NESA Student Handbook 2015-16

New England School of Acupuncture an affiliate of MCPHS University

2015 - 2016 Student Handbook

Fall 2015 - Summer 2016 Fall 2015

New Student Orientation Closed, Labor Day First day of classes/clinics Closed, Thanksgiving Break Last day of classes/clinics

Spring 2016

First day of classes/clinics Closed, Martin Luther King Holiday Closed, President’s Day Closed, Spring Break Closed, Patriot’s Day Last day of classes/clinics Final Exams Commencement

Thursday, September 3 Monday, September 7 Tuesday, September 8 Tuesday, November 24 – Sunday, November 29 Saturday, December 19 Monday, January 11 Monday, January 18 Monday, February 15 Monday, March 7 – Sunday, March 13 Monday, April 18 Saturday, April 23 Monday, April 25-Friday, April 29 Saturday, May 7

Summer 2016 First day of class Closed, Memorial Day Closed, Independence Day Recess Last day of classes Final Exams Last day of clinics

Monday, May 9 Monday, May 30 Monday, July 4 – Tuesday July 5 Friday, July 29 Monday, August l -Friday, August 5 Saturday, August 13

The Student Handbook is the official publication that lists the policies and procedures of the New England School of Acupuncture and contains information that supplements the academic catalogue. The Student Handbook also provides general information about the NESA community, as well as services that are provided to students. It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with these policies and procedures, and to observe them while at NESA. This handbook is distributed to students upon matriculation at NESA and when a new edition is published.

NESA disclaims any liability as a result of any printing error in this handbook.

Please read this handbook carefully, and keep it handy in case you need to refer to it. Contact your advisor if more information is needed about any school policy. Copies of this handbook and other publications that outline NESA policies are available on the NESA website, in the Kelly Library, from the Director of Student Affairs and at the Front Desk. Students are responsible for updated material; copies of all updates are sent electronically to student email accounts.

NESA disclaims liability for any damages, bodily or otherwise, incurred by students on or off school property as a result of practice of Oriental Medicine techniques in or outside of class or extracurricular activities.

Enrollment in this institution or the payment of a fee in advance does not constitute a contract beyond any single academic term. This handbook does not constitute a contract between the student and the institution. NESA reserves the right to alter the curriculum, schedules, tuition, fees and requirements at any time without prior notice. This handbook supersedes and replaces past editions.

The New England School of Acupuncture reserves the right to make changes to the policies, procedures, fees, schedules or any other provisions in its catalogue, other publications or website, subject to accreditation requirements and state and federal laws and regulations. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, students are advised that changes may be made at any time without prior notice.

The Mission, Vision and Educational Objectives of the New England School of Acupuncture .................................................................................................. 1 Mission and Vision Statements................................................................................................... 1 Guiding Principles……………………………………………………………………………………….1 Educational Objectives .............................................................................................................. .1 Nondiscrimination Policy ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Program Overview ............................................................................................. 3 Academic Program ..................................................................................................................... 3 Degrees and Tracks ................................................................................................................... 3 Curriculum Plans ........................................................................................................................ 4 Academic Policies ............................................................................................................... 4 Credits and Hours....................................................................................................................... 4 Graduation Requirements .......................................................................................................... 5 Degree Completion Timeline ...................................................................................................... 5 State Licensing Requirements .................................................................................................... 5 California Acupuncture Board………………………………………………………………………….6 Academic Advising ..................................................................................................................... 6 Academic Counseling ................................................................................................................. 6 Practice Sessions at NESA…………………………………………………………………………….6 Reasonable Accomodations for Students with Disabilities…………………………………………7 Assistantship Program ................................................................................................................ 7 Transfer Credit............................................................................................................................ 7 Add/Drop Period ....................................................................................................................... 10

Grading at NESA ............................................................................................. 11 Philosophy ................................................................................................................................ 11 Grading System ........................................................................................................................ 11 Withdrawal from NESA ............................................................................................................. 12 Leave of Absence Policy (LOA) ................................................................................................ 13 Examinations ............................................................................................................................ 13 Make-Up Exam/Quiz Policy ...................................................................................................... 13 Final Exam Policy ..................................................................................................................... 13 Retake of Failed Final Exam .................................................................................................... 14 Grade Appeals.......................................................................................................................... 14 Transcripts & Term Grade Reports........................................................................................... 14 Student Records ....................................................................................................................... 14 Attendance Policy ..................................................................................................................... 16 Clinical Course Make-Up Policy ............................................................................................... 16 Religious Observation/Holiday Policy ....................................................................................... 17 Emergency Closings and Snow Days ....................................................................................... 17 Academic Progress Requirement ............................................................................................. 17 Student Grievance Policy………………….………………………………………………………….19 NESA Grievance Policy………………...….………………………………………………………….19 ACAOM Complaint Procedure………………...….………………………………………………….20 Comprehensive Exam Policy……………..………………………………………………………….20

Community Standards of Behavior ................................................................ 22 Standards of Student Conduct.................................................................................................. 22 Academic Integrity .................................................................................................................... 23 Abuse of Institutional Resources .............................................................................................. 25 Academic Integrity Violation Procedures .................................................................................. 25 Sexual Harassment Policy……………………………………………………...…………………….25 Protection from Harassment Policy (Title IX) .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Anti-Hazing Policy……………………………………………………………………………………..31

Disciplinary Issues…………………………………………………………………..32 Drug and Alcohol Abuse………………………………………………………………………………32 Firearms & Combustible Materials…………………………………………………………………...32 Disciplinary Sanctions Related to Drug and Alcohol Abuse and/or Firearms & Combustible Material Policies………………………………………………………………………………………..33 Fire Safety………………………………………………………………………………………………33 Smoke Free Environment……………………………………………………………………………..33 Practice of Acuuncture Outside of NESA……………………………………………………………33

Disciplinary Action…………………………………………………………………...33 Confidentiality in the Disciplinary Process…………………………………………………………..34 Interim Suspension/Separation………………………………………………………………………34 Emergency Suspension……………………………………………………………………………….34 Disciplinary Committee Hearing Procedures……………………………………………………….34 Appealing a Disciplinary Action………………………………………………………………………35 Range of Disciplinary Action………………………………………………………………………….35

General Policies and Communication……………………………………………36 Animals on Campus…………………………………………………………………………………...36 Bulletin Boards/Posting Policy……………………………………………………………………….36 Cell Phones……………………………………………………………………………………………36 Email…………………………………………………………………………………………………….36 No Fragrance Policy…………………………………………………………………………………...36 Guests in the Classroom……………………………………………………………………………...36 Practice Room Dress Code…………………………………………………………………………..36 Selling and Soliciting on NESA Property……………………………………………………………36 Security…………………………………………………………………………………………………37 Crime Statistics Annual Report………………………………………………………………………37 Student Newsletter- The Point………………………………………………………………………..37 Student Photo Identification Cards…………………………………………………………………..37

Student Council …………………………………………………………………...…37 Council Mission Statement…………………………………………………………………………...37 Council Vision………………………………………………………………………………………….37 Council Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………….37 Membership……………………………………………………………………………………………38

Financial Policies…………………………………………………………………....38 General Tuition Billing Information………………………………………………………………….38 Installment Tuition Payment Plan…………………………………………………………………...38 Tuition and Fee Changes……………………………………………………………………………39

Delinquent Balances................................................................................................................. 38 Dismissal for Failure to Meet Financial Obligations .................................................................. 39 Tuition Refund Policy....................................................................................................................

Return of Federal Financial Aid Funds ..................................................................................... 40 Returned Checks ...................................................................................................................... 40 Required Insurance .................................................................................................................. 40

Financial Aid Policies ...................................................................................... 41 Verification ................................................................................................................................ 41 Loan Disbursements/Availability of Excess Funds ................................................................... 41 Notification of Receipt of Loan Funds ....................................................................................... 42 Leave of Absence, Withdrawals, Less Than Half Time Enrollment .......................................... 42 Outside Scholarships................................................................................................................ 42 Appeals Process for Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility ................................................................. 42

Awards ............................................................................................................. 42 Tsay Fellowship ........................................................................................................................ 42 The Compassionate Healer Fellowship in Honor of Peter Faust ’93 ........................................ 43 The Paul W. Madden Memorial Scholarship……………………………………………………….43

Facilities ........................................................................................................... 43 Front Desk ................................................................................................................................ 43 NESA Store .............................................................................................................................. 43 Lockers ..................................................................................................................................... 43 Lost and Found......................................................................................................................... 43 Mailboxes ................................................................................................................................. 43 Parking ..................................................................................................................................... 44 Bicycles .................................................................................................................................... 44 Study Areas .............................................................................................................................. 44

Kelly Library..................................................................................................... 44 Mission ..................................................................................................................................... 44 General Info……………………………………………………………………………………………45 The Collection........................................................................................................................... 44 Library Services ........................................................................................................................ 45

Continuing Education and Postgraduate Study............................................ 45 NESA Clinic and Satellite Clinics ................................................................... 46 Satellite Clinics ......................................................................................................................... 46 NESA Chinese Herbal Dispensary ........................................................................................... 48

The Mission, Vision, Guiding Principles and Educational Objectives of the New England School of Acupuncture Mission Statement Our mission is to be the premier source for medical education rooted in the traditions of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for the next generation of healthcare providers.

Vision Statement While fulfilling our educational mission within our community of scholarship, research, and public service we advocate for patients and for our profession. We commit to a lifelong process of learning to provide excellence in clinical care that promotes wellness and relieves pain and suffering.

Guiding Principles We commit to the following beliefs: TRADITION We honor Traditional Chinese Medicine teachings, materials and methods and apply innovative thinking to drive new discoveries and incorporate lifelong learning with historical wisdom.

EXCELLENCE We are committed to the highest educational standards for training exceptional acupuncturists who will provide leadership and service locally and globally.

INTEGRITY We are bound by the ethical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine to practice acupuncture and treat all who are in need of healthcare with respect and professionalism.

DIVERSITY We acknowledge and respect the variety of human experience and foster unity and common purpose both within our college and in the community at large.

COMPASSION We are receptive to the suffering of others and provide relief with benevolence, kindness and tolerance for all.

Educational Objectives The New England School of Acupuncture’s carefully designed programs graduate practitioners who:     

Are able to apply the philosophies and theories of acupuncture and Oriental medicine; Can promote wellness, diagnose illness, and develop and implement effective treatment plans for patients; Demonstrate knowledge of Western medical terminology, pathophysiology and approaches to treating illness and are therefore able to make informed and appropriate referrals; Are prepared to set up and maintain successful clinical practices, and can participate collaboratively in a variety of clinical settings; and Have an awareness and appreciation of research in Oriental medicine.

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Beyond the professional master’s degree programs, the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) is committed to providing students, alumni, practitioners and faculty with opportunities for lifelong learning through our wide-ranging continuing education program, and to encouraging scholarship and research in the field. NESA is also committed to serving the public by offering accessible acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments at the NESA Clinic and at satellite clinic locations, and by offering lectures and courses of interest to the public.

NESA is a non-profit, tax-exempt institution. The school authorized by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to grant a Master of Acupuncture (MAc) degree and a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) degree.

The Master of Acupuncture and the Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine programs of the New England School of Acupuncture are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners.

NESA is a founding member of the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM).

The mission statement, vision statement and educational objectives are periodically reviewed by NESA's constituencies with changes approved by the Board of Trustees.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The New England School of Acupuncture (the “School”) an affiliate of MCPHS University is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, genetic information, military service, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities and actively complies with the requirements of Federal Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 402, Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008); and pertinent laws, regulations, and executive directives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other applicable state and federal statutes. The School will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes, or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this policy, "Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, genetic information, military service, or veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law.

This Policy: (1) provides a definition of discrimination and harassment based upon Protected Classes and related retaliation; (2) prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon Protected Classes and related retaliation; and (3) sets out procedures to follow when a member of the New England School of Acupuncture community believes a violation of the policy has occurred.

Individuals who violate this Policy shall be disciplined or subjected to corrective action, up to and including termination or expulsion.

Inquiries regarding the School’s compliance with Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action laws may be directed to Susan L. Gorman, Executive Director, at 617.558.1788 x374.

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Program Overview Academic Program In the first year of the program, students become well versed in the concepts, theories, terminology and basic clinical skills that will serve as a foundation for the further study, application and practice of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The basic theoretical knowledge and clinical skills acquired in the first year of the program are integrated and applied in the second year. Students continue to refine their clinical skills by treating each other in simulated treatment situations under supervision, and by observing and assisting experienced clinicians in practice settings. In the third year of the program, students expand upon and refine their knowledge and skills through advanced course work and by treating patients in the NESA Clinic or in other NESA satellite clinical settings.

The course requirements for NESA’s Master of Acupuncture and Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degrees are outlined in the NESA academic catalogue and later in this handbook.

Degrees and Tracks Master of Acupuncture (MAc)

NESA offers two degree programs. The Master of Acupuncture (MAc) degree is comprised of coursework leading to expertise in the practice of acupuncture. All non-transfer students who earn this degree must be enrolled in coursework or clinic for a minimum of 33 months, and the program must be completed in a maximum of 6 years.

Tracks or areas of concentration are offered within the MAc degree.

Chinese Acupuncture Studies (CAS) Track – Core Curriculum

All students complete the Chinese Acupuncture Studies (CAS) Track, which constitutes the core curriculum in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This course of study provides a comprehensive education in Chinese acupuncture, biomedical clinical sciences, biomedicine, nutrition, Oriental bodywork, research, and business practices. Students will be able to pursue areas of particular interest to them while completing 10 elective credits.

Japanese Acupuncture Styles (JAS) Track

Students who pursue the MAc degree may choose to augment their studies in the core curriculum (CAS) Track, by also studying Japanese Acupuncture Styles (JAS). This course of study is completed in 33 months for non-transfer, full-time students. This track requires 6 elective credits.

Students who have earned the MAc degree will not be eligible subsequently to earn a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) degree. However, the Chinese Herbal Medicine program is available to study in its entirety as a certificate program.

Master of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (MAOM)

The MAOM degree is comprised of coursework leading to the practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) with acupuncture. All non-transfer students who choose this degree must be enrolled in coursework or clinic for a minimum of 36 months, and the program must be completed in a maximum of 6 years.

Tracks or areas of concentration are offered within the MAOM degree.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Track

Students in this Track will complete all the course requirements of the core curriculum (CAS), in addition to over 600 additional didactic and clinical hours studying the use of herbal medicinals in the tradition of Chinese Medicine. This track requires 4 elective credits.

Core Curriculum (Chinese acupuncture), Japanese acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Students are permitted to matriculate in combined programs that include all these tracks.

This program includes the entire core curriculum, including all the Chinese Acupuncture Studies (CAS) classes, plus Japanese Acupuncture Styles (JAS), plus Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM).

This combination of tracks does not require completion of any electives.

Joint Master’s program with Tufts University School of Medicine in Pain Research Education and Policy (PREP)

NESA and Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) offer a joint degree program, in which students complete degrees at both schools simultaneously. Students will earn two separate degrees: a Master’s in Pain Research Education and Policy (MS-PREP) from TUSM and a Master of Acupuncture (MAc) or Master of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (MAOM) from NESA. The NESA degree must be completed in 6 years.

The TUSM degree is an innovative program for training potential leaders in the field of pain, acupuncturists who can practice alongside conventional providers in an allopathic medical environment as specialists in treatment of pain.

Students usually apply to the TUSM program for entry after completion of NESA’s first year.

Students who choose this track complete a minimum of NESA’s core curriculum (CAS, 107 credits) and Tufts Pain Research Education and Policy program requirements. Students in this track do not need to complete electives in either program. See the TUSM-NESA Combined Program in Pain Management brochure for specific requirements and course listings. Students may combine the PREP Track with Japanese Acupuncture Styles, Chinese Herbal Medicine, or both.

Curriculum Plans Curriculum Plans for NESA’s 3-year academic schedule are available in the kiosk next to the student mailboxes and on the Student Portal. Students must meet with their academic advisor to review individualized curriculum plans when choosing to vary from the recommended 3-year academic schedule. 4-year plans are available, and recommended, for programs that combine multiple Tracks.

Academic Policies Credits and Hours NESA calculates academic credit using the following ratios: One credit = 15 hours of classroom study; 30 hours of clinical assistantship; 30 hours of clinical internship.

Assistantship credits may be earned in half credit increments.

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Graduation Requirements In order to qualify for graduation and receive a final official transcript, a student must: 1) Complete all required program requirements, core curriculum, track courses, projects, assistantships, internships, and electives taken for credit with a grade of “C” (70%) or better. Students must pass courses that carry a grade of pass/fail, as well as all required comprehensive exams. Occasionally a change is made in program accreditation requirements that may affect matriculated students.

Students must complete all graduation requirements in effect during the fall term three years prior to their graduation.

2) Have, as part of the student’s permanent record, official transcripts from an accredited college or university verifying a bachelor's degree and all program requirements that were not completed at NESA. A grade of "C" (70%) or better in each course is required.

3) Have met all of their responsibilities to the school, including payment of outstanding tuition and fees.

4) Complete any other educational requirements that were specified as conditions for admission to NESA. Students who are scheduled to complete all graduation requirements before the end of December of the year of their graduation may participate in the commencement ceremony that same calendar year.

NESA’s approval of a student’s science course requirements does not guarantee approval by the Massachusetts Committee on Acupuncture for licensing purposes or by licensing boards in other states. Students are responsible for verifying the acceptability of their science course requirements with the licensing agency in the states in which they intend to practice.

Degree Completion Timeline A student must complete requirements for graduation within six academic years from the date of matriculation into a degree program at NESA.

State Licensing Requirements Most states license acupuncturists. Because licensing requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change, students should consult with the appropriate state agencies governing the practice of acupuncture.

NESA’s program provides students with the coursework required for licensure in Massachusetts (and if a MAOM degree recipient, California). However, NESA does not guarantee that each graduate will qualify for or obtain licensure in any specific state. For more information regarding licensure requirements in Massachusetts, contact: Board of Registration in Medicine Committee on Acupuncture 200 Harvard Mill Square, Suite 330 Wakefield, MA 01880 (781) 876-8200 http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/borim/acupuncture/contact-us.html 5

U.S. acupuncture schools are not recognized by all countries. Students wishing to practice in another country are responsible for researching regulations and determining if NESA meets standards.

California Acupuncture Board NESA’s MAOM degree is approved by the State of California’s Acupuncture Board so that graduates who relocate to that state will be allowed to sit for proprietary licensure examinations without returning to school.

Applicants for licensure are required to request documentation from NESA substantiating completion of 3,000 hours of study in acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, consistent with the MAOM degree.

Courses in the format of an Independent Study are not accepted, such as the Research mentored Practicum.

Academic Advising Every NESA student is assigned an academic advisor. Students may seek advice from their advisor regarding academic issues and school policies, program curriculum questions, problems with course work, change of course load or status, and any concerns which are affecting performance in course work, including problems with faculty or fellow students. Students should make every effort to address the issue(s) and solve the problem(s) but the advisor can be a resource when problems arise. A signature from your academic advisor is required for significant changes in curriculum plans, declaring a track and adding/dropping core courses.

Students must meet with their advisors to review individualized curriculum plans when choosing to vary from NESA’s recommended 3-year academic progression.

Academic Counseling It is our intention to insure the academic success of all of our students by providing Academic Counseling and support for students who are experiencing difficulties with their course work.

The Associate Dean, the Director of Student Affairs and the Director of Clinical Education comprise a committee that addresses student academic issues and works with students to assist them in maintaining satisfactory academic progress. All faculty are required to submit Midterm Academic Performance Reports for students who are having difficulties or are at risk of failing a course. Students who receive such a report are required to meet with the Associate Dean to discuss and create a strategy to help the student overcome their difficulties. Faculty resources are available to assist students with tutoring to promote retention, help organize study skills and prepare for exams.

Practice Sessions at NESA All students at NESA are expected to participate in all areas of the program curriculum. Students at NESA are required to practice using a variety of acupuncture adjunctive techniques, including needling, moxibustion, and gua sha. Because all components of the NESA curriculum are mandatory, students must participate in practicing giving and receiving all treatments in order to graduate from the program. Students who experience difficulties with any of the modalities taught at NESA should consult with their course faculty or, if necessary, with their advisor.

In addition, it will be necessary to provide health history to classmates, within the context of the classroom practice session. It is understood that students will treat their classmates’ health history as confidential.

Students may refrain from disclosing personal data of a very private nature; however, we hope that you will feel comfortable sharing your health details in order to create a rich learning experience for you and your fellow students.

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Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities NESA will provide reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. The accommodations to be provided will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and are dependent on available resources and the school’s ability to provide reasonable accommodations without undue hardship.

Determination of resources available will be based on availability of sufficient faculty and other personnel, facilities, special equipment, and budgetary constraints. Students with disabilities seeking accommodations should contact the Director of Student Affairs for assistance.

Assistantship Program The Clinical Assistantship Program provides students with an opportunity to observe and assist acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioners in a variety of clinical settings. Students are required to complete 150-180 hours of clinical assistantship training, depending on track, at NESA-approved sites prior to beginning their clinical internships. Chinese Herbal Medicine Track and Dual Track students must complete an additional 15 hours of assisting in the NESA Chinese Herbal Dispensary. Dispensary assistantship hours may be started after Pharmacopoeia I and must be completed before beginning the CHM: Formulas II course.

NESA maintains a list of currently approved assistantship sites. Students are required to arrange the details of their own assistantships. A binder containing the site descriptions is available for review in the Kelly Library.

All forms required for documentation of hours are available in the kiosk by the student mailboxes.

Transfer Credit Assessment of previous academic work will be made on an individual basis. Transfer credit may be awarded for coursework completed in other academic institutions accredited by the Department of Education (or DOE-recognized accreditation agency) that meet or exceed the course requirements at NESA, subject to the following guidelines.

Basic Course Eligibility Criteria

  

Content must substantially match a NESA course. It is the responsibility of the student to provide course descriptions and syllabi as necessary for NESA to determine if a given course is substantially the same as a course taken elsewhere.

Grade must be equivalent to C or higher.

Contact hours must be at least 85% of the NESA course hour requirement.

Guidelines for Transfer of Science Courses All of the following requirements in biomedical clinical sciences must be completed prior to graduation.

Science courses are offered at least once annually. Students should plan on taking them in the recommended sequence to avoid scheduling conflicts with core courses. Students request consideration for transfer credit by submitting the appropriate form, available on the student portal and in the kiosk, at the time of admission or at the time of registration for the term in which the course is taught.

Biomedical clinical sciences:  Anatomy & Physiology I & II  General Biology  Anatomy or Bio lab, if not included with either course o Required for students who matriculated after June 30, 2009  Psychology  General Chemistry 7

   

Organic Chemistry Biochemistry Microbiology with lab General Physics

Each course is defined as 45 hours, 3 credits, except for Anatomy/ Bio Lab, which is 15 hours, 1 credit.

Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Biology, Anatomy or Biology Lab, and Microbiology must have been taken within the last 7 calendar years in order to be eligible for transfer. The time limit is waived for practicing allopathic and osteopathic physicians, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, registered nurses, and other health care providers who have been actively using the skills and competencies of anatomy and physiology.

In Massachusetts, acupuncture licensure is regulated by the Committee on Acupuncture (COA), a state agency that is part of the Board of Registration in Medicine. The following science courses are specifically required in COA regulations:  Anatomy & Physiology I & II  General Biology  Anatomy or Biology Laboratory With their license application, students are required to submit transcripts from original institutions for evaluation. The COA does not routinely accept online courses in fulfillment of these requirements. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis through an in-person appeal before the licensing committee. Please consult their website or contact them directly for further information and guidance: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/borim/acupuncture/licensing/requirements.html Guidelines for Transfer of Courses in the Acupuncture Program The following courses are eligible for transfer credit:  History & Cultural Foundations of Chinese Medical Systems (30 hours, 2 credits) A course in Chinese history and culture, especially including history of medical systems, may be accepted for transfer credit.  Internal Exercise (30 hrs, 2 cr) Tai Chi and Qi Gong courses taken for credit at an accredited academic institution may qualify for transfer credit. Students who have studied at martial arts academies or other non-accredited schools must complete a course at NESA to fulfill the Internal Exercise requirement. Such students are recommended to take Medical Qi Gong.  Practice Management: Marketing (15hours, 1 credit) A college course in marketing addressing advertising, branding, networking, and use of social media and websites will be eligible for transfer credit.  Practice Management: Business (15 hours, 1 credit) A college course addressing issues of running a small business, including accounting, finance, banking, financial statements, insurance, developing a business plan, budgeting, and debt management will be eligible for transfer credit.  Western Nutrition (15 hours, 1 credit) A college course addressing principles of digestion and absorption, macro and micronutrients, diseases & dietary recommendations, and diet controversies may be considered for transfer credit.

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Transfer Credit for Medical Professionals Medical professionals may apply for transfer credit for NESA courses that would duplicate their professional training. The following courses are conditionally approved for transfer credit:  Living Anatomy and Structural Analysis I & II (60 hrs, 4 cr) Health care providers, such as allopathic and osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and massage therapists may apply for transfer credit for prior course work substantially equivalent to this course.  Clinical Assistantship (150 hrs, 5 cr) o Clinical observation up to a maximum of 90 hours is eligible for transfer.  Western Medical Pathophysiology & Pharmacology I-IV (135 hrs, 9 cr) Health care providers, such as allopathic and osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists (PharmD only), and physician assistants may be eligible for transfer credit for prior course work substantially equivalent to all or part of this series on biomedical systems. Other health care providers may request partial transfer credit.  Patient-Provider Relationship (45 hrs, 3 cr) Physicians, psychotherapists and clinical psychologists are eligible for transfer credit for prior course work substantially equivalent to this course; other health care providers who have a strong background in psychology may also be eligible. Courses in counseling or coaching may be considered for transfer credit if they address issues of professional boundaries, transference, and advocacy.  Research I: Design & Evaluation (45 hrs, 3 cr) Please see Advanced Placement below.

The following course is approved for advanced placement:  Research I: Design & Evaluation (45 hrs, 3 cr) All students are required to complete at least one research course while at NESA. Transfer credit in the amounts of 30 hrs, 2 credits may be awarded for a previously completed college level research course in the biomedical sciences that addresses methods of scientific inquiry, quantitative methods, and statistics. In that case, the student is required to complete NESA’s advanced research course, Research Seminar (15 hrs, 1 cr). Please contact Director of Research Lisa Conboy ("Lisa Conboy" <Lisa_Conboy@hms.harvard.edu> ) for evaluation and admission to the advanced class.

Prior Attendance at an Acupuncture College Timeliness

Students transferring from another AOM college, or re-enrolling at NESA, who have been out of school for 1 - 3 years will be required to demonstrate skills and competencies by completing challenge exams in all core and track courses. Challenge exams may be waived for Internal Exercise and History and Cultural Foundations. After 3 years, no previous OM coursework can be accepted.

Core Curriculum

Up to 44 credits, or the equivalent of the first year of NESA’s core curriculum, may be transferred in for equivalent coursework taken at a school accredited by the Department of Education (or DOE-recognized accrediting agency).  Courses must have been completed within the past 3 years.  NESA students who apply to re-enroll are subject to this timeline.  Challenge exams for required core and track courses may be required at the discretion of the Dean to determine readiness to proceed in the program.

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The First-year Comprehensive Examination may be transferred in, but all students must pass NESA’s Second-year Comprehensive Examination.

Introduction to CAS Clinic I & II must be completed at NESA. Up to 90 hours of Clinical Assistantship may be transferred. No credit will be awarded for Clinical Internship hours completed at other institutions. All Clinical Internship hours required for graduation must be completed at NESA. Elective credit for relevant non-core coursework for material that complements but is not included in the curriculum may be approved at the discretion of the Dean.

Tracks

Track courses in Japanese Acupuncture Styles and Chinese Herbal Medicine are accepted in transfer only on a very limited basis.  All students must pass the NESA comprehensive exam for their chosen tracks.  Up to 15 hours of Chinese Herbal Dispensary Assisting hours are eligible for transfer.  In the CHM track, Introduction to CHM, Pharmacopoeia I & II are eligible for transfer.  In the JAS track, Introduction to JAS is eligible for transfer.

CPR and First Aid

To receive transfer credit for CPR and Standard First Aid, students must have taken certification courses through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross covering Adult First Aid, Adult CPR, and AED. Certifications must be valid for the entire duration of the Clinical Internship. Copies of current certification cards must be submitted to the Registrar.

Tuition charges for transfer credits: Transfer credits for science courses accepted at the time of admission will be awarded at no charge. Subsequently awarded transfer credits will be assessed fees according to the list of fees in the chapter on financial policies.

Challenge Exams: May be used to assess competencies of students transferring from other AOM colleges or returning from Leave of Absence. The passing score on all challenge exams is 85%.

See the list of fees in the chapter on financial policies.

Add/Drop Period To add or drop courses or to change from one course section to another, students must make the changes to their registration on Populi during the Add/Drop period which runs through the first week of classes. Each term, the specific Add/Drop period dates will be communicated to students. Registration changes are subject to space availability.

Students dropping courses after the end of the Add/Drop period will receive a grade of "W" (Withdrawn) for the course. There is no refund for courses dropped after the Add/Drop period is over.

Please note this important change that differs from our current practice: Regarding courses that meet once a semester, such as electives and CE classes, you may add those classes up until the start of the course if space is available. These courses may be dropped up to 14 days before the course starts. No refund can be made for cancellations made with less than 14 days before the course start date and will result in a "W" for the class.

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Grading at NESA Philosophy NESA utilizes a variety of assessment methods to evaluate a student’s academic progress throughout the program, including written and practical exams, papers, projects, comprehensive examinations and assessment of clinical performance. Grades and other measures of academic performance serve three important functions: they let the student know how well he or she is learning the course material; they let the faculty member know how effectively he or she is conveying the course material; and they let the NESA administration know if an individual student is having difficulties with the program.

Grading System Most required courses at NESA carry a letter grade of A, B, C or F. A few courses/clinics are graded using the Pass/Fail system. Specific criteria for these grades are listed below. In addition, each course’s grading criteria are outlined in the course syllabus. Grades are considered final when they are submitted to the Registrar for processing. Any student who finds a discrepancy in her or his grade report should immediately contact the Registrar’s Office to confirm the grade was submitted, and then (if necessary) contact the course faculty. Letter grades can be changed in the case of clerical or compilation error, which must be documented in writing by the course faculty. Such change requests by the student should be initiated promptly upon receipt of the term grade report.

Quizzes, exams and cumulative term grades are assigned as follows:

Grades A AB+ B BC+ C F

Scores 95-100 90-94 87-89 83-86 80-82 76-79 70-75 ≤69

Points 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 0.0

Pass/Fail Courses/clinics may carry grades of Pass or Fail. The letters “P” and “F” are used to denote these grades. Students must pass all sections of a Pass/Fail course to receive a passing grade for the course.

Pass (P) The grade of “P” is not used in calculating the cumulative grade point average, however academic credit is awarded.

Failure (F) The grade of “F” is used in calculating the cumulative grade point average and will remain on the student’s transcript as part of the permanent record even with a subsequent retake of the course. Academic credit will not be awarded for a failed course. All failed program requirements must be repeated and successfully completed in order to graduate. Students will not be permitted to enroll in courses for which the failed course was a pre-requisite.

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Incomplete (I) This is a temporary grade and is not used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. A grade of “Incomplete” is given if the student has not completed all work required for the course, has missed more than the allowed number of class sessions, or has failed the final exam but is eligible to retake it. Academic credit is not awarded until a permanent grade for the course has been recorded. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty member to make arrangements to complete the course work necessary to convert the “Incomplete” to a passing grade.

For courses in which an “I” was assessed, and that are prerequisites to courses taken in the following term, the student must make up the missed work during the first two weeks of the following term in order to avoid conversion of the grade of “I” to “F”.

Where extenuating circumstances exist, or for courses that are not prerequisites, an individual student may be given additional time to complete the course work. The student must work out the details with the course faculty and obtain approval from the Dean within the first week of the following term. All missed work must be made up by the end of the following term to avoid conversion of the grade from “I” to “F.” Audit (AU) This grade will be assigned to a course in which the student attends class, but does not take examinations and does not receive course credit. Students may audit courses for which they have previously received credit on a space available basis. Clinical courses and electives are not available for audit. The tuition fee for an audited course is 50% of the regular course tuition. NESA does not award graded credit for any course(s) previously audited. The Add/Drop policy applies to audited classes, and after the 2nd week of class students may not change graded courses to audit status or vice versa.

Withdrawal from a Course (W) To withdraw from a course students must complete an Add/Drop form. The effective date of withdrawal from a course is the date an Add/Drop form is submitted to the Registrar. Any course that is dropped after the 1st week of a course will be recorded on the transcript as a “W”. Students may withdraw from courses as late as two thirds of the way through the term, i.e. before the 10th week of the term. A grade of "W" is not used in calculating the cumulative grade point average but will remain on the transcript as part of the permanent record despite subsequent retake and successful completion of the course. Academic credit is not awarded for a grade of “W.” Please see also Tuition Refund Policy below.

Students who are absent three weeks in a row from any course may be administratively withdrawn from the course.

Withdrawal from NESA The effective date of withdrawal from NESA is the last date of attendance as documented by the school. If a last date of attendance cannot be determined, the half-way point of the academic term will be used. Students withdrawing receive a grade of W for each course in which they are enrolled. Failure to complete a Withdrawal Form may result in the recording of the grade of “F” for all courses at the end of the term. To withdraw from NESA, a student must do the following: a. Submit a completed Withdrawal Form , stating intent to withdraw from the program; b. Receive clearance from any office in which financial charges have been incurred.

For information on the financial repercussions of withdrawing from school, please see the “Tuition Refund Policy” in the Financial Policies section of this handbook.

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Students who are not in attendance three weeks in a row may be administratively withdrawn from the institution.

Leave of Absence Policy (LOA) A student in good standing may request a leave of absence for up to one year. The student must submit a “Leave of Absence” form to their advisor stating the reasons for requesting the leave of absence. A leave of absence is granted at the discretion of the administration. Before leaving, the student must arrange payment of any outstanding balance with the Finance Department.

Students wishing to return from a leave of absence must notify the Director of Student Affairs. Upon returning from leave, an individualized skills assessment is required to ensure readiness to return to the program. Additional tutoring or auditing may be required. Assessment and remedial tutoring services are provided at students’ expense.

Students who do not return from a leave after one year will lose their student status, and must apply for readmission into the program if they wish to return. Any period of time that a student is on a leave is counted as part of the student's total time in the program at NESA, and will count towards time limit a student has for completing the program. Students on leave of absence do not qualify for deferment from federal financial aid loan repayment.

Examinations The syllabus for each course indicates the dates of all quizzes and exams, the policy for missed/dropped quizzes and exams, and any other policies pertaining to determining a grade for that course. Although students will be given the opportunity to review exams and quizzes after they are graded (except comprehensive examinations), no exams or quizzes will be returned to students to keep.

Make-Up Exam/Quiz Policy Students are expected to take all exams/quizzes at the designated time. Make-up exams are only offered when the student can show a compelling reason why s/he was unable to attend the scheduled exam, such as bereavement or hospitalization. Students may not reschedule exams due to lack of preparedness or for reasons of convenience. If a student will miss an exam, s/he must contact the course faculty prior to the scheduled exam for approval to take the exam through the Academic Department. All make-up exams must be taken within one week of the time that the original exam was offered, or a grade of “0” will be assigned.

Exceptions to this policy are granted at the discretion of the Dean.

Students must contact the Administrative Assistant to schedule the make-up. Students must arrange for TAs and partners for any make-up practical exams. TAs are paid for make-ups by students, unless otherwise indicated.

There is a fee for make-up exams of $50, payable at the time of the examination. Appointments are required with the Administrative Assistant. Practical portions of make-up exams also require specific arrangements with the Instructor.

Final Exam Policy For all courses that have final exams, except science course requirements, students are required to pass the final exam in order to pass the course. If a student fails the final exam, s/he may not pass the course even if the overall grade is passing. If a student fails a final exam, the course faculty must notify the student of the failure. If the student is not eligible to retake the final exam, the course faculty must inform the student that 13

the student has failed the course. The student must contact her/his advisor to complete an adjusted curriculum plan, and must repeat the course. A student who fails a course must withdraw from any course for which the failed course is a prerequisite.

Retake of Failed Final Exam If a student has maintained an average grade of 80% for the term, but fails the final exam, the course faculty may allow the student to retake the final exam. If a student is allowed to retake a final exam, he or she must do so at the time designated by the Academic Department at the beginning of the following term.

If a retake is permitted, the student must contact the Administrative Assistant to schedule the retake. Students must arrange for TAs and partners for any practical exam retakes. The Registrar records a grade of “I” until the faculty submits the Grade Change Form.

If the student fails the retake exam, the course faculty must issue a final grade of “F” and the student will be required to repeat the course. There is a fee for a retaken final exam payable at the time of the examination.

Grade Appeals A student who feels that he or she was unfairly graded is required to contact the faculty member who teaches the course or clinic within one week after the grade is issued. The faculty member will review the student’s work within two weeks following the student’s communication, record a grade change if an error was made, and explain the results to the student. If the student still feels the grade is unfair, he or she may submit a written request for review detailing the reason(s) for the appeal to the Dean. The Dean will review the request, and discuss it with the faculty member involved and, where appropriate, the Chair of the department in which the course is offered. The Dean will inform the student of the decision within two weeks.

If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the Dean, he or she may formally appeal the decision to the NESA Grievance Committee within 10 business days of receiving the Dean’s decision. See the Student Grievance Policy in this handbook for details.

Transcripts & Term Grade Reports Grade reports are produced at the end of each term of the program after grades are recorded. Students should review their grade report promptly to be sure that it accurately reflects their grades.

NESA students and graduates in good financial standing may request an official transcript by submitting a written request to the Registrar. Such requests must include the name and address of the person or organization where the transcript is to be sent and the signature of the requesting student.

Transcripts will not be issued for any student or graduate who has an outstanding financial obligation to NESA. Official and unofficial transcripts from other institutions that are part of a student’s application for admission or demonstrating transfer credit cannot be removed from the student’s file, returned to the student, or sent to another institution.

Student Records In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students at NESA have certain rights pertaining to their educational records. Specifically, all NESA students have the right to: 14

    

Review their educational records (not including any materials that the student has waived right of access to, such as letters of recommendation); Request a change to an education record to prevent any inaccuracy or misleading information; A hearing if the request to correct an alleged inaccuracy is denied; Consent to certain disclosures of information, and File a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office.

NESA will publicly release, in printed materials, on its website, or in response to specific requests, the following information about our current or former students: Name Dates of Attendance Year of Graduation Program Degree Granted (if any) Clinical Internship Schedule Any student may choose not to have this information disclosed. Such requests must be made in writing to the Registrar, and the possible consequences of restricting such information should be carefully considered.

No other information will be released to outside parties without written consent of the individual student, except under special circumstances (e.g. national, state, or local educational officials, federal financial aid authorities or their designees). NESA will keep a record of each request for access by these authorized agencies and each disclosure of personally identifiable student information. This record will be maintained in the student’s file as long as the educational records themselves are kept.

School officials who are fulfilling their professional responsibilities in support of the student’s educational interests may obtain information from educational records without prior written consent. At NESA, a school official includes anyone:      

Employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; Serving on the Board of Trustees; Employed by or under contract to the institution to perform a specific task (e.g. an attorney or auditor); Acting as an official agent of NESA and performing a function or service on behalf of the institution (e.g. a debt collection agency); Serving on an institutional committee, including current students; Assisting another school official in fulfilling her or his professional responsibility (e.g. a student worker).

Disclosure to a school official having legitimate educational interest does not constitute institutional authority to transmit, share, disclose any or all information received to a third party. Any unauthorized disclosure of personably identifiable information from the education record of the student is prohibited.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Registrar.

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Attendance Policy Students are expected to attend all classes and clinical sessions, take all exams, and complete all other required coursework. Faculty members are required to take attendance at each class. Because of the hands-on nature of the program, regular attendance in classes is an essential component of TCM education. Students can fail a course based on insufficient attendance.

Class Length 15 hrs.

30 hrs.

37.5 hrs.

45 hrs.

60 hrs.

All day classes Clinical courses Clinical internship

Allowed Absence 2 hrs.

4 hrs.

5 hrs.

6 hrs.

8 hrs.

No absence permitted Paid make-ups required for all absences Must complete total hours

Habitual lateness: Students who are more than 15 minutes late twice within one term will be counted as having one absence. Leaving class early without permission of the instructor will also be counted as one absence.

Students are responsible for making arrangements with faculty to complete missed coursework. Incomplete assignments will result in failing grades for the assignments and/or course. Students are responsible for the cost of tutorials, make-up exams or other special arrangements required for any missed work. Please see the section on Incompletes for further information.

If, due to a family emergency, bereavement, severe health problems, or some other compelling reason, a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absence is prolonged or frequent, the student must notify all of his/her course faculty and the Director of Student Affairs. The Director of Student Affairs will work together with the faculty to determine if it is possible for the student to make up the work missed from the prolonged absence. As needed, the Director of Student Affairs will assist the student in making arrangements with faculty to provide tutoring or other assistance necessary to make up missed work.

Students who miss three consecutive classes may be administratively withdrawn from the course.

Clinical Course Make-Up Policy A primary component of NESAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational program requires students to apply the concepts, theory, terminology, and clinical skills taught in the practical sessions of the various clinical courses throughout the curriculum. These clinical courses are designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply the theory and to practice the techniques on other students under faculty supervision. Because students must demonstrate their competency in these courses, students are required to make up any missed practical time for clinical courses. The course faculty will determine if students who arrive late for class may attend the practical session.

Although students are allowed absences from classes (see Attendance Policy), students are required to make up missed hours of practical sessions before receiving a final grade for a clinical course.

When making up missed clinical course time, the student is responsible for hiring a TA(or faculty member), approved by the course faculty, to make up the missed material. The student is responsible for bringing a 16

partner to the make-up session in order to demonstrate the practical techniques covered in the course. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the TA with a “Documentation for Completion of Missed Clinical Class Session” form for the TA to submit to the course faculty. If a student has a documented absence and this form is not attached to the attendance sheet by the course faculty, the student will receive a grade of “I” (Incomplete) on his/her transcript.

Students should schedule their make-up sessions with other students who missed the same material. NESA recommends the rate for make-up sessions to be $40.00 per hour, regardless of the number of students in the make-up group. For each TA overseeing a clinical make-up session, there may not be more groups than the TA typically supervises in normal meetings of the class being made-up (typically 3-4 group). The student(s) is responsible for paying the TA at the time of the make-up session; a final grade will not be reported to the Registrar until all fees are paid to the TA. Please see the Documentation for Completion of Missed Clinical Class Session form, available in the kiosk outside of the Front Desk, for a list of courses subject to this make-up policy.

Religious Observation/Holiday Policy In an effort to provide longer breaks between terms, NESA conducts classes on some public and religious holidays. A student who wishes to observe a religious holiday that falls on a day when classes are in session is not required to attend class, and the absence will not be counted toward the total number of absences allowed for the term. However, prior to the planned absence, the student must notify the course faculty of his or her plan to miss class due to the observance of a religious holiday, and must make up missed work and exams.

Emergency Closings and Snow Days In case of inclement weather, decisions regarding cancelations of day classes and clinic shifts will usually be finalized before 6:00 am on the morning of the storm and by 12:00 pm for evening classes and clinics.

We ask that each student carefully evaluate his or her situation to determine if getting to and from school would be safe. All absences due to snow count toward the total number of absences allowed for a course or clinic. Please see the “Attendance Policy” section of this handbook for more information.

Students may sign up to receive a text messages from the school announcing emergency closings.

Emergency closings will also be posted on www.nesa.edu, on the school and clinic phone lines and, when possible, with local news media services.

Academic Progress Requirement Satisfactory Academic Progress

Academic progress in NESA’s programs is assessed by both qualitative and quantitative measures. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to remain in the program and qualify for financial aid.

Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed at the end of each semester.

To maintain satisfactory qualitative academic progress, students must: 1. Earn a passing letter grade (C or better) in all courses 2. a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater; 3. Successfully complete courses in their prescribed sequence, passing all pre-requisite courses before being allowed to enroll in the subsequent course; 4. Pass all required comprehensive examinations; and 5. Satisfy attendance requirements for each course in accordance with NESA policy 17

To achieve satisfactory quantitative academic progress, students must: 1. Return from a Leave of Absence within one year 2. Complete the degree program in no more than six (6) calendar years.

3. Maintain a 67% completion rate of attempted credits 4. Does not exceed the maximum timeframe of attempted credits (150%) of the length of his/her program Completion Rate

Students are required to successfully complete at least two thirds (67%) of courses they attempt in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress. This measurement will be applied at the conclusion of each term, by dividing the number of successfully completed credits by the number of attempted credits. Grades of F, I, and W will be counted as attempted but not earned; all other grades will count as attempted and earned, as will transfer credits. Courses dropped during the Add/Drop period are not counted as attempted. Students will be notified of the results of an evaluation that impacts eligibility for financial aid.

Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Any case of failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may result in, but may not be limited to, the following: loss of eligibility for student loans, required tutoring, required auditing, required change of status such as leave of absence or part-time enrollment, suspension from the program or track or expulsion from the program or track. The determination of sanctions is made by the Dean, who may convene an academic advisory committee to review the situation.

Monitoring Student Academic Performance During the Term

NESA makes every effort to identify and provide support to any student who may be experiencing academic difficulties with the program. Each course faculty evaluates student performance at the mid-term and submits a report of concern to Academic Counseling if the student is at risk of failing the course.

Students who recognize that they are experiencing difficulties are expected to contact the course faculty immediately. The student is expected to work with the course faculty and, if necessary, Academic Counseling to identify and resolve poor performance issues before the end of the term.

Academic Probation

A student who does not meet standards of satisfactory academic progress may be placed on academic probation and must meet with the Dean or her designee to discuss reasons for the poor performance. The Dean and the student will formulate a plan together to address the failing grades or incompletes; this plan may include, but may not be limited to: remedial work, required tutoring or additional testing. Relevant course faculty may be directly or indirectly included in this discussion.

A student who has been placed on academic probation is eligible to receive federal financial aid. for one more term. If the student remains on academic probation for a second term, he or she will no longer be eligible for federal financial aid or student loan deferment until satisfactory academic progress, as defined above, has been achieved. Please read the full description of Financial Aid Policies below.

In some cases, the Dean, after meeting with the student and reviewing the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic performance, may require the student to drop to a part-time course load or take a leave of absence for a period of time so that the student may effectively address the problem of unsatisfactory academic performance. This course of action is termed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;required change of statusâ&#x20AC;? (see Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress above).

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If academic performance does not improve during the academic probationary period, the student may be suspended from the program for a minimum of one year. Readmission to the program is at the discretion of the Dean and is based on evidence provided by the student that the circumstances that resulted in the previous poor performance have been remedied. There is a re-instatement fee for readmission to the program.

Failed courses must be remedied or retaken before the student will be allowed to take any course for which the failed course is a pre-requisite. Retaking or remedying a failed course does not, by itself, remove the student from academic probation.

A student who withdraws from the program while on academic probation may jeopardize his/her federal financial aid eligibility.

Dismissal from the Program

A student may be dismissed from NESA for any of the following reasons:  Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress;  Earning a failing grade in fifty percent of courses attempted in a term;  Earning a failing grade in more than one course or comprehensive examination throughout the program:  Committing a serious breach of NESA’s Code of Student Conduct;  Performing an acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine treatment in a clinical course or clinical internship without the explicit prior approval of the supervising faculty;  Performing an unsupervised acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine treatment within or outside of NESA;  Removing a patient file from any NESA clinic site; or  Any other behavior that NESA deems to be insubordinate, disrespectful or disruptive to the operation of NESA including teaching, learning, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other school activities.

Appeal of Suspension, Dismissal or Required Change of Status

A student may appeal any decision affecting his or her academic status to the NESA Grievance Committee.

The student must appeal a decision regarding a change of academic status within 10 business days of being notified of the decision.

Student Grievance Policy Occasionally a disagreement arises between a student and faculty member or between a student and an administrator over a grade, a clinical evaluation, the way a policy is interpreted, a decision to change a student’s academic status, or some other matter. NESA encourages and supports open and honest dialogue whenever a problem or disagreement arises. As a result, nearly all issues are resolved without the need of a formal grievance process.

A student with an issue or grievance that concerns a decision or action of a specific faculty member or administrator is expected to try to resolve the situation initially with the individual in question. If the student believes that his or her grievance was not resolved in a satisfactory manner, the student may discuss the situation with the Director of Student Affairs. The Director of Student Affairs may then attempt to resolve the grievance through meetings with the student and the other individual(s) involved. If the situation still remains unresolved to the satisfaction of the student, the student may submit a request in writing to the Director of Student Affairs that the NESA Grievance Committee convene to consider the matter.

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NESA Grievance Policy The NESA Grievance Committee usually, but not always, consists of the Department Chair, the Associate Dean, the Faculty Trustee and a Student Trustee. The Director of Student Affairs serves as a non-voting member of the Committee. The NESA administration may decide to appoint other members to the Committee if standing committee members were involved in an original decision pertaining to the case, or as otherwise necessary. The Director of Student Affairs will schedule a Grievance Committee meeting within 14 class days of receiving the grievance. As part of the grievance process, the student may be asked to present the grievance in person to the Committee for further clarification, or the student may request the opportunity to address the Committee. If the student fails to attend the scheduled meeting, the Committee will meet and make a decision based on the information that the Committee has at the time of the meeting. In all cases, the decision of the NESA Grievance Committee will be final.

A copy of the Grievance Committee’s decision will be mailed to the student at the student's last known address, not more than 10 business days after the meeting of the Grievance Committee. A record of all meetings and decisions will be placed in the student's permanent file.

ACAOM Complaint Procedure The New England School of Acupuncture is institutionally and programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for freestanding institutions and colleges of acupuncture or Oriental medicine that offer such programs. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/2122434; fax 952/657-7068.

The Master’s programs in Acupuncture (MAc) and Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) of the New England School of Acupuncture are accredited under Master’s Degree standards, by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners.

In the event that a student would like to pursue a grievance against the institution, complaints can be filed with ACAOM at the above address or by email at: coordinator@acaom.org

Comprehensive Examination Policy Mandatory Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive examinations are a well-established part of rigorous academic programs to demonstrate integrated learning throughout a program. They also serve as preparation for mandatory examinations leading to board certification.

Normally NESA students do quite well on these examinations when they are keeping up with their studies on a regular basis. A brief period of review is strongly recommended in order to build confidence and avoid the disappointment of having to repeat an exam. More information, including study guides, can be found on the NESA Student Portal. Examination dates are published well in advance in The Point.

Examination First year, all students Second year, all students Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Japanese Acupuncture Styles (JAS)

When administered 1st year summer term, Clinical Skills 2nd year spring term, Clinical Theater 2nd year fall term, Formula Writing 2nd year summer term, Intro to JAS Clinic 20

All students sit for the first- and second-year comprehensive examinations. In addition, students who study in the CHM or JAS tracks or combination must sit for their respective comprehensive examinations.

Successful completion of comprehensive examinations is required in order to continue in the program or track.

First Year Comprehensive Examination

The examination reflects content from the following courses: Traditional Chinese Medical Theory, Point Location, Materials and Methods, Living Anatomy and Structural Analysis, Diagnostic Skills of TCM, and, for those students who have completed it, History and Cultural Foundations of Chinese Medical Systems.

Students who have not taken History and Cultural Foundations should see the Administrative Assistant before taking the examination in order for their score to be adjusted.

Content from the following courses is NOT included on this examination: Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine, Introduction to Japanese Acupuncture Styles, Internal Exercise and Clinical Assistantship.

This examination takes place early in the summer term of the first year during Clinical Skills of TCM. All students enrolled in Clinical Skills of TCM are required to sit for the examination. Students who are not enrolled in this course are not eligible to take the exam.

Second Year Comprehensive Examination

The examination reflects content from the following courses: Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory, Point Location, Materials and Methods, Actions & Effects of the Points & Channels, and TCM Etiology and Pathology of Disease.

This examination will take place the week before spring break of the second year during the course Clinical Theater. All students who are enrolled in this class are required to sit for this examination. Students who are not enrolled in this course are not eligible to take the exam. Western Pathophysiology & Pharmacology I and one other Western Pathophysiology & Pharmacology course are pre/co requisites to the Second Year Comp Exam.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Comprehensive Examination

The examination reflects content from the following courses: Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine, CHM: Pharmacopoeia I & II and CHM: Formulas I & II. The examination will take place early in the fall term during CHM: Formula Writing.

All students who are enrolled in this class are required to sit for the examination. Students who are not enrolled in this course are not eligible to take this examination.

Japanese Acupuncture Styles Comprehensive Examination

The examination reflects content from the following courses: Introduction to Japanese Acupuncture Styles, JAS: Root Treatment Strategies I, JAS: Root Treatment Strategies II, and JAS: Local Treatment.

The examination will take place early in the summer term during the course JAS: Introduction to Clinical Internship. All students who are enrolled in this course are required to sit for the examination.

Students who are not enrolled in this course are not eligible to take this exam.

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Failure of a Comprehensive Examination

Students who fail a comprehensive examination will meet with the Associate Dean or a Department Chair to identify areas of concern and develop a plan to address them. Tutoring or other remedial work will likely help students strengthen areas of weak performance. Students will be allowed to take a 2nd exam approximately two months later. Successful completion of the second exam is required to continue in the program or track.

If a student fails the second exam, this will be considered failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, which can have serious consequences. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress are subject to a range of these or other sanctions determined by the Dean: required tutoring or auditing, required change of status such as leave of absence or part-time enrollment, and suspension or expulsion from the program or track. The Dean may convene an academic advisory committee to assist in developing the remediation plan or other finding. Satisfactory Academic Progress is fully discussed in the Student Handbook, available on the Student Portal.

Community Standards of Behavior All students are expected to conduct themselves responsibly and with due consideration of others at all times while on NESA property or at NESA clinical sites. Students are responsible for staying informed of policies and procedures contained in the NESA catalogue, the NESA Student Handbook, student newsletters, the NESA Financial policies, and other NESA publications, as well as policy changes published on occasion by the administration.

Standards of Student Conduct The learning process thrives on mutual consideration and respect including respect for school and individual property. For that reason, NESA has established certain standards of personal conduct, and applies sanctions or takes other appropriate action when those standards are not observed. Further, if a student's conduct also involves a civil or criminal court proceeding, NESA may undertake its own internal disciplinary procedures on its own timetable.

The following are intended to describe the standards of behavior that NESA expects of each student. The list is intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. It should be understood that instances of behavior which tend adversely to affect NESA or any individual in the NESA community are subject to review and action, even if not specifically enumerated here.

The climate of life at NESA must be one of honesty and acceptance of responsibility. Each student is expected and required to:  Furnish correct, truthful and complete information to NESA;  Adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty, so that a student's name on any exercise, whether oral or written, constitutes a representation that the work is the result of the student's own thought and study, and is produced without the assistance of others except as expressly acknowledged or authorized by a faculty member;  Share responsibility for protecting and maintaining the health and safety and the rights of all other members of the NESA community, respect the integrity and personal rights of every other member of the NESA community, and understand that intimidation, threats, physical abuse, or harassment (including, but not limited to sexual, religious, and racial harassment) violates these standards; and  Maintain the strict confidentiality of all information a student may receive on any patient or classmate.

In addition, students are forbidden from:  Encouraging, enticing, influencing or enlisting another student to violate any NESA standard or policy; 22

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Discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status; Possession of firearms (including blank pistols and replicas), explosives, knives, and other articles usable as weapons on NESA premises; Possession, use, sale or distribution of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, or misuse of prescription drugs on NESA premises; Vandalism, theft, attempted theft, destruction of, damage to, unauthorized possession of, or inappropriate use of property belonging to NESA or any other member of the NESA community; Taking any action (including insubordination) which is disrespectful of other community members, that disrupts, or tends to disrupt the operation of NESA including teaching, learning, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other school activities; Infringement of any copyright or patent law; Performing any unsupervised acupuncture treatment; Unsupervised recommendation of any Chinese herbal formula; or Receiving money or anything else of value for performing or otherwise being involved in any acupuncture treatment outside of the auspices of NESA, or otherwise practicing acupuncture without a license.

Academic Integrity Maintaining academic integrity is essential. Academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and depreciates the achievement of the entire institution. Any member of the NESA community who witnesses an act of academic dishonesty must report it to the appropriate faculty member or to the Dean immediately. Accordingly, NESA views an academic integrity violation as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit. The following sections describe various types of academic dishonesty; the examples are intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive.

Cheating

Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any assignment, exam or quiz. Examples:  Unauthorized use of notes, text or other aids during an examination  Copying another student’s exam, paper, case write-up, or homework  Hiding notes in an electronic device for use during an examination  Talking during an examination Fabrication

Intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation, or invention of any information, data or citation in an academic exercise is known as fabrication. Examples:  Falsifying the data for a written assignment  Altering the results of an experiment or survey  Listing a citation for a source not used  Stating an opinion as a scientifically proven fact Multiple Submissions

This is submitting the same assignment for more than one course without the explicit permission of the instructor. Examples:  Submitting the same paper or oral report for credit in two courses without the responsible instructor’s permission  Making minor revisions in a paper or report for which credit has already been received and submitting it again as a new piece of work 23

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise without providing proper documentation. Examples:  Submitting as one’s own work the work of a “ghost writer” or work obtained from a commercial writing service  Quoting directly or paraphrasing closely from a source without giving proper credit  Using figures, graphs, charts, or other such material without identifying the sources The only exceptions to the requirement that sources be acknowledged occur when the information and ideas are common knowledge. The following sources demand documentation:  Word for word quotation from a source, including another student’s work;  Paraphrasing: using ideas of others in your own words;  Unusual or controversial facts – facts not apt to be found in many places; and  Interviews, radio, television programs and telephone conversations.

When in doubt, ask your instructor.

Unauthorized Collaboration

This refers to instances when two or more students, each claiming sole authorship, submit separate reports, papers or case studies which are substantially similar to one another. While several students may use the same source material (as in case write-ups), the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of data must be each individual student’s own work.

Participation in Academically Dishonest Activities

Examples:  Stealing an examination  Using a pre-written paper through a mail order or other service  Selling, loaning or otherwise distributing materials for the purpose of cheating, plagiarism, or other academically dishonest acts.

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty

Intentionally or knowingly helping to violate any provisions of this policy will be seen as facilitating academic dishonesty. Examples:  Inaccurately listing someone as co-author of a paper, case write-up or project who did not contribute  Sharing a take home examination, homework assignment, case write-up, or lab report with another without expressed permission from the instructor  Taking an examination or writing a paper for another student Complicity

A student is responsible for complicity if he or she intentionally or knowingly helps or attempts to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty. Examples:  Knowingly allowing another to copy from one’s paper during an examination or test  Distributing test questions before the time scheduled for the test  Collaborating on academic projects when students are expected to work independently  Taking a test for another student  Signing a false name on a piece of academic work.

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Abuse of Institutional Resources Abuse of institutional resources occurs when a student intentionally or knowingly destroys, steals, mutilates, or otherwise makes inaccessible library or other academic resource material that does not belong to him or her. Examples:  Stealing, destroying, or mutilating library materials  Stealing or intentionally destroying another student’s notes or laboratory data  Hiding resource materials so others may not use them  Destroying computer programs or files needed in others’ academic work  Copying computer software in ways that violate the terms of the publisher’s licensing agreement

Academic Integrity Violation Procedures The charge will be investigated and if sufficient evidence is presented, the case will be referred for disciplinary action. Following determination of a violation of the Academic Integrity policy according to the procedures outlined under "Disciplinary Action Procedure", the student will be subject to the following disciplinary action:  A grade of "F" for the course in which the incident occurred will be awarded;  Disciplinary Probation for the remainder of the student’s stay at NESA; and  Any student found responsible for violating the NESA Academic Integrity policy for a second time will be dismissed from the program.

Sexual Harassment Policy Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 specifically prohibit sexual harassment. All members of the School community, including faculty, administration, staff, and students, have a right to be free from sexual harassment by any member of the School community.

Any member of the New England School of Acupuncture community who has a complaint or concern about sexual harassment, or would like more information about the School’s policies regarding sexual harassment, should contact Susan L. Gorman, Executive Director and Title IX Deputy, 150 California Street, Newton, MA 02458; 617.558.1788 x374; sgorman@nesa.edu.

Protection from Harassment Policy (Title IX) Policy Statement New England School of Acupuncture (or the “School”) an affiliate of MCPHS University is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, genetic information, military service, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities and actively complies with the requirements of Federal Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 402, Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008); and pertinent laws, regulations, and executive directives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other applicable state and federal statutes. The School will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes, or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this policy, "Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, genetic information, military service, or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law.

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This Policy: (1) provides a definition of discrimination and harassment based upon Protected Classes and related retaliation; (2) prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon Protected Classes and related retaliation; and (3) sets out procedures to follow when a member of the New England School of Acupuncture community believes a violation of the policy has occurred.

Individuals who violate this Policy shall be disciplined or subjected to corrective action, up to and including termination or expulsion.

Inquiries regarding the School’s compliance with Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action laws may be directed to Susan L. Gorman, Executive Director, at 617.558.1788 x374.

DEFINITIONS Appointing authority – The individual with the authority or delegated authority to make ultimate personnel decisions concerning a particular employee.

Disciplinary authority – The individual who, or office that, has the authority or delegated authority to impose discipline upon a particular employee or student.

Complainant – A person who is subject to alleged Protected Class discrimination, harassment or related retaliation.

Respondent – A person whose alleged conduct is the subject of a complaint.

False Complaints or False Information – The knowing or reckless alleging of a false complaint of discrimination, harassment, or related retaliation or the providing of false information during the course of an investigation.

Discrimination – An adverse consequence suffered by an individual, such as failure to be hired or promoted, denial of admission to an academic program, etc., on the basis of her/his Protected Class. Sexual harassment and sexual violence are forms of sexual discrimination. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in all school programs and activities.

Harassment – Verbal or physical conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual's work or academic performance or creates an intimidating or hostile work or educational environment (See “Hostile Environment” below).

Sexual Harassment – A form of sex discrimination that is a violation of School policy and federal and state statutes. For purposes of this policy, sexual harassment, whether between people of different sexes or the same sex, is defined to include, but is not limited to, unwanted sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other behavior of a sexual nature when:  Submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic status.  Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment or academic decisions affecting him or her.  Such advances, requests or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or sexually offensive work or learning environment.

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Sexual Harassment may occur regardless of the intention of the person engaging in the conduct. While it is not possible to list all those additional circumstances that may constitute sexual harassment, the following are some examples of conduct which if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment depending upon the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness: Sexual advances whether they involve physical touching or not; Requests for sexual favors in exchanges for actual or promised job or academic benefits such as favorable reviews, salary increases, promotions, grades, increased benefits, or continued employment; Punishment for not complying with requests for sexual favors, such as unfavorable reviews, denial of promotion; Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life; comment on an individual’s body, comment about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess; Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons; Leering, whistling, touching, brushing against the body, sexual gestures, suggestive or insulting comments; Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; Discussion of one’s sexual activities; Assault or coerced sexual acts.

Hostile Environment – An environment that may be created when there has been unwelcome conduct by an individual(s) against another individual based upon her/his Protected Class that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of education or employment and creates an environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile or offensive. The determination of whether an environment is "hostile" must be based on all of the circumstances. These circumstances could include the frequency of the conduct, its severity, and whether it is threatening or humiliating. Simple teasing, offhand comments and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to hostile environment harassment.

Retaliation – A causal connection between an individual’s experiencing material adverse action and his/her (1) reporting an allegation of discrimination or harassment; or (2) participating in support of an investigation of discrimination or harassment.

Materially Adverse Action – An action that would dissuade a reasonable person from reporting an allegation of discrimination or harassment, or participating in support of an investigation of an allegation of discrimination or harassment. A determination of whether an action is materially adverse is made on a caseby-case basis.

Office of Student Affairs – The office that investigates allegations of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation when the respondent is a student. This office is also the disciplinary authority for students.

Human Resources – The office that investigates allegations of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation when the respondent is an employee.

Title IX Coordinator – the Officer responsible for oversight on all Title IX allegations and/or violations.

For allegations involving respondents who are employees, the Title IX Coordinator will assign direct oversight to Human Resources. For allegations involving respondents who are students, the Title IX Coordinator will assign direct oversight to the Office of the Student Affairs.

NESA’s Title IX Coordinator – MCPHS University Associate Provost for Academic and International Affairs, Caroline Zeind. caroline.zeind@mcphs.edu. 617.732.2238 27

Title IX Deputies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; School employees who report to and assist the Title IX Coordinator on all allegations of Title IX violations.

NESAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Title IX Deputies - Executive Director Susan L Gorman , Dean of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Meredith St. John, Lic.Ac. and Associate Dean CJ Allen, Lic.Ac. Supervisor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anyone who has the authority to hire, promote, discipline, evaluate, grade, or direct faculty, staff, or students. This includes anyone who manages or supervises others, including, but not limited to, faculty, teaching assistants, resident advisors, coaches, and anyone who leads, administers, advises, or directs School programs.

REPORTING OBLIGATIONS Supervisor's Obligation to Report Any supervisor who witnesses, receives, or has knowledge of a complaint of discrimination, harassment or related retaliation that occurs in New England School of Acupuncture employment and educational programs and activities, shall immediately report it to his/her supervisor. A failure to report this information is a violation of this Policy, except in the case of a supervisor whose profession and School responsibilities requires him/her to keep certain communications confidential (e.g., a professional counselor). Such a supervisor is not required to report confidential communications received while performing those School responsibilities.

Obligation to Report In order to take appropriate corrective action, New England School of Acupuncture must be aware of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation that occur in New England School of Acupuncture employment and educational programs and activities. Anyone who believes that she/he has experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or related retaliation should immediately report such behavior to one of the designated Title IX Deputies, Director of Student Affairs, or his/her own supervisor.

Confidentiality The School will maintain the confidentiality of the complaint, and the privacy of the persons involved, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with its goal of conducting a thorough and complete investigation and to the extent permitted by law.

Retaliation The School will not in any way retaliate against an individual who reports a perceived violation of this policy, participates in any investigation, or otherwise opposes perceived discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, including as a witness. It will also not retaliate against anyone associated with the individual who engages in such protected conduct, such as a family member. New England School of Acupuncture further will not tolerate retaliation by any employee or student. Retaliation is a serious violation of this policy, as well as of federal, state, and local law. Anyone who believes he/she is a victim of retaliation should report the matter immediately according to the same procedure provided in this policy for making complaints of discrimination, harassment, or sexual assault. Any person found to have retaliated against another individual will be subject to the same disciplinary action provided under this policy for other violations.

PROCEDURES Reports or complaints pursuant to this policy will be addressed and resolved as promptly as practicable after the complaint or report is made.

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Allegations or Complaints may be directed to any one of the following: Title IX Coordinator: MCPHS Associate Provost for Academic and International Affairs Caroline Zeind Title IX Deputies: NESA Executive Director Susan L Gorman , NESA Dean of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Meredith St. John, Lic.Ac. and NESA Associate Dean CJ Allen, Lic.Ac. Executive Director Director of Student Affairs Human Resources Administrator Dean or Department Chair Supervisors Faculty/Staff The initial complaint will immediately be forwarded to the Title IX Deputy who will work with the Title IX Coordinator, who has oversight of the investigation. An investigation will be concluded and reports submitted to the Title IX Coordinator no later than 90 days following the receipt of a complaint. A determination will be finalized no later than 30 days after the receipt of the report of the investigation.

A. Investigation Process 1. The Title IX Coordinator shall determine the most appropriate means for addressing the report or

complaint. The Title IX Coordinator may designate another individual (from within New England School of Acupuncture, including an administrator) to conduct or assist with the investigation. Anyone designated to address an allegation must adhere to the requirements of this policy and confer with the Title IX Coordinator throughout the investigation.

2. All reports or complaints shall be made as promptly as possible after the occurrence.

3. If an investigation is conducted, the complainant and respondent shall have the right to: a. Receive written notice of the report or complaint, including a statement of the allegations, as soon

after the commencement of the investigation as is practicable and to the extent permitted by law; b. Present relevant information to the investigator(s); and c. Receive, at the conclusion of the investigation and appropriate review, a copy of the investigator's report, to the extent permitted by law.

4. The Title IX Coordinator and only necessary School officials shall be notified that an investigation is

taking place.

5. At the conclusion of an investigation, the investigator shall prepare a written report that shall include a

statement of factual findings and a determination of whether this policy has been violated. The draft report shall be presented for review to the Title IX Coordinator.

6. The Title IX Coordinator may consult with the investigator, consult with the parties, and request that

further investigation be done by the same or another investigator, or request that the investigation be conducted again by another investigator. Once the Title IX Coordinator is satisfied that a complete investigation has been completed and the appropriate School officers have approved the findings of the investigation, the Title IX Coordinator shall send the final report to the complainant and respondent, to the extent permitted by law. The final report shall also be sent to the respondent's supervisor, appointing authority/disciplinary authority, Executive Director and the President of MCPHS University.

7. The appointing authority/disciplinary authority must initiate formal action against the respondent if

she/he was found to have violated this Policy or acted inappropriately or unprofessionally. The 29

appointing authority/disciplinary authority, and other administrators with a need to know, may have access to the investigative records and may consult with the investigator in order to take appropriate action. The appointing authority/disciplinary authority shall inform, in writing, the Title IX Coordinator of the action taken against the individual(s) who have violated this policy or who have behaved inappropriately or unprofessionally. The Title IX Coordinator will keep the President and the VicePresidents informed of the final disposition of all Title IX cases.

8. In all cases, the Title IX Coordinator shall retain the investigator's report for a minimum of three (3) years

or for such longer period as any administrative or legal action arising out of the complaint is pending. In the case of a student respondent(s), records will be retained according to policies administered by New England School of Acupuncture.

9. All records of discrimination and harassment and related retaliation reports and investigations shall be

considered confidential and shall not be disclosed publicly except to the extent required by law.

B. Complaints By and Against School Employees and Students Arising in an Affiliated Entity

School employees and students sometimes work or study at the worksite or program of another organization affiliated with New England School of Acupuncture. When a violation of this policy is alleged by or against New England School of Acupuncture employees or students in those circumstances, the complaint should immediately be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator will consult the affiliation agreement between New England School of Acupuncture and the other entity for any language relating to the handling of the allegation. In the absence of an affiliation agreement or a provision addressing this issue, New England School of Acupuncture will follow the designated protocol for all Title IX allegations.

C. No Limitation on Existing Authority

No provision of this policy shall be construed as a limitation on the authority of an appointing authority/disciplinary authority under applicable policies and procedures to initiate appropriate action.

However, the Title IX Coordinator always has oversight of Title IX cases and will work with the appropriate School authorities where appropriate. If an investigation is conducted under this policy and no policy violation is found, that finding does not prevent discipline of the respondent for inappropriate or unprofessional conduct under other applicable policies and procedures.

D. Annual Report

New England School of Acupuncture shall maintain an annual report documenting: (1) the number of reports or complaints received pursuant to this policy; (2) the categories of those involved in the allegations; (3) the number of policy violations found; and (4) examples of sanctions imposed for policy violations.

E. Education

New England School of Acupuncture will broadly disseminate this policy, distribute a list of resources available to respond to concerns of Protected Class discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and develop and present appropriate educational programs for students and employees.

STATE AND FEDERAL REMEDIES In addition to the above, if a student or employee believes that he/she has been subjected to discrimination or harassment, he/she may file a formal complaint with any of the governmental agencies set forth below.

Using New England School of Acupunctureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complaint process does not prohibit a student or employee from filing a complaint with these agencies.

Middlesex County District Attorney 15 Commonwealth Avenue 30

Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 897-8300 Newton Police Dept.

1321 Washington Street Newton, MA 02465 (617) 796-2100 or 911 Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination (MCAD) One Ashburton Place – Room 601 Boston, MA 02108 (617) 994-6000 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) John F. Kennedy Federal Building 475 Government Center Boston, MA 02203 (800) 669-4000 This policy complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1976; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Vietnam Era Veterans Adjustment Act; and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Anti-Hazing Policy As stated in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, Crimes against Public Peace: CH. 269, S.17. Crime of Hazing; Definition; Penalty Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

The term “hazing” as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include shipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student, other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action. Added by St. 1985, c.536; amended by St.1987, c665.

CH. 269, S.18. Duty to Report Hazing Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars. Added by St. 1985, c.536; amended by St. 1987, c665.

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CH. 269. S.19. Hazing Statutes to be provided; Statement of Compliance and Discipline Policy Required Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post-secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution’s compliance with this section’s requirements that an institution issue copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution’s recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post-secondary education shall file, at least annually, a report with the regents of higher education and in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education, certifying that such institution has complied with its responsibility to inform student groups, teams or organizations and to notify each full time student enrolled of the provisions of this sections and sections seventeen and eighteen and also certifying that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution’s policies to its students. The board of regents and, in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwith report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make such report.

Disciplinary Issues Drug and Alcohol Abuse Students who arrive to NESA under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be dismissed for the day, pending further disciplinary action. NESA is committed to the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and prohibits the manufacture and unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs on NESA property and at any NESA sponsored activity. The distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages at organized school functions is prohibited unless expressly approved by the NESA administration. No person under the age of 21 will be served alcoholic beverages at a NESA event where alcohol consumption has been expressly approved. At an event at which alcoholic beverages are served, non-alcoholic beverages and food will also be available. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 101-690) requires institutions receiving federal financial assistance to implement and enforce drug prevention programs and policies. NESA’s drug prevention program includes annual distribution of information regarding drug health risks and legal sanctions as well as drug/alcohol counseling treatment and rehabilitation programs. Contact the Director of Student Affairs for local treatment and rehabilitation resources as well as health and legal risks.

Firearms & Combustible Materials Firearms, ammunition, explosives, combustible fuel, firecrackers and potential ingredients thereof are forbidden on NESA property.

Disciplinary Sanctions Related to Drug and Alcohol Abuse and/or Firearms & Combustible Material Policies Cases in which a student is alleged to have been involved in drug or alcohol abuse, firearm use or misusing combustible materials while engaged in NESA activities, will be reviewed by the NESA Disciplinary Committee as outlined in this handbook under the Disciplinary Action Procedure section.

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Any violation of the drug and alcohol abuse policy or the firearms and combustible materials policy will result in appropriate disciplinary actions up to and including expulsion. Where it is apparent that a violation of the law has occurred, the appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.

In certain cases, students may be referred to counseling sources and/or substance abuse help centers.

Successful completion of such a program will be considered by the NESA Administration when sanctioning students in violation of this policy.

Fire Safety When a fire alarm sounds, all individuals must vacate the facility (this includes the main building and the NESA Clinic). No student may re-enter the facility until instructed to do so by a NESA official.

Periodic fire drills will be conducted in NESA’s teaching and clinical facilities during the academic year.

A student is expected and required to use safety equipment and/or initiate safety procedures only when it is necessary (this includes, but is not limited to, fire equipment, fire alarms, fire drills, and exit lights). Initiating a false fire alarm, submitting a bomb threat, or otherwise disrupting the learning environment is a violation of NESA’s community standards of behavior, and will be handled in compliance with the Disciplinary Action Procedure outlined in this handbook.

Smoke Free Environment State law prohibits smoking on all school property. This law is strictly enforced by NESA. Students may not smoke anywhere in either of its buildings.

Practice of Acupuncture Outside of NESA Since acupuncture is a licensed profession in Massachusetts, it is illegal for NESA students to practice acupuncture in Massachusetts except under school supervision. This applies whether or not a fee is received for performing an acupuncture treatment. For this reason, students may not perform unsupervised acupuncture treatments.

Disciplinary Action Upon learning of any allegation that might warrant disciplinary action on the part of NESA, the Dean will review the incident and determine an appropriate course of action. On the basis of this review, the Dean may take any of the following actions:  Dismiss the matter  Further investigate the incident, including meeting with the student and others involved to discuss the incident  Appoint another administrator (such as the Director of Student Affairs) to assist or conduct the investigation  Suspend the student  Convene the NESA Disciplinary Committee to consider the matter and take appropriate action The NESA Disciplinary Committee usually, but not always, consists of the Dean, the Director of Student Affairs, the Faculty and a Student Representatives to the Board of Trustees. The Dean may decide to appoint others to the committee as deemed necessary. The President may, at his or her discretion, serve on the committee.

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Confidentiality in the Disciplinary Process The resolution of a disciplinary situation will be conducted with as much confidentiality as possible. Because of the confidential nature of the disciplinary matter, the NESA Administration will not engage in any discussion regarding the involved students or the Administration’s perceived, alleged or actual actions related to any aspect of a disciplinary process. In order to protect the confidentiality of the student, and in compliance with FERPA, the Administration will not respond to any communication regarding any aspect of a disciplinary procedure except for with any student directly involved in the disciplinary proceedings.

Interim Suspension/Separation In certain situations, a student may be suspended/separated from NESA prior to a formal disciplinary hearing. The President, the Dean, or the Director of Student Affairs may levy suspensions.

Students suspended or dismissed from NESA are not allowed on school or clinic property without prior administration approval.

Emergency Suspension In extreme cases, a decision may be made to immediately separate a student from NESA. This decision may be made, pending final action, for reasons of imminent danger to the student's physical or emotional safety or well-being, or for reasons of imminent danger to the safety or well-being of NESA. The procedure for disciplinary action stated above shall be initiated and completed as soon as possible after the start of the student's emergency suspension.

Disciplinary Committee Hearing Procedures The following are the procedures that will be followed should the Disciplinary Committee be convened to consider a disciplinary matter:  A Disciplinary Committee hearing will be scheduled within 14 business days after the determination is made that such a hearing is necessary. As part of the Committee review process, the student whose actions are being investigated will be informed in writing of the issue to be considered by the Disciplinary Committee and be requested to appear before the Committee. The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, may also request the appearance of other individuals with knowledge of the incident. Because Disciplinary Committee hearings are internal NESA affairs, no agent or attorney for the student may accompany the student to a Disciplinary Committee hearing. In addition, no Disciplinary Committee hearing may be tape recorded.  Following the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee will make a decision as to whether disciplinary action is warranted. If the Committee determines that disciplinary action is warranted, the Committee will decide upon and take that action, and the student will be notified, in writing, not more than 7 calendar days after the hearing, of that action. The student will also be notified, in writing, if no disciplinary action is to be taken.  A record of all meetings and decisions, including the final disposition, will be placed in the student's permanent file.

Appealing a Disciplinary Action If a student wishes to appeal a disciplinary action, he or she may submit in writing, to the Director of Student Affairs, a request that the NESA Grievance Committee convene to reconsider the matter. This grievance must be filed within ten business days of receiving notification of the disciplinary decision from the Administration. See the Student Grievance Policy outlined in this handbook.

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Range of Disciplinary Action Please note: the following Range of Disciplinary Action in no way implies a particular sequence of action.

Actions that may be taken by the Disciplinary Committee range from no further action to expulsion of the student, as described below. Conditions may be attached to the action depending upon the nature of the student's behavior, the degree of the student's involvement, the student's motivations and intent, the record of past behavior and consideration of all facets of the specific situation.

Dismissal of Complaint: In this case it is determined that there is no basis for the charges made against the student. The student will be notified in writing if the complaint is dismissed. a) No Further Action: In some cases where the student is found to have breached the standards of NESA, it may be determined that no further action is deemed necessary beyond a discussion of the matter with the student. In this case, the incident will nevertheless be noted in the student's record.

The student will be notified in writing that no further action will be taken. b) Disciplinary Warning: The student may be warned, in writing, of the possible consequences of continuing the behavior involved, and appropriate conditions may be applied. c) Disciplinary Probation: A student who is placed on disciplinary probation is permitted to remain enrolled at NESA under specified conditions. It is understood that the student is subject to further disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal, if the student violates the terms of the probation or in any way fails to conduct himself/herself as a responsible member of the NESA community. Probation is considered a final warning to the student. d) Suspension: Suspension of the student from NESA differs from dismissal since it defines conditions under which return may be possible. Suspension may extend for a term, until a designated date, or until a stated condition is met. e) Indefinite Suspension: In the event that a student has been convicted of a felony in a criminal proceeding, the student may be indefinitely suspended from NESA. A student suspended under this authority may request a hearing in accordance with the above procedure for disciplinary action. f) Expulsion: Expulsion is a permanent separation of the student from NESA. If a student is suspended or expelled from the NESA program, they may not attend any NESA sponsored events/activities, NESA Continuing Education courses or enter any NESA property including the NESA Clinic or any satellite clinic. If the student was receiving acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine care at a NESA Clinic site the student will be directed to contact their Primary Care Provider for a referral. Further, the student may not contact any NESA faculty, administration or staff member regarding the suspension or expulsion, nor may that student allow for the distribution â&#x20AC;&#x201C; verbal, written or otherwise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; throughout the student body regarding the suspension or expulsion.

General Policies and Communication Animals on Campus No animals (other than guide and service animals) are allowed in the classrooms, treatment rooms, or clinic facilities.

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Bulletin Boards/Posting Policy Students may post materials on bulletin boards only with prior approval. The Front Desk Manager or the Director of Student Affairs will date the posting and determine where the material can be posted.

In accordance with fire safety regulations and the safety of all members of the NESA community, the hanging of flyers and notices on the glass windows of the doors is prohibited.

Cell Phones Cell phones may not be used in the classrooms, practice rooms, the Kelly Library, or clinical internship sites.

When using cell phones in NESAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facilities, please be sure their use is not disruptive to others.

Email NESA provides student email accounts to each student. Students are expected to check their NESA email regularly to receive important announcements, such as required registration materials. NESA also communicates with students via social media and an electronic newsletter (The Point).

No Fragrance Policy All members of the NESA community are required to refrain from using scented products, whether natural or synthetic, while in the school or the clinic. Due to chemical sensitivity, these products may have an adverse effect on classmates, faculty, staff and patients.

Guests in the Classroom Students are welcome to bring friends, spouses and significant others to observe an occasional class. Students must ask permission of their instructors in advance. Guests may not attend weekend classes, workshops or seminars.

Infants and children are not permitted in classrooms, practice rooms or clinic treatment rooms, nor may they be left unsupervised anywhere in the school or clinic.

Practice Room Dress Code For safety reasons, students are not permitted to wear open toe shoes (e.g. flip-flops, sandals) in the practice rooms or clinics. Footwear such as sneakers or solid toe shoes is required in the practice rooms and clinics at all times. Faculty who supervise in the practice rooms will be monitoring proper footwear. You will be asked to leave the practice room if proper footwear is not worn.

Selling and Soliciting on NESA Property Students and others are not allowed to conduct their own businesses on school property at any time and are not allowed to use student, faculty or staff lists, or mailboxes to advertise or solicit business. NESA reserves the right to approve all use of school property, equipment, written information, and faculty and student lists.

Security Although NESA works to provide students with a safe environment in which to learn, some level of crime still exists. Students are encouraged to be aware of their personal possessions and to lock their cars. Students are required to promptly report any criminal incident or misconduct to the Front Desk. Any report will be followed up on immediately, including a timely warning to the rest of the NESA community, as required by law.

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Crime Statistics Annual Report As required by law, NESA maintains crime statistics and issues an annual report on any incident that occurred during the previous year. The report is available at the front Desk and posted on the NESA website.

Student Newsletter – The Point The Point is the administration’s primary method of internal communication with students. It is published and posted on a weekly basis when class is in session and distributed electronically to student email addresses.

Recent issues are also available on the NESA Kelly Library website. Students are expected to read the newsletter for announcements, and are responsible for any information printed. Students may submit NESArelated items to the newsletter by emailing information to the Director of Student Affairs.

Student Photo Identification Cards Student photo identification (ID) cards are issued during new student orientation. Students should carry their NESA ID cards on their person when visiting the NESA facilities or clinical sites. Students may request replacement ID cards at the Front Desk. The cost for a replacement ID card is twenty dollars ($20), payable at the time the replacement is requested. NESA ID cards are necessary for library privileges at the Kelly Library as well as at various other libraries (see the Library webpage for more information).

Student Council Council Mission Statement The NESA Student Council will serve as the liaison between the Administration/Faculty and Students for the purpose of fostering effective communication, promoting student interests and concerns, coordinating student activities, and advocating for the resources necessary to promote the highest quality of education in Oriental Medicine.

Council Vision Student Council will work towards establishing a sense of community while promoting positive change to enhance the relationship between students and faculty/administration. The Council will serve as a representative to the NESA Community to facilitate the development, growth and support provided to students, alumni and staff with the assistance of the Director of Student Affairs.

Council Objectives Our primary objectives include:  Representation and communication for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding between students, alumni, faculty and staff.  Encourage leadership and participation within the student body.  Promote excellence in learning and achievement.  Provide feedback on curriculum in the interest of enhancing the quality of our education.  Enhance the NESA community through special programs and events.

Students may contact the Student Council by leaving a note in the Student Council mailbox (located with the student mailboxes) or by contacting the Director of Student Affairs.

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Membership Student Council members are elected by their class during the Fall term of their 1st year of matriculation to NESA. 2 representatives are elected to serve for the 3 years they are enrolled here at NESA. All students are welcome to participate in the Council’s meetings. For more information, contact the Director of Student Affairs or speak with a Student Council member.

Financial Policies General Tuition Billing Information Students are billed for the total number of credits taken within a given term. Science courses are charged per course. Students are responsible for the prompt payment of all tuition bills. If a bill has not been received by the first week of the billing period, students should see the Finance Office. If there is a billing dispute, the student must pay the undisputed portion of the bill to avoid any additional late fees. It is the student’s responsibility to remain current in the payment of charges. In cases of student default on tuition payments, the student is liable for the outstanding tuition, as well as all reasonable collection costs and any legal fees incurred by NESA during the collection process.

Installment Tuition Payment Plan NESA’s Installment Tuition Payment Plan (the “Payment Plan”) allows students to spread their tuition payments, not covered by student loans, for a given term throughout that term on an interest-free basis. If the student does not make the agreed-upon payments on time, the student will be terminated from the Payment Plan, and the outstanding balance will be due immediately. The Payment Plan is offered to students in good standing who are enrolled with a course load of at least six credits.

Students participating in the Payment Plan for the first time must make an initial down payment equal to 50% of their first term’s tuition prior to the start of the term. The remaining balance is divided into three (3) equal payments, each of which is due and payable on the first day of the remaining months in the term.

Students who have already participated in the Payment Plan and who remain in good standing do not need to make a down payment. Rather, their tuition balance is divided into four (4) equal payments, the first of which is due and payable on the first day of the term. Each of the remaining three (3) payments is due and payable on the first day of the remaining months in the term.

The Payment Plan is offered for tuition, student insurance, fees and any additional course related charges. The Payment Plan does not cover books, equipment and other incidental expenses or fees which are payable at the time the expense is incurred. Students should contact the Finance Office to make Payment Plan arrangements.

Tuition and Fee Changes The New England School of Acupuncture is a not-for-profit institution. All tuition funds and fees are used to support the college’s mission. Tuition and fee rates are set annually by the Board of Trustees and are published in the Academic Catalogue and on www.nesa.edu.

Delinquent Balances Tuition is due and payable by the start of the term. If the student has not arranged for a Payment Plan with the Finance Office, the full tuition is due at the start of the term. If the student has enrolled in a Payment Plan, the first installment of the Payment Plan is due by the start of the term. If NESA does not receive 38

financial aid funds or employer tuition reimbursement payments for a particular student, the student is responsible for paying their tuition as stated in this handbook, even if the delays are due to late applications.

Students with specific concerns should contact the Finance Office to make specific arrangements.

A late payment fee of $25.00 will be billed starting the second month of each term for all students who have not made on-time full payments (whether or not the student is on the Payment Plan). This fee may be waived at the discretion of the Finance Office.

Students who have an outstanding balance:  Shall not receive their transcripts, diplomas or program certificates until full payment of their account has been made including any late fees that may have accrued.  Shall not be entitled to have transcripts issued on their behalf to any outside organization (e.g. NCCAOM and licensing boards).  Shall not be permitted to register for or attend Academic or Continuing Education classes the next term unless the outstanding balance and the initial payment for the following term are paid in full prior to the beginning of classes.  Shall lose all privileges to the Kelly Library.

Dismissal for Failure to Meet Financial Obligations A student may be dismissed at any time from the program due to non-payment of tuition. NESA reserves the right to initiate financial dismissal, with prior notice, to any student who does not meet the stated financial requirements of the school. A student is entitled to appeal the notice of pending financial dismissal within 10 business days of receipt of notice. The appeal must be in writing and must be sent to the Controller. It must include a description of the dispute and any documentation pertinent to the issue.

Reinstatement will be based on demonstrated ability to meet the stated financial requirements of NESA. Any student reinstated after a financial dismissal is subject to a $250 re-instatement fee. Subsequent inability to meet the stated financial requirements will result in permanent dismissal. Tuition balances left unpaid after this time are forwarded to NESA’s collection agency.

Students considering a leave of absence or withdrawal from the school must speak to the Finance Office before leaving, to arrange payment of any outstanding balance. Students receiving financial aid, considering a leave of absence or withdrawal must consult with NESA’s Director of Financial Aid.

Tuition Refund Policy Students may withdraw from NESA at any time. If a student wishes to withdraw from school, the student must inform the school in writing of the withdrawal. The withdrawal will become effective on the day the last date of attendance as documented by the school. If a last date of attendance cannot be determined, the halfway point of the academic term will be used. A student receiving Federal Title IV aid will be subject to the policy outlined under “Return of Federal Funds for Financial Aid Recipients Who Withdraw”.

Refund policy for courses that meet weekly for an entire 14 week academic term:  If the student withdraws during the ADD/Drop period, the refund is 100% of tuition charges;  If the student withdraws during the 2nd to 4th week of courses the refund due is 50% of tuition charges;  If the student withdraws after the 5th week of classes has begun, the student will not be eligible for any refund of tuition charges, and will also owe the administrative fee detailed below.

Refund policy for courses that do not meet weekly for an entire 14 week academic term, including CE and elective courses: 39

 

If the student withdraws up to 14 days before the course starts, the refund is 100% of tuition charges; If the student withdraws with less than 14 days before the course start date; no refund can be made and student transcript will reflect with a "Withdrawal" for the class.

Refunds due to students who have withdrawn from the program will be processed within two weeks of NESA’s receipt of written notification of the student’s withdrawal.

Students who return to NESA to repeat a term from which they withdrew are subject to the tuition and fees currently applicable in the term in which they return to NESA. Non-matriculated students, who are only enrolled in science courses, are not eligible for any tuition refund after the 2nd class meeting.

Return of Federal Financial Aid Funds Students who have received federal student loans who withdraw will be processed under the Department of Education Return of Federal Funds Guidelines based on the students’ last date of attendance.

The student will be notified how much loan money was returned, the date of the return and to whom it was returned. NESA will also notify the lender and guarantee agency of the student’s withdrawal status and the date it went into effect.

Returned Checks NESA will automatically re-deposit any returned check received for payment of a student account. A $20 returned check fee will be charged to the student account for any check that is returned by the bank.

Required Insurance Malpractice Insurance: All matriculated students are required to carry Malpractice insurance, provided through the American Acupuncture Council. Matriculated students will be automatically enrolled and invoiced with their tuition.

Sickness Insurance: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all students taking 75% of a full time course load to carry Sickness insurance meeting minimum standards. NESA defines full time at 12 credits in the fall and spring, and 9 credits in the summer. All matriculated students taking 75% of a full time course load in the Fall term will be automatically enrolled in Sickness insurance for the full academic year and invoiced in two installments with tuition in the Fall and Spring semesters. Family and other plans are available. Brochures are available from NESA. Insurance premiums are non-refundable after 30 days of coverage.

Online Sickness Insurance Waiver: Students with a health insurance policy that meets or exceeds QSHIP standards, have the option of waiving coverage through Consolidated Health Plans. Students who do not complete the online waiver by the deadline will be enrolled in and charged for an individual Consolidated Health Plan sickness insurance policy.

Online waivers must be completed no later than September 8, 2015 in order to avoid a $20 late waiver fee. Matriculates who waived coverage for the summer term must complete the current waiver to waive coverage for the upcoming academic year.

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Specific questions regarding coverage should be directed to Consolidated Health Plans at www.consolidatedhealthplan.com or 1-800-633-7867.

Financial Aid Policies To be considered for financial aid, students must meet the general eligibility requirements as explained on the Financial Aid page of the NESA website. Students who complete their applications in a timely manner will be notified of their eligibility and of any additional requirements they must complete before any funds can be disbursed.

It is essential that students complete all necessary steps of the loan process in order to ensure that loans are in place prior to the beginning of classes. If NESA does not receive financial aid funds before or during the first week of classes, the student will be responsible for payment of all tuition, fees, and other charges.

Federal guidelines prohibit applying funds to the accounts of students who have incomplete financial aid files.

Students will be asked to complete the Credit Balance Authorization which authorizes NESA to pay other educational costs, including the cost for sickness insurance, from your loan disbursements. Students who have been selected for Verification must submit all documents before funds can be disbursed.

Verification Verification is a process which authorizes NESA to certify that all the information reported on your FAFSA application is correct. Each year the U.S. Department of Education selects a group of applications for verification. Documents requested to complete the verification process include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Department of Education Verification Form, a copy of the student’s IRS tax return transcript, and W-2 statements. Any requested documents should be submitted within 10 days of receipt of notification to avoid cancellation of financial aid. Any changes to the financial aid award as a result of verification will be communicated to the student in a revised award letter. Financial aid proceeds will not be credited to the student’s account until the verification process is complete.

Loan Disbursements/Availability of Excess Funds Federal legislation requires that all federal loans be disbursed directly to each student’s account based on the number of terms in which the student will enroll. Loan disbursements are made at the beginning of each academic term via EFT, minus any origination fees (approximately 1% for Direct Loans and 4% for Graduate PLUS loans).

If loan proceeds are insufficient to cover your balance, the remaining balance will be due immediately unless prior arrangements are made with the Finance Office. (see Financial Policies section for more information) NESA will refund to students any financial aid proceeds that exceed charges on a student's account. If your loan proceeds exceed your current balance, you will be issued a check for the excess funds within 14 days of the aid posting to the student account.

If, during a break, the Academic Department is in the process of determining whether a financial aid student will be placed on academic probation, the disbursement date for the next term’s loan funds will be delayed until 14 days after the first day of classes to allow time to verify continued eligibility.

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Notification of Receipt of Loan Funds The disbursement showing loans received is included as part of the invoice which is available on-line in the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account accessible via the student information system, Populi. If a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account shows a refund is due, the student will be advised via a notice posted in the Point and on Populi to check in at the Front Desk when checks are available. This notice will be distributed within 10 days of the day that the funds are applied to the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account and refund checks will be given to students within 14 days of posting to the student account. Please look for that notification, and make every attempt to pick up any checks for credit balances in a timely manner; checks for credit balances that are not picked up within 2 weeks will be mailed.

If you have any questions regarding the receipt of funds, or any other aspect of your student account, please do not hesitate to contact the Finance Office at ext. 108. If you have any questions regarding your financial aid application or file, you should contact the Financial Aid Office at ext. 265.

Leave of Absence, Withdrawals, Less Than Half Time Enrollment If a student takes a leave of absence, withdraws, or drops below half-time enrollment at NESA, the financial aid office will return all loan money that is not earned by the student in accordance to Title IV guidelines.

The Financial Aid Office at NESA is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a term. The student's eligibility for the funds received from federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the Federal Return of Title IV funds calculation and may result in funds being owed to NESA. For unofficial withdrawals, the withdrawal date used is the last date the student attended classes.

The requirements for Title IV program refunds upon withdrawal are separate from any institutional refund policy.

Outside Scholarships Students are required to report the receipt of scholarships from sources outside of NESA. Please send a copy of any outside award notification to the Financial Aid Office.

Appeals Process for Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility To be eligible for a financial aid or loan deferment, students must be enrolled at least half-time. In addition, a student must make satisfactory academic progress, as defined in this Handbook, in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

Federal regulations require that students demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in their educational program in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid. A student whose financial aid has been terminated for failure to make satisfactory academic progress has the right to appeal the loss of financial aid funds within two (2) weeks of notification of this decision, if the student believes there are mitigating circumstances.

Appeals must be submitted to the NESA Grievance Committee (see Student Grievance Policy section for more details).

Awards Tsay Fellowship Created by former NESA professor Kuen-Shii Tsay, this fellowship is awarded to an outstanding member of each graduating class who is likely to make a significant contribution to the profession of acupuncture. The student receives a grant to be used for further study in Oriental medicine or for a research project.

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The Compassionate Healer Fellowship in Honor of Peter Faust ’93 Created by an anonymous donor, this endowed scholarship will be awarded annually at graduation, to the graduating student who best exemplifies the characteristics of a compassionate healer. Clinical Faculty submit nominations for this fellowship each spring term.

The Paul W. Madden Memorial Scholarship Paul W. Madden Memorial Scholarship is given to a graduating student who embodies practitioner skills attributed to Paul; one who brings competent care, compassion, cheer to patients, and gratitude for the profession. This graduating student exemplifies being open to all modalities of healing, especially the healing of “being with” patients.

Facilities Front Desk The Front Desk, located at the entrance of the school on the third floor, is staffed Mondays through Fridays.

Please stop by the Front Desk to locate or submit administrative forms, have an ID picture taken, or obtain a parking tag. Most of NESA's policies, procedures and forms are found in the kiosk adjacent to the student mailboxes.

NESA Store The NESA store is a vibrant part of the community. The store is located across from the Kelly Library on the main floor of the school and carries textbooks, educational and school materials, snacks, treatment and clinical supplies, NESA logo products and apparel, as well as prepared Chinese Herbal Medicines and remedies. Students can browse an extensive selection of books, charts, practitioner tools and gifts, or pick up last minute supplies. The NESA store also partners with MBS Direct for all academic books for classes. This on-line partner offers NESA students new, used or rental books at the most competitive prices and guarantees book buybacks. Please note that only licensed acupuncturists or matriculated NESA students may purchase needles. Call (617) 558-1788 x 107 or email nesa_bookstore@nesa.edu.

Lockers Lockers are available at NESA for student use and are currently located adjacent to the practice rooms.

Students must provide their own combination lock. Students should register the locker number and padlock combination with the Front Desk prior to use. Students are asked to use combination padlocks vs. keyed padlocks for general maintenance and cleaning purposes.

Lost and Found Lost and found items should be turned in and retrieved at the Front Desk. At the NESA Clinic, any lost and found will be held at the Reception Desk and items will be donated to charity after one month.

Mailboxes Each student has a personal mailbox located in the main corridor. These mailboxes are used by the administration for official NESA business - e.g. written communication with students, including responses to student inquiries and requests for additional information. Any messages received by the Front Desk for a student will be placed in the student’s mailbox. Students are expected to check their mailboxes on a daily basis for such correspondence.

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Parking Parking for the main building at 150 California Street and the NESA Clinic requires a parking tag which can be obtained from the Front Desk free of charge. NESA parking spaces are in the Stop and Shop parking lot and are designated with yellow outlines. Cars not properly registered with the Front Desk or parked in unauthorized parking spots will be subject to towing. No overnight parking is allowed in the school lots.

Two-hour on-street parking is allowed in Newton. Any cars parked longer than 2 hours will be ticketed although on-street parking in allowed on the weekends.

Handicapped Parking spaces are located just outside the front entrance of the 150 California Street location in the courtyard.

All on-site parking at the NESA Clinic is reserved for patients of the NESA Clinic.

Bicycles A bicycle rack is provided. Do not lock bikes to the handrails at entrances or interior stairwells.

Study Areas Students are welcome to use the Kelley Library, any of the study carols throughout the campus and any open meeting room for studying. In addition, silent study and group study classroom areas will be designated on a daily basis. The Student Lounge may also be used. Students may also utilize unused practice rooms Monday through Thursdays by signing up at the Front Desk.

Kelly Library Mission The Kelly Library's mission is to promote, protect, and provide access to information resources relevant to Oriental medicine. Central to this aim is the ongoing development of the collection and the cultivation of patrons' skills in finding information specific to Oriental Medicine. With this mission, the library seeks to foster professional development and promote the Academic Mission and Guiding Principles of NESA.

General Info The library is located adjacent to the Front Desk, across from the NESA Store, and houses books, A/V items, journals, and NESA archives. In addition to the collection and computers, there are a number of tables, chairs, and carrels available for quiet study and reading.

The Kelly Library also maintains its own website with information that supports students, faculty, and graduates in their pursuit of knowledge about acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Follow links to the library from the main NESA website to access our online catalog, research databases, links, and more.

The Collection The Kelly Library supports NESA's academic programs through a collection of books, journals, and multimedia resources. The library's growing collection focuses on traditional and modern acupuncture with origins in China, Japan, Korea and other East Asian cultures. The collection also includes in-depth information on Chinese Herbal Medicine, as well as other aspects of Oriental Medicine, including works on Asian culture, philosophy, and history. In addition, the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holdings contain a number of science and biomedical texts, 44

works on business practice and marketing, and materials covering a variety of alternative and complementary medicine modalities.

Newsletters from relevant professional organizations and general information about the acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine professions are available in the library as well. Past course syllabi and archived NESA materials are housed in the collection and are available for reading within the library.

The Kelly Library collection includes over 4000 print monographs, 600 A/V items (CD’s, DVD’s, etc.), and 130 journal titles. All are listed in our online catalog, and articles in our print journals are indexed for easy searching in our OMLit database, both available through our website. In addition to its print collection, the library provides online access to a variety of journals through the library's online resources; full-text articles are available directly through journal publishers and through research databases. In all, students, faculty, and alumni have access to some 1,700 scholarly print and electronic journals through the library's resources.

Subscription databases can be accessed through the Library tab on Populi.

Library Services NESA provides access to and borrowing privileges for the library’s collection to currently enrolled students, faculty, staff, and alumni. If a student withdraws or otherwise leaves the program access to databases and borrowing privileges are revoked.

Journals and reserve/reference items at the Kelly Library do not circulate. General circulation books are loaned out for two week periods, while A/V materials circulate for 1 week. Items can be renewed up to 5 times over the phone, by email, online, or in person. If another patron requests a library item a patron has checked out, the patron will not be able to renew the item and will need to return it by the time the item is due to avoid overdue fines. Overdue fines accrue 7 days per week at $0.25/day. If an item is lost, patrons will be charged, at minimum, list value of the book plus a $25 processing fee. Patrons should check their email for notices from the library and notify library staff if their email accounts change.

DVD’s, CD’s and DVD-ROM’s may be viewed and listened to at the two media stations in the Quiet Study Room. There are a total of six computer terminals with internet access available in the main reading room.

Wireless internet service is also available throughout the library space. A scanner is available within the lab, and a printer/photocopier/scanner is available for student use. Printing/copies are available for $0.10 per page (B & W) and $0.50 per page (color). Scanning is available at no charge.

Members of the library staff are available by phone, email, or in person during open hours to provide circulation services and technical assistance, to answer questions about the collection, or to aid in research.

Please check the Library entrance as well as the website for current hours of operation.

Continuing Education and Postgraduate Study The Continuing Education Department of the New England School of Acupuncture offers a broad array of programs for licensed acupuncturists to enhance their professional skills and development. Several programs are structured to enable the general public and other healthcare professionals to learn about the benefits of Oriental Medicine for their own personal enhancement or to improve their clinical skills.

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Students are welcome to attend programs for which they are qualified. Certain programs are offered as electives and those which are offered a discounted rate to students are advertised on the bulletin board in the Student Lounge and on the NESA website. The Chinese Herbal Medicine Track and the Japanese Acupuncture Track are available as post-graduate certificate programs through CE. Continuing Education courses do not qualify for academic credit.

NESA Teaching Clinic and Satellites The primary location of the NESA teaching clinic is on the first floor of the school. The NESA clinic provides a place for Interns during the final year of study to practice acupuncture and Oriental Medicine while also providing a service to the greater community. NESA Interns also provide acupuncture care at several satellite clinics around the greater Boston area.

The main NESA Teaching Clinic provides a professional treatment space with private treatment rooms, conference areas for Interns and faculty and a welcoming professional atmosphere for visitors, prospective students and patients. In addition, a full service Chinese Herbal Dispensary, quiet study area, and kitchen are located within the Clinic. The Clinic is open six days a week for an average of 80 hours per week. NESA Interns provide approximately 25,000 low or no-cost acupuncture treatments to the general public each year.

Service to the greater community is part of NESAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission, and a commitment to meeting health care needs of diverse communities is a strong theme of the internship training. NESA meets these needs by sponsoring satellite clinic locations around the greater Boston area in settings providing care to socio-economically disadvantaged clients, people in recovery, the homeless and recent immigrants, the elderly and the chronically ill, as well as pediatric and adolescent populations.

NESA students receive discounted acupuncture treatments at the main clinic. For more information or to make an appointment at the clinic, call 617-558-1788 ext. 200.

Satellite Clinics In addition to the primary location of the main teaching clinic, NESA interns and faculty provide services at satellite clinics around the greater Boston area. Many of these locations offer services at a reduced rate or sliding scale or are free of charge.

All educational policies at satellite clinics adhere to NESA policies, goals and objectives. However, office policies, treatment prices and other applicable fees are under the control of the location and are not at the discretion of the NESA. BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER

http://www.bmc.org/ Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Family Medicine, 2nd Floor Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 5th floor Yawkey Ambulatory Care Center 850 Harrison Avenue Boston MA 02118-2393 617-414-4086 Boston Medical Center (BMC), a teaching affiliate of Boston University School of Medicine, is the largest safety net hospital in Boston; with its network of community health centers, it serves more than a quarter million people annually regardless of ability to pay. In the busy clinics of BMC, NESA Interns encounter a 46

rich diversity of ethnicities and cultures; the patients represent more than fifty countries. NESA students work alongside biomedical providers, contribute to electronic medical records, and represent the acupuncture profession to their colleagues in medicine. Interns provide acupuncture care in both Family Medicine, InPatient Pediatrics, and in the Adolescent Out-Patient department. Appointments are available only to current patients of BMC. This affiliation between NESA and BMC began in 2004. T-accessible.

CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE

http://www.challiance.org/locations/malden_family_health.shtml Malden Family Medicine Center 195 Canal Street Malden MA 02148 781-338-0500 This state-of-the-art ambulatory care center is staffed through the Tufts University Family Medicine Residency to provide primary care, as well as women’s health and pregnancy care, and a variety of diagnostic services. In a neighborhood characterized by cultural diversity, the center is expert in culturally competent care. This site provides a valuable opportunity for NESA Interns to practice acupuncture in an Integrative Medical setting. NESA affiliated with the center in 2003. Acupuncture appointments are available to the public on a fee for service basis at low cost.

ELDER SERVICE PLAN OF THE NORTH SHORE

http://pacenorthshore.org/ 20 School Street Lynn MA 01901 781-722-0040 Elder Service plan of the North Shore is a non-profit organization based on the innovative PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) model of care that enables eligible seniors to remain in their own homes rather than being placed in long term care facilities. This agency provides a comprehensive range of preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services through a cost-effective, capitated funding model. An interdisciplinary team that includes primary care, nursing, physical therapy, social services, and acupuncture aims to keep members healthy and functioning successfully at home. NESA is proud to provide student interns an opportunity to participate in community-based care for elders in this setting, having established the affiliation since 2002. Appointments are only available to members of the PACE program. T-accessible by the commuter rail.

LEMUEL SHATTUCK HOSPITAL

http://www.mass.gov/shattuckhospital 170 Morton Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 617-522-8110 The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine, provides both inand out-patient services in the vibrant Jamaica Plain community. Shattuck is known for its psychiatric care, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, for challenging patients requiring multidisciplinary treatment and support. Founded with a deep commitment to public health, Shattuck provides access to high quality care for underserved patient populations. NESA shares the Shattuck’s mission to serve public health and affiliated with the hospital in the 1980’s and again since 2005. Open to the public. Taccessible.

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NESA Chinese Herbal Dispensary The NESA Chinese Herbal Dispensary is housed within the main NESA Clinic. The goal of the NESA Dispensary is to be an educational resource and teaching facility for NESA students and to provide high quality Chinese Herbal Medicine to community practitioners and their patients at a reasonable price. The dispensary stocks over 300 raw herbs as well as 250 powdered extract single herbs, 25 powdered formulas, and over 100 patent herbal formulas.

The NESA Chinese Herbal Medicine Dispensary is operated by staff with the help of student dispensary assistants who are in the Chinese Herbal Medicine track.

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Useful Staff Extensions & Emails Name

Title

Ext.

@nesa.edu

Allen, CJ

Faculty/ Associate Dean/Academic Counseling

124

cjallen

Bissonnette, Bette

Library Director

116

bbissonnette

Carroll, Sheila

Director Administrative Services

209

scarroll

Conboy, Lisa

Director of Research

145

lconboy

Cribby, Will

Director of Student Affairs

110

wcribby

Goncalves, Lilly

Office Manager

100

frontdesk

Gorman, Susan

Executive Director

374

sgorman

Haines, Brock

Chinese Herbal Dispensary Manager

202

bhaines

Mabuchi, Julia

Registrar

273

jmabuchi

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Peg

Human Resources Coordinator

266

poconnell

Powers, Jason

Director of Admissions

105

jpowers

Rowell, Ali

Administrative Assistant

120

arowell

Smith, Valerie

Faculty/Director of Clinical Education/ Safety/Academic Counseling

104

vsmith

St. John, Meredith MeredithMeredithMered Tamagno, Cid ith

Dean of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

118

mstjohn

NESA Store Coordinator

107

ctamagno

107

NESA_bookstore

Bookstore CHM Dispensary Staff

Staff & Prescriptions

211

Clinic Reception Desk

200

Controllerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office

111

Financial Aid Office

Financial Aid Coordinator

265

financialaid@nesa.edu

Front Desk

100

frontdesk

Library

131

libraryinfo

NESA 150 California Street Newton, MA 02458 Phone: 617-558-1788 Fax: 617-558-1789

150 California Street, Newton, MA 02458 617-558-1788 ~ www.nesa.edu