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AIHT Policies
Information Release
Policy
Pursuant to the Family Education rights and Privacy
Act, as amended, AIHT considers the following as "Directory Information"
about each student:
- Name;
- Address;
- Telephone Number;
- Date and place of birth;
- Major fields of study;
- Degrees and awards received;
- Dates of enrollment; and
- Most recent educational agency or institution
attended.
This information is considered public domain
and, as such, will be released to outside parties upon request unless
you file a written notice with AIHT to ask that this information
not be released.
If this notice is filed with AIHT, further
information will not be released without your written consent.
Request for Confidentiality
of Records/Release Restraint
Notify us in writing to request that we not
release the above Directory Information. We will then block information
release. This includes the fact that your name and graduation will
not be announced on our Web site or in our newsletter.
Please understand that we do not "sell" information
about any of our students.
Independent Study
Policy/Handbook Understanding
This is your ISP/HUF.
Read, sign, and return the ENTIRE form. We ask that you submit
this form before you submit any exams.
The ISP/HUF form states that you agree to
complete your own work. It's oath is similar to what a student would
state or affirm by completing enrollment forms at a traditional
university. The ISP/HUF form is meant to serve as a constant reminder
to all students that any stated violation is reason for probation
or disciplinary withdrawal from AIHT.
We cannot grade any coursework before we receive
your signed ISP/HUF form.
When taking exams or writing papers, answers
copied from another student will subject you to disciplinary
action.
Academic Misconduct/Penalties
Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited
to, violating AIHT policies by cheating, plagiarism, fabrication
and misrepresentation, beginning with your admissions application.
Penalties may range from a reprimand to suspension or withdrawal.
Nondiscrimination
Policy
AIHT complies with all requirements and regulations
pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. No person
in the United States shall be excluded from participation in, denied
benefit of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any program
or activity sponsored at this institution on the basis of race,
color or national origin. As prescribed by Section 504, Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, this institution does not discriminate based on handicap
in admission or employment.
Arbitration Policy
Any unsettled dispute between the student
and AIHT shall, on demand of either party, be submitted by them
to arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Association.
Any
such arbitration shall be held in Birmingham, Alabama and state
law shall apply. The agreement to arbitrate shall be specifically
enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction.
The arbitrators'
decision shall be final and judgment duly entered in accordance
with Applicable law in any court having jurisdiction.
Denial of Admission
and Lack of Aptitude/Proficiency Policy
If on evaluation of an individual's application,
AIHT deems that he or she is unprepared for college level work,
AIHT reserves the right to deny admissions. Any individual whose
academic needs and goals may not be served by AIHT may be denied
admission.
If a student is found to lack sufficient
written aptitude or proficiency in English, AIHT reserves the
right to withdraw the student at any time.
If at any time the
faculty determines that a student is not able to satisfactorily
complete or progress in the AIHT program in which he or she
is enrolled, the student may be withdrawn.
Change of Program
Policy
Students enrolled in an AIHT program who wish
to switch to another program will be required to pay the difference
in tuition prices, if any, plus a $200 administration fee.
They
will be required to return the books and materials from their
original program to the school. This decision has to be made
by the student within the first 30 days of enrollment as long
as no exams have been submitted to the school for grading.
Refund/Withdrawal Policy
Sometimes unexpected life changes
force a student to withdraw from a program. If this should happen,
contact your Admissions Advisor for consideration of a tuition
refund and instructions regarding the withdrawal process.
If you withdraw from an academic
program within 30 days of enrollment, you have not completed any
of your coursework and you return all materials unmarked, AIHT
will grant you a full refund of all tuition paid. If you withdrawal
after 30 days but before 60 days you will be granted a partial
refund of up to 50% based on the amount of work you have done and
the condition of the materials. Refunds after 60 days will not
be granted.
When withdrawing, please return all
materials to EdMap. Instructions for returns are provided on the
back of the invoice you received with your shipment. If you have
any questions, please contact your Admissions Advisor. Remember
that you cannot return any books that have been written in or otherwise
damaged.
Disciplinary
Policy
AIHT maintains the right to dismiss students
for violation of school rules or for conduct which, reflects of
impacts unfavorably on its reputation or operation.
Legal Holidays
AIHT offices will be closed on the following
days: Subject to change without
notice
New Year's Day
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day
Memorial Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Day and the Friday immediately following
Christmas Eve and Christmas
Day
Transfer of Credits
Policy
AIHT recognizes credits from other schools
for comparable courses offered as part of the AIHT curriculum.
Transfers of credits should occur at the time of admission and
official transcripts are required within six weeks of enrollment.
Additional
transfer credits will not be considered for tuition credit after
60 days of enrollment.
AIHT credits may be transferable to other
schools. Just as we have certain requirements for acceptance
of credits earned elsewhere, other institutions have their
own requirements. Each individual transferring credit from one
school to another must be evaluated by the receiving school.
AIHT Student Records
Policy
I. General Policy
No information from records, files, or
other data directly related to a student, other than defined
below, hall be disclosed to individuals or agencies outside
AIHT without written consent of the student, except for public
information designated as "Directory Information" and those
disclosures set forth in paragraph IX.
II. Definition of Educational Record
Student "educational records" are defined
as those records, files, documents, and other material which contain
information directly related to students and which are maintained
by the American Institute of Holistic Theology or a party acting
for the American Institute of Holistic Theology. Records of instructional,
supervisory, and administrative personnel which are in the sole
possession of the maker and accessible only to the maker or a
substitute are specifically excluded from this definition of "educational
record." Records which only contain information relating to a
person after that person is no longer a student are not considered
part of the student's "educational record."
III. Definition of Student
For the purpose of this policy, a student
is defined as any individual currently or previously enrolled
in any academic offering of the American Institute of Holistic
Theology. It does not include prospective students.
IV. Public Information
The following is a list of public information
which the American Institute of Holistic Theology has designated
as "directory information" pursuant to the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act, and which may be made available to the
public without prior consent of the student. "Directory Information"
includes a student's name, address, telephone number, program
enrolled in, date of enrollment, and their graduation date. If
you request NOT to have the above information available for release,
YOU MUST SEND A LETTER to the American Institute of Holistic Theology
indicating that you wish to have a Release Restraint placed on
your file. If at any time, you want the Release Restraint removed,
you must notify AIHT in writing.
V. Types and Locations of Records
American Institute of Holistic Theology
maintains a file on each student enrolled containing applications,
exams, and correspondence. AIHT has designated the following
department as responsible for student records: STUDENT RECORDS
OFFICE. The above shall hereinafter be referred to as "Records
Office." The
Records Office is responsible for maintaining a listing of student
records indicating the location and general content of the
records. Any student's request concerning records or files,
including requests that "directory information" not be disclosed,
requests for disclosure to third parties, and request for
access by the student should be directed to this office. Forms
or Notices for all such requests may be obtained from this
office. The person(s) in the Records Office will also act
as hearing officer(s) when the content of a record is challenged
as provided below.
VI. Disclosure of Student Records to the Student
The student is accorded the right to inspect,
in the presence of an American Institute of Holistic Theology
staff member, records, files and data primarily and directly related
to the student. To inspect a file, a student should contact the
Records Office and initiate a request in writing. If a student
desires to obtain copies of the items in the educational record
rather than personally reviewing the record, the written request
to the Records Office for copies must be signed and notarized
to prevent disclosure to persons other than the student. A time
for inspection shall be granted within forty-five days of the
date of the request, and copies will be mailed within the same
time period. Copies shall be made and provided to the student
at a cost to the student equal to actual cost of reproduction
and payable in advance. The right of inspection does not include
financial statements of parents, confidential recommendations
placed in the file prior to January 1, 1975, provided that such
recommendations were solicited with a written assurance of confidentiality
or sent or retained with a documented understanding of confidentiality
and used only for the purpose solicited, and other confidential
recommendations, access to which has been waived by the student
in accordance with paragraph VIII.
VII. Challenging the Contents of the Record
American Institute of Holistic Theology
will respond to any reasonable request for an explanation
or interpretation of any item in a student's file. Requests
for such explanation or interpretation should be addressed
in writing to the Records Office. If, after inspecting a record,
a student believes that information contained in the educational
record is inaccurate or misleading or violates his or her
privacy, the student may request that the record be amended
by presenting such request in writing to the Records office.
A request that the record be amended shall be answered by
the Records Office within fifteen days of its receipt with
information that the records has been amended as requested
or that the record has not been amended and that the student
has a right to a hearing on the matter. A written request
for a hearing should be addressed to the Records Office as
listed in paragraph V, who will set a date and time for hearing
with reasonable notice of the same to the student within forty-five
days of receiving the request. The request for hearing should
identify the item or items in the file to be challenged and
state the grounds for the challenge: e.g. inaccuracy, misleading
nature, inappropriateness. The Records Office shall examine
the contested item, shall hear the person responsible for
placing the item in the file, if appropriate, and shall examine
any document or hear any testimony the student wishes to present.
A student may be assisted or represented by individuals of
his or her choice, including an attorney, at his or her own
expense. The Records Office may decide that the item should
be retained or that it should be deleted or altered. The Records
Office shall issue a written decision based solely on the
evidence presented at the hearing, within ten days of the
conclusion of the hearing. If the decision is adverse to the
student, the notice of decision shall include a statement
that the student has the right to place a statement in the
record commenting on the information and/or setting forth
reasons for disagreeing with the decision.
VIII. Waiver of Access
American Institute of Holistic Theology
may request that a student waive their right to inspect confidential
recommendations respecting that the student's application
for admission, provided that the student be notified, upon
request, of the names of all those providing the recommendations,
the recommendations are used only for the purpose solicited,
and the waiver is not a condition of admission or any other
benefit. Confidential recommendations respecting application
for employment or the receipt of an honor or other recognition
may also be waived. A waiver may be revoked with respect to
the actions occurring after revocation by so notifying the
Records office in writing.
IX. Providing Records to Third Parties
Except for the information specified as
"directory information" in paragraph IV, it is the general policy
of AIHT to refuse access to or disclosure of information from
student records to third parties without the written consent of
the student. Should a student wish to have such records released,
a signed and dated written request which includes the student's
Social Security number, must be directed to the proper Records
Office, specifying the records to be released, the reason for
release, the party or class of parties to whom records are to
be released and a request for copies to the student. AIHT will
then transfer or grant access to the information. The transferred
information shall contain a statement that the information may
be used by the receiving party or, if an organization, by its
officers, agents, and employees for the purpose requested, but
that the party shall not transfer the information to any other
party except with the written consent of the student. A charge
not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction will be assessed
against the student when the copies are made for the party or
the student.
Student records are available to the following
persons with accompanying conditions without written consent of
the student:
1. Instructional or administrative personnel
of the American Institute of Holistic Theology whose duties include
responsibilities to students which in the institution reasonably
require access to student records.
2. Officials of other schools in which
a student seeks to enroll. American Institute of Holistic
Theology will make a reasonable attempt to notify the student
of the transfer, as well as the student's right to a copy,
upon request, and the right to a hearing to challenge the
contents if desired.
3. Certain representatives of federal departments
or agencies or state educational authorities as provided by the
law. In absence of consent or specific authorization by federal
law of the collection of personally identifiable data, data collected
by officials shall be protected in a manner which will not permit
personal identification of students and parents by other than
those officials, and personally identifiable data shall be destroyed
when no longer needed.
4. Financial aid officers or their assistants
in connection with the application for or receipt of financial
aid, provided that personally identifiable information may only
be disclosed for the purpose of determining eligibility, amount,
and conditions and to enforce terms and conditions.
5. Organizations conducting studies for
administrative evaluation tests, etc., provided that studies
are not conducted in a manner which will permit personal identification
of students or their parents by other than representatives
of the organization and that the information will be destroyed
when no longer needed for the purposes collected.
6. Accrediting organizations.
7. Other appropriate persons in an emergency
to protect health or safety of students or others. In determining
appropriateness or disclosure, consideration will be given to
the seriousness of the threat to health or safety of the student
and others, the need for information to meet the emergency, whether
the parties requesting information are in a position to deal with
the emergency, and the extent to which time is of the essence.
8. In response to lawful subpoena or court
order, AIHT will keep a record, indicating the names and legitimate
interest of all disclosures except those made to a student, those
made pursuant to written consent, those designated as "directory
information" and those made to persons at AIHT with a legitimate
educational interest. This record of disclosure will become a
part of the educational records, subject to inspection and review.
X. THE STUDENT RECORDS POLICY
The Student Records Policy shall be published
in the student handbook. In order to comply with the requirement
that AIHT give annual notice of this policy to enrolled students,
a short notice of the policy shall be included in the Vibrations newsletter
All information contained in this online
handbook is subject to change without prior notice and does not
constitute an agreement between American Institute of Holistic Theology
and the student.
2005
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