Catalog

SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY

Portnov Computer School, a private postsecondary School, is committed to academic excellence. Its primary functions are to teach, preserve, and expand the knowledge which is essential in attaining educational and career goals. The School believes there is a significant need in concentrated short-term career or seminar training programs that allow students to find employment or enhance their skills to achieve better careers. The School also believes that intensive short-term academic programs fulfill the needs of persons desiring to make a career change without having enough time to complete a full time college program. The programs developed by the School address the needs of these people.

The School offers only courses in the field of Software Quality Assurance and Information Technologies. It offers no courses other than these, no liberal arts courses, no minors or other departures from its specialty fields. The programs are intensive and extensive. To complete them, students must be focused as they go through a full college level text books during just a few week period. It's a demanding program, but the School believes it works.

Because of the relatively short time students are taking courses, the School is especially sensitive to the needs of every student in order to meet the objectives of the programs. Classes are small, about 10-15 students per class. This allows our instructors to involve all students in lively participation in discussions, problem solving, and other class activities. This also allows to find the right approach to each student, the approach that we feel will maximize each student's unique capabilities and potential for advancement. The School invites all prospective students to audit the classes, meet the students and instructors prior to making a final decision concerning the enrollment.

The School believes its educational methods are effective and expedient. We trust you will too.

It is the policy of the Portnov Computer School not to discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or within the limits imposed by law, age, or disability in all of its educational programs and activities, its policies, practices and procedures.


CANCELLATION AND WITHDRAWAL POLICIES

Any written contract or agreement signed by a prospective student is not operative until the student attends the first class or session of instruction.

A student has a right to cancel the Enrollment Agreement with the School, withdraw from a course at any time, and receive a refund (see REFUND POLICY) by providing a written Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund to:
Director. Portnov Computer School.
1580 W. El Camino Real # 12, Mountain View, CA 94040

For the purpose of sending refunds in timely manner, the date of withdrawal is determined as the date when the School receives the Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund.

For the purpose of calculating the percentage of tuition received, the date of withdrawal is determined as follows:

a) If the student delivers the Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund to the School in person (or with a help of a relative, friend, etc.) prior to or on the first day of instruction, the date of withdrawal is the date of signing the Request.

b) If the student signs the Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund prior to or on the first day of instruction, mails it to the School, and the letter with enclosed Request is postmarked within two business days from the date of signing, the date of withdrawal is the date of signing the Request; if the letter with enclosed Request is not postmarked within two business days from the date of signing, the date of withdrawal is the date the letter was postmarked.

c) If the student has enrolled in a course but never attended the course, the date of withdrawal is the first day of instruction.

d) If the student delivers the Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund to the School in person (or with a help of a relative, friend, etc.) within one week following the date he/she last attended the course, the date of withdrawal is the date of last attendance of the course.

e) If the student mails the Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund to the School, and the letter with enclosed Request is postmarked within one week following the date he/she last attended the course, the date of withdrawal is the date of last attendance of the course; if the letter with enclosed Request is not postmarked within one week from the date of the last attendance of the course, the date of withdrawal is the date the School receives the letter with enclosed Request.

If the student is unable (due to illness or other reasons) to notify the School on timely basis of the decision or necessity to cancel or withdraw, the student or his/her authorized representative is supposed to contact the School as soon as it becomes possible, and to discuss the issue with the Director of the School or Director of Education.

 

Refund policy

If the student cancels the Enrollment Agreement prior to or on the first day of instruction, the School will refund the amount paid less the amount of $75.00 for the registration fee.

If the student signed the Enrollment Agreement for a course but never attended the course, the School will refund the amount paid less the amount of $75.00 for the registration fee.

If the student has attended the course and withdraws from the course after the first day of instruction but prior to completion of the course, or otherwise fails to complete the course or the period of enrollment, a student who has completed 60 percent or less of the course will be paid by the School a prorated refund of the unused portion of tuition.

Example of calculating a prorated refund.
A student has completed 32 hours out of 80 hours of tuition, and by the time of withdrawal paid $1,000 for the course. The total cost of the course is $2,000.00. The registration fee of $75.00 is non-refundable.

The hourly charge for the course is ($2,000.00 – $75.00)/80 = $24.0625

The amount owed by the student for 32 hours of tuition is 32 x $24.0625 = $770.00

The total amount owed by the student is $770.00 (tuition) + $75.00 (registration fee) = $845.00

The student has completed 32/80 = 40% of the course and is entitled to a refund.

The School will refund $155.00 (one hundred fifty five dollars):
$1,000.00 (paid by the student) – $845.00 (owed by the student) = $155.00

If the School cancels or discontinues a course, the School will make a full refund of all charges paid for the course that was not provided. The refund will be paid within 30 days following the date upon which the course has been determined as cancelled or discontinued.

Refunds for the courses (that are not subject to 4.) will be paid within 30 days following the date upon which the student's withdrawal has been determined.

Procedure to cancel or withdraw and obtain a refund

If the School cancels or discontinues a course, no actions are required from the student to obtain a refund. The School will send a check for a full refund to every student enrolled in the cancelled/discontinued or otherwise not provided course.

To cancel the Enrollment Agreement, withdraw from the course (that is not subject to 1.), and obtain a refund, a student has to submit the written Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund. The Form for the Request will be provided on the date the student signs the Enrollment Agreement.

The information submitted by the student in the Request for Cancellation/Withdrawal and Refund will be compared with the School records. If there is a discrepancy, a copy of the student's Request with the discrepancies specified will be mailed to the student, and he/she will be requested to submit any evidence (receipts, cancelled checks, statement of facts, etc.) to prove the correctness of submitted information. If the student fails to submit the requested proof within seven business days from the date the School mailed the copy of the student's Request, the eligibility for a refund and amount to be refunded will be determined in accordance with the School records.


RULES OF OPERATION

General rules

Classes begin promptly at a scheduled time. A break will be taken at a scheduled time determined by the Instructor.

Courses are on a clock hour basis. An academic hour is 50 minutes.

Smoking is not permitted in any area of the building and within 25 feet from the building.

No eating or drinking in the classrooms! There are the designated areas in the School for eating or drinking.

The telephones in the office areas of the School are not for students use. Only in case of emergency these telephones may be used by students (both for calling and receiving messages).

The students have to remember that the School is located in the office building and other occupants of the building are not to be disturbed by the School students.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend all sessions of each course. The students will be notified in writing of unsatisfactory attendance, if accumulated unexcused hours of absences exceed twenty percent of the total number of course hours. A copy of the notification will be placed in the student's file. If accumulated unexcused hours of absences exceed thirty percent of the total number of course hours, the student will be advised in writing to withdraw from the course. A copy of the notification will be placed in the student's file.

Tardiness
Tardiness disrupts the learning environment and is therefore discouraged. Tardiness without legitimate reason on any three occasions during the course is considered as one unexcused absence. A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom within ten minutes of the class start time. It is the responsibility of the Instructor to make notes of students' tardiness in the Attendance sheet.

Leave-of-absence
A written request for leave-of-absence should be submitted to the Director of Education for approval. Only one leave-of-absence may be granted during any one course. When a student returns from the approved leave-of-absence, he/she will be allowed to additionally attend the other group sessions to make up a deficiency caused by the absence. In case of long-lasting leave-of-absence, a student may be offered to transfer completely to other group. All educational charges by the School are suspended during the approved leave-of-absence period.

If a student fails to return from a leave-of-absence, the School reserves the right to dismiss the student from the School.

Assessment and grading
During any course a student has to submit Home Projects and to take several quizzes. The number of quizzes and projects is left to the Instructor' s discretion.

All quizzes and projects must be submitted at scheduled times. Late papers are accepted only in cases of excused absences or approved leave-of-absences. The policy concerning make-up works is left to the Instructor's discretion.

The quality of students work and attendance is measured during the course of study by percentage grades. Upon completion, the average percentage grade for the entire course can be converted to a letter grade.

Satisfactory academic progress
A student's academic progress on a course will be considered satisfactory if his/her average percentage grade for quizzes and Home Projects does not fall below 70% at all times.

Students will be notified in writing of unsatisfactory academic progress, if it occurs, and a copy of the notification will be placed in the student's file. If the average percentage grade is still below 70% by the time of the next grading period, the student will be advised in writing to withdraw from the course.

A student will be awarded the Certificate of Completion for the course if his/her average percentage grade by the end of the course is 70% or higher (the grade of C or better). The Certificate will state that the course is successfully completed. If the average percentage grade by the end of the course is below 70%, the student will be awarded the Certificate of Attendance provided his/her attendance is above 50%; otherwise no Certificate will be awarded.

Only those students with satisfactory academic progress on the course Software Quality Assurance will be assisted with resume writing and other services associated with the completion of the course (see Student Services section of the Catalog.)

Students rights and responsibilities. Conduct policy.

Students have not only the right to an education, but to the rights of citizenship as well; therefore, no student shall be deprived of equal treatment and equal access to educational programs, due process, presumption of innocence prior to proof otherwise, free expression, or privacy of thought.

Attendant upon the right guaranteed to each student are certain responsibilities, which are respect to the rights of others, acceptance of properly constituted authority, and compliance with the policies, regulations and procedures of the School.

Each student bears full responsibility for his or her actions.

The following types of misconduct will not be tolerated at all times at the School:

-Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, habitual profanity or vulgarity, or the open and persistent defiance or abuse of School personnel.

-Assault, battery, or any threat of force or violence upon students or School personnel.

-Theft of, or damage to, the property of the School, its employees, students or visitors.

-Interference with the normal operations of the School (e.g., obstruction or disruption of teaching or other School activities).

-Cheating, plagiarism or knowingly furnishing false information in the classroom or to a School personnel.

-Forgery, alteration, or other misuse of School documents and records.

-Failure to return borrowed property when reasonable attempts have been made to retrieve it.

-Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression.

-Physical or verbal abuse of any person or group, or conduct which intimidates, threatens, or endangers the health or safety of any person or group.

-Acts of physical, verbal, or sexual harassment.

-The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or illicit drugs at School premises.

-Gambling in any form.

-Failure to comply with lawful directions of School officials, faculty, and staff.

Record retention
If a student is in default on the tuition contract, the School may deny the student request for the confirmation letter concerning the enrollment, attendance, grades, etc.

If the student has made partial payment of his or her tuition obligation and is still in default, the School may only withhold that portion of grades that corresponds on a pro rata basis to the amount of tuition the student has not paid. The School may withhold the grades and Certificates until the tuition is paid in full.

Student complaint procedure
It is the preference of the School to resolve grievances at the informal level whenever possible. The informal resolution stage involves the student who has a complaint and the staff member or specific group who is the other party in the grievance. The student must notify the staff person or representative of a group the he/she wishes to have an informal meeting to review an action within 5 days of its occurrence. This informal meeting must then take place within 5 days of the notification of the desire to meet. In the absence of the instructor or staff person and after a good faith effort to make contact, the grievant may contact the Director of Education. If the outcome of this informal meeting does not result in the satisfaction of the grievant, he or she may file in writing a formal complaint with the Director of the School The student has to provide in his/her written complaint the following:

- Exact nature of the grievance;
- The specific details of the grievance, e.g. chronology of events, copies of any information that may be helpful, etc.;
- A description of the informal meeting and the attempted resolution;
- The desired remedy.

The meeting with the Director must take place within five working days of the filing the appeal. A written decision must be rendered within two working days. If the School does not resolve the problem, a student may file a complaint with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. 1027 Tenth Street, Fourth Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814


STUDENT SERVICES
The School provides the students with the manuals, handouts, and all other types of educational materials required in the course of study.

The student may come to the School at any time from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday in order to practice at the School labs. Academic and Career counseling is always available at the School. The counseling includes an opportunity for clarification and integration of career and educational goals, exploring educational and career options, providing with clear, concise, and up-to-date information in the field of training and related fields.