Attendance

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes in order to achieve their learning goals. Excused absences are permitted only for specific reasons, documented family or personal illness or emergencies. Student who is going to be absent is requested to call the school beforehand.

Students are required to be in attendance a minimum of 70% of the scheduled class time of the program of study to maintain a “satisfactory academic progress.” At the end of 200 hours, if absence is above 30% student must begin make-up of classes and/or time. Students who fall below the required minimum attendance will be advised by the Director of School. At the director’s discretion, the student may be placed on probation, terminated, or assigned additional make-up time. In addition, the program must be completed within one and one-half (1 ½) times the length of the program.

TARDINESS

Each student must comply with the academic calendar and schedule established by Florida Professional Institute. All students are strongly urged to be in class at the time that instruction is scheduled to begin. A student entering class fifteen minutes or more after the scheduled start time will be considered tardy. Five tardies in a calendar month will be considered an absence.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Students who find it necessary to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) from school for personal, medical or other reasons must request such LOA in writing. The written request must state the nature of the emergency and when the student is planning to resume classes. The period of the leave of absence may not begin until the student has submitted and the school has approved the written request (except in those cases where unforeseen circumstances would prevent a student from submitting a request in advance). The LOA may not exceed 30 days calendar days within any 7-month period. The request for LOA must be approved by the School Director and must begin at the start of a module.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. Foul language, possession of un-prescribed drugs or alcoholic beverages and disrespectful behavior is considered unsatisfactory conduct and may be grounds for dismissal.

A student who conducts himself in a manner detrimental to the school staff or other students may be subject to immediate warning, probation, suspension or dismissal from Florida Professional Institute.

DISMISSAL

Students may be dismissed from the school for the following reasons:
  1. Failure to honor the Enrollment Agreement in it’s entirely
  2. Failure to fulfill the requirements of academic probation or attendance.
  3. Financial obligation not met.
  4. Excessive absence.
  5. Possession of/or use of drugs or alcohol.
  6. Behaving in a manner potentially dangerous to clients, fellow students and faculty.
  7. Possession of weapons upon school premises.
  8. Behavior creating a safety hazard to other persons or to the facilities.
  9. Defacing or destruction of school property.
  10. Sexual misconduct of any kind.
  11. Stealing; evidence of acting in a conspiracy or as an accomplice in a crime on school property.
  12. Cheating or changing grades on tests.
  13. Any other stated violation or infraction to the code of conduct as determined by the School Director.
Office telephones, copiers, computers, and printers are for use by staff and faculty only. Incoming calls for students will be accepted on the school phones only in emergencies. Students will be responsible for payment of all property destroyed or damaged, with or without intent. Intentional defacing, damaging, or destroying of property by any student may result in immediate expulsion.

DRESS CODE

Florida Professional Institute maintains a strict dress code for its students. All students are expected to be neat, clean, and dressed in medical scrubs consistent with the type of dress that would be required for the medical/business office, in the color designated by Florida Professional Institute. The student’s footwear should consist of clean, white sneakers or medical clogs with the heel fully covered. A student’s appearance must reflect the demands to maintain astute professional, medical, and hygienic standards. Personal appearance is one of the first features upon which an employer evaluates a candidate for employment.

All students are treated equally and are required to practice good hygiene as a daily routine. A clean, professional appearance is essential in Florida Professional Institute because of the nature of our work.

STUDENT COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE (Grievance Policy)

Florida Professional Institute offers learning and working environment that is professional, safe, and supportive of both student and staff. To help preserve this atmosphere, there is specific well-defined and effective process in place for handling and resolving complaints.

Should a student have a concern, complaint, or grievance, he or she within 48 hours should follow the procedure below:

  1. Anyone with a grievance or complaint may request an individual conference with the instructor or staff member to discuss the matter.
  2. All Florida Professional Institute employees must inform the Director of Student Services of all reported grievances.
  3. If a satisfactory resolution to the problem is not reached, the aggrieved party should seek guidance from the Director of Student Services.
  4. If the previous steps have not solved the grievance within 48 hours of the incident, the aggrieved party must present to the President/Director of Education, in writing, all facts of the grievance.

Within 24 hours, upon receipt of the written information, the Director of Student Services 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 President/Director or Education, Vice-President/School Director, Director of Student Services and one staff or faculty members not involved with the incident in question.

All persons or their representatives 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 decision will be final.

If, in the judgment of the student, there is no satisfactory resolution, the student may contact:       

Commission for Independent Education

Florida Department of Education

325 West Gaines St., Ste. 1414

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

Ph: 888-224-6684

The commission will investigate the complaint to see what assistance if any the commission may be able to offer.

Schools accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges 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 reviewed by the Commission must be in written form and should grant permission for the Commission to forward a copy of the complaint to the school for a response. This can be accomplished by filing the ACCSC Complaint Form. The complainant(s) will be kept informed as to the status of the complaint as well as the final resolution by the Commission. Please direct all inquiries to:

Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges

2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 302

Arlington, VA 22201

(703) 247-4212

www.accsc.org | complaints@accsc.org

A copy of the ACCSC Complaint Form is available at the school and may be obtained by contacting complaints@accsc.org or at https://www.accsc.org/Student-Corner/Complaints.aspx.

A copy of the ACCSC Complaint Form is available at the school and may be obtained by contacting Kenia E Nunez – Director of Student Services at studentservices@fpi.edu.

NON-DISCRIMINATION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY

Florida Professional Institute’s policy of equal opportunity employment, consistent with federal policy, is that no person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, religion, handicap, gender, age, sexual orientation or national origin, be excluded from any training, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination in any admissions, instruction, and graduation policies or hiring practices.