STUDENT CONSUMER INFORMATION
Procedures To Inspect and Review Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights to their education records. They are as follows:
A. The student has the right to inspect and review his/her educational records within 45 days from the day the Director of the College receives written request for specific record(s) that the student wishes to review. The Director will set the time to review the records with the student and will meet with the student in the Director's office.
B. The student has the right to ask that his/her educational records be amended if they believe they are misleading or inaccurate. It is the student's responsibility to write the Director clearly identifying the part of the record they wish to change and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College determines that it will not amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student of their decision and advise the student of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.
C. The student has the right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interest. This may include a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agency or others). A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility.
D. If student requests copies of item in his/her file they must be specific in their request and a nominal fee will be charged, which is paid before copies are made. A minimum of 48 hours is necessary.
E. The College reserves the right to provide without permission, academic information, student conduct, financial aid information, employment, and/or other relevant information to government agencies, to financial institutions, to prospective employers, credit reporting and/or collection organizations, guarantee agencies, and other relevant organizations for purposes of financial aid administration and student loan servicing/collection and to accrediting agencies for accreditation related purposes. The College will not disclose information about any current or former student or applicant, to any other individual entity or organization unless required to do so by a specific statute, regulation, or court order without student/applicant written permission.
Student Welfare Services
Guidance - From the time of the student's initial admission interview, the personnel of the college recognize the need for providing guidance to the student in all phases of his or her academic life. The admission representative assists in evaluating an individual's vocational goals. Orientation sessions acquaint the students with the staff and faculty members and to services which are available to him or her.
The Director, as well as the Education Coordinator, helps the student resolve academic and personal problems which may be interfering with satisfactory progress. A student who encounters difficulty in financing his or her education should consult the Financial Aid Manager for information and assistance. A student who desires employment should meet with the Career Services Representative.
Campus Security and Substance Abuse Policy
It is the policy of this institution to maintain a drug free and alcohol free environment. Students and staff are urged to review and abide by the institution's policy.
This institution has available information regarding drug abuse prevention and counseling. Any student or employee of the College seeking drug abuse information may contact the Director of the school for information regarding available literature, counseling services, and other assistance in the prevention of substance abuse.
It is the policy of this institution that any criminal acts of any nature occurring on campus should be reported to the Director, and to the local law enforcement agencies. The institution maintains records relating to crimes committed on campus. Students and employees should also review the institution's policy regarding prevention and reporting campus crime. Copies of the institutional substance free policy and the campus security policy are posted in the library.
Teachers' Attendance Policies
WVBC places the responsibility of attendance upon the student. The student should approach his or her classes in the same light as he or she views the need to attend work. Not showing up for work generally means termination. Therefore, students who do not attend classes regularly and on time can expect penalties. Teachers take attendance daily and have a system in place that when students miss classes, grade cuts will occur. Whenever a faculty member feels that a student has been absent or tardy to the extent it may endanger scholastic standing, the faculty member reports, in writing, the information to the Education Coordinator. The Education Coordinator or his/her designee will then meet with the student concerned to work out problems that are causing the student not to attend. Students are permitted to make up days. At the teacher's discretion, students may or may not make up work missed, class assignments or tests. Institutionally, WVBC maintains no attendance policy. Attendance policies rest solely with instructors.
Appearance and Conduct-Dismissals
Recommendations for employment are based on conduct, attitude, scholastic results and attendance. The College reserves the right to place a student on probation or exclude the student from classes or school, when the student's conduct or academic standing is regarded as undesirable without assigning any further reason. Reasons that are more specific would be as follows:
PERSONAL APPEARANCE - No shorts of any kind, halter-tops, sweatpants, or hats are permitted in the classroom. Shoes must be worn at all times. Non-compliance will result in disciplinary action.
CONDUCT - Students are expected to be courteous to staff, faculty and fellow students and to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for a school setting. Threatening, harassing, abusive and disruptive behavior of any kind is prohibited. Smoking in the building and cheating are prohibited. Possession of illegal drugs or alcohol on school property is prohibited. Violation of the above will result in disciplinary action and / or dismissal from the College.
NON-PAYMENT - Non payment of tuition and fees may also result in disciplinary actions or dismissal from the College.
ACADEMIC – Failure to achieve the required standards of academic progress and or conduct will result in disciplinary actions including possible termination from school.
Grievance Procedure
FIRST STEP - Any student with a grievance or complaint may request an individual conference with the instructor or mentor.
SECOND STEP - If a satisfactory resolution to the problem is not reached, the aggrieved party should seek guidance from the Director.
THIRD STEP - If the previous steps have not solved the grievance within 48 hours of the incident, the aggrieved party must present to the Director all facts of the grievance in writing.
Within 24 hours of the receipt of the written information, the Director will schedule a Grievance Committee hearing. The time of the meeting will be communicated in writing to all parties. The Committee will consist of the Director and two staff or faculty members not involved with the incident in question.
All persons involved with the incident must be present at the time of the hearing. All parties involved will be given the opportunity to discuss the grievance. The Grievance Committee will excuse all parties involved in the grievance and immediately review and conclude the case. The decision of the Committee will be communicated to those involved in the incident within 48 hours. The Committee's decision will be final, and the student agrees to abide by the committee’s decision.
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) provides complaint procedures for the filing of complaints against accredited institutions. ACICS requires that the complainant have exhausted all complaint and grievance procedures provided under the institutional policy. Should such a complaint be filed, ACICS will review the matter to determine whether there may have been any violation of its criteria and standards, and can take action only if it determines there to have been such a violation. ACICS can be contacted at 750 First Street, NE, Suite 980, Washington, DC 20002. (202) 336-6780.
Administrative Appeals and Arbitration
Any dispute regarding any matter related to the student's enrollment, classes, training, job placement, attendance, grades, services or benefits to be provided by West Virginia Business College, or any matter that has been the subject of a student grievance but has not been satisfactorily resolved by the grievance procedure set forth in this catalog, shall be resolved by the Administrative Appeals and Arbitration Procedure described herein.
The matter which is the subject of dispute shall be submitted, in writing, to the President. If the dispute has been the subject of a grievance, the President shall review the record of the grievance procedure. In addition, the President, at his discretion, may interview and question any person who has previously provided any information to the Grievance Committee and may interview and question any other person who may have information related to the dispute. The President shall also interview the person who has submitted the dispute for consideration. Within seventy-two (72) hours from the time of the receipt of the dispute the President shall complete his investigation, and shall issue his written decision with respect to the resolution of the dispute.
If the dispute has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the student, the student, at his or her option, may submit the matter to binding arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator chosen from a list of arbitrators maintained by West Virginia Business College. The student and the President of West Virginia Business College shall agree on an arbitrator. In the event the student and the President are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the Board of Directors of West Virginia Business College shall choose the arbitrator, provided that the Board of Directors may not choose the arbitrator who had been the choice of the President. At such arbitration, the cost of the arbitration shall be shared equally by the student and West Virginia Business College. The rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association shall serve as a guide for the handling of the arbitration, but the arbitrator shall be permitted to structure and conduct the arbitration in a cost effective and efficient manner in order to fully consider all relevant evidence and conclude the dispute. Efforts shall be made to conclude the presentation of evidence and argument within ten (10) working days from the time that an arbitrator has been chosen. The arbitrator shall issue his or her decision within seven (7) working days following the conclusion of the presentation of evidence and argument. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final.
IF THE STUDENT CHOOSES TO SUBMIT ANY DISPUTE TO ARBITRATION, THE ARBITRATION SHALL BE BINDING AND FINAL, AND THE STUDENT AND WEST VIRGINIA BUSINESS COLLEGE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED ALL RIGHTS TO OTHER CIVIL RECOURSE, INCLUDING CIVIL LITIGATION, TRIAL BY JUDGE OR JURY, OR ANY OTHER CIVIL RECOURSE
WEST VIRGINA BUSINESS COLLEGE ADVISORY BOARD
Jennifer Arbonaise, B.A., M.P.A., L.P.N., US Nursing Network, Inc.
Barbara Gorby, Councilwoman of City of Nutter Fort, WV.
Mark A. Gorby, Chief Magistrate of Harrison County, WV.
Roger L. Kent Jr., CPA's, B.S.
Dana Meager, M.B.A., P.H.R., Wheeling Hospital
Christopher Meighen, M.B.A., C.L.T.C., L.U.T.S., Metropolitan Life Ins. Co.
Christopher M. Tarr, B.A., M.Ed., L.S.W., S Case Co.
Christine R. Tarr, R.N., B.S.N., Bishop Hodges Continuous Care, Wheeling Medical Park Hospital
John Snowden, B.A., Williams Lea, Inc.
Sheila Stiglich, B.A., M.A., Ed.S.
Mark Vosvick, M.Ed., M.B.A., Ph.D., University of North Texas