Funeral business not all in the family!!!


Midterm Warning Policy

(Replaces The Progress Report)

Policy:

    Midterm warning will be issued to any student at any time durning the term at the discretion of the instructor. Usually these will be issued to any student earning less than a course average of 80% following the midterm exam.

    rev. 30Jan08

    Transfer Credit Policy Update*

    Possible transfer of credits from an accredited college will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions Committee.   The Admissions Committee will only review:

    1. official  transcripts from an accredited college
    2. those courses taken prior to enrolling in FINE
    3. those courses taken within the last four years, unless they were part of a  program in which the student earned a college degree
    4. those courses in which the student earned a minimum average course grade of the letter “C” or 75%

    For transfer of course credits for all courses that are tested on the National Board Exam, the student will need to have met the requirements above, AND also will need to arrange for, take, and pass a challenge exam on the topic being considered for transfer credits.  There is a non-refundable fee for taking a challenge exam.  If the student scores a minimum of 75% on the challenge exam, he/she will be awarded transfer credits for that course.  Should the student NOT pass the challenge exam, he/she will have to take the course at FINE. and pass it with a minimum average course score of 75%.  The fee for taking the challenge exam will be credited toward taking that course should the student fail the challenge exam.

    There are some colleges in which a student earns a certificate or degree with which FINE has an articulation agreement.  Only students who complete ALL the courses to earn that specific certificate, or degree, will be awarded transfer credits for the  courses taken within those programs without having to take a challenge exam. 

    That is, courses taken toward a certificate but that did not result in earning of the certificate will be subject to a challenge exam.  Also, the student should note that financial aid issues can become clouded when a student attends two colleges simultaneously. 



    Policy for Failing to Comply with Aspects of the Certification Embalming

    The changes that the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) has insisted on for the FINE Clinical Cooperative make it necessary that every single student who enrolls in the CC303 course after the Spring 2005 term to go to one of the local certifying funeral homes in which there will be a FINE faculty member present to certify of the student’s abilities in embalming. It is imperative that the student understand that this requirement is very serious and that there is no leeway within or about it. The schedule will be set at the beginning of the term and all enrolled students will need to conform to it.

    FINE has, and will continue to make, every effort for the student to be minimally inconvenienced in order to accomplish the certification embalming. However, since that embalming at a specific funeral home is a requirement of the course, each student is expected to call and/or go to the certifying funeral home when scheduled and/or told to do so by the Director of the Clinical Cooperative Program (DCCP) who is currently Marsha Wise M.S, FD. Failure to follow the schedule and any directive(s) of the DCCP will result in the following serious consequences:

    First Occurrence:

    If on the date and at the time scheduled and required, the student:

    Fails to attend the assigned embalming at the assigned funeral home AND/OR

    Fails to call the assigned funeral home and/or DCCP when directed to do so AND/OR

    Fails to be able to be located and/or talked with

    There will be imposed a $500.00 administrative fee on that student which must be paid to earn credit for this course.

    Second Occurrence:

    If on the date and at the time scheduled and required, the student:

    Fails to attend the assigned embalming at the assigned funeral home AND/ORFails to call the assigned funeral home and/or DCCP when directed to do so AND/OR course.

    The student will be administratively dropped from this course with a failing grade.

    In the event of failure due to a second occurrence, the student, to be considered for the Associate Degree from FINE, will need to re-take and re-pay for the course. Additionally, none of the embalmings a student has completed to the dropped date will be counted for credit in CC303 when it is retaken. Last, the administrative fee from the first non-compliance with this policy must be paid in full before the student can re-take this course.

    Rev. 6/05

    Leave of Absence (LOA) from FINE

    LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA): Students who are in residence and/or taking distance education courses in sequential, continuous quarters do not have to reapply for admittance each term.  Students who elect or are asked to leave the College during or between terms must reapply and repay the application fee to be considered for readmission to FINE.  Reapplication does not guarantee readmission.  A LOA may be granted, following a written request by the student, for a maximum of two consecutive terms following the last term in which the student was enrolled at FINE.

    Policy and Procedure to Request a LOA from FINE

    All requests for LOA must be made before the end of the first week of the term for which LOA will begin (week ends Thursday at 6:00 pm). The procedure is as follows.

    1. Student writes a letter of request for LOA to AFS Committee
    2. AFS Committee meets and decides if LOA will be granted.
    3. Decision is written to the student.
    4. If the LOA is granted, student MUST return to classes after a maximum of two terms following the last term the student attended more than one week of classes at FINE.
    5. If the LOA is NOT granted, the student must complete a drop/add form and pay the fee for dropping classes (if applies)

    After the 1st week of the first term for which LOA is requested, no request for a LOA will be considered.  Withdrawal from one or more courses or from FINE after the 1st week of that term will result in the actions and fees as per the policies and procedures of FINE.   In extenuating circumstances a student may petition the AFS Committee for a waiver or a change in the LOA policies and procedures.  The decision of the Committee is final.

    Students should be aware that the LOA may affect her/his financial aid situation.  Thus, the student must speak with the Financial Aid Director or review the Federal Financial Aid Grace Period policy.  A copy of the general Federal Financial Aid Grace Period rules will be sent with the response to a LOA request.  In any event, it is the responsibility of the student to review, understand and comply with the Federal Financial Aid Grace Period policies and procedures.

    If a student enrolls in a college or university under the written direction of FINE in order to get remedial help in study skills or in a specific course, a LOA automatically will be in effect for one term beyond the last term the student was enrolled at FINE. To be readmitted to FINE the student must submit an official transcript indicating that s/he finished and passed the course(s).  If the student does not submit the official transcript and/or does not enroll to take classes at FINE two terms following his/her last FINE enrollment, he/she will have to reapply and repay the application fee to be considered by the Admissions Committee to return to FINE.  

    If a FINE student enrolls in any college or university without direction from FINE during the time of the LOA, the LOA will be immediately cancelled. In this case, to be considered to reenter the College the student must reapply and repay the admission fee. Reapplication does not guarantee readmission.

    Effective March 1, 2006

    American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)

    432 Ashland Ave., Suite U
     St. Joseph, MO 64506
    Office: (816) 233-3747

    Policy Change: Distance Education (DE) Correspondence Courses

    Effective Beginning Spring 2006 Term

    Student's new to FINE who score poorly on the assessment Evaluation at Orientation, and academically weak returning students will be advised that they should not take classes by DE. The FINE advisor's objection(s) will be noted in a follow-up letter to the student if s/he insists on taking a DE class. As always, all students who want to register for and enroll in DE classes will be admonished that FINE recommends taking DE courses only to the most motivated, dedicated and academically strong students. The positive and negative aspects if taking DE courses will be reviewed with each.

    The DE faculty and the FINE administration will continue to closely monitor the performance of each DE student. There may be an increase in the number of quizzes and tracking of homework so that the student and FINE will be constantly aware of  the students’ progress in keeping to the suggested study timetable and knowledge of course content.

    The FINE policy regarding DE courses and those who are permitted to take them for credit is as follows:

    1. Only courses that have been approved and are listed in FINE materials, such as the FINE Catalog, will be offered for credit as a Distance Education courses.

    2. Students who comply with all of the following criteria may register to take non-science DE courses without further considerations:

    A. The student must have completed a minimum of four academic courses at FINE.

    B. The student must have earned a minimum cum GPA of 3.0.

    C. The student must have a minimum average of 3.3 or 90% in at least one introductory science course.

    D. The student must be in good standing at the College behaviorally as well as academically.

    Expanded Grievance Policy

    Grievance: An actual or supposed circumstance regarded just cause for compliant.

    A Formal Grievance is written document specifically detailing the issue about which the FINE person feels aggrieved.

    The Academic Grievance Policy (previously called the Grievance Policy) is published in the handbooks and deals with person-person problems such as student--teacher issues. The steps outlined in that policy should be referred to when a person in an academic setting feels aggrieved. However, there are two other circumstances in which a person may feel aggrieved and want to register a formal grievance. These are outlined below.

    1. A teacher or administrator is perceived not to follow a FINE policy or procedure.

    2. The situation is not person to person, but involves instead a person and an apparent problem with FINE and one of its policies and procedures.

    When One Party Involved in the Academic Grievance Policy Does/Will Not Respond to the Apparently Aggrieved

    When the time course to respond to any of the steps in the Academic Grievance Policy has passed, the aggrieved person has two options.

    S/he can elect to drop the grievance where it stands.

    S/he can submit copies of all related materials and write a formal request to the Grievance Committee for a continuation of the grievance under the direction of the Committee instead of the non-responding party.

    The Grievance Committee (GC) can elect to take or reject the request.

    If the GC takes the requtest, it may ask for materials from the non-responsive party and additional materials from the person submitting the request. In either the GC will make a decision on and/or suggestions to the aggrieved party within three weeks of receipt of the materials from the aggrieved person. The decision of the GC is final.

    When the Grievance is With FINE and the Academic Grievance Policy Does Not Apply

    Steps:

    1. The apparent aggrieved is advised to write a formal grievance to the Chair of the GC (currently 5 ='05 is AVP) fully explaining the situation. S/he is advised to include any supporting documentation.

    2. The GC will meet to review the submitted documentation and discuss the situation. If there is a need for more information or documentation, a sub committee will be formed to find the needed information within one week. If no further documentation is needed, the GC will decide what will be the outcome of the situation and will respond tot he aggrieved in writing within two weeks of receipt of the aggrieves' correspondence.

    3. If a subcommittee was formed to find more documentation about the situation, the GC will convene within one week from the time of initial meeting and hear the new/added information from the subcommittee. Unless there is need for further investigation, the GC will decide what will be the outcome of the situation and will respond to the aggrieved in writing within three weeks of receipt of the aggrieved's first correspondence.

    4. In any event, within three weeks of the last investigation by the GC, the aggrieved will receive a written response from the GC indicating the outcome of the grievance. The decision of the GC is final.

    posted 5/10/05 rev. 24Oct08

    Policy Policy

    Policies are updated from time to time and the most recent are kept in the office in the " FINE Policy Book".  Students registered at FINE and FINE paid personnel are free to examine this publication by making an appointment with the Senior Academic Administrator. Many new and/or updated policies important to students are emailed to the current students and often also are added to this website.  Personnel-related updated and new policies also are emailed to them.

    posted 5/10/05 rev. 24Oct08

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     NicholsJay Consultants