STUDENT COMPLAINT/GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
American School of Technology is sensitive to the concerns and/or complaints from our students. We operate our institution within the ideals of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which mandates an academic environment free of discrimination. The Director of Education has the responsibility to review charges of sexual, racial and other prohibited forms of discrimination or harassment. The President has the dual function of safeguarding the rights and safety of all members of the institution’s population.
Grievance procedures are started by making an appointment to meet with the Director of Education within 7 days of the occurrence or the alleged discrimination or harassment. If the complainant prefers to meet with someone of his/her same sex or race, an appropriate person can be designated by either the Director of Education or the President. The person will be asked to verbally present the alleged charge of discrimination or sexual harassment. At the end of the meeting, the person may be asked to prepare and file written charges.
The Director of Education, under the direction of the President, will discreetly commence an investigation to consider each charge within 5 working days. Part of the investigation may include meeting with both parties in a private setting. The President will make the final determination as to the validity of the grievance and take appropriate action after reviewing the matter and may or may not present his final decision in writing.
Students alleging discrimination or harassment will have the right to be advised by legal counsel at any meeting concerning the grievance. Any charges of discrimination or harassment and written documentation of the investigation will be treated as confidential and will be maintained by the Institution’s corporate office.
The school is committed to helping students achieve their goals and objectives. The school is responsive to issues of concern raised by its students. If the student feels that issues remaining unresolved at the school level, they may be directed to the State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, 35 East Gay Street, Suite 403, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138, (614) 466-2752.
Schools accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology must have a procedure and operational plan for handling student complaints. If a student does not feel that the school has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the Accrediting Commission.
All complaints considered by the Commission must be in written form, with permission from the complainant(s) for the Commission to forward a copy of the complaint to the school for a response. The complainant(s) will be kept as well as the final resolution by the Commission. Please direct all inquiries to:
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and
Colleges of Technology
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 302
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 247-4212
A copy of the Commission’s Complaint Form is available at the school and may be obtained by contacting Timothy Campagna, School Director.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Class attendance is an important and vital part of the student’s education; therefore students are required to attend all class sessions. Attendance records are a valuable tool used by various school departments when working with prospective employers of students. Negligent attendance or tardiness may seriously affect a graduate’s prospect to gain employment. Students must strive for perfect attendance and punctuality on a daily basis. A lack of student attendance, at any level, is a basis for student academic advising. Instructors will advise students at the beginning of each course about the importance of regular attendance for success in the course, that attendance is required to receive credit for the course and the policy regarding absences.
Absences may include excessive tardiness (See Tardiness section below). Students who miss more than 15 percent of the total class days will be advised that they are at risk of being withdrawn from the ten-week academic term in which they are enrolled. Students who miss more than 20 percent of the total class days may be withdrawn from that term. Students who have been absent from all of their scheduled classes for 10 consecutive school days may be withdrawn from that term in which they are enrolled.
If withdrawn, students must successfully appeal their termination within three school days in order to continue their training without interruption (see Student Attendance Appeal Policy). If their termination is not successfully appealed, they will remain withdrawn from the program.
Students must make up absences that occur during the externship to ensure that the required extern hours are completed prior to graduation. Students are encouraged to schedule medical, dental or other personal appointments after school hours. If a student finds out that he/she will be unavoidably absent, he/she should notify the school.
Tardiness
Students who arrive for class after the scheduled start time will receive a tardy on their attendance record. Students who accumulate a total of six tardies will accrue one day of absence on their attendance record.
Reentry Policy
Students must strive for perfect attendance. We understand that there are extenuating circumstances that may cause a student to violate the attendance policy. Upon a showing of good cause through the appeals process, a student may apply for reentry to the school.
Students who are to be terminated for violating the attendance policy may apply for reentry to the school through the appeals process (See Student Appeals Process policy). Normally approval for reentry will be granted only once. However, in those instances where extenuating circumstances exist, a student may be allowed to reenter more than once with appropriate documentation and the appropriate documentation and approval of the Director of Education.
Make-up Work
Students are requires to make up all assignments and work missed as a result of absence. The instructor may assign additional outside make-up work to be completed for each absence. Arrangements to take any tests missed because of an absence must be made with the instructor and approved by the school administration.
In the event a student absence prevents the student from completing a class, a grade of I (incomplete) may be given (See Incomplete Grade policy).
Veteran Students
VA students who exceed 20 percent absences of the total class days scheduled for the course will be placed on probation. At the end of the academic period, if the absences exceed 20 percent of the class days scheduled, the VA benefits will be terminated and the student is subject to termination from school.
Military/Reserve Training: A veteran or reservist who is required to attend training will be reported to the DVA for this temporary absence.
Student Attendance Appeal Policy
A student may appeal attendance dismissal for failing to meet the satisfactory attendance requirements when mitigating circumstances may have contributed to the student’s inability to attend class. The student must submit his/her appeal in writing to the Director of Education within three days of the dismissal. The letter should describe any circumstances the student feels deserve further consideration along with any pertinent documentation to support the appeal. The student will be notified of the results of the appeal within one business day from the date of the submission of the appeal. All decisions are final.
If successful, the student will be able to continue their training without interruption. If their termination is not successfully appealed, they will remain withdrawn from the program through the end of the academic term. Students who wish to return to school may do so by applying to return through the re-entry policy.
