Academic & Conduct Policy
ABM College commits to adapting reasonable procedures to ensure students have the opportunity to successfully complete their studies. The college maintains a professional setting by assuring a safe, respectable, and fair environment for all students and staff members.
Students and staff are required to support the academic and ethical standards of ABM College. Violations of the policies and standards may be subjected to suspension and/or expulsion under the conditions of inadequate performance and unacceptable actions.
Student Attendance & Academic Policy
- Punctual and regular attendance in class/online is required since the effective learning approach at ABM College of Health and Technology is through interaction and participation.
- If there are any extenuating circumstances (it is at the college's discretion to qualify a student's extenuating circumstance) concerning a student’s absence, the instructor should be notified as soon as possible. It is the student’s own responsibility to stay current with the course material and course curriculum, and to catch up on any missed classes regardless of the reason for absence. By way of example, skipping or missing the class where a test or an in-class assignment was announced will not excuse students from that test or assignment.
- Students are expected to complete assigned work in the allowed time. Late assignments are not acceptable.
- Regular attendance is taken for each student and absenteeism as well as lateness will be recorded on the attendance sheet and forwarded to the administration office. Students are required to inform the school prior to or during their absence.
- Students who are absent for five (5) consecutive days without contact and valid excuse will be dismissed.
- Students unable to attend for (5) or more consecutive days while maintaining contact, providing valid reason(s), and supporting documentation must speak with a school designee in order to resume their studies.
- If a student informs the College that their absence will be for more than 28 consecutive days, they will be required to withdraw from the program.
- Where a test is missed for reasons other than illness or other permissible circumstances, make-up tests may be offered at the discretion of the instructor. Students who are unable to write a test at the scheduled time must inform their instructor before the scheduled test time and follow up as quickly as possible.
In addition to the College’s Attendance Policy, the following Attendance Guidelines apply to programs with mandatory practicum(s):
- All students are required to attend and successfully complete100% of the placement hours.
- If a student misses any hours in the placement portion of the program for any reason, the student is required to make up all these missed hours.
- If the student does not make up the missed placement hours, they will be considered unsuccessful in completing the placement and cannot graduate until 100 % has been successfully completed.
Course Calendars
Student Expulsion Policy
ABM College has a zero tolerance policy regarding the following:
1. Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty is:
(a) Cheating, plagiarism, or unapproved collaboration.
(b) Alteration of records, bribery, or falsification of information.
(c) Use of aids that have not been expressly permitted by instructors.
(d) Theft or solicitation of another student’s assignments, paperwork, tests, or personal belongings.
(e) Intentionally attempting to assist another student to commit any act of academic dishonesty.
2. Outstanding Fees
Failure to pay tuition or other fees due to ABM College is considered a debt to the College. Students may be expelled if fees are not paid after the College has provided written warning.
3. Harassment or Discrimination
Harassment and discrimination is a serious offense, there is a zero tolerance policy at ABM College. Students are required to be respectful to their peers, instructors, and office staff. Students participating in harassment or discriminatory activities are subject to suspension under pending investigation. Expulsion will be automatic for any student who will be deemed, after the result of the investigation, to have engaged in harassment or discriminatory activities. For more information, please see our sexual misconduct policy.
4. Significant Omissions in Admissions Documentation
Students who knowingly misrepresent their personal information on their application forms are subject to immediate expulsion.
5. Academic Failure
Students who fail courses even after repeat exams, or who fail the lab evaluation or their practicum or their second practicum may be expelled from the College.
6. Misuse of College Property
Students who damage, misuse, steal or otherwise use the property in a manner prohibited by common sense may be expelled and will be required to make restitution to the College.
Student Sexual Violence & Harassment Policy
The following Policy applies to all students of the ABM College in regards to sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Policy Application
ABM College will appropriately accommodate the needs of students who are affected by sexual violence and sexual harassment, by providing support and services such as schedule and class modifications and providing references for community based support. ABM College Campus Administrator will be in contact with the affected student to ensure that such accommodations or supports and services are obtained and if additional support is needed to assist students with such. Students affected by sexual violence will also have supports and services available from the community. Please refer to page 9 of the Student Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment policy.
The Scope
The Policy applies to complaints of sexual violence or sexual harassment that have occurred on ABM College campus or at an ABM College event and involve students of the career college community as defined in paragraph one, the Policy Application.
Purpose and Intent
All students of the ABM College community have a right to study in an environment free of sexual violence and sexual harassment.
This document sets out our policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment, defines the prohibited behaviours, and outlines our investigative processes for sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Policy Objectives
ABM College is committed to providing students of our career college, an educational environment free from sexual violence and sexual harassment and treating those individuals who report incidents of sexual violence or sexual harassment with dignity and respect.
ABM College will educate and train faculty, staff and students about this Policy and how to identify situations that involve, or could progress into sexual violence or sexual harassment and how to reduce these forms of prohibited behaviours.
Where a complaint has been made, under this Policy, of sexual violence or sexual harassment ABM College will take all reasonable steps to investigate it, including as follows:
- a) Responding promptly to any complaint and providing reasonable updates to the complainant and the respondent about the status of the investigation;
- b) Assisting those who have experienced sexual violence or sexual harassment in obtaining counselling and medical care;
- c) Providing those who have experienced sexual violence or sexual harassment with appropriate academic and other accommodation;
- d) Providing those who have experienced sexual violence or sexual harassment with information about reporting options; and
- e) Providing on-campus investigation procedures for sexual violence and sexual harassment complaints.
Definition of Sexual Misconduct
This Policy prohibits sexual misconduct, which includes sexual violence and sexual harassment. Sexual Violence, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes:
- a) Sexual assault which is any type of an unwanted sex act done by one person to another, without that person’s consent, that violates the sexual integrity of an individual ranging from unwanted touching to penetration;
- b) Any violence, physical or psychological, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexuality, including sexual abuse; and
- c) Criminal harassment (including stalking and cyber bullying). Sexual Harassment, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes:
- d) Any course of vexatious comment or conduct of a sexual nature that is known or ought reasonably to have been known to be unwelcome, including:
- e) Offensive jokes or comments of a sexual nature;
- f) Displaying of pornographic or sexist pictures or materials, including online;
- g) Suggestive or offensive remarks;
- h) Unwelcome language related to gender;
- i) Remarks, jokes, innuendoes, propositions, or taunting about a person’s body, attire, sex or sexual orientation;
- j) leering or inappropriate staring;
- k) Bragging about sexual prowess;
- l) Physical contact such as touching, patting, or pinching, with an underlying sexual connotation; and
- m) Sexual solicitation or advance made by a person in a position to confer, grant or deny a benefit or advancement to the person where the person making the solicitation or advance knows or ought reasonably to know that it is unwelcome.
Reporting and Responding of Sexual Violence
A student must report to the Campus Administrator in order to file a complaint on sexual violence.
All members of our career college community will take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual violence on our career college campus or events and report immediately to the ABM College if they are subject to, witness or have knowledge of sexual violence, or have reason to believe that sexual violence has occurred or may occur.
To a possible extent, ABM College will attempt to keep all information disclosed confidential except in those circumstances it believes an individual is at imminent risk of self-harm, or of harming another, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that others in the our career community are at risk.
ABM College recognizes the right of the Complainant to determine whether their complaint will be dealt with by the police and/or ABM College. However, in certain circumstances, ABM College may be required by law or its internal policies to initiate an internal investigation and/or inform police without the complainant’s consent, if it believes the safety of members of its career college community is at risk.
If students, in good faith, report an incident of, or make a complaint about, sexual violence, they will not be subject to discipline or sanctions for violations of the private career college’s policies relating to drug or alcohol use at the time the alleged sexual violence occurred.
Students are not required to report an incident of, or make a complaint about, sexual violence under the process to obtain (as stated in section 1), such supports and services or accommodation.
Students also have a right to refuse an official investigation upon complaint or to participate in any investigation conducted by ABM College that might occur.
Students who disclose their experience of sexual violence through reporting an incident of, making a complaint about, or accessing supports and services for sexual violence, will not be asked irrelevant questions during the investigation process by the private career college’s staff or investigators, including irrelevant questions relating to the student’s sexual expression or past sexual history.
The complaint and any official investigations held by the College will be conducted by the campus administrator and student service department at every stage of the process of investigation.
Investigating Reports of Sexual Violence
A complaint of sexual violence may be filed under this Policy, by any student of our career college community, to the ABM College in writing.
Upon a complaint of alleged sexual violence being made the ABM College will initiate an investigation, including as follows:
- a) Determining whether the incident should be referred immediately to police;
- b) Meeting with the complainant to determine the date and time of the incident, the persons involved, the names of any person who witnessed the incident and a complete description of what occurred;
- c) Interviewing the complainant, any person involved in the incident and any identified witnesses;
- d) Interviewing any other person who may have knowledge of incidents related to the complaint or any other similar incidents;
- e) Informing the respondent of the complaint, providing details of the allegations and giving the respondent an opportunity to respond to those allegations;
- f) Providing reasonable updates to the complainant and the respondent about the status of the investigation; and
- g) Determining what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken.
A party to an investigation or decision-making process has the right to have a person present with them at every stage of the process. In the interest of procedural fairness, a party to an investigation or decision-making process has the right to have a person present with them at every stage of the process.
Reporting Sexual Harassment
All members of our career college community will take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment on our career college campus or events and report immediately to the ABM College if they are subject to, witness or have knowledge of sexual harassment, or have reason to believe that sexual harassment has occurred or may occur.
To a possible extent, ABM College will attempt to keep all information disclosed confidential, except in those circumstances it believes an individual is at imminent risk of self-harm, or of harming another, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that others in our career community are at risk.
If the complainant decides not to lay a formal complaint, ABM College may in certain circumstances, be required by law or its internal policies to initiate an internal investigation if it believes the safety of members of its career college community is at risk.
Investigating Reports of Sexual Harassment
If a student of our career college community believes they have been sexually harassed by a member of our career college community, they may confront the harasser personally or in writing pointing out the unwelcome behaviour and requesting that it stop; or
Report the complaint to ABM College in writing.
Upon receiving a complaint of alleged sexual harassment being made to any of ABM College Designates, ABM College designates will initiate an investigation, including as follows:
- a) Meeting with the complainant to determine the date and time of the incident, the persons involved, the names of any person who witnessed the incident and a complete description of what occurred;
- b) Interviewing the complainant, any person involved in the incident and any identified witnesses;
- c) Interviewing any other person who may have knowledge of incidents related to the complaint or any other similar incidents;
- d) Informing the respondent of the complaint, providing details of the allegations and giving the individual an opportunity to respond to those allegations;
- e) Providing reasonable updates to the complainant and the respondent about the status of the investigation; and
- f) Determining what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken.
Disciplinary Measures
If it is determined by ABM College that a student of our career college community has been involved in sexual violence or sexual harassment of a fellow student or member of our career college community, immediate disciplinary or corrective action will be taken up to and including suspension and/or expulsion of a student and or placement of restriction on the respondent’s ability certain premises or facilities.
In cases where criminal proceedings are initiated, ABM College will assist police agencies, lawyers, insurance companies, and courts to the fullest extent.
Where criminal and/or civil proceedings are commenced in respect of allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment, ABM College may conduct its own independent investigation and make its own determination in accordance with its own policies and procedures.
ABM College will take measures in place to ensure individuals involved in the investigation or complaint and their personal information is kept confidential and protected.
Interim Measures
ABM College many impose interim measures while an investigation is underway. These measures are not disciplinary but precautionary and will be assessed on a weekly basis while a decision is impending. All parties will be immediately be notified of any changes made to these measures.
Appeal
Should the Complainants and/or Respondents, not agree with the decision resulting from the investigation process they will be able to make an appeal within 14 business days to the Campus Administrator by submitting a letter. The Campus Administrator will have the right to deny or grant the appeal based on the grounds of appeal. In a case if an appeal is granted, the Complainant and/or Respondent must provide evidence and information to support their reasons of unfair or biased manner of investigation and decision making.
Making False Statements
It is a violation of this Policy for anyone to knowingly make a false complaint of sexual violence or sexual harassment or to provide false information about a complaint. Individuals who violate this Policy are subject to disciplinary and / or corrective action, up to and including termination of employment or expulsion.
Review
ABM College of Health and Technology shall ensure that student input is considered in the development of its Sexual Violence Policy and every time it is reviewed or amended.
ABM College of Health and Technology shall review its Sexual Violence Policy every 3 years after it is first implemented and amend it where appropriate. The next date for review date is December 1, 2026.
Collection of Student Data
ABM College of Health and Technology shall collect and be prepared to provide upon request by the Superintendent of Private Career Colleges such data and information as required according to Subsections 32.1 (8), (9), (10) and (11) of Schedule 5 of the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 as amended.
Reprisal
It is a violation of this Policy to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against a complainant, acting in good faith, which has brought forward a complaint of sexual violence or sexual harassment, provided information related to a complaint, or otherwise been involved in the complaint investigation process.
Student Withdrawal Policy
For the purpose of Alberta student funding, ABM College must consider a funded student as withdrawn under any of the following circumstances:
- As per section 6 (c) of the Alberta Institution Designation Agreement (AIDA), when a student has missed five consecutive class days without contacting the institution, before or during the absence, to provide a reasonable excuse. In this case, the effective date of the student’s withdrawal is the first of the five days that the student was absent.
- When a student with a reasonable excuse is absent for more than 30 consecutive days, the effective date of the withdrawal is the first day during this period that the student was absent.
- When a student has excessive absences that will prevent him/her from successfully completing the program within the scheduled study period. In this case the effective date of student’s withdrawal is the last day that the student was in attendance.
Program Fees
Cybersecurity Diploma
- Registration Fee: CAN $225.00
- Tuition: CAN $28,089.00
- Books and Supplies: CAN $689.32
- Training Completion Fund: CAN $140.45
- Other Admin Fees: N/A
- International Student Admin Fee (if applicable): N/A
- Total Cost: CAN $29,143.77
Web Design & Development Diploma
- Registration Fee: CAN $225.00
- Tuition: CAN $25,700.00
- Books and Supplies: CAN $3,600.00
- Training Completion Fund: CAN $128.50
- Other Admin Fees: N/A
- International Student Admin Fee (if applicable): N/A
Total Cost: CAN $29,653.50
Fee Refund Policy
Refunds to Students
A private vocational institution must refund all money received or realized in respect of a student being enrolled in a program of instruction it provides if
- (a) The registration of the registrant to operate the institution is cancelled; or
- (b) The institution
- (i) Ceases to provide instruction in the program while the student is still enrolled, or
- (ii) Expels the student without cause.
Providing Training Without Registration
A person who provides a program of instruction before being registered as a registrant must refund all fees that have been paid in respect of the vocational training.
Refunds Re: Actions of Students
(1) Subject to section 16 of the Act, the private vocational institution must refund the following fees:
- (a) if the student ceases to be enrolled before the start date of the program, all money received or realized in respect of the program except any non-refundable fees specified as required under sub clause 11(1)(d)(iv);
- (b) if the student ceases to be enrolled after the start date of the program, the percentage of paid tuition fees set out in first column of the following table based on the percentage of the program completed by the student at the time the student ceases to be enrolled as set out opposite in the second column:
- Percentage of paid tuition fees refunded Percentage of program completed at time the student ceases to be enrolled
- 75% of paid tuition fees refunded Up to 20%
- 50% of paid tuition fees refunded 21% to 50%
- No tuition fees refunded 51% or more
(2) in determining the percentage of the program completed at the time the student ceases to be enrolled,
- (a) Each assignment and each hour or class in a program of instruction is of equal value; and
- (b) A student is deemed to have attended every regularly scheduled hour of instruction or, in the case of a program provided by correspondence or other means, to have submitted each regularly scheduled assignment until the day immediately before the date the student ceases to be enrolled.
Refund of Materials Fee
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a private vocational institution must refund any materials fee when a student rescinds their contract under section 16 of the Act or when a student ceases to be enrolled in the program of instruction if the student returns the materials to the institution
- (a) Within 10 days after ceasing to be enrolled in the program; and
- (b) In substantially the same condition as the materials were in when they were received by the student.
(2) a materials fee is not refundable for materials that (a) are personal use items; or (b) have been removed from their packaging.
(3) for certainty, a digital version of a book or text is eligible for a refund if the code used to access its contents has not been used.
Non-Refundable Fees
Except as provided under section 16 of the Act, a student is not entitled to a refund of
- (a) a registration fee; or
- (b) In the case of an international student, the international student administration fee under subclause 11(1)(d)(v) of their student contract.
When Student Ceases to be Enrolled
Under this regulation, a student ceases to be enrolled in a program of instruction on the earliest of the date that
- (a) The private vocational institution
- (i) Receives the student's written notice of withdrawal from the program of instruction,
- (ii) Cancels the student's enrolment under section 32, or
- (iii) expels the student from their program of instruction; or
- (b) the student
- (i) exceeds the number of absences allowed under the private vocational institution's attendance policy, or
- (ii) graduates from the institution.
Cancellation of Enrolment of International Students
A private vocational institution that receives written notice that a prospective international student is unable to obtain entry into Canada
- (a) Must
- (i) Not enroll the student in a program of instruction, or
- (ii) If the student is enrolled, cancel the student's enrolment within five days after receiving the notice; and
- (b) Must refund any money received from or on behalf of the student.
Payment of Refunds
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a student is entitled to a refund from a private vocational institution, the refund must be paid directly to the student.
(2) If a student is entitled to a refund and the institution received any payment of the student's fees from a government program, an agency or a person other than the student, the institution must pay the refund, on the student's behalf, to the government, agency or other person.
(3) The institution must issue a refund payment within 30 days after the refund becomes payable.
Student Privacy Policy
ABM College is bound by federal laws to protect the privacy of its students and all student information. The college respects the right to privacy of its students and is committed to safeguarding the personal and contact information of each student and graduate. ABM College will not disclose a student’s personal information without a prior written consent of the student.
At ABM College we protect the personal information collected from students, graduates, staff and other business partners. This includes the training of employees and the establishment of control systems for responsible use of personal information that is accessible to college employees while performing work-related duties. The college directs its employees to exercise caution when disclosing personal information to others. Access to personal information is limited to the following:
- An individual accessing his or her own personal information
- An employee of the College with authorized access based on a legitimate academic or business need
- Any organization or person authorized by the individual to receive the information
- Authorized legal agent, government body, or representative under the circumstance where the college complies with the release of personal information,
- Individuals or entity as permitted by law where deemed to be necessary for reasonable conduct of college business
For information on ABM College's online privacy procedures, please refer to our Privacy Policy page.
Photographic/Media Consent Policy
All students consent to ABM College collecting and using their personal images by photography or video recording for use on the ABM College website, in newsletters, publications and marketing purposes.
Students also consent to ABM College’s collection and use of their public opinions, ratings, reviews, testimonials, statements, images, or recordings that relate to ABM College for marketing purposes. Any misuse of such statements, images or recordings by other parties does not make ABM College liable.
If a student chooses to refrain from using their image, recordings or other intellectual property, he/she must provide the college with a written letter stating that they do not want this information to be used by the college. With this choice, ABM College will refrain from using the student’s images or intellectual property.
International Students
Communication Consent
By enrolling at ABM College, the student agrees or opts-in to receive emails, text messages, faxes, social media messages (e.g. Facebook) and phone calls from ABM College for the duration of their program, and after completion of their program for communication purposes only.
The purpose of these forms of communications is for educational purposes, maintaining student databases, complying with government regulations with respect to maintaining statistics, and invitations to future college events (e.g. alumni guest speakers).
Updated June 2024