Academic Policy & Regulations

ACADEMIC PROCEDURES

    Academically, every effort is made by the school to monitor a student's performance throughout the term/quarter. At mid-term, a notice is issued to every student indicating whether his/her academic status in each course is satisfactory.

       
    At the end of the term/quarter, each student is issued a Final Progress Report, which denotes the grade point average (G.P.A.) he/she earned during the term/quarter.

    Grading System: In order to graduate from our school, each student must attain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 [C] or greater. Grades assigned at the completion of a course are as follows:

WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE - A student may withdraw from a course up until two weeks following the mid-term reporting period. The student will receive a "W" on his/her transcript and is not added into the end-of-term/quarter average for a student. Nonetheless, if the student withdraws two weeks beyond mid-term he/she receives "WF" [0.0] for the course and is calculated in the student's final G.PA.

INCOMPLETE - is given when a student, who has been making satisfactory progress in a course, experiences an unexpected hardship or illness making it impossible for him/her to complete the course.

           If a student receives an "I" in a given course at the end of the term/quarter, he/she is required to remove this condition to the satisfaction of his/her instructor within two weeks of the following term/quarter.

EXCEPTIONS: (1) An incomplete may not be assigned for sequential courses; (2) An incomplete may not be given if the student will not be able to pass the course even if the course requirements are completed.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

QUALITATIVE MEASURE - A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 [C], in order to remain in good academic standing.

        Failure to achieve a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 [C] or better will result in the student being placed on academic probation for the following term/quarter. Notification of academic probation will be sent directly to the student's home. A conference will be held between the Academic Dean and the student.

        Academic probation lasts one term/quarter. At the end of the academic probationary term/quarter, the student's academic performance will again be reviewed. If a student has not raised his/her cumulative G.P.A. to a 2.0 [C] or better, the student will be dismissed unless the student can justly prove that mitigating circumstances were responsible for his/her inability to achieve a "C" average.

QUANTITATIVE MEASURE - Evaluations occur at twenty-five percent (25%) of completion, fifty percent (50%) of completion, and seventy five percent (75%) of completion and at the program completion. A student must earn at least the following minimum: 1.5 G.P.A. at the first evaluation point; 2.0 G.P.A. at the program midpoint; and a 2.0 G.P.A. at subsequent points.

       
        Students must maintain at least a minimum of eighty percent (80%) attendance at each evaluation point. Any student whose G.P.A. is below 2.5 at any evaluation point is required to maintain a minimum of 80% attendance at subsequent evaluation points for the remainder of the program to prevent dismissal.

        The Administrative Committee will meet and review the student's appeal and will make a determination of within 21 calendar days of receipt of the appeal. The student will be advised of the decision in writing, including any Administrative Committee Stipulations for reinstatement to school. Reinstatement to school as a result of a successful appeal is a two-step process: first as a non-regular student, then, as a regular student.

APPEAL PROCEDURES

        Appeals must be made in writing and addressed to the School Director. The appeal should indicate the nature of the circumstances that prevented one from meeting satisfactory progress standards and the reason(s) for requesting reinstatement to the school. It is important to provide documentation to support the appeal including recommendations from the faculty.

REINSTATEMENT TO SCHOOL AS A NON-REGULAR STUDENT

        When a student's appeal is successful, permission may be granted to the student to return to school as a non-regular student to address academic or attendance deficiencies with a specified period. The specified period may not exceed the equivalent of one module of instruction. A student with minimal attendance deficiencies may be able to make up the missed hours during the period of attendance as a non-regular student and will not be charged for tuition.

REINSTATEMENT TO SCHOOL AS A REGULAR STUDENT

        If a student demonstrates, after retaking courses, practicing skills or making up missed course hours, that he/she is academically prepared to continue in the program, the student may apply for reinstatement to school as a regular student.

REPEATING COURSES

        If a student receives a failing grade in a course, he/she has the option to retake the course. If the course is a part of a sequential series, the student will not be allowed to move to the next part of the sequence until a passing grade is obtained in that course. For a non-sequential course, a student may continue the program but must repeat and pass the course either at an appropriate point to be determined by the Academic Dean at the end of the program sequence or within the maximum time frame to satisfy the requirements for graduation. In this case, the student will be attending school beyond the established program hours but within the maximum time frame allowed. This may not exceed one and a half (1-1/2) length of the program.

       If the student repeats the failed course, and improves his/her grade, the "F" grade will be supplanted by the improved grade. The improved will be the grade used in determining the cumulative grade point average of the student.

       Reinstatement will be considered by the Administrative Committee, and will be approved or denied based on evaluations of the student's work.

      
       Following reinstatement, a student will be placed on probation until the next evaluation point. While on probation, the student will be required to participate in any measures necessary for reinstatement recommended by the Administrative Committee. Otherwise, the student may be dismissed. A student who is readmitted will be required to meet the provisions of the school catalog that is in effect on the date of reinstatement.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

        OPMI Business School may consider the transfer of course(s) from previous school, but does not offer advanced Standing for work experience. To apply for transfer of course(s), the student must supply an official transcript and course description from the school previously attended (Note: The previous school attended must be properly licensed, registered, or accredited by an official state or accreditation body). Students may transfer a maximum of three (3) courses and must do so within the first two weeks of classes. A minimum grade of “C” is required for transfer of courses.

           
      If a student at OPMI Business School wishes to change his/her program. All of the identical courses from the student’s old program may be transferred to the student’s new program.

HONOR ROLL

       Any student receiving a G.P.A. of 3.5 or better in a given term/quarter will be placed on the honor roll for that term/quarter. This designation will be noted on his/her transcript. Honor Roll notification is sent home and the student who achieves this honor have his/her name posted at the school's bulletin board.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

      OPMI Business School provides additional reinforcement to help students comprehend the subject matter taught by providing scheduled tutoring, study group, and course make-up arrangements.

       
      Tutoring is offered in areas necessary to successfully pass test and class work requirements. The service length of time is based on the evaluation of students in areas that need strengthening. There is no charge for the additional educational support services.

      Make-up classes are usually given on the last week of each module. Preparatory tests are submitted upon completion of tutoring and make-up class to ensure understanding of area(s) the student lacks.