Academic Progress Guidelines

The satisfactory academic progress policy of Huntington School of Beauty Culture is consistently applied to all students enrolled at the school. It is printed in the catalog to ensure all students receive a copy prior to enrollment. In order to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress towards a certificate of graduation, a student must maintain a specified grade average and proceed through the course at a pace leading to completion in the specified time frame.

Students who meet the minimum requirements for attendance and academic progress will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress until the next scheduled evaluation. This policy is established and maintained for all students in attendance at the school. This policy complies with the guidelines established by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) and the federal regulations established by the United States Department of Education.

EVALUATION SEGMENTS

Each student must complete the required number of hours for the course in which they are enrolled. These are scheduled as follows: The cosmetology program requires 1,800 clock hours, the hair styling program requires 1,000 clock hours, the manicuring program requires 400 clock hours, and the esthetics program requires 600 clock hours. 

Students are evaluated for satisfactory academic progress based on scheduled hours as follows:

1. Cosmetology

• 34-week schedule; 450 scheduled clock hours and 13 weeks
• 900 scheduled clock hours and 26 weeks
• 1,350 scheduled clock hours and 40 weeks
• 1,800 scheduled clock hours and 53 weeks

• 25-week schedule; 450 scheduled clock hours and 18 weeks
• 900 scheduled clock hours and 36 weeks
• 1,350 scheduled clock hours and 54 weeks
• 1,800 scheduled clock hours and 72 weeks

2. Hair Styling

• 34-week schedule; 450 scheduled clock hours and 13 weeks
• 900 scheduled clock hours and 26 weeks
• 25-week schedule 
• 450 scheduled clock hours and 18 weeks
• 900 scheduled clock hours and 36 weeks 

3. Manicuring

• 40-week schedule
• 200 scheduled clock hours and 5 weeks
• 400 scheduled clock hours and 10 weeks

4. Esthetics

• 30-week schedule
• 300 scheduled clock hours and 10 weeks
• 600 scheduled clock hours and 20 weeks

*Transfer Students – Midpoint of the contracted hours or the established evaluation periods, whichever comes first.

We perform evaluations at the end of each evaluation segment except for the final segment of each program. Evaluations will determine if the student has met the minimum requirements for satisfactory academic progress. The frequency of evaluations ensures that students have ample opportunity to meet both the attendance and academic progress requirements of at least one evaluation by the midpoint of the course. 

ATTENDANCE PROGRESS EVALUATIONS/ REQUIRED COMPLETION DATE

Prior to November 1, 2021, students were required to attend a minimum of 85% of the hours possible based on the applicable attendance schedule in order to be making satisfactory attendance progress.

As of November 1, 2021, students are now required to attend a minimum of 80% of the hours possible based on the applicable attendance schedule in order to be maintaining satisfactory attendance progress. Evaluations are conducted at the end of each evaluation period to determine if the student has met the minimum requirements. The attendance percentage is determined by dividing the total hours accrued by the number of hours scheduled.

At the end of each evaluation period, the school will determine if the student has maintained 80% cumulative attendance since the beginning of the course which indicates that, given the same attendance rate, the student will graduate within the maximum time frame allowed. In order to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress, students must progress towards completion of the program at a rate of 125% of the program length or maintain an 80% attendance. The maximum time (which does not exceed 125% of the course length) allowed for students to complete each course at satisfactory academic progress is stated below:

                                                                   MAXIMUM TIME FRAME

COURSE                                             WEEKS SCHEDULED HOURS

Cosmetology - 25/34                             80/66 weeks      2,250

Hair Styling - 25/34                                50/37 weeks      1,250

Manicuring                                                 12.5 weeks            500

Esthetics                                                      25 weeks               750

The maximum time allowed for transfer students who need less than the full course requirements will be determined based on 80% of the scheduled contracted hours. Students who have not completed the course within the maximum time frame will be withdrawn. Students will be permitted to re-enroll in the program with 100% of hours transferred on a cash-pay basis as outlined in the re-enrollment provisions of the school’s admission’s policy.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS EVALUATION

The qualitative element used to determine academic progress is a reasonable system of grades as determined by assigned academic learning. Students are assigned academic learning and a minimum number of practical experiences. The following factors are used for determining academic progress: theory and practical. Theory is evaluated through written and oral examinations and evaluated after each unit of study. The practical work of students is evaluated daily. 

Grades are entered into the student's computer file monthly. At the end of each evaluation period, a satisfactory academic progress check form is generated by the computer, along with a corresponding progress report. Instructors evaluate the students on an evaluation form, which students read in its entirety and sign if they are available.

Students then receive a copy of their progress report which shows all grades completed by the student since their enrollment. It shows a grade average for theory and practical, as well as an overall grade average. Report also shows make up work to be completed and attendance records. Students must make up for failed or missed tests and incomplete assignments prior to graduation.

An overall grade average of 70% is required for satisfactory academic progress.

The following represents the equivalencies of the grades assigned:

A - Excellent...............................90% to 100%

B - Good.....................................80% to 89%

C - Passing................................70% to 79%

D - Failing..................................Below 70%

I - Incomplete............................-0-

A passing grade is required in theory and practical work for satisfactory academic progress towards graduation and eligibility to take the state board examination. Students must maintain a written grade average of 70% and pass a FINAL written and practical exam prior to graduation for all programs.

A student will be evaluated in satisfactory academic progress by the midpoint of the program or midpoint of the academic year, whichever is shorter. This should be at the point when the student’s scheduled clock hours for the payment period have elapsed, regardless of whether the student attended them. The student must meet both the academic and attendance requirements on at least one period evaluation by the midpoint of the course in which the student is enrolled. Any student failing to meet the above requirements for satisfactory academic progress because of the pattern of progress established in grades and attendance will be issued a letter of warning.

DETERMINATION OF PROGRESS STATUS

Students meeting the minimum requirements for academics and attendance at the evaluation point are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress until the next scheduled evaluation. At the end of each evaluation period, students will receive a hard-copy of their satisfactory academic progress report. Students deemed not maintaining satisfactory academic progress may have their Title IV funding interrupted unless the student is on warning or has prevailed upon appeal resulting in a status of probation.

WARNING

Students who fail to meet minimum requirements for attendance or academic progress are placed on warning and considered to be making satisfactory academic progress while during the warning period. The student will be advised in writing on the actions required to attain satisfactory academic progress by the next evaluation. If at the end of the warning period, the student has still not met both the attendance and academic requirements, he/she may be placed on probation and, if applicable, students may be deemed ineligible to receive Title IV funds.

PROBATION

Students who fail to meet minimum requirements for attendance or academic progress after the warning period will be placed on probation if applicable, and considered to be making satisfactory academic progress while during the probationary period, if the student appeals the decision, and prevails upon appeal. Students are able to prevail in appeal by either being able to mathematically achieve satisfactory academic progress by next evaluation or are placed on an academic plan which allows for the achievement of SAP standards within the student’s maximum time frame.

Students placed on an academic plan must be able to meet requirements set forth in the academic plan by the end of the next evaluation period. Students who are progressing according to their specific academic plan will be considered making Satisfactory Academic Progress. The student will be advised in writing of the actions required to attain satisfactory academic progress by the next evaluation. If at the end of the probationary period, the student has still not met both the attendance and academic requirements required for satisfactory academic progress or by the academic plan, he/she will be determined as NOT making satisfactory academic progress and, if applicable, students will not be deemed eligible to receive Title IV funds.

RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

In order for a student to re-establish satisfactory academic progress and Title IV aid, as applicable, student must meet the minimum attendance and academic requirements by the end of the warning or probationary period. Those students that remain in unsatisfactory progress status during the remainder of their attendance in the course in which they are enrolled will be allowed to complete the program on a cash pay basis. 

RIGHT TO APPEAL

If a student is determined to not be making satisfactory academic progress, the student may appeal the determination within ten (10) calendar days. Reasons for which students may appeal a negative progress report include death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or any other allowable special or mitigating circumstance. The student must submit a written appeal to the Director of the school describing why they failed to meet satisfactory academic progress standards, along with supporting documentation of the reasons why the determination should be reversed. The information should include what has changed about the student’s situation that will allow them to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress by the next evaluation point. Appeal documents will be reviewed and a decision will be made and reported to the student within 30 calendar days. The appeal and decision documents will be retained in the student file. If the student prevails upon appeal, the satisfactory academic progress determination will be reversed and federal financial aid will be reinstated, if applicable.

Documentation for extenuating circumstances will be accepted from the following sources: Law Enforcement Officials, Medical and Surgical Professionals, Legal Aid Attorneys, Department of Human Services or information documented by newspapers or other sources providing valid information on student's circumstances.

COURSE INCOMPLETES/INTERRUPTIONS/WITHDRAWALS

If enrollment is temporarily interrupted for a Leave of Absence, the student will return to school in the same progress status as prior to the leave of absence. Hours elapsed during a leave of absence will extend the student’s contract period and maximum timeframe by the same number of days taken in the leave of absence and will not be included in the student’s cumulative attendance percentage calculation.

Any student absent from school for 30 consecutive days, notwithstanding those students granted a leave of absence, will automatically be withdrawn from school. If a student withdraws or is withdrawn prior to completion of the program and wishes to re-enroll, the student will return in the same satisfactory academic progress status as at the time of withdrawal.

NONCREDIT AND REMEDIAL COURSES

Non-credit and remedial courses do not apply to this institution. Therefore, these items have no effect upon satisfactory academic progress standards.

TRANSFER HOURS

With regard to Satisfactory Academic Progress, a student’s transfer hours will be counted as both attempted and earned hours for the purpose of determining when the allowable maximum time frame has been exhausted.