Atlanta, Georgia


School Catalog - 2019 Volume I
Effective March 15, 2019

Donna R. Gilley

Ancora Education

(682) 334-5620

dgilley@ancoraeducation.com

Founded in 1995 in Atlanta, Georgia, The Creative Circus is an accredited, two-year portfolio-building educational program for the creative side of the marketing communications industry. The Creative Circus seeks to train and develop talent to fill industry need. In addition to advertisements, design pieces, websites and images, Circus students develop concepts for full-scale branding, brand extensions, product development, interactive design and innovative technology applications. At the end of the two-year program, Creative Circus graduates earn a certificate and are armed with experience and an exemplary portfolio that shows industry employers what they know and how they think. The Creative Circus is the first step to a career as a working creative.

1. Admissions Interview: Call or e-mail to arrange an appointment to visit the school. An admissions interview (preferably face-to-face, but by telephone if necessary) will provide full information about our programs, start dates, how we work with graduates and school requirements. Admissions interviews take place with an Admissions Representative who will evaluate a candidate’s interest in our programs and his or her dedication to the field of study. While work ethic and potential for success cannot be formally measured, these qualities are essential to success and will be discussed at the time of the admissions interview. Our goal is to enroll students who will be graduates and who will contribute to the creative industry. At the completion of the admissions interview, should both the prospective student and the Admissions Representative feel that the student has a significant chance of success from the course of study; the Admissions Representative will give the student a recommendation to apply and will work closely with the prospect to ensure all application materials are submitted in a timely manner. Prospective students who do not receive a recommendation from an Admissions Representative may appeal to the Director of Admissions.
2. Application: An application may be obtained from an Admissions Representative. A $100 application fee is due at the time an application is submitted. Candidates for admission who submit an application without a previous successful interview will be contacted to schedule an interview.
3. An Essay: 150 words addressing the following question are required: How will you participate and contribute to your own education in order to be a successful student and graduate of The Creative Circus?
4. Enrollment Agreement: Indicates the tuition agreement with The Creative Circus and an estimate of total costs. This agreement allows a student to participate in our lock-in tuition policy to secure a tuition rate up to a year ahead and to maintain that rate as long as the student remains in good full-time academic standing. Should a student drop to part-time or withdraw, or be on academic dismissal, the former tuition rate is lost and the student will be charged at the most current cost per credit hour.
5. All students are required to disclose to The Creative Circus any criminal convictions they receive while enrolled in any The Creative Circus program. Depending on the nature of that conviction, students may be dismissed from the program.
6. 10-15 Samples of Work: All students must submit an application portfolio containing 10-15 samples of work. These samples need not be slick or polished and can take several forms. Their purpose is to indicate whether the applicant has the originality, creative potential and intellect to succeed in the rigorous Circus program. Prospective students with questions on what kind of work and how to submit work should contact Admissions. Applicants who would like their samples returned must enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope at the time they are submitted. Work is submitted to the appropriate Program Director for review and final recommendation on acceptance to The Creative Circus including any opportunity for advanced placement.
7. Proof of high school completion or GED: All students must have successfully completed high school or have passed a high school equivalency (GED) test. Applicants must present evidence of graduation from a high school that is state-approved or accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. A transcript from an accredited college will also be accepted as proof of high school completion.  For non-high school graduates, evidence of the GED equivalency or other certification from a state-authorized examination, such as the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) or the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) must be submitted. Only applicants who show a passion for the field and innate talent, and whose background points to enthusiasm to learn, will be accepted. Each applicant must submit an Attestation Form indicating the high school from which he or she graduated or the GED testing center where the equivalency test was administered.
8. Transcripts Official: Final transcripts from any previous post-secondary schools attended are required prior to starting at The Creative Circus. Transcripts can be mailed directly to The Creative Circus (attention Admissions) from the registrar’s office at a student’s former institution. Any fees associated with obtaining these records are the responsibility of the student.
9. Notification: When all requirements for admissions have been fulfilled, the applicant will be notified regarding his or her admissions status. Any questions regarding acceptance should be directed to the applicant’s Admissions Representative.

Prior Education Requirement
Each applicant must have earned one of the following educational credentials from a The Creative Circus Atlanta recognized organization: a high school diploma or equivalent or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

Prior to starting classes, applicants will be required to submit proof of high school graduation or a recognized equivalency certificate (GED) to the school by providing the school with an official transcript confirming graduation or official transcript showing earned postsecondary credit. A transcript from an accredited college will also be accepted as proof of high school graduation.

All material submitted to The Creative Circus Atlanta becomes the property of the school.  To be officially accepted, a student must satisfy all conditions of regular enrollment that are identified in writing to the student. These conditions include, but may not be limited to, (a) sufficient proof that the student has a high school diploma or its equivalent, and (b) is not in default in repayment of any student loan indebtedness. For certain programs, regular enrollment may also require the student’s passing enhanced entrance testing or enrolling in additional courses.

In an effort to maintain a safe educational and working environment for students and staff, the school reserves the right to not accept applicants who are known to have/disclose certain types of criminal convictions in their backgrounds. Admitted students who are discovered to have misrepresented their criminal conviction history in the application process may be subject to immediate dismissal. Similarly, students who commit certain types of crimes while enrolled may be subject to immediate dismissal. The school reserves the right to conduct criminal background checks on applicants and students in circumstances deemed appropriate.

• Substantial modifications to academic standards;
• Modification or adjustment of requirements essential to any program of instruction, program or activity, or essential to any directly related licensing requirement; or
• Modifications or adjustments that result in undue hardship, considering the nature, cost, and impact of the accommodation, and other factors.

Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. 

IV.  Policy
It is the policy of Ancora Education to provide qualified students who have disabilities with reasonable accommodation based upon relevant law, the academic program’s educational standards, and sound ethical practice in disability services.

Decisions about whether a student is a qualified student with a disability and what constitutes reasonable accommodation are made by the Director of Education in consultation with the Program Director and Executive Director.  Accommodations are considered on a case by case as well as a course by course (or program or activity) basis.

V.  Procedure for Requesting Accommodations

        A..  Documentation of Disability and Need for Accommodation

Students who may wish to document a disability include those entering a program for the first time or returning after a period of non-enrollment, who have a known disability; those experiencing educational difficulty who are referred by a faculty member or campus official for consultation regarding the possibility of disability; and those whose health and/or physical abilities are altered during their educational tenure resulting in disability (permanent or temporary).

Students may always choose whether or not they want to identify themselves as having a disability, but students who want an accommodation must identify themselves by completing an official disability accommodations request form and providing documentation to support the request for disability accommodations.  Copies of this form may be obtained by contacting the Director of Education.  For non-matriculated students, an official disability accommodations request form can be obtained by contacting an Admissions Representative. 

The student assumes full responsibility for providing all diagnostic information to sufficiently support the existence of disability and the need for reasonable accommodation. Other supporting materials, including a previously utilized Individualized Education Plan, would be helpful in assessing a student’s request for disability accommodation.  An accommodation is not needed if the student would still have meaningful access to the program, service or activity without it.

The student is responsible for completing the request for accommodations paperwork, including the official disability accommodations request form and diagnostic information to sufficiently support the existence of disability and the need for reasonable accommodation.  The Director of Education at each campus is responsible for deciding whether a disability or need for accommodation(s) has been adequately documented.

        B.  Timing

Students should make accommodation requests as far in advance of the relevant course, entrance assessment, activity or program, to allow for appropriate consideration and planning.  Because the reasonableness of any individual accommodation request can vary substantially depending upon a student's current course load, schedule, or course content, accommodation requests must be reviewed by the Director of Education each term of enrollment.

When possible, students entering the a program of study for the first time should submit information related to disability at least six weeks prior to enrollment so that reasonable accommodation can be arranged and delivered prior to the start of the term. 

        C.  Accommodation Determinations

Having provided sufficient evidence of a disability and need for accommodation, a student may make official requests for accommodation by submitting an official disability accommodations request form and supporting materials. The Director of Education will consider the information (documentation) provided by the student, consult with faculty and/or other campus officials as needed, and determine what constitutes reasonable accommodation(s) for the student’s disability.  (See Section III for a definition of accommodation.)

The Director of Education will identify a list of approved accommodations in accordance with the manifestations of the disability, a copy of which will be shared with the student.  For academic accommodations, following review and approval at the start of each term of enrollment, the Director of Education will prepare individual letters for each professor summarizing the approved accommodations relevant to his/her course. These letters will be delivered to the student and appropriate instructors through email.  Faculty and other campus officials then are required to provide reasonable accommodation(s) in accordance with the Director of Education’s letter(s).  If a faculty member or other campus official does not agree to an accommodation request, the student should seek the assistance of the Director of Education.

VI.  Confidential Handling of Disability Records
All information submitted to or developed by the campus related to the diagnosis, documentation, or accommodation of a disability is considered confidential. Information regarding the student's disability obtained from medical examinations or appropriate post-admissions inquiries will be considered confidential and will be shared with others within the university on a need-to-know basis.  Other staff may be provided access to all disability records and may arrange access for other authorized officials in the event of an emergency or other unusual necessity. The Chief Compliance Officer for Ancora Education may collect accommodation data for reporting purposes as well as quality control.

VII.  Appealing Accommodation Determinations
Students may petition for a review of disability accommodations determinations under the following ADA/Rehabilitation Act Grievance Procedure:

        A..  Purpose

This is the grievance procedure mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (the Rehabilitation Act).  The ADA and the Rehabilitation Act prohibit excluding people from participation in educational programs or activities based on their disability, from denying them the benefits of such programs or activities, and from discriminating against such individuals.  The ADA and Rehabilitation Act also require a process for grievances relating to disability-based discrimination.

        B.  Scope

Any student who believes that he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of his or her disability, or has been denied access or accommodations required by, law may make a complaint under this procedure.  Specifically, students may make a complaint about: 

• A requested service or accommodation, including appeals of determinations regarding  accommodations;
• Inaccessibility of a program or activity;
• Harassment on the basis of disability in violation of policy; or
• Any other alleged violation of the ADA or the Rehabilitation Act.  

This is not the procedure for students initially seeking accommodations; students who have a disability that require accommodations should contact the Director of Education.  This is also not the procedure for misconduct allegations by students against other students or student organizations; the Student Code of Conduct outlines the process for disciplining students.   

        C.  Making a Complaint

                    1.  Disability Accommodation Determination Challenges; Requests for Review

A student who has been denied a requested accommodation or otherwise disagrees with a Disability Services accommodation decision is encouraged – but not required – to discuss his or her concern with the Director of Education.  A conversation may resolve a disagreement quickly.

                     2.  Informal Review by Executive Director

A student who disagrees in any way with a decision regarding a request for accommodation may seek review of a decision under this procedure by contacting the Executive Director.  Requests for review of a decision should be made promptly and in any event within 10 days of the accommodation decision being made, unless the student can show good cause for the delay. Time-sensitive requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

If the Executive Director feels that the disagreement can be resolved informally, the Executive Director will try to do so, working with the student and the Director of Education and any other necessary individuals (such as a faculty member, for example).  If informal resolution is ineffective or impractical, the Executive Director will refer the matter to the Office of the Chief Academic Officer for investigation and review.

                    3.  Next Level Review: Office of the Chief Academic Officer

The Office of the Chief Academic Officer’s staff will review the determination of the disability accommodation request and investigate the matter as needed.  This includes requests for information from the instructor or director of the relevant program or activity for which the student is seeking an accommodation, where necessary.  The Office of the Chief Academic staff will present his or her findings to the Chief Academic Officer, who will decide whether any changes to the original decision should be made.

If the Chief Academic Officer decides that an additional or different accommodation should be afforded, the Director of Education will issue a (revised) accommodation letter(s) to the student and any other necessary parties (such as the instructor).  If the Chief Academic Officer upholds the initial accommodation determination, he or she will notify the student, the Director of Education and the Executive Director, and the matter will be closed. 

The review and determination of any appeal to the Chief Academic Officer will be made within 60 days of the review being sought.

VIII.  Protection from Retaliation
Ancora Education prohibits any form of retaliation against a person who participates in a grievance process.  Retaliation can take many forms, ranging from students harassing or ostracizing another student to a faculty member excluding a student from an educational activity.  Ancora Education will immediately address any retaliatory actions that occur.

IX.  Interpretation
Questions concerning the application of this policy and the application of the ADA or the Rehabilitation Act to students may be made in writing to the Executive Director.

• An official transcript of the student's coursework must be furnished directly by the institution where the coursework was completed before any application for transfer credits can be accepted.
• The campus may request additional information such as course descriptions or syllabi if there is question on the comparability of program content to the program in which the student will enroll. The student is responsible for providing any requested additional information.
• The student may be required to demonstrate through testing any hands-on competencies before transfer credit is accepted for courses where such competencies are required.
• Credits must have been earned in courses offered at institutions accredited by an agency recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation at the time the credit was earned.
• A grade of "C" or higher must be earned in each course completed to be eligible for transfer from a non-Ancora owned school.
• A grade of "D" or higher must be earned in each course completed to be eligible for transfer from a commonly owned Ancora Education school.
• Credits will be evaluated on a course by course basis. In most instances, core requirements must be transferred within seven (7) year of completion. No timeframe restrictions will be imposed on general education coursework.
• Courses taken at institutions operating on quarter systems will be evaluated as direct equivalent credits into quarter credit programs. Those transferred from institutions operating on a semester basis to quarter hour institutions are multiplied by one and one half to convert them to quarter credit hours.
• In the case of a clock hour program, any course accepted must be at least the same number of clock hours as the course for which it is accepted. The student will also be required to demonstrate through testing any hands-on competencies prior to clock hour course credit being accepted for transfer.
• Courses that are classified as foundational in nature are not transferable.
• Transfer credits may impact the student’ schedule, causing the student to be less than full-time, which may impact eligibility for some sources of financial aid.
• The student will not be charged any fees from the receiving institution for transferring in credits from other institutions. Students are responsible for all fees for obtaining official transcripts and supporting documentation for transfer of credit (Students receiving VA funding, see Proof of Previous Education).
• In all cases of transfer of credit, Ancora campuses will attempt to avoid excessive loss of previously earned credit and avoid coursework duplication. Any questions about transfer of credits/clock hours should be discussed with the Director of Education, or designee.

Maximum Transfer Credits Accepted (Residency Requirement)
The total credits not earned in residency, including credit by transfer and credit by proficiency testing, may not exceed seventy five percent 75% of the total credit hours (or clock hours for non-credit hour programs) required for the completion of the program of study. 25% of the student’s total credit hours (or clock hours for non-credit hour programs) must be completed in residency.

Coursework Completed at Foreign Institutions
Credit earned at foreign institutions must be externally evaluated by a Ancora Education approved foreign credential evaluator which includes National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) members.

Notice Concerning Transferability of Credits and Credentials Earned at Our Campus
Each Ancora Education campus is an accredited campus that is designed to provide the student with vocational career training and is not designed to prepare the student for transfer to other institutions. Acceptance of credits earned at a Ancora Education campus is determined solely by the receiving institution. The campus cannot and does not guarantee credit transfer.

Students wishing to transfer credits should first consult with the Registrar at those institutions concerning acceptance. Ancora Education campuses will provide official transcripts, for a fee, as well as course descriptions by request. Students with outstanding financial obligations will receive only unofficial transcripts, when requested. Accreditation alone does not guarantee credit transfer.

Transfer to Other Ancora Education Campuses
Students in good standing may transfer to another campus location. Transfer students are advised that they will be subject to the minimum residency requirements at the new campus for the program in which they are enrolled.

Procedure: Transfer of Credit
The student is responsible for requesting official transcripts be sent from the prior institution directly to Ancora Education campuses. 

• All requests for transfer credit must be submitted by the end of the first term of attendance at the school.
• Since transfer credits impact scheduling and on time completion for students, students who submit official transcripts after the drop/add period in the student’s first term may see changes to scheduling and on time completion.
• If needed to evaluate comparability of credit, the student may need to request course descriptions and syllabi from the prior institution.
• The Director of Education, or designee, will review credits based on the guidelines listed above.
• The Director of Education, or designee, will fill out the Transcript Evaluation Form and notify the student of the credits accepted for transfer.
• Students wishing to appeal decisions on transfer credit should submit request in writing to the Executive Director to identify reasons for appeal.
  • The Executive Director will request follow-up information as needed for the appeal. 
  • The Executive Director will submit appeal through the Office of the Chief Academic Officer.
  • The Executive Director will notify student of final decision regarding transfer credit. The decision from the Office of the Chief Academic Officer will be final.
• Once transfer credit is accepted, the student’s tuition will be adjusted based on the number of credits successfully transferred in.

Procedure: Internal Proficiency Examinations
The student is responsible for requesting the Application for Proficiency Examination from the Office of the Registrar.

• The student must request the Application for Proficiency Examination form from the Academic Department within the first five weeks of the student’s first term of enrollment.
• The student will fill out the form, including information as to why the student is requesting a proficiency examination. The campus may deny an application for a student who does not have relevant coursework, certification, or prior work experience.
• The Director of Education, or designee, will review the request, and if approved, will set up the proficiency examination.
  • Some examinations may be scheduled for a specific day and time.
  • Other examinations may be scheduled to be turned in by a specific day.
  • Some examinations may have a hands-on component that must be proctored.
• Students wishing to appeal decisions on proficiency examinations should submit the request in writing to the Executive Director to identify reasons for appeal.
  • The Executive Director will request follow-up information as needed for the appeal.
  • The Executive Director will submit appeal through the Office of the Chief Academic Officer.
  • The Executive Director will notify student of final decision regarding proficiency credit. The decision from the Office of the Chief Academic Officer will be final.
• Once a proficiency examination is passed, the student’s tuition will be adjusted based on the number of credits successfully passed.

e. Vandalism
Vandalism will result in suspension or cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy the data of another user or to damage other networks. This includes but is not limited to the uploading or creation of computer viruses.

Refer to the catalog’s Student Code of Conduct section for a list of possible disciplinary sanctions.

Students who have withdrawn from The Creative Circus Atlanta and wish to be readmitted should contact the school. If the application for re-admission is for a different curriculum, the standard requirements for a change of program will apply. All applicants for re-admission will be required to complete the Smarter Measures Assessment the first time they re-enroll, unless taken during their previous enrollment. The assessment measures student readiness to return to school and engage in post-secondary learning based on non-cognitive indicators of success. The school uses the results of the assessment to determine the type of support that will be most beneficial to the student through the program of study.

Approval for readmission for the same curriculum or an alternate selection will be based on the applicant's ability and aptitude, the time elapsed since withdrawing, recommendations of the instructors of the program to which the applicant is reapplying, and the applicant's career objectives. Prior tuition balances and student loan statuses must be clear before readmission application forms will be processed. Re-entering students must meet all admission requirements in place at the time of their re-entry. Applicants granted re-admission may have course load restrictions, specific grade and attendance requirements, and/or required advisement sessions in order to remain enrolled at The Creative Circus Atlanta.

• Service Member’s current Active Military ID
• Service Member’s current Notice of Basic Eligibility
• Service Member’s current Leave and Earnings Statement

• Active duty military personnel serving during a war, military operation or national emergency.
• Members of the National Guard performing a qualifying duty (i.e., called to active service by the President or Secretary of Defense for a period of more than 30 consecutive days) during a war, military operation or national emergency.
• People who reside or are employed in an area declared a disaster area by any Federal, State or local official in connection with a national emergency.
• People who suffer economic hardship as a result of a war, military operation, or national emergency.

Working students who are eligible for company-sponsored tuition reimbursement are required to advise and provide appropriate documentation to the Financial Services office.

Veterans and eligible persons using veterans’ benefits are measured academically based on the satisfactory progress thresholds defined in Standards of Satisfactory Progress (SAP) policy as are all students attending the school. Veterans’ benefits will be suspended for any students who are academically suspended from the school. Refer to the SAP policy section for details of this policy.

• Fulfilling of all admission requirements;
• Submitting of all documentation requested by the school or lender(s) or both;
• Maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with school policy;
• Completing “aid specific” requirements, such as entrance and exit loan counseling.  

In addition, graduating students who received federal student loans must complete exit loan counseling and meet all other graduation requirements before they will be considered a graduate and awarded a diploma or certificate.  Withdrawing students who used federal student loans must attend exit counseling.

All monies paid by an applicant will be refunded if requested within three days after signing an enrollment agreement and making an initial payment or prior to the end of the drop/add period, whichever is later.

Written notice of cancellation or withdrawal will take place on the date the letter is postmarked or in a case where the notice is hand carried, it shall occur on the date the notice is delivered to the SCHOOL. The date of acceptance will be the delivery date of the notice of acceptance. If the notice is delivered by mail, it will be the postmarked date of the letter of acceptance. Written notice of cancellation or withdrawal is not required for payment of refund.

This section of the Cancellation and Refund Policy determines the amount of institutional charges that the SCHOOL has earned, and for which the student must pay, based on the student’s attendance. For purposes of determining the refund or the amount a student owes for the time attended, the last date of attendance is used. A student shall be deemed to have withdrawn when any of the following occurs: (a) the student notifies the SCHOOL of the student’s withdrawal or the actual date of withdraw, (b) the SCHOOL terminates the student’s enrollment as provided in the ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT or (c) the SCHOOL withdraws the student if the student fails to attend as outlined by the attendance policy.

When such withdrawal occurs prior to the end of the drop/add period of the initial period of enrollment, all tuition, fees, and other charges will be refunded in full.

If a student ceases attendance or provides notice of cancellation or withdrawal after the start of the period charged, but at or before completion of 60% of the period charged (75% for students attending in Texas), the amount charged for tuition for the completed portion of the course(s) shall not exceed the prorated portion of the total tuition charged for the period arrived at by multiplying the total tuition charged for the period by the ratio of the number of days attended to the total number of days in the period.

Example: Assume that a student, upon enrollment in a 70 day (10 week) term with the following costs $3,884 for tuition and $540 Program Fee, as specified in the ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT, withdraws after attending 25 days. The pro rata refund to the student would be $2496.86 based on the calculation set forth below:

$3,884            ÷ 70 Days × 45 Days Remaining          = $2496.86
Amount charged                                                     Actual Refund Amount

If the student ceases to attend the SCHOOL after completing 60% of the period charged (75% for students attending in Texas), the student will be charged 100% of the tuition and charges applicable for all courses in the payment/academic period.

The law specifies how The Creative Circus Atlanta must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that a student earns if the student withdraws from school. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell Grants, Iraq Afghanistan Service Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grants, National SMART grants, TEACH Grants, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), and Federal Perkins Loans.  Please note that The Creative Circus Atlanta does not participate in all of these Title IV programs.

When a student withdraws during his or her payment period or period of enrollment the amount of Title IV program assistance that a student has earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula.

If a student did not receive all of the funds that the student earned, the student may be due a Post-withdrawal disbursement. The school may automatically use all or a portion of the student’s Post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds for tuition and fees. If the student’s Post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, the school must get the student’s permission before The Creative Circus Atlanta can disburse them. The student may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that the student doesn’t incur additional debt. However if the student owes a balance to the school, the student may want to authorize the loan disbursement to pay those charges in order to avoid having a payment to the school in addition to the Federal Loan payment.

While The Creative Circus Atlanta will automatically use all or a portion of the student’s Post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds for tuition and fees, the school needs the student’s permission to use these funds for any other school charges. If the student did not give permission, the student will be offered the funds.

There are some Title IV funds that cannot be disbursed to the student once he or she withdraws because of other eligibility requirements. For example, a first-time, first-year undergraduate student who has not completed the first 30 days of his or her program before withdrawing will not receive any Direct Loan funds that the student would have received had the student remained enrolled past the 30th day.

If a student receives (or the school or parent receives on the student’s behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, the school must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:

1. The student’s institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of the student’s funds, or
2. The entire amount of excess funds.

The regulations require that the school return Title IV funds to the programs from which the student received aid during the payment period or period of enrollment as applicable, in the following order, up to the net amount disbursed from each source:

1. Unsubsidized Direct Stafford loans (other than PLUS loans).
2. Subsidized Direct Stafford loans.
3. Federal Perkins loans.
4. Direct PLUS loans.
5. Federal Pell Grants
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) Federal Teach Grants for which a Return is required.
7. Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant for which a return is required.

Refunds to the student or any of the Title IV or State programs will be paid within 45 days from the withdrawal/termination date (or any shorter period required by applicable law).

If the school is not required to return all of the excess funds, the student must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that the student must return, the student (or parent for a PLUS Loan) must repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, the borrower makes scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time. Any amount of unearned grant funds that the student must return is called a grant overpayment.  Any overpayment as a result of withdrawal will be returned to the Department of Education on the student’s behalf.  However, the return of this overpayment may result in a debt owed to The Creative Circus Atlanta. The requirements for Title IV program funds when a student withdraws are separate from the school’s refund policy. Therefore, a student may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges that the school was required to return.

For purposes of calculating a clock hour return to Title IV that has externships or clinic courses without a defined schedule in CampusVue, the scheduled hours used in the return to Title IV calculation will be determined by using the total contact hours for the course divided by the number of weeks in the externship or clinic courses.  If a daily hour subdivision is needed, to determine a student’s LDA, a week in an externship or clinic course will be divided by 5 days.  This is only in the case a student drops in that course and they need to calculate scheduled hours up to LDA.

For purposes of calculating Return to Title IV, a student is considered to have withdrawn from a payment period or period of enrollment if—  

In the case of a program that is measured in credit hours, the student does not complete all the days in the payment period or period of enrollment that the student was scheduled to complete.

For answers to questions about Title IV program funds, students should contact one of the school’s Financial Services Officers.

In the event of accident or illness on campus, the Director of Education should be notified immediately. Students who become ill, injured, or develop health problems requiring professional attention are referred to the emergency room of the hospital or to a local physician in accordance with instructions given by the student or the student’s family. In an emergency situation that requires immediate attention, a student may be taken directly to the hospital.

Environmental health and safety on the campus are the responsibility of the school. It is the policy of the school to have all facilities comply with the requirements of the state and local building codes, the board of health, and fire department regulations.

• Behavior that intentionally inflicts mental or bodily harm on another person;
• Behavior that attempts to inflict mental or bodily harm on another person;
• Taking reckless, but not accidental, action that could result in infliction of mental or bodily harm on another person;
• Causing another individual to believe that the offender may cause mental or bodily harm to them;
• Sexual misconduct;
• Any act that demeans or degrades another individual; and/or
• Coercion of an individual to inflict mental or bodily harm to another person.

• Hiring and firing;
•  Compensation, assignment, or classification of employees;
• Transfer, promotion, layoff, or recall;
• Job advertisements;
• Recruitment;
• Testing;
• Grading;
• Acceptance or participation in an academic program or school activity;
• Use of employer's facilities;
• Training programs;
• Fringe benefits;
• Pay, retirement plans, and disability leave; or other terms and conditions of employment; and
• Engaging in conduct that has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic or work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment in which to work or learn. 

Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of discrimination; it is illegal.  No employee or student, either in the workplace or in the academic environment, should be subject to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct that is sexual in nature. Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature. It refers to behavior of a sexual nature that is not welcome, that is personally offensive, and that interferes with performance.  It is expected that students, faculty and staff will treat one another with respect.  All students, faculty, staff, and other members of the campus community, including intern/extern/practicum sites, are subject to this policy. 

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual or gender bias nature, constitute sexual harassment when: 

• Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic status;
• Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for academic or employment decisions or evaluations, or permission to participate in an activity; or
• The conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic or work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment in which to work or learn.

 Sexual harassment may take many forms-subtle and indirect, or blatant and overt, including but not limited to, the following:  

• It may occur between individuals of the opposite sex or of the same sex;
• It may occur between students, between peers and/or co-workers, or between individuals in an unequal power relationship (such as by a supervisor with regard to a supervised employee or an instructor regarding a current student);
• It may be aimed at coercing an individual to participate in an unwanted sexual relationship or it may have the effect of causing an individual to change behavior or work performance;
• It may consist of repeated actions or may even arise from a single incident if sufficiently severe;
• It may also rise to the level of a criminal offense, such as battery or sexual violence. 

Sexual violence is a physical act perpetrated against a person's will or where a person is incapable of giving consent due to the victim's use of drugs or alcohol. An individual also may be unable to give consent due to an intellectual or other disability. Sexual violence includes, but is not limited to, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.

Determining what constitutes sexual harassment under this policy is dependent upon the specific facts and the context in which the conduct occurs. Some conduct may be inappropriate, unprofessional, and/or subject to disciplinary action, but would not fall under the definition of sexual harassment. Examples of unwelcome conduct of a sexual or gender related nature that may constitute sexual harassment may, but do not necessarily, include, and are not limited to: 

• Rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual coercion or other sexual violence;
• Sexually explicit or gender related statements, comments, questions, jokes, innuendoes, anecdotes, or gestures;
• Other than customary handshakes, uninvited touching, patting, hugging, or purposeful brushing against a person's body or other inappropriate touching of an individual's body;
• Remarks of a sexual nature about a person's clothing or body;
• Use of electronic mail or computer dissemination of sexually oriented, sex-based communications;
• Sexual advances, whether or not they involve physical touching;
• Requests for sexual favors in exchange for actual or promised job or educational benefits, such as favorable reviews, salary increases, promotions, increased benefits, continued employment, grades, favorable assignments, letters of recommendation;
• Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, magazines, cartoons, or screen savers;
• Inquiries, remarks, or discussions about an individual's sexual experiences or activities and other written or oral references to sexual conduct. 

 Any employee or student bringing a discrimination or sexual harassment complaint or assisting in the investigation of such a complaint will not be subjected to retaliation in terms and conditions of employment and/or academic standing, nor discriminated against, terminated, or expelled because of the complaint. Intentionally providing false information, however, is grounds for discipline. 

"Retaliation" may include, but is not limited to, such conduct as:  

• The denial of adequate personnel to perform duties;
• Frequent replacement of members of the staff;
• Frequent and undesirable changes in the location of an office;
• The refusal to assign meaningful work;
• Unwarranted disciplinary action;
• Unfair work performance evaluations;
• A reduction in pay;
• The denial of a promotion;
• Dismissal;
• Transfer;
• Frequent changes in working hours or workdays;
• Unfair grade;
• Unfavorable reference letter. 

Determining what constitutes discrimination under this policy will be evaluated on a case by case basis and depends upon the specific facts and the context in which the conduct occurs. Some conduct may be inappropriate, unprofessional, and/or subject to disciplinary action, but would not fall under the definition of discrimination. Individuals who violate this policy are subject to discipline up to and including termination and/or expulsion, in accordance with the The Creative Circus Atlanta’s Student Code of Conduct. Other, lesser sanctions may be imposed, depending on the circumstances.   Victims of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking should contact his or her Executive Director to request changes to academic and working situations and how to request protective measures and receive support resources as set forth in the campus Annual Security Reports.

Discrimination- Civilly, criminally or administratively prohibited unequal treatment of a person based upon age, ethnicity, religion, gender, ability, socio-economic background, veteran status or sexual orientation.

Disruption/Obstruction – Obstructing or interfering with any institutional functions or activities, including instruction within a physical or virtual classroom.

False Report of Emergency – Causing, making or circulating a false report or warning of fire, explosion, crime or other threat to safety.

Destruction of Property –Intentionally or recklessly, but not accidentally, damaging, destroying, defacing or tampering with institutional property, property associated with the institution including internship/externship sites or the property of any person on or associated with the campus.

Theft or Possession of Stolen Property or Service –Taking an item or utilizing a service without consent of an official of the institution or possessing property that can reasonably be determined to have been stolen from the campus for from an employee or student of the campus.

Trespassing –Forcible or unauthorized entry into any institutional facilities or facilities associated with the institution.

Possession of Weapons or Dangerous Materials – Unauthorized possession of a weapon or dangerous materials, including, but not limited to firearms, compressed-air guns, pellet guns, BB guns, knives, explosive devices, incendiary devices, fireworks, ammunition or any other dangerous materials.

Manufacture, Distribution, Sale, Offer for Sale, Possession or Misuse of Drugs or Alcohol –Manufacture, distribution, sale, offer for sale, possession or use of any illegal drug or narcotic or possession or use of alcohol while on campus or engaged in any school related activities.

Use of Tobacco Products or Electronic Cigarettes in Unapproved   Locations - Smoking or use of tobacco products or electronic cigarettes in locations other than those approved for that purpose.

Violation of Criminal Law – An alleged violation of any federal, state or local criminal law where the conduct of a student interferes with the institution’s exercise of its educational objectives or responsibilities.

Misuse or Abuse of Computers or Computer Networks –Misuse, alteration, tampering with or abuse of any computer, computer system, service, program, data, or network, including telephone or computer lines and wireless networks. Abuse includes utilization of school computers or Internet access in order to access pornographic web sites or to distribute pornographic material.

Misuse of Safety Equipment –Unauthorized use of or alteration of firefighting equipment, safety devices or other emergency safety equipment.

Sanctions
Enrollment into the institution signifies the student’s agreement to comply with the Student Code of Conduct.  Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct will result in appropriate disciplinary sanctions. 

The Student Code of Conduct has been developed to ensure that the learning process is not inhibited or disrupted for any individual or group of individuals. The Code of Conduct additionally serves as a mechanism for educating members of the learning community about appropriate standards of behavior.  In the event that a violation of the Code of Conduct occurs, the school will strive to utilize the incident as a teachable moment, imposing fair and progressive discipline.  However, should an individual commit an egregious violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the school has the responsibility to impose the strictest of sanctions upon the student, up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Disciplinary sanctions are described below.

Verbal Warning
A verbal warning is an official conversation held between the Director of Education, or the Executive Director, and the student, making the student aware of an incidence of unacceptable behavior that is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. A notation will be entered into the Student Information System but documentation does not become part of the student’s permanent record. Any further misconduct may result in more serious disciplinary sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Written Reprimand
A reprimand is an official written notification of unacceptable behavior that is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct.  The reprimand will be entered into the Student Information System and will become a permanent document in the student’s file. The student will be asked to sign the document and will be provided a copy of the reprimand.  Any further misconduct may result in more serious disciplinary sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Disciplinary Probation
Disciplinary probation is a conditional status imposed for a designated period of time within a term prohibiting the student from being present without permission on the campus or any property associated with the campus, including internship/externship sites.  The period of time may not exceed 14 calendar days.  Disciplinary probation requires completion of a Code of Conduct Violation Form by an instructor and an approval by the Director of Education or Executive Director.  Disciplinary probation may be used in those limited instances where a student is asked to leave a class for the duration of the day or until the Procedural Interview is conducted. The Procedural Interview should be scheduled within two business days of the incident. A copy of the form should be mailed and/or emailed to the student, indicating when he/she may return to class.  The Disciplinary Probation Form becomes a permanent part of the student file and should also be notated in the Student Information System.  The student must meet with the Director of Education or Executive Director to sign the form prior to returning to class. Any further misconduct may result in more serious disciplinary sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Suspension
Suspension is the loss of privileges of enrollment at the institution for a designated period of time and prohibits the student from being present without permission on the property of the campus or any property associated with the campus, including internship/externship/clinical/practicum sites. As a result of being placed on suspension, the student will be awarded a grade of W for any course in which they are currently enrolled. Regardless of whether or not the student is subsequently allowed to return to school to complete the program of study, the student is responsible for payment of tuition and fees and/or repayment of financial aid. The student shall be notified of the suspension in writing. The notification of suspension indicates the earliest possible date, in a future term, in which the student may consider submission of a request to return to school.  The student is entitled to an opportunity to appeal the suspension. The notification of suspension becomes a permanent part of the student record and also must be noted in the Student Information System. Any further misconduct may result in more serious disciplinary sanctions. The Office of the Chief Academic Officer or the Chief Compliance Officer of Ancora Education must approve suspensions before they are imposed and before a student is notified.

Expulsion
Expulsion is the permanent loss of privilege of enrollment at the institution and prohibits the student from being present without permission on the campus or on any property associated with the campus.  The student will be unable to complete his/her program of study with the institution. As a result of being expelled, the student will be awarded a grade of W for any course in which they are currently enrolled. The student is responsible for payment of tuition and fees and/or repayment of financial aid. The student is entitled to an opportunity to appeal the expulsion. The notification of expulsion becomes a permanent part of the student record and also must be noted in the Student Information System. In the event that a student appeal results in retraction of the expulsion, any further misconduct may result in more serious disciplinary sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. The Office of the Chief Academic Officer or the Chief Compliance Officer of Ancora Education must approve expulsions before they are imposed and before a student is notified. 

Procedures
Filing of a Conduct Violation Form
Any member of the learning community (students, faculty or staff) may file a Code of Conduct Violation Form to initiate the process to respond to an alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct Violation Form may be found on the Campus Connect site under Academic Forms.  The individual who files the Code of Conduct Violation Form becomes the complainant.  The student being charged with the alleged offense is referred to as the accused.

All Code of Conduct Violation Forms are first reviewed by the Director of Education.  If the Director of Education determines that sufficient evidence exists to warrant further exploration of the complaint, the next step is for the accused to be scheduled for a Procedural Interview. The accused is sent a copy of the Code of Conduct Violation Form, via email and/or UPS or FedEx, providing a receipt and proof of delivery, which includes a detailed description of the incident, accompanied by a Notification of Violation Letter that indicates the date and time of the procedural interview.  The Notification of Violation Letter provides details concerning the student’s rights and explains the entire process for resolving the alleged violation.

Procedural Interview
Any student charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct will be scheduled for a Procedural Interview with the Director of Education. In those instances where the Director of Education has filed the Code of Conduct Violation Form, the Executive Director should also be present for the Procedural Interview. The accused is sent a Notification of Violation Letter that indicates the date and time of the Procedural Interview, along with a copy of the Conduct Violation Form, describing the alleged violation.  The Procedural Interview should be scheduled within five (5) business days of receipt the Code of Conduct Violation Form.

The accused must attend the Procedural Interview.  If the accused fails to appear for the scheduled Procedural Interview, one attempt will be made to reschedule the meeting. The rescheduled meeting shall occur within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the Code of Conduct Violation Form.  If the student again fails to appear for the Procedural Interview, the Director of Education may move forward with the determination of the sanction.

The purpose of the Procedural Interview is to provide the accused with the opportunity to discuss the allegation that resulted in the filing of the Code of Conduct Violation Form. The Director of Education and/or the Executive Director will begin the meeting by delineating the student’s rights and options, as well as the potential sanctions that may be imposed for the alleged violation.  The accused will have an opportunity to admit or deny the charge made against him/her in the Procedural Interview.  The complainant also has the opportunity to attend the Procedural Interview either in person or via conference call.

In the event that the accused admits to the charge filed against him/her, the Director of Education and/or the Executive Director will determine the sanction during the Procedural Interview.  The sanction will be notated on a copy of the original Code of Conduct Violation Form. The Code of Conduct Violation Form will then be signed by the Director of Education and/or the Executive Director. The student will be required to sign and date the form as well. The Code of Conduct Violation Form with the original signatures will be placed in the student file; the student will be provided with a copy of the signed form.  The Director of Education will enter a notation in Contact Manager within the Student Information System.

The accused may deny the alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct and request a Hearing to further explore the facts concerning the alleged violation.  If a hearing is requested, the date and time of the hearing are determined during the Procedural Interview and they are documented on a copy of the original Code of Conduct Violation Form.  The student is provided a copy of the updated Code of Code of Conduct Violation Form with this information as well as a copy of the Hearing Guide.

Hearing Procedures
The purpose of a hearing is to provide a forum for the complainant and the accused to present their case regarding the alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct.  The Executive Director serves as the Hearing Authority and will ultimately determine whether or not the alleged violation is proven.  Please note that the definition of Hearing Procedures proceeding does not include communications and meetings between officials and victims concerning accommodations or protective measures to be provided to a victim.

The Executive Director or otherwise designated Hearing Authority will begin the Hearing by explaining the accused’s rights and will assure that fairness will be observed throughout the hearing. Attendees of the hearing are limited to the Executive Director or designee, the complainant and the accused.

The complainant will be given the opportunity to state the main points of the violation, providing evidence supplemented with statements by witnesses. After the complainant concludes his/her presentation, the accused will have the opportunity to state his/her case. The Executive Director or designee may question both the complainant and accused.

After all evidence and testimony has been presented, the Executive Director will determine whether or not the allegation is warranted.  If the accused is found not to be in violation, the case will be dismissed and the Code of Conduct Violation Form will be documented accordingly and the student will be provided with a copy.

If the accused is found to be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the Executive Director will dismiss the complainant and the accused, indicating that notification of the sanction will be communicated to the student at a specified date and time in the office of the Executive Director.

As the Hearing Authority, the Executive Director or designee will consider the following when determining the sanction to be imposed: 

• Statements from witnesses and evidence presented during the hearing;
• Seriousness of the violation;
• Prior disciplinary record of the student;
• Academic record; and
• Student progress against program of study. 

Upon reaching a decision, the Executive Director is expected to update the Conduct Violation Form by indicating the sanction that will be imposed as a result of the violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The Executive Director then meets with the student at the predetermined date and time to discuss the sanction and consequences of any repeat violation of the Student Code of Conduct.  The student is required to sign the form and is provided a copy.  At the same time the student is notified of the outcome of the hearing, a copy of the updated Conduct Violation Form will be provided to the complainant. The Executive Director is expected to make a notation in Contact Manager in the Student Information System and returns the hard copy of the Code of Conduct Violation Form to the student file.

In the event that the Executive Director determines either suspension or expulsion to be the appropriate sanction, the Code of Conduct Violation Form should be completed accordingly and emailed to the Office of the Chief Academic Officer and the Chief Compliance Officer.  Upon approval from either the Office of the Chief Academic Officer or the Chief Compliance Officer, the Executive Director may proceed with the suspension or expulsion.

Appeals
The accused and/or complainant have the right to request an appeal by notifying the Executive Director or Director of Education of his/her intent to do so within three business days after receipt of the written notification of the sanction.  Appeals may be filed for the following reasons: 

• Inappropriate sanction; or
• New evidence that was not available at the time of the hearing has become available and is found to be substantial enough to change the outcome of the hearing. 

The Appeal Board should be comprised of the Executive Director, Director of Education, and three other members of the administrative staff of the institution.  In the event that the complainant is a member of the Appeal Board, that individual will recuse him/herself from the decision-making process. The Appeal Board meets in a closed session, within a reasonable period of time, and either grants or denies the appeal by a majority vote. In the event that there is a tie, due to absence of a member of the Appeal Board, the Executive Director will determine the outcome. In the event that the Executive Director was the complainant, the Director of Education will determine the outcome. If the appeal is granted, the sanction may be changed.

The individual filing the appeal will be notified in writing, utilizing the Code of Conduct Violation Form, of the decision of the Appeal Board within a reasonable period of time. The notification will be emailed and/or sent through the U.S. Postal Service. A hard copy of the form will be placed in the student file and the Director of Education will enter notes in the Contact Manager Field within the Student Information System.

Re-enrollment After Suspension
Students who have been suspended from the institution must petition to return to school after the specified period of time has elapsed. A Request to Re-enroll After Suspension Form is accessible from the office of the Director of Education.  Students who have been suspended must contact the Director of Education for permission to return to the campus or to request that a copy of the form be emailed or mailed. The Petition is submitted to the Director of Education but must be unanimously approved by the Appeal Board.  Re-enrollment may be granted but any repeat instance of violation of the Student Code of Conduct will be grounds for permanent dismissal from the institution.

Compliance with the Student Discipline Policy and Procedure provisions does not constitute a violation of section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.1232g), commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Plagiarism is the use of another’s words or ideas without proper citation, and includes copying large sections of text or images from print or electronic resources, or another student’s work. Students may avoid plagiarism by forming ideas in their own words, quoting only limited passages of borrowed text, and always acknowledging the origin of borrowed ideas or words with a correct citation.

Members of the The Creative Circus Atlanta community are expected to follow copyright law, Title 17 of the United States Code, while fulfilling the core mission of teaching, research, and extending knowledge and creativity in all areas. The provisions in the copyright law allow an author, artist, composer or other creator of a work to control the use of his or her work by others, with important exceptions. Copyright protections and the accompanying exceptions extend to print and digital formats of literary works, computer software, musical works, unpublished materials such as manuscripts, dramatic works, pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial and graphic works, sculpture, motion pictures and other audiovisual works, sound recordings, and architectural works. Failure to observe copyright or license agreements Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material and unauthorized peer-to-peer sharing using the institution’s information technology system may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal from the school, legal action by the copyright owner, and/or criminal penalties.

Since the files distributed over peer-to-peer networks are primarily copyrighted works, there is a risk of liability for downloading material from these networks. To avoid these risks, there are currently many "authorized" services on the Internet that allow consumers to purchase copyrighted works online, whether music, ebooks, or motion pictures. By purchasing works through authorized services, consumers can avoid the risks of infringement liability and can limit their exposure to other potential risks, e.g., viruses, unexpected material, or spyware.  Other legal alternatives for downloading or otherwise acquiring copyrighted material include utilizing the school’s library facilities or public lending libraries.

Questions concerning this institution’s copyright policy should be directed to Centralized Library Services.

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws 
Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.

Copy equipment at the school may not be used to copy copyrighted material. In addition, none of the material listed below may be copied by students or employees. Copyrightable works include the following categories: 

1. Literary works, including computer software
2. Musical works, including any accompanying words
3. Dramatic works, including any accompanying music
4. Pantomimes and choreographic work
5. Pictorial, graphic, and sculptured works
6. Motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7. Sound recordings
8. Architectural works 

These categories should be viewed broadly. For example, computer programs and most “compilations” may be registered as “literary works;” maps and architectural plans may be registered as “pictorial, graphic, and sculptured works.”

Examples of behaviors considered to be in violation of the school's policy on student computer systems and network include:

• Sending obscene, harassing, intimidating and/or threatening messages through email or other means. Viewing or downloading, displaying, printing or otherwise disseminating material that is sexually explicit, profane, obscene, harassing, fraudulent, racially offensive, defamatory or otherwise unlawful.

• Downloading any software programs, files or other items including but not limited to internet accelerator programs, search engines, upgrades, enhancements, fonts, graphic images, photos or other items unless authorized to do so by the Director of Education or Executive Director. Transferring personal software to The Creative Circus Atlanta computers is prohibited.

• Soliciting business, selling products, or otherwise engaging in commercial activities or personal advertisements. Using The Creative Circus Atlanta computer and/or network to perpetrate fraud, misrepresentation or illegal activity. 

• Providing others with access to one’s personal computer accounts or attempting to gain access to the computer accounts, files or system to which authorized access has not been granted.

• Attempting to circumvent or compromise The Creative Circus Atlanta computer security or the security of any remote system accessed through South The Creative Circus Atlanta equipment or networks.

• Creating or releasing computer viruses or engaging in other destructive or potentially destructive programming activities.

• Modifying, altering, or tampering with systems hardware or software unless explicitly authorized to do so by the Executive Director.

Clock hour programs: Programs that are considered clock hour programs for Title IV purposes, and are identified as such in this catalog, may have specific attendance requirements. Students are expected to attend all courses and to be in class at the appropriate times. The licensing boards that govern some of these programs may require that all missed class time be made up and may impose limits on the number of hours that may be missed and subsequently made up. Make up hours are scheduled by the instructor and attendance is monitored and recorded. Any make up hours allowed must be completed prior to the end of the term in which the course is taken. The instructor of each course will notify students of the specific attendance policy at the beginning of the course. Students who miss class sessions in clock hour programs may experience a delay in the disbursement of their aid, as disbursements are based on the students’ successful completion of courses, which is impacted by attendance.

To remain eligible for Title IV funding and to progress to the next course a student in a clock hour program must meet a 90% attendance threshold per course.

Ground courses: Attendance for ground courses is taken in the physical classroom by the instructor. Students who fail to attend the physical class sessions for 14 or more consecutive calendar days may be withdrawn. Regardless of the situation resulting in an absence from class, students are expected to be in attendance a minimum 60% per grading period to pass a course.  Any attendance below 60% may result in the student failing the course. 

Online courses: Attendance for online courses is taken by students logging in and completing work in the online classroom. Students are expected to actively participate in their online courses at least twice per week. Students who do not submit substantive work for their online courses for 14 or more consecutive calendar days may be withdrawn.  Regular Attendance in an Online Class is an important contributor to student success in online courses. To comply with federal mandates for school’s handling of student aid, certain kinds of student activity may or may not count as participation sufficient to qualify as attendance in online courses.

For attendance to be earned, the student must complete at least one of the following academic events (1) complete a quiz, (2) complete and post an assignment, or (3) post at least once a week to a relevant class discussion board.

Hybrid courses: Attendance for hybrid courses is taken both in the physical classroom and by students logging in and completing work in the online classroom. Students are expected to attend both the physical class sessions and actively participate in their online classes. Students who fail to either attend the physical class or post attendance by completing substantive work in the online classroom for 14 or more consecutive calendar days may be withdrawn.  Regardless of the situation resulting in an absence from class students are expected to be in attendance a minimum 60% per grading period to pass a course.  Any attendance below 60% may result in the student failing the course.

Some programmatically accredited programs or programs that require licensure may have additional attendance requirements. These requirements are outlined under State/Programmatic-Mandated Policies. Where the state attendance and makeup work policy differs from the institutional policy, the stricter policy applies.

Procedure:

• The student must request the Incomplete prior to the last day of the course using the Incomplete Grade Request;
  •  In order to approve an Incomplete, the student must have earned a minimum of a 25% in the course.
  • The Director of Education, or designee, may approve students under an earned 25% with mitigating circumstances.    
    • Additional documentation may be required to approve exceptions.
• If approved, The Director of Education, or designee, will notify the student prior to an “I” grade being entered in the Student Information System;
• Student must make up all Incomplete grades within 14 days of the end of the course;
  •  All hours completed with a qualified instructor on campus to assist with makeup work will count toward the student’s attendance hours and is documented with an AD – Attendance Change Form;
• Grade will be converted to “F” or the grade the student has earned at the end of the incomplete period approved unless special approval is given to extend the deadline;
• Appropriate supporting documentation for the grade will be uploaded into Image Now along with the approved Incomplete Grade Request once the “I” grade is resolved;
• Students who are approved for an “I” grade in their final course may be withdrawn until the “I” is resolved if the approval extends beyond the Drop/Add period and the student isn’t enrolled in any other courses;
  • In these cases, the student must be dropped, finish hours, reinstated, grades and hours finalized, then approved to graduate.
• Students may request a late incomplete after the course has closed through the Director of Education, Student Services Coordinator; Student Resource Coordinator, or Hybrid Teaching Assistant (SSC/SRC/HTA).
  • Late incomplete requests must be submitted in writing within 7 calendar days of the end of the course and will be approved only based on mitigating circumstances.
  • Late incompletes beyond a week may only be granted by the VP of Academics or the AVP Online Academic Operations in cases where the campus fails to provide the student with reasonable access to complete coursework.

Leave of Absence Conditions

The following conditions may be considered: 

• Medical Leave (including pregnancy)
• Family Care (unexpected childcare issues or medical care of family)
• Military Duty
• Jury Duty

The following requirements apply:

A student may be granted a Leave of Absence (LOA) if: 

• A LOA request is submitted in writing within 14 calendar days of the student’s last date of attendance, which includes the reason for the request.  If unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from providing a written request within 14 calendar days the campus may use its discretion to grant the student’s request if the student provides the written documentation validating the unforeseen circumstances  by the last day of the campus’s attendance policy.
• Generally, only one leave of absence may be granted to a student in a 12-month period. However, more than one leave of absence may be granted for limited, well documented cases due to unforeseen circumstances that are listed below, provided that the total number of days the student remains on LOA may not exceed 180 days during a consecutive 12-month time frame. Reasons for potential second leaves of absence include:
  • One additional leave of absence, if it does not exceed 30 days and the campus determines that it is necessary due to unforeseen circumstances; this type of leave of absence would have to be subsequent to the granting of the single leave of absence, which is granted at the campus's discretion.  This may not be possible in all programs based on term structure.
  • Subsequent leaves of absence if the campus documents that they are granted for jury duty, military reasons, or circumstances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) (Public Law 103-3), enacted February 5, 1993. The circumstances that are covered under the FMLA, as applied to students, are:
    • Birth of a son or daughter of the student and the need to care for that son or daughter (within 12 months of the date of birth)
    • Placement of a son or daughter with the student for adoption or foster care (within 12 months beginning on the date of the placement)
    • Need to care for the student’s spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent, if the spouse son, daughter, or parent has a serious health condition
    • A serious health condition that makes the student unable to function as a student
• There may be limitations on LOA eligibility for students enrolled in term-based programs due to scheduling requirements.  This is due to the requirement that a student must return into the same classes when coming off of an LOA.
• The total days considered on LOA will include days up to the point in the coursework where the student left on LOA.  It is strongly advised that the student return at the beginning of the term when possible in order to benefit from a review of the material.  Any resubmitted work the student completes will be graded, and the higher of the two grades will be counted.
• The student must have earned a successful grade in at least one course before being eligible to apply for an LOA
• A student may not apply for an LOA between terms, they are only eligible if they start an LOA during a term.

Failure to return from an approved leave of absence will result in withdrawal from the campus, may have an impact on aid, loan repayment and exhaustion of the loan grace period for the total days the student was on the LOA. Students in a LOA status may not receive further financial aid disbursements until returning to active status.  Contact the financial aid office for more information about the impact of a LOA on financial aid.

1. A student will attempt to resolve a grievance with the person involved.
2. If a student is unable to resolve the grievance with the person involved, it should be submitted in writing to that person’s supervisor.
3. If the grievance is still unresolved after two days, the student should submit a written summary to the Executive Director. A meeting will be set up to include the student, person involved, and the Director. Every effort will be made to resolve the grievance at this point.
4. If the student notifies the Executive Director in writing that the student does not consider the grievance to be resolved, a written summary by the Executive Director, along with all other materials, will be forwarded to:
   
   Ombudsman Department
   STVT-AAI Education Inc.
   8701 Bedford Euless Rd., Suite 400
   Hurst, Texas 76053
   complaints@ancoraeducation.com

A written decision on the grievance report will be sent to the student and the School Director within five working days after receipt of the signed grievance.

2. If the Dispute is not resolved pursuant to the School’s Grievance Resolution procedures as outlined in the The Creative Circus Atlanta catalog within 45 days from the date the student submits a written complaint to the STVT-AAI Education Inc. Corporate Office, then the Dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration  Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) then in effect, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

    a. The Federal Arbitration Act shall govern this arbitration agreement. The substantive law which will govern the interpretation of a student’s Enrollment Agreement and related documents and the resolution of any Dispute will be the law of the state where the School is located.

    b. Arbitration shall be the sole method of resolving all Disputes between the parties to this agreement.

    c. Arbitration will take place before a single neutral arbitrator, chosen according to the AAA Commercial Rules, in the city in which the The Creative Circus Atlanta school attended by the student is located.

    d. The parties may take discovery through interrogatories, depositions and requests for production that the arbitrator determines to be reasonable and necessary.

    e. The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language.

    f. The arbitrator shall have the authority to grant interim remedies pursuant to the AAA’s Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection then in effect. The arbitrator shall have the authority to award monetary damages measured by the prevailing party’s actual damages and may grant any non-monetary remedy or relief that the arbitrator deems just and equitable and within the scope of this agreement between the parties. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

    g. The arbitrator shall not have any authority to award punitive damages, treble damages, consequential or indirect damages, or other damages not measured by the prevailing party’s actual damages.

    h. The prevailing party as determined by the arbitrator will be entitled to recover its reasonable attorney’s fees and arbitrator administrative costs.

    i. The arbitrator also shall not have any authority to alter any grade issued to a student.

    j. The parties shall bear their own costs and expenses. The parties also shall bear an equal share of the fees and costs of the arbitration, which include but are not limited to the fees and costs of the arbitrator, unless the parties agree otherwise or the arbitrator determines otherwise in the award.

    k. Except as may be required by law, neither party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any such arbitration without the prior written consent of both parties.

The prohibition against retaliation applies to:  

1. The disclosure of information concerning conduct that the reporter believes is illegal or in violation of campus policies;
2. Disclosures made during compliance review or a peer review process;
3. The filing of a legitimate complaint, grievance, or incident report

 The types of retaliation that are prohibited include but are not limited to:  

1. Intimidation;
2. Adverse actions with respect to the reporter's work assignments, salary, vacation, and other terms of employment;
3. Unlawful discrimination;
4. Termination of employment;
5. Adverse actions against a relative of the reporter who is a Ancora Education employee or student at an institution owned and operated by Ancora Education; and
6. Threats of any of the above   

Note that an adverse personnel, academic or other disciplinary action against an employee or student whose conduct or performance warrants such action for reasons unrelated to the reporting of a concern will not be deemed a violation of this policy.

Individuals who violate this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary proceedings as set forth in the catalog, and, if found to have violated the policy, they may be subjected to the full range of available sanctions, up to and including termination of employment or dismissal from an academic program.

1. Director of Admissions:  Admission requirements and procedures, cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, books, transportation, housing, and refund policy.
2. Director of Education:  Description of academic programs, facilities, and faculty; data on student retention, numbers and percentages of students completing programs, academic standards of progress, transfer credits from other institutions, and students with disabilities.
3. Director of Student Placement:  Assistance with securing employment upon graduation including preparation of resumes, completion of application materials, and preparation for interviews; assistance with locating part-time employment while in school; information on graduate placement, and employment demographics of the region.
4. Financial Aid Director:  Description of financial assistance programs, rights and responsibilities of financial aid recipients, means and frequency of payments, financial aid awards, terms and schedules of student loan repayment, and general terms and conditions of employment provided as financial aid.
5. Campus Director:  Information regarding the overall operation of the campus.  The Campus Director is the Chief Operating Officer and principal administrator for the school.

a. Full-time Student - For credit hour programs, a full-time student is a student scheduled for 12 or more credit hours per term.

b. Three-quarter time Student - A three-quarter time student is a student scheduled for at least 9 but less than 12 credit hours per term.

c. Half-time Student - A half-time student is a student scheduled for at least 6 but less than 9 credit hours per term.

d. Regular Student - A regular student is an admitted student who is enrolled in a diploma or certificate program in good academic standing.

e. Non-Matriculating Students – Non-matriculating students are those who seek admission for course credit in order to meet specific educational needs but do not wish to take the entire required curriculum leading to an academic credential. The non-matriculating student is required to submit an application as such and is not eligible for federal or state aid.

f. Auditing Students – In some instances a student may be allowed to audit a previously passed course in his/her program for the purpose of improving skills or knowledge base. Audited courses are assigned a grade of AU and do not count as credits attempted or earned for any purposes and do not have any effect on calculations of pace or GPA.

All students are expected to register during the time scheduled for that purpose. Quarterly registration dates are published and announced. The school reserves the right to schedule courses that are deemed appropriate for the best educational sequence for the student and the school. Course schedules and course loads should be carefully planned by the student in consultation with his/her Program Director or the Director of Education. Each student is responsible for being familiar with the requirements of his/her program of study and for keeping account of progress toward completion of graduation requirements. The student is expected to be familiar with the regulations set forth in the catalog.  An electronic copy of the catalog is available on the school website. A student who desires to register for course work above the normal course load outlined for the curriculum must obtain written permission from his/her Program Director who must receive final approval from the Director of Education.

Students who transfer between campuses of an institution that has a main campus with additional locations will have all applicable coursework transferred, both successful and unsuccessful Grades used are listed below.  These grades will be used in calculating both qualitative grade point average and pace of progress as defined in the Standards of Academic Progress policy. 

Grade Measurement
Grades measure the degree to which a student masters the competencies in program coursework and are one measure of a student's ability to meet employment standards in the field for which the student is preparing. Upon the completion of each term, the student is given a letter grade in each course based upon written examinations, practical exercises, projects and other submitted work, as defined in the course syllabus. Reports showing the final grade in each course, the term summary and CGPAs are furnished to each student at the end of each term. Every course for which a student officially registers will appear on the student's official transcript unless the student cancels his/her enrollment prior to the commencement of classes or drops an individual course prior to the end of the drop/add period. All courses entered on a student's official transcript are assigned a letter grade.

• Complete an industry-ready portfolio as evaluated by the Graduation Committee
• Maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.0 while enrolled
• Satisfactorily complete all current curriculum requirements or their equivalent
• Fulfill all financial obligations to the institution
• Complete minimum clock hour/credit hour requirements after consideration of transfer credits or advanced placement.

The Graduation Committee is comprised of the student’s department head, the Executive Creative Director, the Career Services Director and a representative of the industry. This committee will review and evaluate the portfolios of all prospective graduates. The portfolio review is part of each programs graduate portfolio review course.

Student who do not meet the requirements have two options to complete their portfolio for a re-review by the Graduation Committee:

1. Status is changed to Drop and there is a specified time given to the student to complete their portfolio and re-submit to the Graduation Committee for review.
2. Student enrolls in a 9th quarter to complete his or her portfolio. At the end of this quarter the student’s portfolios are resubmitted to the Graduation Committee for review.
   

Once the portfolio is deemed industry –ready by the Graduation Committee and approved, and assuming all other graduation requirements have been met, the student’s status is changed to Graduate.

The following SAP standards are for Credit Hour Programs:

Evaluation Points: All financial aid SAP evaluations for Credit Hour Programs occur at the end of a term and are cumulative in nature. All students re-entering after a period of non-attendance will have their most recent SAP status reviewed to determine eligibility to return. Re-entries will then be evaluated for SAP in their new enrollment at the end of the term.  SAP is determined by measuring the student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and the student’s pace toward completion of course credit hours attempted in the academic program. The calculated CGPA and pace are compared against thresholds (see table below) to determine whether or not the student meets SAP (at or above threshold).

For credit hour programs, credits attempted are those credits for which the student is enrolled at the end of the drop/add period of an academic term. Credits earned are credits for which the student receives a passing grade at the end of the term.

Satisfactory Progress Thresholds for Credit Hour Programs:  

At the end of any SAP Evaluation period, if a student’s CGPA or Pace is below the stated threshold, the student’s academic progress is considered unsatisfactory.

Maximum Timeframe/Maximum Program Length: For financial aid purposes, a student must complete an academic program in no more than one and one half (1.5) times the published normal program length. To determine the maximum timeframe for programs measured in credit hours (for financial aid purposes), take the published number of credit hours necessary to graduate and multiply by 1.5.

Example:

92 Published Program Credits x 1.5 Maximum Timeframe = 138 Maximum Attempted Credits Permitted to Complete Program

If, at any time, it is determined to be mathematically impossible for a student to complete the program of study within the Maximum Timeframe, the student WILL be ineligible for additional Title IV funding and dismissed from the program of study. Students may appeal dismissal for extenuating circumstance and must meet with the Director of Education for the appeal process.  If approved, the student will be placed on extended enrollment and the student's cGPA will continue to update based on the Repeated Courses policy where the highest grade will be applied in each repeated course. However, the student will be assessed no further charges and remain ineligible to receive financial aid.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress: Students not meeting SAP are subject to dismissal from their programs of study and are ineligible to receive financial aid, except under certain circumstances.

Financial Aid Warning for Credit Hour Programs: If a student’s progress in a credit hour program, measured at the end of a term is determined to be unsatisfactory, the school may place the student on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. The student will be advised of the performance necessary to re-establish SAP. A student on Financial Aid Warning is still eligible to receive financial aid. If, at the end of the term during which the student was placed on Financial Aid Warning status, the student’s academic progress is above both thresholds for SAP, the student is removed from Financial Aid Warning.

Financial Aid Probation for Students in Credit Hour Programs: If, at the end of the term during which the student was placed on Financial Aid Warning status, the student’s academic progress is not above both SAP thresholds for pace and CGPA, the student is no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid. This decision is subject to appeal by the student as defined below. Upon approval of a student appeal, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.

Appeals of adverse determinations: Students who are ineligible to receive financial aid and are academically ineligible to continue due to unsatisfactory academic progress are advised immediately following the determination. Students may submit a written appeal to the Academic Review Committee.

This appeal should be filed within five (5) business days of notification of the decision and must explain in writing the circumstances leading to their unsatisfactory academic performance and how those circumstances have been resolved, ensuring they are successful going forward. The Academic Review Committee will consider all information including potential mitigating circumstances such as a severe illness, medical condition or injury, the death of a family member or other special circumstances presented by the student. The Academic Review Committee will uphold or deny the appeal within five (5) business days following receipt of the appeal from the student. A student who has been placed on academic probation due to unsatisfactory academic progress must have an appeal upheld in order to remain enrolled. This should occur prior to the final drop/add date of the term in order to in order to make appropriate scheduling adjustments. The student should attend class while the appeal is being reviewed.

If an appeal is denied, the student will be dismissed and ineligible to receive financial aid. If the appeal is upheld, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation status for one term. An academic plan will be created for the student, and the student will be considered eligible to receive financial aid. The academic plan must be structured so that a student reestablishes SAP within a reasonable timeframe. The student’s performance against the academic plan will be reviewed at the end of each term with the use of an Academic Plan Reviewed document. If, at the end of a term the student’s performance is consistent with the terms of the academic plan, the student remains eligible to receive financial aid and may continue in school for the subsequent term. If, at the end of a term the student’s performance is determined to be unsatisfactory, the student will be dismissed from the program of study. Students on academic plans will be advised at the end of each term to ensure that they understand their required performance for reestablishing satisfactory academic progress by the end of the plan.

A student may be dismissed at any time if the Academic Review Committee does not believe the student will be successful in upholding the Academic Plan.  In those cases, the student may submit an additional appeal to continue. The student may be required to complete the Retake program as a condition of  approving their appeal.  A student may reestablish satisfactory academic progress upon successful completion of a term by meeting the thresholds listed in the SAP tables above. Students who re-establish satisfactory academic progress are advised they no longer need to be on an academic plan and remain eligible to receive financial aid.

Financial Aid Dismissal for Students in Credit Hour Programs: If the student’s academic progress is not above both SAP thresholds for pace and CGPA after a term on Financial Aid Probation, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Dismissal and is no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid. If the student is making sufficient progress while in this status, the student will receive an Academic Plan Reviewed document to continue eligibility. If the student does not make sufficient progress, the student will be dismissed, subject to additional appeal.

The following SAP standards are for Clock Hour Programs:

Evaluation Points: Clock Hour Programs will have an academic evaluation at the end of each module and a financial aid SAP evaluation after the student has attempted the expected hours in a payment period. All students re-entering after a period of non-attendance will have their most recent SAP status reviewed to determine eligibility to return. Re-entries will be evaluated for financial aid SAP after attempting the required hours for the payment period in which they returned.  SAP is determined by measuring the student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and the student’s pace toward completion of clock hours attempted in the academic program. The calculated CGPA and pace are compared against thresholds to determine whether or not the student meets SAP (at or above threshold).

For clock hour programs, the clock hours attempted are the total clock hours required for courses in which the student is enrolled after the drop/add period and for which a grade has been entered. Clock hours earned are the hours for courses in which the student successfully completes and earns a passing grade at the end of the grading period.

Satisfactory Progress Threshold for Clock Hour Programs:

At the end of a payment period, if a student’s CGPA or Pace is below the stated threshold, the student’s academic progress is considered to be unsatisfactory.

Maximum Timeframe/Maximum Program Length: For financial aid purposes, a student must complete an academic program in no more than one and one half (1.5) times the published normal program length. Repeat courses taken as part of a Title IV program are included in the Maximum Timeframe calculation.

To determine the maximum timeframe for programs measured in clock hours (for financial aid purposes), take the published number of clock hours necessary to graduate and multiply by 1.5.

Example:

1200 Published Clock Hours X 1.5 Maximum Timeframe = 1800 Maximum Clock Hours Attempted Permitted to Complete the Program

If, at any time, it is determined to be mathematically impossible for a student to complete the program of study within the Maximum Timeframe, the student will be ineligible for additional Title IV funding and dismissed from the program of study.  Students may appeal dismissal for extenuating circumstance and must meet with the Director of Education for the appeal process.  If approved, the student's cGPA will continue to update based on the Repeated Courses policy where the highest grade will be applied in each repeated course. However, the student will remain ineligible to receive financial aid.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress: Students not meeting SAP are subject to dismissal from their programs of study and are ineligible to receive financial aid, except under certain circumstances.

Academic SAP Statuses (Clock Hour programs only): When a student finishes a MOD but has not yet reached a payment period and is below the SAP standards, the student will hit academic evaluation points. If a student is below SAP standards prior to hitting the first payment period, the student will be placed on Academic Warning. Prior to subsequent payment periods, the student may hit Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal. Academic statuses do not trigger documentation or paperwork but are points at which students should be advised of the potential for financial impacts if performance does not improve.

Financial Aid Warning for Clock Hour Programs: If a student’s progress in a clock hour program, measured after attempting the expected hours for the payment period is determined to be unsatisfactory, the school may place the student on Financial Aid Warning status for one payment period. The student will be advised of the performance necessary to re-establish SAP. A student on Financial Aid Warning is still eligible to receive financial aid. If, at the end of the payment period during which the student was placed on Financial Aid Warning status, the student’s academic progress is above both thresholds for SAP, the student is removed from Financial Aid Warning.

Financial Aid Probation for Students in Clock Hour Programs: If, after the student has attempted the expected hours for the next payment period, the student’s academic progress is not above both SAP thresholds for pace and CGPA, the student is no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid. This decision is subject to appeal by the student as defined below. Upon approval of a student appeal, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.

Appeals of adverse determinations: Students who are ineligible to receive financial aid and are academically ineligible to continue due to unsatisfactory academic progress are advised immediately following the determination. Students may submit a written appeal to the Academic Review Committee.

This appeal should be filed within five (5) business days of notification of the decision and must explain in writing the circumstances leading to their unsatisfactory academic performance and how those circumstances have been resolved ensuring they are successful going forward. The Academic Review Committee will consider all information including potential mitigating circumstances such as a severe illness, medical condition or injury, the death of a family member or other special circumstances presented by the student. The Academic Review Committee will uphold or deny the appeal within five (5) business days following receipt of the appeal from the student. A student who has been placed on academic probation due to unsatisfactory academic progress must have an appeal upheld in order to remain in school. This should occur prior to the final drop/add date of the term in order to in order to make appropriate scheduling adjustments. The student should attend class while the appeal is being reviewed.

If an appeal is denied, the student will be dismissed and ineligible to receive financial aid. If the appeal is upheld, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation status for one payment period. An academic plan will be created for the student, and the student will be considered eligible to receive financial aid. The academic plan must be structured so that a student reestablishes SAP within a reasonable timeframe. The student’s performance against the academic plan will be reviewed at the end of each module with the use of an Academic Plan Reviewed document. If, at the end of a module the student’s performance is consistent with the terms of the academic plan, the student remains eligible to receive financial aid and may continue in school for the subsequent term. If, at the end of a payment period the student’s performance is determined to be unsatisfactory, the student will be dismissed from the program of study. Students on academic plans will be advised at the end of each module to ensure that they understand their required performance for reestablishing satisfactory academic progress by the end of the plan. A student may be dismissed at any time if the Academic Review Committee does not believe the student will be successful in upholding the Academic Plan. In those cases, the student may submit an additional appeal to continue. The student may be required to complete the Retake program as a condition of approving their appeal.  A student may reestablish satisfactory academic progress upon successful completion of a term by meeting the thresholds listed in the SAP tables above. Students who re-establish satisfactory academic progress are advised that they no longer need to be on an academic plan and remain eligible to receive financial aid.

Financial Aid Dismissal for Students in Clock Hour Programs: If, after the student has attempted the expected hours for the third and all remaining consecutive payment periods, the student’s academic progress is not above both SAP thresholds for pace and CGPA, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Dismissal and is no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid.  If the student is making sufficient progress while in this status, the student will receive an Academic Plan Reviewed document to continue eligibility. If the student does not make sufficient progress, the student will be dismissed, subject to additional appeal.

Students receiving Veterans Education Benefits:
Students using Veterans Education Benefits are subject to the same calculations of CGPA and Pace, but have different limitations as to how long they may remain not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.  Students using Veterans Education Benefits will be subject to the following limitations.

Students enrolled in Title IV eligible programs will no longer eligible to be certified for Veterans Education Benefits once they fail to meet SAP standards for a third consecutive FA evaluation period.  This means students who fail to meet SAP at the end of their Financial Aid Probation term will have their benefits terminated. Student will only be eligible for certification if they return to Satisfactory Academic Progress.  If a student exceeds Maximum Time Frame as defined in the SAP policy above, they are no longer eligible to be certified for Veterans Education Benefits. 

Other Factors Impacting Academic Standing for Credit and Clock Hour Programs:

Program Changes: When a student transfers to a new program, the total program length of the new program is used as a basis for determining the maximum program length. All previously attempted coursework that is applicable in the new program is carried forward into the new program, whether it was completed successfully or not (i.e., including grades of F or W), for the purposes of calculating both qualitative and quantitative academic progress. A student who is not meeting SAP standards is not eligible for a program change without approval of the Director of Education or designee. This also applies to students who were not meeting SAP standards at the point of being withdrawn and wish to re-enter in a different program.  Students not meeting SAP standards may be required to complete the Retake program as a condition of SAP Appeal approval.

Transfer and Proficiency Credits: Transfer and Proficiency credits are entered as grades of “T1” or “TO” which are not computed in a student’s qualitative grade point average. Transfer and proficiency credits are counted as credits attempted and earned for the purposes of calculating a student’s pace of progress in the program. See also Transfer of Credit in this catalog. Students who transfer between campuses of an institution that have a main campus with additional locations will have all applicable coursework transferred, both successful and unsuccessful. These grades will be used in calculating both qualitative grade point average and pace of progress as defined in the Standards of Academic Progress policy. As defined under the Repeated Courses section, only passed courses taken during the Retake Program will be associated with the reentry enrollment.

Foundation Courses (PA campuses only): When an entering student’s assessments indicate the need for English Language Foundation Courses (ELF), those courses are included as institutional requirements. Refer to the specific program listing for details. Foundation courses may only be repeated once. A student who fails to successfully complete a particular foundation course on the second attempt is subject to dismissal from the program. This determination is subject to appeal. The Academic Review Committee will consider an appeal for a third attempt of a foundations course. The student must submit a written appeal which includes potential mitigating circumstances such as a severe illness, medical condition or injury, the death of a family member or other special circumstances presented by the student. If an appeal is denied, the student will be dismissed from the institution. If the appeal is upheld, the student will be permitted to re-attempt the foundations course.

Additional Degrees/Diplomas: Degree or diploma students who wish to remain continuously enrolled and pursue an additional program must complete all requirements of the first program before enrolling in a subsequent program. Any successfully completed courses that are contained in the subsequent program will be counted towards completion of that program. (Note: students may not be enrolled concurrently in and receive funding for two Title IV eligible programs).

Pass/Fail courses:  Grades of S and U are assigned to classes that do not fulfill graduation requirements such as English Language Foundation (ELF) courses that are graded on a pass/fail basis. A grade of W* is assigned for withdrawal from a Pass/Fail class after the Drop/Add period. Foundation courses may not be repeated more than one time without an approved foundations appeal.

Repeated courses while in an Active Degree Seeking Status:  F, U, NA, NP, W, and W* grades require repeating and are retained on the transcript. Repeated courses will appear on the transcript with both the new letter grade earned and the original letter grade earned. The highest grade will replace the other attempts for the purposes of calculating the CGPA. Courses which have been repeated will count as credits/hours attempted for the purposes of calculating pace. Students in clock hour programs may not receive financial aid for repeated courses. Students in term-based credit hour programs may receive financial aid to repeat failed courses. Other than Foundation courses, which can only be repeated a single time without appeal approval, there is no fixed limit to the number of times a particular course may be repeated as long as a student is making satisfactory academic progress. As of July 1, 2011, a student’s enrollment status in a term-based, credit hour program for Title IV purposes may include coursework being repeated that was previously taken in the program, but may not include more than one repetition of a specific, previously passed course. The original grade and the repeated grade will both appear on the transcript. Only the highest grade will count for purposes of calculating the CGPA. All attempts count in the pace of the program.

Repeated courses while in the Non Degree Seeking - Retake Program:  If a student is required to complete the NDS Retake Program as a condition of Re-entry or SAP appeal approval, the courses taken while in the  NDS Status will be treated the same as during Active periods of enrollment with one exception.  If a course is either failed or withdrawn from during the Retake program, they will not be associated with the Active period of enrollment.  Only   passing grades (those higher than the prior attempt) will be associated to the Active program enrollment.  

Audited courses: Audited courses are assigned a grade of AU. Audited courses do not count as credits attempted or credits earned for any purposes and do not have any effect on the calculations of pace or GPA.

Grades and CGPA 

The following table summarizes the effect of specific grades on the calculations of pace and CGPA:
 

Withdrawal Grades for Institutional Withdrawals: The W grade is assigned to class withdrawals when a student withdraws or stops attending all courses prior to the withdraw deadline. The earned grade in the course is awarded after the withdraw deadline.

Withdrawal Grades for Individual Course Withdrawals:  A course is unregistered during the drop/add period for a student who maintains enrollment in one or more course. Courses dropped after the drop/add period but prior to the withdraw deadline are issued a grade of W (Withdrawal). The earned grade in the course is awarded after the withdraw deadline.

A grade of W* is recorded for Pass/Fail courses (campus credits) dropped after the drop/add period or for courses being withdrawn during an LOA period. The W* may also be used in rare instances when a correction needs made to a student’s schedule based on a documented issue. A grade of NA is recorded for module-based courses that are dropped after drop/add but prior to the start of the module in which the course was scheduled. W grades count as credits attempted but not earned for the purposes of calculating the pace in academic progress and are excluded from CGPA. W* and NA grades are excluded from both the CGPA and Pace components of SAP.

Incomplete Grades:
Incomplete grades count as credits/hours attempted but not completed. When the Incomplete is converted to a letter grade, it will be computed as credits/hours completed or failed, depending on the grade assigned.

Retake Program:
Beginning in September 2017, a new Non Degree Seeking (NDS) Program was implemented as an intervention for students not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards prior to a second or subsequent Re-entry.  Students may be required to repeat one or more courses until their Cumulative GPA (CGPA) meets the 2.0 standard.  The student must take one course at a time, at a nominal cost as defined in the charges section of this catalog.  Passing attempts are then treated as repeat coursework consistent with the repeat coursework section of the SAP policy.  Any failed or withdrawn attempts will not be counted against the student’s pace or CGPA. This program may also be used for students struggling to maintain SAP as a condition of an appeal approval.

A student may also request to audit any course within their program version with their Director of Education.

All students shall have the right to inspect and review their educational records, to request corrections or deletions, and to limit disclosure of the records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also referred to as the Buckley Amendment).

The Registrar oversees the educational records.  Students may request a review of their records by writing to the Registrar or his/her designee and identifying the record(s) they wish to review.  Such review will be allowed during regular school office hours under appropriate supervision and within 45 days of the date the request is received by the school.  A copy of the records may be obtained for $1.00 per page.  When grades are included, the transcript charge applies.

A student may request the school to amend his/her educational records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his/her right to privacy. However, grades and course evaluations can be challenged only on the grounds that they are improperly recorded. The student should write to the Registrar and identify the part of the record he or she wants to change and specify why it is inaccurate. The Registrar, together with other involved school personnel, will review the written request and confer with the student to make a determination.  If the student is not satisfied with the result of the conference, the school will notify the student of his or her right to a formal grievance hearing. Within 45 days of the hearing, the student will be provided with a written decision, which will be considered final. Written documentation of the hearing and of the decision will be included as part of the student’s permanent record.

The following are exemptions to FERPA: 

• Financial records submitted by a student’s parent(s);
• Grades and access to student education records to parents who certify that the student is financially dependent;
• A school official who has a legitimate educational interest and needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.  A school official is a person employed by the school in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position, or a person or company with whom the school has contracted, such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, employment agency, or loan management agency, or a person serving on the Board of Governors, or a student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing his/her tasks; 
• Confidential letters of recommendation received by the school prior to January 1, 1975.  For such letters received after December 31,1974, the Act permits students to waive their right to access if the letters are related to admissions, employment, or honors;
• School security records;
• Employment records for school employees who are not current students;
• Records compiled or maintained by physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, or other recognized professionals or paraprofessionals acting or assisting in such capacities for treatment purposes, and which are available only to persons providing the treatment; 
•  Authorized representatives of the U.S. Government, state and local  authorities where required, and accrediting agencies;
•  Appropriate persons or agencies in the event of a health or safety emergency, when a release without consent is necessary under the circumstances; and
• Records requested through court order or subpoena. 

The school will generally release certain student directory information without the consent of the student unless the student has specifically requested that the information not be released.  The student should inform the school in writing within ten (10) days after the first date of attendance if the student does not wish to have any or all of such information released by the school.  Such directory information includes some or all of the following data: student’s name, address(es), telephone number, e-mail address, program, dates of attendance, photograph, diploma awarded, post-graduation employers and job titles, participation in activities and recognition received, previous secondary and postsecondary educational institutions attended by the student, and date and place of birth.   

The school also reserves the right to release to police agencies and/or crime victims any records or information pertinent to a crime which has occurred on campus, including the details of and disciplinary action taken against the alleged perpetrator of the crime.  The student has the right to file a complaint concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA at the following U.S. Department of Education office:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901 

Additional information on FERPA is available from the Campus Director’s office.

GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors of STVT-AAI Education Inc.

William Hansen

Pete Kirchof

Michael Williams

Andrew Milgram

Daniel Ducote Jr.

Stephanie Nellons-Paige

Aron Schwartz

Michael Zawisky