December 2006 Call For Comment

The Commission is seeking information on the interest among schools for offering programs to train professionals to offer permanent make-up services. Based on the interest shown, the Commission will decide whether or not to expand its scope to include permanent make-up and petition the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education to include accreditation of institutions offering education in the field of permanent make-up within the recognition of NACCAS' accreditation activities.

1. I would like to be able to offer education and training in permanent make-up under my current grant of accreditation at my institution

2. My state requires a licence, certificate, or permit for professionals providing permanent make-up services:

Please identify your state:

3. The agency in my state with oversight of permanent make-up licensing is:

Proposed Wording

CANCELLATION AND SETTLEMENT POLICY AND MINIMUM REFUND GUIDELINES

The institution must state its policy and schedule of refund in clear language that can be easily understood. The policy must apply to all terminations for any reason, by either party, including student decision, program or course cancellation and school closure.

1. State, Federal, and/or special program mandated refund policy

When calculating refunds, the school must use the policy mandated by state and/or federal regulatory agencies or special programs for each student, as applicable. If the Commission receives information that an institution is not complying with a mandated policy, it shall take appropriate action pursuant to the Rules of Practice and Procedure.

2. NACCAS Refund Policy

For a student to whom no state or federal or special program refund policy applies, the school shall apply a policy which complies with the NACCAS refund policy.

The intent of the NACCAS Cancellation and Settlement Policy and Minimum Refund Guidelines is to see that each applicant/student is assured minimum conditions of refund, and that the institution will be assured of its integrity if it meets these standards. When calculating refunds, the school must use
the policy mandated by state and/or federal regulatory agencies for each student. In the absence of such mandated policies, the school must apply a fair and equitable policy that is at least as liberal as the NACCAS Cancellation and Settlement Policy and Minimum Refund Guidelines. Many institutions however, have more liberal policies and the Commission encourages such practices. No institution should feel that it must adhere to the specific conditions stated here; only that its policy is at least liberal to the student as this one.

a. Any monies due the applicant or student shall be refunded within 30 45 days of official cancellation or withdrawal. Official cancellation or withdrawal shall occur on the earlier of the dates that

1. An applicant is not accepted by the school. This applicant shall be entitled to a refund of all monies paid with the exception of an application fee.

1. For a school that is required to take attendance, to determine if
a refund has been paid timely, count from the date withdrawal has been determined. However, for schools that measure their progress in clock hours, the refund is calculated based on the student's last date of attendance.

2. A student (or in the case of a student under legal age, his/her parent or guardian) cancels his/her contract and demands his/her money back in writing, within three business days of the signing of the enrollment agreement or contract. In this case all monies collected by the school shall be refunded except an application fee. This policy applies regardless of whether or not the student has actually started training.

3. A student cancels his/her contract after three business days after signing, but prior to entering classes. In this case he/she shall be entitled to a refund of all monies paid to the school less an application, registration or enrollment fee of (state the amount for each course of study).

4. A student notifies the institution of his/her withdrawal;

5. A student on an approved leave of absence notifies the school that he or she will no be returning. The date of withdrawal shall be the earlier of the date of expiration of the leave of absence or the date the student notifies the institution that the student will not be returning; or

6. A student is expelled by the school.

7. In type 2, 3, 4 or 5 official cancellations or withdrawals, the cancellation date will be determined by the postmark on written notification, or the date said information is delivered to the school administrator/owner in person.

b. Any monies due a student who unofficially withdraws from the institution shall be refunded within 30 45 days of a determination by the institution that the student has withdrawn without notifying the institution. To determine unofficial withdrawals, the school must monitor each student's completion of class participation i learning activities (such as class assignments, examinations, tutorials, computer-assisted instruction, and participation in academic advisement or other academically-related activities).1 For programs measured in clock hours, unofficial withdrawals must be monitored and determined by the institution at the times it normally monitors attendance, but a minimum of once a month (every 30 days).

[The remainder of the Policy would remain the same.]

Proposed Wording:

NACCAS' Rules of Practice and Procedure, Part 4

Sub-Part G - Commission Action on Changes

Section 4.23 Conditional Approval of Changes

(a) - With respect to applications for the categories of changes listed in subdivision (b), the Executive Director of NACCAS has authority to grant conditioned approval for the change if

(1) The application for approval of a change is complete;
(2) The application does not violate NACCAS Standards and Criteria or require any waiver of NACCAS Rules of Practice and Procedure;
(3) No special circumstances surround the applicant;2 and
(4) NACCAS has no information from government entities or other outside sources raising questions about the applicant's current compliance with accreditation requirements or ability to continue complying with accreditation requirements.

(b) The changes for which the Executive Director of NACCAS has authority to grant conditional approval are:

(1) Change of name;
(2) Category 1 relocation;
(3) Change of ownership;
(4) Provisional Branch Campus;
(5) Expanded campus facilities;
(6) Addition or change of program;
(7) Manner of measuring academic programs;
(8) Change in participation in Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs;
(9) Teach out and closure agreements;
(10) Withdrawal of change applications.

In all cases not granted conditional approval, the Executive Director shall refer the record on the application for consideration by the full Commission.

(c) The Executive Director does not have authority to grant conditional approval to applications for

(1) change of mission, degree or credential;
(2) Category 2 relocate
(3) Affiliated institutions
(4) Final Branch;
(5) Contracting for education programs or courses.

Section 4.24 4.23 Commission Action on Changes

With respect to applications for changes under this Part, the record for the application will be taken up and considered by the full Commission.

(a) The Commission may receive recommendations from the Executive Director and/or a designated committee;

(b) The full Commission may approve the change, and continue the institution's accreditation or take any of the actions set out in Part 8 of these Rules; or

(c) Deny Approval: A denial of approval of a change under this Part is appealable in accordance with Part 9 of these Rules.

Section 5.0 Annual Report

(a) Every year, each school holding accreditation status, or status as an applicant for initial accreditation3 shall submit an Annual Report on forms and in the manner required by the Commission. The report and required documents must be received in the NACCAS office no later than the due date. Failure to submit a complete Annual Report by the due date may result in the withdrawal of the school's accreditation and in late fees as determined in Appendix #2 of these Rules.

1 Applicants for initial accreditation must submit their first annual report to NACCAS in the year in which they apply for initial accreditation. The report shall be for the previous year. An applicant for initial accreditation must submit its first annual report to NACCAS with its application for initial accreditation.