automatic payroll deduction of $50 from your biweekly payroll distribution for twelve consecutive payroll periods beginning with the first payroll period after your enrollment in the Semester becomes effective. If, at the end of the first six months of each Semester, you remain eligible for tuition assistance from Banfield under the Banfield Tuition Assistance Terms, then Banfield will pay the $600 balance of that Semester s tuition fee. However, please be aware that your failure to complete the Program or any given Semester, or the termination of your employment with Banfield, may require that you repay to Banfield all tuition payments made by Banfield on your behalf for a given Semester. Please review carefully the Banfield Veterinary Technician Development Program Policy and Conditions & Criteria Procedures documents for details related to noncompletion of the Program or termination of your employment. (c) Transfer Credits. Penn Foster reduces tuition by $70 for prior coursework that the student has taken that is eligible for transfer credits. To receive transfer credits, an official transcript from an accredited institution recognized by Penn Foster must be submitted for evaluation. Transfer credits will only be awarded for comparable academic subjects where a full credit has been earned. As educational programs vary, only an evaluation by Penn Foster will determine the actual number of transfer credits to be awarded. The maximum number of transfer credits allowed is 19. Half credit courses are not transferrable. Upon our acceptance of your transfer credits, an adjustment to your financial obligation will be made. Please submit transcripts within 60 days of enrollment to Penn Foster College, 925 Oak Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania If your tuition is reduced by transfer credits,50% of the reduction will be applied against the amount payable by you and 50% against the amount payable by Banfield (if applicable), (d) The following table illustrates the payments to be made by you and those to be made by Banfield for each of the four Semesters of the Program assuming you remain eligible for tuition assistance from Banfield under the Banfield Tuition Assistance Terms through each Semester. Semester Payroll Deduction Total Month 6 Tuition Balance 2 First $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $600 $600 Second $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $600 $600 Third $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $600 $600 Fourth $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $600 $600 Total Program Tuition Payments $2,400 $2,400

4 Note 1: monthly payment will consist of $50 payroll deductions from two biweekly payments. Payroll deductions will begin the first payroll period following your enrollment and continue for 12 semi-monthly payrolls. Note 2: The Tuition Balance paid by Banfield if you remain eligible for Banfield tuition assistance. (e) Payment Terms if You Are Not Eligible For Banfield Tuition Assistance. If you cease to be a Banfield employee or otherwise cease to be eligible for Banfield tuition assistance during a Semester in which you have enrolled, you will remain individually liable for the full amount of the Semester s tuition payment, according to the payment schedule set forth in subsection (a) above, subject to the early cancellation provisions set forth in Section 4 below. In addition, you agree that (i) Penn Foster may require you to provide appropriate credit card information and written authorization to debit your credit card for tuition payments as they become due, and (ii) you will be liable for any fees associated with late payments. You also understand that if you are delinquent in your tuition payments, Penn Foster reserves the right to suspend or terminate immediately upon notice your enrollment in the Vet Tech Program and/or require immediate payment of your outstanding Semester tuition (and any additional fees you may have incurred in connection with that enrollment), plus any related collection or attorney fees. (f) Currently Enrolled with Penn Foster Individually, Not Through Banfield Sponsorship: If you are currently individually enrolled in a Penn Foster Vet Tech Program and less than 50% complete in your prior non-banfieldsponsored enrollment, you will be able to enroll in the Program, but will receive not transfer credit for prior coursework in that semester from your individual enrollment with Penn Foster. If you are currently individually enrolled in a Penn Foster Vet Tech Program and 50% or more complete with the current semester, you may pay the difference in your balance up to $ via payroll deductions of $50.00 and Banfield will pay $ to Penn Foster per the Program tuition guidelines; therefore, completing the balance. This means you will not pay more than the normal Banfield discounted price. 4. CANCELLATION POLICY. (a) Procedure for Notice of Cancellation. If you decide to cancel your enrollment in any Semester, you must send your notice of cancellation to Penn Foster via to the address listed in the contact us section of Penn Foster s on line Student Portal, or via fax, overnight courier or United States mail, to Penn Foster, Student Service Center, 925 Oak Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18515, in each case with reasonable confirmation of delivery. Delivery will be deemed to have occurred on the day of confirmed delivery, if during normal business hours, or the next following business day if delivery occurs after business hours. (b) Refund Policy for Cancellations. You will receive a refund of all or a portion of the Individual Tuition Amount for the applicable Semester (to the extent of monies you have already paid) according to the refund schedule below if (i) your notice of cancellation is received within 180 days after the date on which you executed this Enrollment Agreement ( Signature Date ) and (ii) you have completed less than fifty percent (50%) of your course assignments for the Semester. If you deliver your notice of cancellation: within seven (7) days after Signature Date, you will receive a refund of all monies you have paid to Penn Foster; more than seven (7) days after Signature Date but before submitting an assignment for a Semester course, Penn Foster will retain the lesser of 15% of your Tuition Amount ($90) or the amount you have paid in tuition as of the date of cancellation, and you will receive a refund equal to the balance of the amount you have paid to Penn Foster as of the cancellation date; after you complete at least one course assignment but before you have completed 10% of the Semester coursework,, Penn Foster will retain the lesser of 20% of your Tuition Amount ($120) or the amount you have paid in tuition as of the date of cancellation, and you will receive a refund equal to the balance of the amount you have paid to Penn Foster as of the cancellation date; after you have completed between 10% and 25%, inclusive, of the Semester coursework, Penn Foster will

5 retain the lesser of 25% of your Tuition Amount ($150) or the amount you have paid in tuition as of the date of cancellation, and you will receive a refund equal to the balance of the amount you have paid to Penn Foster as of the cancellation date; and after you have completed more than 25% but less than 50% of the Semester coursework, Penn Foster will retain the lesser of 50% of your Tuition Amount ($300) or the amount you have paid in tuition as of the date of cancellation, and you will receive a refund equal to the balance of the amount you have paid to Penn Foster as of the cancellation date. 5. POST GRADUATION DISCLAIMERS. (a) Job Placement. You understand that completion of the Vet Tech Program does not in any way guarantee that you will find employment as a Licensed Veterinary Technician after you graduate and Penn Foster expressly disclaims any responsibility for your job placement. (b) State Licensing Requirements. You understand that licensing requirements for Veterinary Technicians vary greatly from state to state throughout the United States, and some states may require specific educational course approvals (the Applicable State Education Requirements ) that are not included in the Program. You should contact the state licensing bureau in the state(s) in which you are interested in working to determine the Applicable State Education Requirements and to find out if there is any pending legislation relating to those requirements. To be clear, Penn Foster cannot ensure and expressly disclaims responsibility for ensuring that the course(s) or program in which you are enrolling satisfies the Applicable State Education Requirements of your state. Consequently, you understand and agree that (a) you or your legal guardian are solely responsible for confirming that the Vet Tech Program will satisfy the Applicable State Education Requirements in the state(s) in which you may be seeking employment; and (b) Penn Foster is not responsible for undertaking such confirmation. Penn Foster will not provide a refund or be liable for any losses that you incur, as a result of the Vet Tech program failing to satisfy any Applicable State Education Requirements. 6. STUDENT AUTHORIZATION FOR PAYROLL DEDUCTION AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION. (a) Payroll Deduction Authorization. You hereby authorize Banfield to deduct the sum of $50 per pay period from each payroll payment to be made to you for the first twelve (12) consecutive pay periods immediately following your enrollment in each Semester of the Vet Tech Program solely for the purpose of making the applicable Semester tuition payments pursuant to the tuition payment schedule set forth above. You understand and agree that the total sum of the payroll deduction payments that you have authorized Banfield to make is $600 per Semester. You further understand that Banfield may have the right to make additional deductions from your payroll distributions pursuant to the Banfield Tuition Assistance Program as outlined in the Banfield Veterinary Technician Development Program Policy and Conditions and Criteria Procedures. (b) Authorization to Disclose Personal Information. You hereby authorize Penn Foster to provide Banfield with access to all Penn Foster records, accounts and other documents and information that pertain to your enrollment and participation in the Vet Tech Program, including those that contain your personally identifiable information. The immediately preceding consent includes, but is not limited to, access to (i) your academic records, including, without limitation, academic progress reports, course assignments, Program transcripts or other Program information; (ii) any materials or information that you may upload to a Penn Foster website while enrolled in a Penn Foster course or the Vet Tech Program, and (iii) your payment and account balance information. 7. GI BILL STUDENTS. If you do not affirm this Enrollment Agreement within the 10-day period required under law, you will receive a full refund of all monies that you pay to Penn Foster. If you affirm the Enrollment Agreement, but cancel but before completing any lessons, your tuition will be refunded, less a registration fee, not to exceed 10% of your tuition or $50.00, whichever is less. In all other instances, your tuition will be refunded according to the Cancellation Policy described above in these Enrollment Terms and Conditions. YOUR SIGNATURE AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT By signing this Enrollment Agreement or the application containing this Enrollment Agreement, you hereby acknowledge

6 that you have reviewed and fully understand, and accept, the terms and conditions of this Enrollment Agreement and the Banfield Veterinary Technician Development Program Policy and Conditions and Criteria Procedures. You also understand that (a) you will be responsible for payment of the full tuition (to the extent not covered by Banfield) and any applicable fees associated with the Program as set forth in this Enrollment Agreement or your Student Handbook, and (b) this Enrollment Agreement is not a valid contract until it has been accepted by an authorized representative of Penn Foster and you have been confirmed by Banfield as eligible for the Banfield Tuition Assistance Plan; at that point this Enrollment Agreement will be a binding legal commitment. Name: Date: Please keep a copy of this Enrollment Agreement for your records. COMPLAINTS -- Any questions or problems not satisfactorily answered by the Student Services Department or the Chief Academic Officer at Penn Foster College ( ) should be directed to the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, 1400 West Washington Street, Room 260, Phoenix, AZ 85007, Phone ; website address: