If the US DOE or the school questions the validity of the high school’s credentials, the institution will first check the “Unacceptable Proof of Graduation” list. If the high school is on that list it will be judged as unacceptable. If it is not on that list but the institution still questions the validity of the high school credential we will ask for a transcript from the high school showing classes completed and passed. If the Adult Career Center is still not satisfied as to the validity of the credential, we may contact the states’ Department of Education in which the school is located to ascertain if the high school is approved by the state.

If your diploma is from a foreign country you must :

• Have the diploma translated into English
• Once the diploma has been translated into English it must be reviewed by a credential evaluator to determine if it is equivalent to a U.S. diploma.
• Student must submit the credential evaluator’s determination information in its original format.

A list of evaluators who belong to The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services can be found on-line at www.naces.org. This list is for your comparison and the Adult Career Center does not recommend one agency above another. Evaluators do charge for this service and it can take several weeks, so be sure to start this process early in your enrollment process.

If high school or High School Equivalency verification cannot be produced, mitigating circumstances will be considered at the request of the student if the student can produce an alternate transcript or proof of degree from a post-secondary institution to the Adult Career Center.
The final determination on the validity of high school credentials rests solely with MCCTC Adult Career Center.

Any student who changes his/her address or phone number during the year must report the change of address to the Adult Career Center Business Office and the Financial Aid Office if receiving aid.

Accepting transfer of credit for another institution is at the discretion of MCCTC Adult Career Center. There is no guarantee that transfer of credit is accepted unless met by the stated guidelines. Students wishing to transfer prior credit must submit their transcripts within 30 days of applying to the Career Center.  Veteran students must submit their transcripts within 60 days of applying.  Acceptance of a transfer credit for a course completed in other postsecondary institutions when comparable in scope to the coursework offered may be granted based on meeting the following factors:

• Comparability of the nature, content, and level of transfer of credit and the appropriateness and applicability of the credit earned to programs offered by MCCTC Adult Career Center are determining factors in the evaluation process for transfer credit to be awarded.
• The student must also meet the acceptable standards of educational accomplishment through a given assessment according to the offered course module (must obtain a 2.0 or better). The assessment will reflect a valid evaluation measure to represent a student learning outcome applicable to that transfer of credit that is reflective of the coursework offered within the Industry Credential Program.
• The course should align with the curriculum and materials and topics covered in the courses offered at the Adult Career Center program.
• Evidence of appropriate academic level may also be requested showing satisfactory grades for the course completed as well as a request of the syllabus or study guide for the course.

The decision to accept an academic transfer of credit may include the Adult Career Center Director, Director of Nursing, Program Coordinators, and instructors of Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.  No more than 10% of the total program hours can be granted as transfer credits, with the exception of Practical Nursing students being readmitted into the next enrolling cohort. See the Practical Nursing Readmission Policy for more details.

For Adult Diploma graduates, the credit of hours as designated by the approved course will be granted upon successful completion of the training program and meeting the requirements to obtain the high school diploma issued by the Ohio Department of Education. The credit of hours for Adult Diploma may only be granted for entering the full-time program at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center that correlates to the specific career pathway.  tuition and fees will be prorated accordingly.

The MCCTC Adult Career Center maintains articulation agreements with the University of Akron, Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College, and Youngstown State University.

Most program tuitions include the first-time cost of required books, supplies, uniforms, and certification fees, unless otherwise noted. Students must provide their own hand tools in some of the classes.Students in Pell-eligible programs will determine if they would like books and supplies included in their tuition and also authorize the use of Title IV funds towards these expenses or if they would like to opt out including these in tuition and utilize their own resources to purchase these outside of MCCTC. An award letter with this option to “include or opt out” will be given to students receiving Title IV funds prior to the first day of class.Lost or stolen books, tools and/or supplies will be replaced at the expense of the student.Students not passing their certification exams the first time will incur out of pocket expenses each additional exam sitting including, but not limited to: certification fees as set by certifying body and proctoring fees of $50.00 per hour as applicable.

There will be a $35.00 charge for any checks returned for insufficient funds. Students with an excellent payment history with the ACC may set up a school payment plan to cover school-related expenses.If an employer will be making payment for a course, an original letter on company letterhead must accompany the registration form.

In order for a student to continue enrollment into the next payment period all tuition costs from the previous payment period must be paid in full. All programs costs must be paid in full prior to a student sitting for certifications, beginning an externship and in order to graduate.

In regards to students utilizing Veteran benefits, MCCTC will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities, or require that a Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 recipient borrow additional funds to cover the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Programs requiring a minimum number of completed hours prior to certification testing, EMT and Firefighting , will offer makeup hours at the student’s expense at a rate of $30.00 per hour. No more than eight (8) hours can be made-up. Please note: Because of the scope of these programs, some classes/hours cannot be made up. Please discuss any absences with your instructor prior to absence.

Students who have been accepted into the program may withdraw from the program voluntarily at any point.  It is highly recommended that the student have a personal interview with an administrator upon withdrawal.  Students attending classes should submit a written notification of withdrawal within seven (7) days of their last day in attendance. The day a student submits written notification of withdraw is considered their exit date. A student will cease to be enrolled (1) day after the exit date or written notification of withdraw has been provided. Beginning on the day an individual ceases to be enrolled the following policy will apply:

Please Note:

• The term “withdraw” defines any reason for a student leaving school, whether it is initiated by the student or by the school.
• Student accounts are charged all related costs for the entire program (start to finish) upon initial enrollment, not per term or payment period.
• The student is responsible upon separation from the program for their account.
• Any course not attempted will not be represented on a course transcript.
• Withdrawn students who begin a course, but withdraw prior to completion of that course, will receive a mark of “W”

When calculating refunds, failure to give notification of withdrawal (unofficial drop) will result in the Adult Career Center waiting 10 calendar days from your last day in attendance to officially withdraw you from the program and defining that 10^th day as your official withdrawal/exit date.  A student will cease to be enrolled (1) day after the exit date. Calculations for refund purposes begins on the day an individual ceases to be enrolled.

Students withdrawn from school who have not fulfilled financial obligations to the school will not be awarded certificates until the students’ accounts are paid in full.  Students who withdraw will not receive a Career Passport.

Students receiving the Pell Grant, Direct Student Loans and/or other financial assistance who withdraw or are terminated may not have “earned” the full amount of financial assistance he/she was originally scheduled to receive.  The student “earns” his or her Title IV funds by attending classes and may be required to return all or a portion of those funds upon leaving school.  Therefore students planning to withdraw should schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Officer before leaving the program to discuss their aid eligibility and financial responsibilities.  If the student is receiving Direct Student Loans, the student is required to complete federal loan exit counseling at studentaid.gov and any other federal financial aid loan requirements upon withdrawal.

Regardless of circumstances, students receiving Title IV funds that are withdrawn or terminated from a Pell eligible program are subject to the U.S. Department of Education’s Return of Title IV Funds Policy (see Addendum A, Financial Aid Procedures).  Title IV eligibility is calculated based on the student’s last day in attendance as determined by attendance sign-in sheets; students receiving Veterans Benefits or other third party agency (e.g., TAA, WIA, MCTA) funding are subject to the return of funds policy governing that agency.  For information on policies governing Veterans Benefits call the Department of Veteran Affairs Education Customer Service Office at 1-888-442-4551.  For information on the return of funds policies governing specific funding agencies contact your case manager.

The refund process of any credit balance to the student will be made within 45 days of the student’s last day of attendance, without request from the student.  Refund checks will be mailed to the student unless other arrangements are made in writing by the student at the time of withdrawal.

In the event a student’s account maintains a balance due after the student is withdrawn and all calculations are completed, the student will have 30 days of the date of notification to make full payment.  Payment will be accepted in cash, cashier’s check or credit card.  Payments can be made by mail, in person during normal business hours or charge by phone. Any account not paid in full within 30 days will be subject to collection through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

In the event that a student must withdraw due to extreme mitigating circumstances, an alternative pay arrangement may be made with the institution in lieu of the standard 30-day full payment requirement. Such arrangements are subject to approval by the Adult Career Center Director. Payments via alternate arrangements will be accepted in monthly installment amounts no less than 10% of the account balance at the time of withdrawal. Failure to make payment by the agreed upon standards set forth in a Student Payment Plan Agreement Contract will be subject to collection through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Student accounts that are not paid in full after 30 days will be turned over to the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The Ohio Attorney General’s office serves as the chief collection agent for the Adult Career Center. The Attorney General’s Office charges a collection fee that will be passed on to the student debtor. When a student account has been turned over The Attorney General’s Office payment from the debtor must be made directly to the Attorney General’s Office in the form of check, credit cards or the internet. A debtor’s state tax refund, racino, lottery and the state’s unclaimed funds may be offset to obtain payment.

The Adult Career Center does not grant official leave of absence. Therefore, a student who is unable to attend classes for an extended period of time must withdraw from the training program and reapply when circumstances allow for re-entry.