VTRC General Information & Student Guidelines

The VTRC is a Tribal Enterprise of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.  The Center was conceptualized under the tribe’s Overall Economic Development Plan (OEDP) as a strategic program to provide means for our tribal membership to attain local jobs and develop native-owned businesses.  The creation of the VTRC was based primarily on the consequences of the Welfare Reform Acts, and as a way to defray some of the changes that would and have become inevitable.  As a business enterprise the center is open to the public.  VTRC’s primary goal is the empowerment of Native Tribal members.

The VTRC also houses the following Central Council offices:

1. Johnson O’Malley (JOM) program (a federally funded program to provide supplemental education for Alaska Native Students),
2. The 477 GED Program and Office Skills.

Admission

Although the VTRC focuses training for Alaska Natives/American Indian adults, it holds an open admissions policy for students of any race, creed, color and national or ethnic origin (18 years and older). All applicants need to have a high school diploma or GED to enroll in training sessions. The Center assists students to begin at the level for which they are prepared. If Central Council tribal members have not graduated from high school or have not received a GED, the Central Council’s Employment and Training Division is able to assist those students in obtaining a GED through regional Adult Basic Education centers.

The Center assists students to begin at the level for which they are prepared. The Center’s staff, working with the student, may provide referrals to other training programs that provide developmental course work designed to enable students to prepare for study at the VTRC or to pursue other programs best suited to their interests and aptitude.

Registration

In order to enter a specific training program or take a course offered at the VTRC, the following documents must be submitted:

1. VTRC registration form (this form also serves as the VTRC invoice).
2. Enrollment Contract if a course is 80 hours or more.
3. Official high school transcript or GED test scores, if necessary.

Although we will accept registrations at any time prior to a class, students must be aware that tuition must be paid in advance.

Notification of Acceptance

Tlingit & Haida tribal members who apply for tuition coverage with the 477 Program must return the VTRC enrollment form as verification of tuition assistance from that department. Upon receipt of this information students will be notified of their acceptance to the class. Students who are not funded by Tlingit & Haida will be notified immediately by the VTRC of their acceptance.

Payment of Tuition

All tuition and fees must be paid on or before the first day of instruction.

Student's Right to Cancel & Refund Policy

Until instruction begins, the student has the right to cancel their enrollment contract and receive a refund of all tuition and fees paid by the student. To cancel their enrollment contract, the student must inform the instructor in writing.

For Classes Less Than 80 Hours

1. The fee, less a $25 per person enrollment charge, will be refunded if cancellation is made more than three (3) working days before the class.
2. If you need to cancel less than three (3) working days prior to the class you may send a substitute from your organization or transfer your registration fee to another class within six months.

For Classes 80 Hours or More (CDL)

Until instruction begins, the student has the right to cancel their enrollment contract and receive a refund of all tuition paid by the student.   The VTRC shall also provide a “cooling-off” period, which expires at the end of the first day of a student's scheduled attendance, and during which a student, upon submitting written notice to the institution, may cancel the enrollment contract and receive a 100 percent tuition refund, less any application fee.

VTRC reserves the right to cancel classes:   In the event of insufficient enrollment, the VTRC will cancel the class.   All students will be given one week notice if this occurs.

Students not completing or passing the drug-screening test will not be allowed to participate in the driving portion of the class.   If a student does not complete or pass the drug screening test and for this reason drops out of the CDL class, refunds will be based on the schedule below.

Schedules may change due to student enrollment.   Course materials are available to students upon receipt of payment in full.   If the student chooses to withdraw from a program of study for which the student has prepaid, the student may withdraw by submitting his/her intention, in writing, to the VTRC Director or Instructor.

All requests for withdrawal will need to be submitted in writing.   If a student withdraws from the CDL Class A program ten (10) working days prior to the first day of class, all tuition and fees will be refunded, less a $25.00 administrative fee.   If a student withdraws out of the CDL Class A program five (5) working days prior to the first day of class, all tuition will be refunded, less the CDL Class A associated fees and a $25.00 administrative fee.   A student has the right to cancel their enrollment contract until the end of first (1) day of scheduled attendance and will receive a full tuition refund less the above-mentioned Non-Refundable fees.   Upon withdrawal or termination, VTRC will acknowledge withdrawal in writing and any refund due to the student will be given within 60 days of the last recorded date of physical attendance.   For students withdrawing or terminating from the CDL Class A program within the five (5) working days prior to the first day of class the remaining tuition will be returned according to the length of the program in which the student is enrolled.   Refunds will be granted as follows:

Vocational Training and Resource Center , implements a refund policy that provides for an equitable refund in cases of discontinued attendance.   The policy is as follows:

•  for a period of time after instruction has begun but before the second day of classes or the equivalent, the VTRC shall refund 100 percent of the tuition ; after that

•  for a period of time after the first day of class but not   more than 10 percent of the class h a s e lapsed, t he VTRC shall refund at least 90 percent of the tuition ; after that

•  for a period of time after which greater than 10 percent but not more than 20 percent of the class h a s e lapsed, the VTRC shall refund at least 80 percent of the tuition ; after that,

•  for a period of time after which greater than 20 percent but not more than 25 percent of the class h a s e lapsed, the VTRC shall refund at least 55 percent of the tuition ; after that,  

•  for a period of time after which greater than 25 percent but not more than 50 percent of the class has elapsed, the VTRC shall refund at least 30 percent of the tuition; after that,

•  The institution may require the student to remain committed to the entire amount of the tuition. VTRC, as signatory on the student contract, is subject to all claims and defenses of the student or the student's successors in interest, arising under the contract.

All refunds due a student shall be made within 30-days of notification of the student's withdrawal or dismissal.  

Non-Refundable Fees

Fees for the CDL course which are non-refundable include:

•  DOT medical exam ($120)

•  Drug screening test ($80)

•  DMV driving record report ($10)

•  DMV road test fee ($125)

•  DMV license fee ($100)

•  Books/materials ($40)

•  Administrative enrollment charge ($25),

Total Non-refundable fees $500

$5,000 of the tuition will be refunded if cancellation is made prior to five (5) working days before the first day of class.   If trainees need to reschedule with less than five (5) working days prior to the class, tuition may be transferred to another scheduled CDL class or be refunded on the schedule listed in the student contract (page 2) and refund policy..

The VTRC reserves the right to change scheduled times based upon unforeseen acts of God, equipment failure, or cancellations due to insufficient enrollment.

Leave of Absence

The programs through the VTRC are designed to be intense and cover material in a time effective manner. It is important to complete a course in one continuum of study; however, a leave of absence during a course may be granted if there is an extreme hardship. An extreme hardship is a significant occurrence outside the control of the student, e.g. poor medical health of immediate family member, military obligations, or family crisis. The following provides the guidelines for requesting a leave of absence:

1. Submit a written request for a leave of absence with an explanation of the hardship and documentation (if available) to the course instructor.
2. The instructor will determine if the student meets satisfactory training progress requirements. A satisfactory standing must be met for a leave of absence to be considered.
3. The instructor and student will need to complete an agreement to finish the training within a specific time frame.
4. Leave of absence will not exceed one calendar year unless
   • a course scheduling requires a longer delay, or
   • a written medical recommendation from a physician is presented to request a longer delay. In these cases, the leave can only be extended to a maximum of six additional months.
5. If the training cannot be finished and an eligible hardship status is determined, a withdrawal (grade of ‘W’) will be assigned.
6. A student may only receive one (1) leave of absence per twelve-month period.

All leaves of absence must be approved by the instructor and the VTRC Director.

When a leave of absence is granted, it will reflect as a withdrawal status from the course for financial aid purposes. Upon return to the training, new financial aid forms may need to be completed to regain funding.

Financial Aid

Financial aid for tuition, fees and books may be provided through special grants administered by the Center, however, all costs incidental to training are the responsibility of the student.

Various financial aid resources are available, such as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Native corporations, Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand Camp. Interested students must apply directly to those organizations for such financial aid as they each may have available. Financial aid may also be available to those eligible enrolled Central Council members. Click here for our "funding links" page.

Student ID

Student identification (ID) numbers are the same as an individual’s social security number (SSN). By using social security numbers as student IDs, the Center can be assured of an identification type which allow records to be tracked through a computerized database. Social security number information is personal; therefore if students do not wish to offer their SSNs, the Center will assign a uniqe ID to be used by the Center. A student needs to use this ID when requesting a copy of any information record. Currently, no student ID cards are issued.

Grades and Transcripts

Student progress is measured by satisfactorily meeting course objectives, assignments, tests, attendance, and in-class participation. Students are given evaluations periodically and have scheduled conferences with instructors to discuss training progress.  Good standing at the VTRC is established with the following standards:

Performance: Pass/Fail
Attendance: At least 85% of class training sessions

Certificates

In order to earn a certificate of completion, a student must complete a course with a grade of pass and have demonstrated good attendance (85% minimum) in accordance with the attendance requirements of the VTRC (please see attendance policy within this section) and have satisfied any financial balances due.

Transfer Credits

The VTRC is developing certification for Computer Skills, Small Business Planning, Enhanced Employability Skills, Tourism, Business Development and Construction Training. No school can guarantee that credits from courses at the VTRC are transferable and is left to the discretion of the receiving school for acceptance.

Class Evaluation

All students are requested to evaluate the instructors at end of each class. Evaluations will be kept in class files. Copies are provided to the instructor upon request.

Attendance

The VTRC views class attendance as an important attribute to learn in order to be job ready or to be a successful new owner of a business; therefore, attendance at all VTRC courses is required and students are expected to be in training every day. This rule applies for vocational classes only.  An absence will be recorded as unexcused if the instructor is not notified within 30 minutes of the expected attendance. After three unexcused absences, the student may be dropped/withdrawn from the course at the discretion of the instructor. An excused absence will be granted if prior notice is given to the instructor and arrangements are made to cover course work.  Any absence excused or not, requires that the student take responsibility to make up all lost time and complete course assignments. If absent from an exam, the instructor will determine if the exam may be made up. Student attendance is a factor in assigning grades for the Center’s courses.

Travel and Transportation

Juneau has an airport that has daily scheduled flights. In addition, the Alaska Marine Highway (1-800-642-0066) has regularly scheduled ferry service to Juneau. Travel costs are the responsibility of individual students. Financial assistance to travel to the Center may be requested through local community organizations, Native corporations, Central Council’s Adult Vocational Training scholarship program, and other scholarship programs.

In Juneau, Capital Transit (city bus service) has a bus stop at the VTRC. To receive bus schedule information call 789-6901.

The VTRC has parking available for up to 25 cars and 2 handicapped parking spaces.

Housing

There is currently no housing available at this time.

Stipends

The VTRC may administer stipends to students based upon financial aid and special grant funding received. The VTRC reserves the right to withhold stipends for non-attendance. When available, stipend amounts follow the guidelines set in the grants.

Dress Code and Conduct

As the Center’s training focuses on career skills, the training sessions should be treated as a job or as a business. Proper clothing should be worn to training sessions to develop professional work habits (e.g. computer trainees should wear appropriate office dress; shop trainees, appropriate work outfitting, etc.)  Students are expected to have a courteous and professional attitude with the instructor and among students. A student who is found to be engaged in unacceptable behavior, such as dishonesty, theft, offensive language, or defacement of property will be subject to disciplinary action which could include dismissal from the Center.

Children During Training

Generally, children may not be brought to training sessions at the VTRC. Children can be distracting to other students and the training sessions may be hazardous for children. The Central Council’s Employment and Training Division may able to assist with child care based upon need.

Drug Free Environment

The VTRC maintains a drug free environment. No smoking is allowed in training sessions. Drugs and alcohol are prohibited from the Center’s functions. If a student is under the influence of drugs or alcohol (according to the instructor’s judgment) during a training session, they will be dismissed from the day’s training with a warning that the next incident will be a dismissal from the Center.

Student Responsibility for Information

Students are responsible to ensure that the information recorded by the VTRC is accurate. Student records are available for review by individual students. If there is an error, students need to request a change in writing, and identifying themselves with their student ID (social security number) to the Center.

Release of Information

The VTRC follows the Central Council’s guidelines regarding client and tribal member information: we do not release information regarding individuals and hold all individual information confidential. Under the Buckley Amendment or Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students have the right to review their file, have copies of materials, and seek correction of information. Financial aid information will be coordinated and shared with the Central Council’s scholarship programs. All student files are kept in a locked file cabinet when not being accessed by staff.

In order to have information released from the Center, request it in writing and indicate

• your student ID (social security number),
• the type of information requested, and
• to whom the information should be released and include their mailing address.

Grievances and Appeals

Students have the right to file grievances or appeals through the VTRC’s appeal procedure. Any decision affecting students are made based on program policies and require official documentation. A complaint, grievance or appeal must be administered in the following manner:

1. The student’s complaint, grievance or appeal must be submitted in writing to the Center’s Director.
2. If the student is unsatisfied with the Director’s decision, a written request for appeal must be provided to the Central Council’s President within 30 (thirty) days after receipt of the Director’s written decision.

In addition, students may make written or verbal comments to: